Early Doors

I watched both series on the BBC and now own the DVD's. A well crafted comedy with what I would consider instantly likable characters. To pick out one character, would be a dis-service, as all shine. I believe the key to good comedy is the relationship on and off camera between the actors and it's a delight to watch the out-takes on the DVD, must have been a joy to go to work everyday.

Shame it's not too well known, people either shake their head or shrug their shoulders when I ask them if they've seen it. I prefer this to the Royle Family, probably cause I know what it's like to walk into a pub where the regulars are regular. Hoping for more.

Ken runs The Grapes, a failing Manchester pub, frequented by a handful of loveable locals. A pub where more goes on than meets the eye, probably.

This has to be the most underrated and forgotten 'MASTERPIECE' that has ever come out of the BBC. Writers Craig Cash and Phil Mealey created something absolutely wonderful with this one.

Why on Earth did this not get more coverage and no further series? Criminal: so funny, beautifully written and meaningful events, the characters were all thoroughly believable and lovable!

I was lucky enough to see the live stage show, none of the magic has gone, this show is begging to be brought back to our screens, comedy is pretty much dead, this could bring it back to life!

Jean and Winnie's dialogues are just the funniest thing I have ever seen; incredible! But the line of Eddie and Tommy speaking about Joan's driving test - what sign would you expect to see on a narrow country lane? The answer: 'fresh farm eggs for sale.' Absolute genius!

I can see the same fate happening to the current series 'The Visit,' which is very similar and again wonderfully fantastic. Why aren't these on BBC in prime spots instead of rubbish like 'After You've Gone' and 'Green Green Grass'? Please, someone read this and take note.

To the regiment! I wish I was there; a real gem of comedy with a hint of heartwarming drama running through it as well.

10/10.

I had the fortune of catching season one before I returned to the states. I told my friends about it "oh it's the uk version of cheers then?" well no, I don't remember sam talking a pee with the door open or norm and cliff talking about having bit on the side. Some might find it a bit boring but me I could have watched until closing time. 10/10 pure (working) class

Caught this by chance when first on BBC2 ages ago and now have become Eddiesque with my non stop quotes. The beauty is its simplicity, a pub full of half wits and cretins talking rubbish about things of no consequence i.e exactly what a good pub should be! Ken topping the branded spirits up with cheap tat, Duffy with his Polaroids, Eddie and his jury service and perhaps my favourite Tommy during Melanies 21st birthday with his table in the toilets, Ken; Are you coming out when she cuts the cake, or do you want her to bring it in here? Tommy; P*** off!Possibly only modern comedy (Gervais being a possible exception) that can make me cry laughing. Heard rumours of a third series with the second being shown on BBC1 in August 06, I wait for more tales of temporary traffic lights at the junction of Burdall Lane, by McVities. Sheer 100% genius

Why is it that every comedy now has to either have some "incredibly original" gimmick, or be extremely vulgar, or both, to hit it big? This consigns near-masterpieces like Early Doors to the slops bucket of TV history. Yes, as many observe, little happens in the course of the half hour, but you certainly don't even think about that when you're watching it. Cash and Mealey's genius is to realise that everybody's lives are generally repetitive, and so they are likely to have the same discussion in the same refuge every day. This is never treated with a hint of irony, but genuine warmth for the old school pubs that Ken and his lost bretheren run. Lacklustre shows like The Smoking Room and Little Britain, so pleased with themselves and determined to run down the losers, halfwits and layabouts of this world, would do well to learn from this and find that happiness is in whatever routine you, not society, carves out for you.