Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

'This room will be totally destroyed.'

That was my mother's prediction when Frank took Betty into a fairly down-market hotel on some coastal town or other for a stab at a second honeymoon - suffice to say she was correct and a lot of hilarity ensured. First episode I ever watched, and I have been in love with Frank and Betty ever since. Seriously, I think Micheal Crawford must have been the best physical comedian since Buster Keaton. His stunts just gave every episode an edge. It was brilliant.

A word on Michelle Dotrice. She managed to develop Betty as a strong character with her own (usually very funny) contribution. Compared to the thankless exposition and moaning that Gwyneth Strong and Tess Peak - Jones were lumbered with in 'Only Fools...'

I cannot recommend this enough.

Nearly 30 years ago, a skinny, 30 something unproven British comedian called Michael Crawford, graced our screens in a show with a funny name, but with no huge raps. But after just a few screenings, Frank Spencer was a star, an idiot too, but hey I would not have minded being in his comical shows, because he was hilarious. This show would have to go down as one of the top comedy show to have come out of England, which made people laugh all over the world.

Meet Frank Spenser. He is the world's most clumsiest person, someone who people are out to try and avoid at all cost. Everything he touches falls apart, and he can't keep a job for more than a day. The only thing that keeps him going is his long-suffering wife Betty, who somehow manages to cope with his disaster-prone life-style.

I remember watching this show as a youngster, and did it make me laugh. All of Franks Spenser's idiotic lines and antics were a good chance to allow myself escape my own ‘crazy' world. That is the great part about this character. He must have had a huge affect on many walks of life, including the young, sick and elderly, who at some stage needed a laugh to forget there blues they were suffering in life. I think that most people see a lot of Frank Spenser in themselves, that I am sure is one of the reasons why he is still so popular today.

Then think about the man behind Frank, that being Michael Crawford. He is a talent, who makes the screen a different experience. For memory, I really loved how he would jump onto our screens and say ‘good mornin'. Then as we get to love his antics, Frank is adored more and more. Crawford was born to be like this, yet he also had another calling in life. I am of course talking about being the leading man in the Andrew Lloyd Webber music sensation, ‘The Phantom Of The Opera'. From all reports he was brilliant as the ‘Phantom', and I can see why. Then take his onscreen partner on Some mothers, that being Michelle Dotrice. She was incredible as the patient and ever reliable Betty. I would be betting that she would have had some funny moments on set with Michael. She was a perfect choice as Betty.

Then take some of the episodes that this show had. When Betty is in hospital after giving birth to the Spenser's first child it was hilarious what Frank went through while living on his own. I can always remember the catch cry of ‘plus, I blew the pudding up'. But he was also so funny, in many situations that would usually require a ‘please answer'. Going through walls, crashing cars, cooking disasters in the kitchen are all traits that Frank was jinxed to live with. I am not so sure that anyone would like to have that bad a luck.

Yet a few years later a funny man, with about the same amount of luck as Frank, graced our screens, that being the hilarious ‘Mr. Bean'. He was played by Rowan Atkinson, who like Crawford is a comedy genius, although his character was greatly different to Frank Spenser. With no voice, he made it up in silly antics and stupid little scenarios that he got himself into, that again had people crying in laughter all over the world. It is no wonder that Atkinson is British as well. What is it that makes these men so funny over in England, the water or what?

In summary, last year in Australia, we were lucky to see Michael Crawford in a one on one interview with popular Australian TV journalist, Ray Martin. In this interview we got to see not only how funny Michael was and still is, but how compassionate he is toward many charities and what a terrific vocalist he is. We are really lucky to have had someone like Frank Spencer on our small screens, because if we didn't, we might never have met the remarkable man behind the fool, called Michael Crawford.

I have only been viewing this series for a few weeks. I am addicted to them, They are just crazy, Mad. I thought Peter Sellars was the best comic in the U.K., but Michael is fantastic. Then I found out HE was THE Michael Crawford/Phantom of the Opera STAR. I can't believe the two are the same. We are talking about two ends of the spectrum of talent. I am a fan for life. I am going to scarf up as many videos as I can. Are the Brits just so talented or are they using mirrors or something? What great entertainment!!!!

Some Mothers Do Have 'Em is an immensely entertaining comedy about a grown man who is such a klutz that everywhere he goes,trouble is bound to follow.Portrayed by Michael Crawford,Frank Spencer is a bumbling idiot whose hilarious predicaments always end in disaster,with everything he touches falling apart.The hilarity comes from his endless quest for employment be it a pipe salesman,a chicken farmer,a window cleaner afraid of heights,a ventriloquist,a postman,and the list goes on and on as Frank creates the ultimate hell in the workplace,seriously irritating everyone he comes into contact with.One person who does tolerate him however is his patient unconditionally loving wife,Betty,played by the beautiful Michele Dotrice.Dotrice is a doll on camera,always managing to look cute in colorful frocks and pigtails.She has an endless amount of patience for Frank,the high pitch voiced walking disaster.The physical comedy performed by Crawford will have you in stitches.The humor comes from watching the antics of a man so incompetent,who has good intentions all the time but never fails to cause a catastrophe.Some Mothers Do Have Em is the type of show where everything that can go wrong,does.Nothing is ever simple,and uncomplicated when Frank Spencer is around.

I am now delighted to have the entire series of this brilliant comedy on DVD.

I got my first taste of this series recently. The comedy is side-splitting, especially when you realize that is the very intense "Phantom of the Opera" on your screen with that innocent look on his face making a complete disaster of everything.

I can't wait to see more episodes. The episodes I saw, about a second honeymoon and an RAF reunion, were laugh-out-loud hilarious. The comedy is very physical. Crawford has astounding delivery. He looks so young and different from the way he did when international stardom hit him. My sister lived in England and was a fan of this series, and I can still remember how astonished she was that Crawford was taken so seriously after Phantom. She, and millions of others, knew him as the hapless Frank Spencer, the man with "troubles."