There are zany British sitcoms and then there are shows that are not so zany.
"Doctor in the House" is a good example of the latter. It took a little getting used to the six episodes I watched after the shows I grew up with but I enjoyed it.
The finale of "Blackadder" really had cleverness and class. This lazy, shirking, self-focused man who has only thought of his own comforts and advantage for four series forms up with Captain Darling and leads his troops to their tragic end in battle.
I hope they never make an American version of "Blackadder" because if this were done, in order for it to succeed there would need to be tender moments of togetherness and redemption and that's not what "Blackadder" or British comedy in general is about.
The reason why an American version of "Fawlty Towers" never worked was for the above reason, but also for two other reasons specific to the premisse of the show. First, Americans don't really have a class system. Second, their service industry truly does its best to serve customers.
"Some Mothers do 'ave 'em" wouldn't work in America either because the Frank Spencer character would have to win one occasionally whereas British people cheer for the perpetual underdog. The only way I could see that show possibly working this side of the pond is if the main character were either arrogant or truly thought his completely messing up people's lives would end up benefiting them.
Though "The Thin Blue Line" is regarded as simple, I found it witty and it was head and shoulders above a lot of the garbage sitcoms that were on North American TV at the time.
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