Sitcoms of the 1970s - My Selections

When I was a child in the 1970s, situation comedies were going through their golden age, although I appreciated this little at the time. Revisiting these shows in adult life has equipped me with an enhanced grasp of their qualities and subject matter.

One of the earliest sitcoms which I can recall watching is "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads", the sequel to the fondly remembered "The Likely Lads" from the 1960s.

The main thrust of the story was Terry Collier's return from five years in the Army, and the chasm which had developed between his situation and that of his best friend Bob Ferris. This allowed the writers, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, to examine issues of social climbing, work/life balance and the limits of friendship. As these themes tend to be timeless, and relevant to the majority of people, "Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads" holds up better in the 21st century than most other sitcoms of its time.

There was always a hard to pin-down homely feel about the show, possibly arising from it being set in the North East of England. The interaction between Bob, Terry and Bob's wife Thelma offered a range of possibilities, and these were ably exploited by the peerless writing team of Clement and La Frenais.

After "Whatever Happened to......", Clement and La Frenais came up with another, albeit very different, masterpiece.  "Porridge" was set in Slade Prison, and followed the trials and tribulations of Norman Stanley Fletcher and his fellow inmates.

To the layman it might have seemed an onerous task to extract credible humour from prison life, but the writers accomplished this admirably, whilst also touching on sensitive issues in a mature manner.

As with any great comedy, characters and casting were vital. That "Porridge" succeeded in these respects can be seen from the pivotal theme of the show;the ongoing battle of wits between the street-wise Londoner Fletch and the stern and disciplinarian chief warder Mr Mackay.

Perhaps the most lingering memory of "Porridge" is the astounding peformance of Ronnie Barker as Fletch. A believable character, and not based on any stereotypes, Fletch engages in a campaign to win "little victories", to buck the system, and to maintain his own sanity whilst others are losing theirs.

The two main supporting characters offer intriguing contrasts of viewpoint and personality to Fletch and Mackay.  Lennie Godber is Fletcher's young and naive cellmate, and Barraclough is the liberal, malleable warder who is constantly manipulated by Fletch and his cohorts as a means of achieving those "little victories".

The more minor characters such as Lukewarm, McLaren, Warren and Genial Harry Grout all add to the rich tapestry which makes "Porridge" an undisputed classic.

Another more esoteric, but equally praiseworthy sitcom came along later in the 1970s - The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, starring Leonard Rossiter.

This particular show is regularly overlooked in the pantheon, probably because it is less immediately accessible than the others. However, if one persists, it is perhaps the most rewarding of all.

The themes covered, such as the drudgery of 9 to 5 existence, and the allure of alternative living, were part of the 1970s Zeitgeist, and are still very relevant today.

The increasing neurosis and despair of Reginald Perrin, and the emptiness of his existence, are wonderfully conveyed by the performance of Rossiter, who displays his comic talent and versatility to its fullest extent here.

There is no sugar-coated ending, and matters are left somewhat inconclusive and confused, perhaps intentionally, in keeping with the central message of the futility of aspects of modern life.

The programme has some fascinating supporting characters, such as Perrin's boss and nemesis CJ, and his brother-in-law Jimmy, ably portrayed by Geoffrey Palmer.

It is probably necessary to watch "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" in its entirety, as individual episodes might not make total sense on their own. However, as a whole this is a fascinating and intriguing series. A gem.

Notwithstanding the endearing and esoteric virtues of the shows detailed above, probably the most popular British sitcom when I was a child was "Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em" written by Raymond Allen.

Michael Crawford plays the accident-prone and insecure Frank Spencer, and Michele Dotrice his long-suffering wife Betty.

"Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em" follows Frank's efforts to make something of his life, and Betty's battles to endure the traumas, whilst keeping her husbands's spirits up. Crawford's natural comic talent, and his willingness to engage in bizarre stunts, are a constant driving force.

Many lists of "classic sitcoms" conveniently ignore this show, perhaps because it is not perceived as "cool". It did not possess the gritty scenarios or incisive writing of others of the genre, but it succeeds because it is basically funny and entertaining, and because of the pathos of the Frank Spencer character.

Here's hoping for a rehabilitation of "Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em"!