Friday Night Dinner

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.

Friday Night Dinner is an excellent sitcom starring Tasmin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal. Paul Ritter who plays Dad is particularly funny and provides the most gags in each episode. One of my favourite shows on TV! I've never laughed so much watching some of these episodes. All 3 series are funny, crude and extremely well written. I prefer Simon Bird in this role as Adam than I do as Will in The Inbetweeners and I love The Inbetweeners so that's saying something. Nothing but praise for Friday Night Dinner. Jim the neighbour is also brilliant, the idea of him being frightened of his own dog makes me laugh and Jim is just hilarious and awkward.

Outstanding series, I would recommend it highly! It's a shame we only have 3 series, I really want more of Friday Night Dinner.

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.

Everyone in this hilarious comedy series pulls their weight. Tamsin Grieg is especially brilliant as the wacky mom trying to keep it all together, when her brood gathers for shabat dinner. If you thought she was funny in Episodes, she's just as good here. Each character is just balls out funny, and the cast's chemistry together is spot on. Simple situations that go awry every Friday night when the two boys come home for their weekly family gathering, are inspired and original. The writing is sharp, precise and just plain crazy. The quirks are consistent and so are the laughs. I love that the two 20-something boys fall back on school-boy prank behaviour when they're under mom and dad's roof. Family dynamics are universal, so everyone will find something to relate to. Enjoy.