Are You Being Served?

'Are You Being Served?' is a delightful peek into the day-to-day dramas of Grace Brothers department store, seen through the eyes of the staff in the ladies' and gentlemen's departments.

As someone who grew up watching British sitcoms like 'Allo 'Allo', '2.4 Children', 'Only Fools and Horses', and 'One Foot in the Grave', I've always had a soft spot for the uniquely British sense of humour.

I bought the first series of 'Are You Being Served?' a couple of years ago, just to see what all the fuss was about, and without a doubt, it's now one of my all-time favourites. No matter my mood, I can pop an episode on and still laugh out loud.

For those who moan about repeated jokes, I'd remind them of just how many years this show ran and the immense popularity it had-and still has. The movie, however? A disaster. I don't know why they bothered! But the sitcom itself, from start to finish, was brilliantly funny.

Mollie Sugden and John Inman were the heart of the show, and while the whole cast was excellent, it was Young Mr. Grace who often stole the show.

There's a certain innocence about the series, tucked beneath all the cheeky double entendres. Some of my favourite episodes include 'Camping In', 'Oh What a Tangled Web', and 'Friends and Neighbours'. Sure, the show might have dipped a little in Series 9, but Series 10 was a return to form and really showed how timeless the comedy is.

'Are You Being Served?' is one of those sitcoms that's eternally re-watchable and continues to bring the laughs.

10/10.

I never laughed so hard in my life as the first time I saw this show. The only American sitcom that ever compared was Cheers. Anybody who has nit seen this sitcom should really watch it. The cast of characters is excellent. For example in the early episodes Mr. Lucas is always getting Mrs. Sloacombes goat. John In man as Mr. humphries is definitely the star of the show. Mr. granger reminds me of A man I used to work with A long time ago. That's what really makes this program so funny. It is more realistic than you might think. One of the funniest in jokes is the one where they always tell the customers that their sleeves or pants leg will "ride up" with wear. I highly recommend this show for everybody!

I left England in 1968 so I missed watching this live as it were but it is still hilarious. Here in Alberta we can watch it 5 times a week on P.B.S. or on Y.T.V. in Canada at 1 a.m. I find it so amusing, the characterizations are faultless the dialogue is matchless the situations are believable even if sometimes outrageous.

But above all it is a very gentle comedy, in the best traditions of English comedy, nobody gets hurt, reputations are never ruined, it is never malicious or small-minded.

I watch it every chance I get because it is funny without forcing the humour.

Are You Being Served is the best British comedy can give us. I don't understand why some people are offended by this series! It's all in good fun. The follow up Grace & Favour was great too. It's a shame they only made ten series (from 1973/1985). AYBS? will rank as one of the best sit-coms ever.

This series ran from 1972 to 1985, but as British series typically only do six or seven episodes in a season, there are only sixty-nine episodes in all.

The series focuses on the relationship between the staff of the ladies' department and the gentlemen's department in a mid-priced department store in London. Also involved in the humor and bickering are the floorwalker, the department manager, and the owner of the store. There were several cast changes, but most of the crew stayed on through the entire run.

As Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock, the floorwalker) points out in interviews, this show is appealing because it's about shops. Everybody knows what goes on in a shop. We see the bickering for display space, the outrageous lies told to clinch a sale, and the petty squabbles as management institutes ridiculous rules.

The one flaw to the series is that continuity stank. The departments in question bounced from floor to floor over the years, not because they were moved, but because the writers forgot where they were supposed to be!

A blessing to fans of the series is the new DVD collection which includes 34 episodes from the first five seasons. There were four Christmas episodes that are rarely shown on television, and two are in the time frame of this set. Also included is "Top Hat and Tails," which had been "lost" for twenty-five years. Once you see it, you'll understand why someone "lost" it until just recently (there's a scene that was surely considered inappropriate at the time).

This series has its down moments, but every episode brings laughs and joy. The quick wit and hilarious physical comedy remain timeless, even as the clothes seem more dated and the political references get stale.