Operation Good Guys

Tapped into the style of spinal tap but way ahead of the many mockumentarys that followed it Doesn't get the air time and recognition it should do, some amazing characters, a belting theme tune, what else do you want, series 3 - non stop laughter

I asked ray Burdis if there was plans for a film (I know honour and obey is already out) but he did say there originally was plans for a film- gutted it never came to fruition.

A lot has been said in the other reviews. When it is funny, this series is very good, but it's not that sharp - it certainly doesn't compare to People Like Us. Each show has one or two brilliant moments.

One problem is the audio which is at times very hard to make out.

The opening episode is very dull, which is surprising, because quite often a comedy series uses its best material in the beginning - Operation Good Guys gets better during series one.

The complete series has been released to DVD, but unfortunately a huge error of judgement has been made in putting on laughter (studio audience or otherwise) which made this instantly unwatchable on series two.

If enough people complain, perhaps this will be fixed in the future.

If you like the Office you'll like Operation Good Guys. It's set up, like the Office, is a documentary style, with film crews following the officers while on duty. It plays on the stereotypes of racism and sexism in the police force (the episode the Tera-Blanche), paired with some of the absurd situations, hilarious characters and fantastic acting this is one of the funniest and cleverest comedies the BBC has released in recent years. It really is a comic gem that has been overlooked with repeats being very scarce. Having only seen it again for the first time in a couple of years (disgusted at myself that I forgot how good the good guys really were), I'm hooked again, I suggest that whoever reads this gets hooked as well you'll not regret it.

I loved this show! It was unbelievably funny in the first series, so much so my brother and I would literally be crying and rewinding the tape to see it again! I just had one point that I couldn't get over. I know why it was done (some people actually thought this was a real documentary of the police force, apparently) but the laughter track ruined the second series for me. I tried to watch regardless but it was too much. Again loved the show, couldn't stand the laughter track. I thought the whole point was to portray it as real, that was part of the joke?... Such a shame for the creators - so talented - but I hope they release it without the laughter track...

Operation Good Guys is easily one of the best 'fly on the wall' spoofs seen in recent years, particularly when you consider that in 1997 it was one of the first of this style genre and therefore in unchartered territory. I sincerely doubt that other programme makers would admit to this, but, it is apparent that some of the filming techniques (and even jokes) have made their way into other, more popular shows, namely The Office.

The fact that the scripts were genuinely improvised gives a far more authentic representation of any scene in question, particularly in the lighter moments (were there any other types of moments??) where clearly the joke intended for the viewer was also amusing to the cast too. This technique allows the viewer to become far more involved in the performance, rather than simply watching a stale and static scene that, whilst undoubtedly amusing, has been rehearsed to perfection.

Episodes/scenes to note:

Series 2 - Mark Kemp's and Bones' portrayal of Guardian Angels, along with the comedic head-gear and uniforms.

Series 2 - DI Beach's elephant man sketch, brought on by a severe case of sunburn.

Series 2 - Mark Kemp's comedy dance routines (taken from Elton John's 'The Passenger' video???), and particularly the bongo playing clip from the Baldy Song.

Series 3 - Mark Kemp's superb take-off of Don King, difficult to see how the cast/crew were able to keep straight faces throughout those scenes.

Series 3 - DI Beach's immortal line, in the episode named "That's Entertainment", "Get me a midget!!!"

All in all, Operation Good Guys was a brilliantly acted and improvised show that sadly never seemed to receive the credit that it truly deserved; there are probably more fans, particularly those people writing/acting in other similar style shows, than care to admit it.