Fawlty Towers must be my favorite comedy show ever. The pace is fast, the characters distinct, the acting superb, and the scripts are just terrific. However -- wisely, in my opinion, John Cleese and his co-writer, Connie Booth, have ruled out a return.
The four stars -- Cleese, Booth, Andrew Sachs, and Prunella Scales -- were reunited for the first time in 30 years, to promote a documentary for TV channel G.O.L.D. Asked the inevitable question, 69-year-old Cleese said they would never make another episode because they are "too old and tired." The pace is too fast, and the expectations too high -- and there is also the memory that it took six intensive weeks to write each half-hour episode.
Last month, the BBC sitcom was named the most "iconic" TV comedy show of all time.
Yet, only 12 episodes were ever made. Cleese said that he and Booth (who played the waitress, Polly) made a joint decision to stop it at that.
"We both felt we'd done our best and we just knew that, if we did it, it wouldn't be as good."
See an interview with Cleese.
3 comments:
It's great to know that some people know when to say when.
I loved Faulty Towers, but would find it truly cringeworthy to watch a geriatric version!
Let us savour the memories of them in their frenetic, beautifully over the top youth
I couldn't agree more, Vanda. In fact, I think they were wise to stop at 12 episodes. Too many sitcoms carry on until they are boringly predictable. Even "Cheers" went on too long. The actors still do their best, but the scriptwriters have run out of fresh ideas.
Wise decision. How wonderful those 12 episodes were. I sometimes watch them again when they are repeated.
They make me cringe but I love them, same with The Office.
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