Friday Night Dinner

I watched episode one under protest and thought "what a load of crap". Three years later, I am hooked and I have watched the whole lot at least ten times over. Tamsin (Mummy) and Mark (Jim) are my stars but it wouldn't work without the whole ensemble A very low budget TV show with no special effects. Props are limited to a frozen fox and a splitting images Prince Charles mask.

This classic relies on nothing more than brilliant writing and acting.

They both conspire to make my belly ache with laughter.

I die every time that Jim flinches away from Wilson. Genius comedy.

Not to mention Gran accidentally kissing dad on the chest.

More please.

This show is, I say again,absolute Class. The writing of this show is pristine, very life like yet still funny. Paul Ritter - Martin is the funniest character on TV, so dopey and grubby. The fact that he's deaf makes it funnier because he always mistakes what people are saying, and he just does silly things. Jim is also oddly hilarious. In every episode he pops up to the house, and is very unintelligent. His approach is just hilarious. The two Boys are like two young kids, calling each other names and playing pranks, but this works well for the show, and the mother is very motherly, but joins in with the banter also.

Comedies like these don't come often.

This is a really good example of a situation comedy where relatively small and seemingly trivial things can be focused on and expanded into hilarious situations. The show rarely extends beyond the confines of the house and typically revolves around the four main characters with the strange neighbour next door making regular appearances and perhaps another individual included for the particular episode in question.

There is a very strong cast and the comedy is balanced between a decent plot, (or set-up), excellent dialogue and some visual humour. It really does have the feel of a family with the little nuances that make family life very funny at times. This is a quality show, which may be under the radar a little, compared to other more high profile productions, but actually is far better than most of them.

Well worth watching an entire episode, (they wrap themselves up quite neatly and satisfactorily in the end), if you haven't heard or seen it before. Far more people are going to enjoy this than not.

...because it is so bloody stupid. BUT... I had to give it that many because I absolutely adore it. I know it's a stupid show, they crack the same jokes over and over, and I cannot imagine finding this show funny or liking it at all if it were American, even with the exact same script. I don't know why, but these exact actors are just right for all of their roles and for the show's writing. This show never ceases to make me laugh. The recycled jokes, the farcical situations, everything is funny... all the dad has to do is get this look on his face and I am already chuckling. Even the boys' immature pranks (that I would see as entirely obnoxious in just about any other programme) make me laugh. I have a constant grin on my face when I watch this show. I just can't bloody help it.

Martin is definitely my favourite character, he is absolutely bloody brilliant and always makes me laugh. I love the insults and curse words he uses, they are the BEST. (I'm trying to popularise "Shtting sht on it.") I haven't had the opportunity to call anyone a pillock as yet. I don't know why, but there is something about that man that cracks me up. He's so offbeat but also has his normal moments. Jim is just so odd it's beyond overboard for me. Not even a second of normality. It makes me cringe sometimes. How does this man own a home? How does he have money? How does he take care of himself? How does he take care of his dog? These are the questions keeping me up at night.

Not really.

Came across this comedy totally by accident, and what a great find it has proved to be. The family dynamic is so reminiscent of most families I know, but this family takes it to a totally new level. The father is by far the star of the show, only for his total ignorance of what the mother is trying to achieve each weekend. With hilarious consequences. The crazy neighbour Jim and his terrifying, yet obviously timid dog, are beyond comedic value. The hand over mouth, and laugh out loud moments Jim is involved with seriously does make him a main character in this show. All in all, this comedy makes you think you've seen all a family get together can produce. Then Friday Night Dinner happens. It is a beautiful show. Well written, well directed, well acted, and well received.