Are You Being Served?

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:19pm

Is anyone else a fan of this show? And is anyone else glad that PBS still runs this 30+ years later?!

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:23pm

I have seen every episode, including the first one in b&w, countless times. I love it!

"Do you know that every time I show my **** it wins a prize?"

Edit: One of mods edited my quote. The p-word used referred to a cat.
Updated On: 12/30/08 at 06:23 PM

[Hulmeman]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:26pm

"I'm free"

The Mr Humphrey's character drove the British gay liberation movement into a rage during the 1970's. It was the image they were down playing.It got a bit political for a while

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:41pm

Does anyone know if Mollie Sugden is still working?

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:46pm

She was in a few plays I believe

[Hulmeman]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:49pm

She was in an episode of "Little Britain" last year.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:51pm

ARE YOU SERIOUS
what one?!

Edit: I completely forgot about that one! Updated On: 12/30/08 at 06:51 PM

[Hulmeman]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 6:55pm

Don't know which one (I'll try and find out), but David Walliams played a character who was "Mollie Sugden's bridesmaid". In one episode Mollie was in the restaurant and of course the claim was "examined" so as not to spoil it for you!!!

Just found she was in the final episode of the 2003 series (so long ago!!) I think that was series 1 of "Little Britain" Updated On: 12/30/08 at 06:55 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 7:08pm

The whole series is such a throwback, making use of tried-and-true (and already outdated) Brit humor types: the retired major, the battle ax, the dolly bird . . .

As for the p*ssy jokes: I know they're coming, and yet they get me every single time.

"I need you to go over and look through my mail flap, and if you can see my p*ssy, drop a sardine on the mat."

Priceless.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 7:10pm

Although they are making fun of the show,
it is a fair assessment and kills me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xopZGwEqS2I&feature=related

[Elphaba]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 8:39pm

and I am unanimous in that!

[bschneid76]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 8:59pm

"Mrs. Slocombe didn't want to take your trousers down without your permission."

"She's got some nerve. She wants to remove my shirts and put a bra there instead!"

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 12/30/08 at 10:16pm

I love this show! I finally broke down earlier this year and bought the complete series on DVD.

Whenever Mrs. Slocombe says "Oh yes" or "Get stuffed", it cracks me up.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:35am

Did anyone see the movie?
It was basically them going on vacation, and kind of incorperated some old shows into the movie.

[Radiana]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 12:42am

I'm a fan, never missed a show and that was way back before tivo.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 2:57am

I miss this show soooo much! The local PBS station no longer airs it. Not in any position to buy the series on DVD either. At least they are easy to find online.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 3:51am

I love the episode with "Mr. Grace, This Is Your Department."
The film they show is hysterical.
I love that picture of Mr. Granger in a pram.

Thanks for the info about Sugden.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 4:48am

How about the episode where they all come down with some exotic illness,and have to wear the egg shaped pajamas? Or the episode where they switch to the toy department for a day? Mr. Humphries and his Wibbly Wobblies! So many classics!

[bschneid76]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 6:55am

The movie is ok, not great, but it is fun to watch the cast. There is a play version of the film as well. The film is available on DVD.

Have you seen the sequel: Are You Being Served, Again? Not great, but again the cast is fun to watch.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 7:59am

Are You Being Served Again was originally called Grace & Favour.
bschneid76, you're right. It's not as good as the original but still fun to watch.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 8:36am

Reginald Tresilian: your example of pu**y was hilarious. It made me laugh out loud. I, too, know when its coming but it gets me everytime.

I have moved out of the City and cannot get PBS and thus miss ARE YOU BEING SERVED? very much. Seeing repeat episodes never spoiled my enjoyment. Mollie Sugden was my favorite character and actress.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 8:55am

Another comedy that was well done. It works well on so many levels. One being the garbage you have to put up with at work.

Obviously some stretching had to be done with the circumstances of the show. Grace Brothers seemed like a huge store, and it never made sense that women's items and menswear were right next to each other. But we all suspend belief and make it work.

If you are a regular watcher, you will notice Joanna Lumley (later of Ab Fab) appearing twice during the run of the show.

Some of the funnier bits:

Mr. Humphries (answering the phone in a deep voice): "Menswear"

"They'll ride up with wear"

"You've all done very well!"

I really enjoyed the original cast, I think the show began to falter when the originals left. They never really got Arthur Brough's (Mr. Grainger) replacements right. He was an original. He had that blustery old man role down pat. And Mr. Spooner always seemed a bit creepy after Trevor Bannister left.

I was shocked the first time I tuned in to EastEnders and saw Wendy Richard. I didn't recognize her as the actress that played Miss Brahms. Of course a person can change a lot in 20 years.

Updated On: 12/31/08 at 08:55 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 10:12am

Love the show! Never saw the movie, though.

I remember the "Molly Sugden's bridesmaid" character from Little Britain. She was part of the first series (aka Season 1). She would always brag to whomever was in earshot that she had been a bridesmaid at Molly Sugden's wedding. It was her one celebrity friend, apparently, and she name-dropped it whenever she could.

Then in one of the episodes, they had Molly (as herself) come into a restaurant and sit very near her. When this bragging lady was confronted to actually go over and say hello, her bluff was called, and instead she hurled a knife across the room and killed her. LOL! I know it loses a lot in the telling, but it was pretty damn funny on TV. And Molly was such a good sport to not only play along, but "play dead."

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 10:46am

Mrs Slocombe again - an excuse why she is late: "The central heating broke down and I had to hold my p.ussy in front of it. It was frozen solid."

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/31/08 at 10:48am

Birthday gift ideas for Mrs. Slocombe...
Capt. Peacock: "Any Suggestions?"
Mr. Grainger: "I vote we give her a cyanide tablet...no, no, I take that back."
Capt. Peacock: "Good."
Mr. Grainger: "Two cyanide tablets, in case the first one doesn't work."