Sitcom Showdown

In this first-ever 'Hall of Shame' version of the podcast, Jeff nominates an episode of Still Open All Hours to show that even a classic David Jason & Roy Clarke sitcom can produce one-star clunkers.

What We Do in the Shadows is the sitcom nominated this time, with Steve suggesting this vampire comedy has Hall of Fame potential. Let's see if the powers of producers Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Paul Simms, along with a cast including Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou, can rise to the occasion!

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license.

The Mighty Boosh is nominated for the Hall of Fame by Jeffers for their series one episode 'Electro' (2004). Will the adventures of Vince Noir and Howard Moon slip into the hallowed hall like a warm kitten? That's up to Steve, the spirit of sitcom.

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license.

Loved By You - the UK version of Mad About You - is selected by Steve to be inspected as part of the cross-Atlantic sitcom swap month of March 2020. Is this transplanted remake as bad as you's expect? It can't be any worse than the partially dodgy audio quality from our hosts as they try a spot of remote recording forced by lockdown...

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license.

Payne, the USA version of Fawlty Towers, is Jeffers' choice this episode. In March 2020 we're looking at sitcom reworkings in other continents, and this 1999 imitation of Fawlty Towers is a notorious one, even with John Larroquette and JoBeth Williams doing the best they can. Let's find out how payne-ful it is!

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Thanks texasradiofish!

A look back at THE GOOD PLACE.

The Nordic sitcom 'Norsemen' is nominated for the Hall of Fame by Steve, who goes to bat for the 'village & pillage' adventures of vikings in the 8th Century.

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Thanks texasradiofish!

Fawlty Towers gets its second nomination for the Hall of Fame, for the episode 'Communication Problems', starring the formidable Mrs Richards. Surely any example of this all-time classic sitcom from John Cleese and Connie Booth is a dead cert winner, just like Dragonfly ... (or is that Nitwit?)

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Thanks texasradiofish!

Rising Damp's 1975 Christmas episode 'For the Man Who Has Everything' is nominated for the Hall of Fame by Steve, who is impressed by the fast-talking Leonard Rossiter and his castmates.

NewsRadio gets its second nomination for the Hall of Fame, thanks to Jeffers putting up the festive episode 'Xmas Story' from season 2. Steve gets to decide whether the Christmas adventures of Dave Nelson, Lisa Miller, Jimmy James, Matthew and the crew of WNYX will be able to deck the Hall with bouts of funny.

Twitter: @SitcomShowdown

Theme tune 'Billy Blues' by texasradiofish (c) copyright 2015. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. Thanks texasradiofish!