F.C. De Kampioenen

I can't believe anyone can laugh with this crap. I'm from Flanders myself and nobody close to me finds this funny at all. I'm into all things from Jan Eelen so figure the difference. I rest my case

FC De Kampioenen's only reason for existence is it's local popularity. It has caused this sitcom to run for over 15 years (and still counting).

It deals about an amateur soccer team with the emphasis "amateur". Every storyline deals with the same subject: some misunderstanding that takes ridiculous (and predictable) proportions, to get resolved in the end.

The show's been running for over 15 years now, and the production probably decided not to change a winning team. Which means that the show has had minor changes over the course of years (besides a couple of actors getting replaced (they nearly all left by themselves rather than being thrown of the show)). The humor hasn't changed a bit over the years and it was already outdated when it first aired in the first place.

I guess you have to be Flemish to get this, and over 60 years old, to enjoy such an old fashioned TV show as this.

FC de kampioenen is a Belgian sitcom about a couple of amateur soccer players who lose a lot because they suck.

FC de Kampioenen is truly a typical Belgian sitcom which really can't be compared with any American sitcoms. American sitcoms are mostly about speedy one-liners and well, humorous content, whereas the usually slow-paced Belgian sitcoms are mostly trying to give you that "you're always welcome"-feeling, using stereotype characters (dominant wives,the smart man, the drunk, the clumsy guy who breaks vases etc.) It does have one thing in common with most American sitcoms: it doesn't age very well, not only because of the poor jokes and story lines, but also because of the pathetic attempts to make the show "younger" by making the 50 year-old characters drink Red Bull and use cell phones and by bringing in a "rebellious" son (he grew to the age of 16 in 12 years), whose dialogues consist entirely of things along the lines of: "I don't want to visit grandma. I'm going to listen to rock music and share a beer with my equally rebellious girlfriend". Stereotypes indeed. I would still buy it if they showed more soccer, but they don't even do that anymore. Probably because the actors played like they had their shoes on backwards even when they were supposed to win.

But despite wretched, repetitive, and predictable, FC de Kampioenen is still a very popular sitcom that is being watched by 1,5 million people every week (even the countless reruns are still a success) and it will probably go on till the writers say it's enough. Like that will ever happen. FC de Kampioenen is a nice childhood memory that is being worn out way too long, but I can't blame them with the success they still have.

the very best TV-program in years!!! always a blink to the smile of the people who watch these series - may be added to "all times favorites" - a sort of 'evergreen 'to me - always enjoy when we watch them playing - my favorites in this series are, of course mark vertongen, Xavier waterslaeghers , and not to forget!!!! Carmen !! sometimes so wright in real live to, many people don't admitted it but she reflex sometimes many wife's who plays the boss - we are fans from the first time and have taped them all on cassette, we feel this program is a real friendly family-show, our children are very amused by the funny stories and so called mistakes,never seen another almost 'perfect' sitcom , keep up the very good work

F.C. De Kampioenen is your typical popular Flemish sitcom, and has been a consistent ratings topper in Belgium for the past ten years. The point of departure was originally the humorous struggles of an incompetent amateur football team, but throughout the years the storylines have more and more strayed from that idea, and now it's a rather silly and bland show, but still popular as ever.

And when I say popular, I mean really popular. Characters like "Carmen", "DDT", "Boma", "Pascale", have become institutions in Flemish television. The catchphrases launched in the show were soon uttered all over the country. The actors have appeared in countless radio commercials and promotional actions in the guise of their character. There is a popular comic strip based on the series, specifically aimed at young children (and in all honesty, the characters are slightly more credible in this format...). Two years ago a separate series of eight TV specials ran to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the show. Even the re-runs of old episodes nowadays are often the best-watched TV programme of the week!

The show had its peak seven to eight years ago, and nowadays it seems to be dragging on only because of its popularity. The current storylines are either outrageous or plain predictable (most are based on misunderstandings), and the characters are firmly encapsulated in their (often worn-out) stereotypes. We have the bossy and nosy matron, her servile husband, the persistent womanizer, the clumsy goalkeeper, the goody-two-shoes secretary, the bad guy who goes out of his way to annoy the main characters,... All are fortunately played by skilled actors, but the novelty value of the characters has long gone.

At the end of the day, an F.C. De Kampioenen episode remains amusing in its charming pretentionless simplicity, but compare it to a foreign comedy series with well-conceited storylines and actual character development, and it sinks like a brick.