Will Father Ted ever die?

jonnypacket · 06-06-2015 4:17pm #1

The show is almost 20 years old and still we have self-proclaimed comedians quoting the same 5 predictable lines on a daily basis in futile attempts to be funny. It is heralded as the pinnacle of Irish comedy, never to be unseated from it pedestal, and has assumed a bizarre status as a national pop-culture asset. Every single protest in this country is guaranteed to have several chromosomally-disadvantaged yobs holding "careful now" signs. How do fully mentally developed, mature adults still find this amusing?

Look, the show was great in its hey-day, but maybe it's time to move on? Frankly I find it embarrassing that we haven't produced anything greater or equal to it since. The continuous adoration rained upon it is cringe worthy.

I'm sure someone will gleefully rush in here to respond "if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall". Just know that your not funny in advance. Thanks.

frozenfrozen · 06-06-2015 4:19pm

if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall

Ted_YNWA · 06-06-2015 4:20pm

I had my fun, and that's all that matters.

FalconGirl · 06-06-2015 4:21pm

Down with that sort of thing!

catallus · 06-06-2015 4:21pm

Most of it was rubbish, tbh, but when it was good it was very very good.

actuar90 · 06-06-2015 4:24pm

Technically he died 17 years ago...

actuar90 · 06-06-2015 4:25pm

FalconGirl wrote: »

Down with that sort of thing!

Careful now!

jonnypacket · 06-06-2015 4:25pm

We as a nation haven't produced another half-decent comedy show in 20 years. That's the real laughable thing here. (Unless you consider Mrs Brown's Boys funny, then you're beyond saving)

The_Valeyard · 06-06-2015 4:26pm

ARSEBISCUITS

Free Hat · 06-06-2015 4:28pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

We as a nation haven't produced another half-decent comedy show in 20 years. That's the real laughable thing here. (Unless you consider Mrs Brown's Boys funny, then you're beyond saving)

The Savage Eye was pretty funny I thought.

Atlas26 · 06-06-2015 4:28pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

We as a nation haven't produced another half-decent comedy show in 20 years. That's the real laughable thing here. (Unless you consider Mrs Brown's Boys funny, then you're beyond saving)

1st season of Moone Boy was alright in my opinion at least.

06-06-2015 4:30pm

The jokes are not funny. It's the cringeworthy situations that are hilarious.

Having said that, most foreigners seem to glare at it, dead-pan. The Spanish have a similar sitcom, called Ay, Señor! which is deeply unfunny but my Spanish friends love it. They think Fr Ted is dumb.

Good comedy often doesn't cross borders.

Tails142 · 06-06-2015 4:30pm

I think it has entered culture much in the same way Monty Python or The Simpsons has.

mikom · 06-06-2015 4:33pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

Look, the show was great in its hey-day, but maybe it's time to move on?

Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do.

kneemos · 06-06-2015 4:35pm

mikom wrote: »

Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do.

Looks like rain Ted.

ihavenoname3 · 06-06-2015 4:36pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

We as a nation haven't produced another half-decent comedy show in 20 years. That's the real laughable thing here. (Unless you consider Mrs Brown's Boys funny, then you're beyond saving)

what about paths to freedom? far better than fr ted.

endacl · 06-06-2015 4:37pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

We as a nation haven't produced another half-decent comedy show in 20 years. That's the real laughable thing here. (Unless you consider Mrs Brown's Boys funny, then you're beyond saving)

As a nation, we didn't produce Father Ted. We just provided the material.

jonnypacket · 06-06-2015 4:37pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

The jokes are not funny. It's the cringeworthy situations that are hilarious.

Having said that, most foreigners seem to glare at it, dead-pan. The Spanish have a similar sitcom, called Ay, Señor! which is deeply unfunny but my Spanish friends love it. They think Fr Ted is dumb.

Good comedy often doesn't cross borders.

Foreigners will awkwardly feign laughter and agree that it's funny so as not to offend. We're trapped in an echo chamber surrounded by yes men so we're convinced it's the greatest comedy on Earth.

NachoBusiness · 06-06-2015 4:38pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Good comedy often doesn't cross borders.

Indeed. I went to a Bollywood flick last yeara and it was almost sold out. Well the place was in tears laughing at it. Side splitting laughter, howling and I was like what in the name of God is happening. It was the biggest load of tripe you have ever seen. It was like I was being pranked.

I do like Indian films usually though (Piku, Bang Bang, two recent gems.. it's just their all out comedies that I find weird. So, yeah, spot on. Some comedy just doesn't travel.

SoulTrader · 06-06-2015 4:41pm

On a flight back to Ireland for Christmas last year, I was pleased to see that Father Ted was available on the IFE system. I switched it on and watched for about 3 or 4 minutes before realising it had given me all the laughs it ever would and now was the time to move on.

It was great then, but I can't see myself ever watching another episode.

barneystinson · 06-06-2015 4:41pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

The jokes are not funny. It's the cringeworthy situations that are hilarious.

Having said that, most foreigners seem to glare at it, dead-pan. The Spanish have a similar sitcom, called Ay, Señor! which is deeply unfunny but my Spanish friends love it. They think Fr Ted is dumb.

Good comedy often doesn't cross borders.

Only problem with that is that it was a Channel 4 show, made for their UK viewers.....

Edit: it won 2 BAFTAs for best comedy, and was voted C4's greatest comedy series by its viewers a couple of years back (thanks Wikipedia!)... So unless there isn't a border between Ireland and the UK you're talkin through yer hole!

firestarter51 · 06-06-2015 4:41pm

endacl wrote: »

As a nation, we didn't produce Father Ted. We just provided the material.

you are right rte refused to do it so they went to channel 4
it was funny but its constantly being repeated, i dont bother watching it anymore
savage eye was good
moone boy is stupid imo

Rabo Karabekian · 06-06-2015 4:41pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

Foreigners will awkwardly feign laughter and agree that it's funny so as not to offend. We're trapped in an echo chamber surrounded by yes men so we're convinced it's the greatest comedy on Earth.

But the poster was saying that foreigners *don't* smile politely at Fr Ted. I've found the same, most of my foreign friends who don't find it funny certainly don't pretend like it is. I knew one (English) guy who got quite ranty about how unfunny it is.

06-06-2015 4:42pm

ihavenoname3 wrote: »

what about paths to freedom? far better than fr ted.

Was that the one with Deirdre O'Kane? I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than watch that, or her, again.

The only reason I ever saw it, is it used be on TV just before 'This Life' on a Tuesday night. Not a comedy, but worth staying up for all the nudey bits.

barneystinson wrote: »

Only problem with that is that it was a Channel 4 show, made for their UK viewers.....

Ah yeah but Irish and English comedy/social culture is pretty indistinguishable. I don't think I'd even consider the Brits foreigners.

Stormington · 06-06-2015 4:50pm

firestarter51 wrote: »

you are right rte refused to do it so they went to channel 4
it was funny but its constantly being repeated, i dont bother watching it anymore
savage eye was good
moone boy is stupid imo

They never went to RTE. Graham Linehan was on twitter recently saying they never bothered as RTE were/are horrific to deal with and skipped them entirely in favour of Channel 4.

Savage Eye had its moments. As did paths to freedom. On the latter, its nice to see the guy that played the junkie moving up in the world: he's Roose Bolton (sp?) in GoT. He also does the voiceover for Mercedes doesn't he?

RayM · 06-06-2015 4:55pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

I'm sure someone will gleefully rush in here to respond "if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall". Just know that your not funny in advance. Thanks.

Well, I have to say I think that you're a very rude man.

Birneybau · 06-06-2015 4:56pm

mikom wrote: »

Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do.

And priests, eh...

Irish Guitarist · 06-06-2015 4:59pm

It was terrible crap. The same drivel in every episode. "Will you have a cup of tea?". "The money was just resting in my account". "DRINK FECK ARSE GIRLS". Any other 'comedy' that relied on the same few catchphrases repeated ad infinitum would be vilified.

mikom · 06-06-2015 5:04pm

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

It was terrible crap. The same drivel in every episode. "Will you have a cup of tea?". "The money was just resting in my account". "DRINK FECK ARSE GIRLS". Any other 'comedy' that relied on the same few catchphrases repeated ad infinitum would be vilified.

And now for something completely different........

06-06-2015 5:05pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall

Just know that your* not funny in advance. Thanks.

* Or "you're" if you prefer.

Ronan|Raven · 06-06-2015 5:05pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

The show is almost 20 years old and still we have self-proclaimed comedians quoting the same 5 predictable lines on a daily basis in futile attempts to be funny. It is heralded as the pinnacle of Irish comedy, never to be unseated from it pedestal, and has assumed a bizarre status as a national pop-culture asset. Every single protest in this country is guaranteed to have several chromosomally-disadvantaged yobs holding "careful now" signs. How do fully mentally developed, mature adults still find this amusing?

Look, the show was great in its hey-day, but maybe it's time to move on? Frankly I find it embarrassing that we haven't produced anything greater or equal to it since. The continuous adoration rained upon it is cringe worthy.

I'm sure someone will gleefully rush in here to respond "if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall". Just know that your not funny in advance. Thanks.

Well well well if it isn't Mr I'm going to tell you all what is and isn't funny. Too cool for school Mr mcgoo there pontificating like a priest on a Sunday.

raze_them_all_ · 06-06-2015 5:16pm

It holds a place as it was a programme that took the mic out of the church when nobody was doing that, it's still popular as the church is in a massive decline especially with people under 30

Ruu · 06-06-2015 5:18pm

OK, one last time. These are small… but the ones out there are far away. Small… far away

kneemos · 06-06-2015 5:23pm

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

It was terrible crap. The same drivel in every episode. "Will you have a cup of tea?". "The money was just resting in my account". "DRINK FECK ARSE GIRLS". Any other 'comedy' that relied on the same few catchphrases repeated ad infinitum would be vilified.

Like Little Britain.
Fawlty Towers.
The list is probably endless,can't be bothered.

RayM · 06-06-2015 5:26pm

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

It was terrible crap. The same drivel in every episode. "Will you have a cup of tea?". "The money was just resting in my account". "DRINK FECK ARSE GIRLS". Any other 'comedy' that relied on the same few catchphrases repeated ad infinitum would be vilified.

I don't believe it.

pmasterson95 · 06-06-2015 5:31pm

Well with utter morons like Jennifer Maguire (shes a ride tbf) and that Callan idiot is it any wonder we think back to actual comedies?

Everythin coming up Milhouse · 06-06-2015 5:43pm

Chewing gum for the eyes.

Say Your Number · 06-06-2015 6:01pm

It's a good show, but I'm sick to death of having it shoved in my face constantly, there are some good lines but not worthy of repetition every single day for 20 years.

On comedy since then I thought the second season of Hardy Bucks was quite good.

Can't wait to see what hilarious quote someone will respond to this with in order to pick up a few thanks.

mikom · 06-06-2015 6:02pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

On comedy since then I thought he second season of Hardy Bucks was quite good.

Can't wait to see what hilarious quote someone will respond to this with in order to pick up a few thanks.

Your ould lady has worms.

Say Your Number · 06-06-2015 6:06pm

mikom wrote: »

Your ould lady has worms.

You're as mad as a bag of shpiders

kneemos · 06-06-2015 6:16pm

Funny first time round. Since it became apparent it was actually a documentary it's become even funnier.

Yamanoto · 06-06-2015 6:24pm

I'm not sure it's held up that well, though the prolific quotebots on Boards may have drained it of much of the charm it once possessed.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 06-06-2015 6:28pm

ihavenoname3 wrote: »

what about paths to freedom? far better than fr ted.

Criminally underrated, the spin off film about Rats 'Spin the Bottle' was also hilarious.

Billy86 · 06-06-2015 6:34pm

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

It was terrible crap. The same drivel in every episode. "Will you have a cup of tea?". "The money was just resting in my account". "DRINK FECK ARSE GIRLS". Any other 'comedy' that relied on the same few catchphrases repeated ad infinitum would be vilified.

D'Oh, Aye carumba, don't have a cow man, eat my shorts, (disapproving) mmmmmmmm, Hi Everybody!, thank you and come again, huh-hee-hee-hee, release the hounds, etc, etc.

Billy86 · 06-06-2015 6:37pm

barneystinson wrote: »

Only problem with that is that it was a Channel 4 show, made for their UK viewers.....

Edit: it won 2 BAFTAs for best comedy, and was voted C4's greatest comedy series by its viewers a couple of years back (thanks Wikipedia!)... So unless there isn't a border between Ireland and the UK you're talkin through yer hole!

Not at all. Ireland and the UK have extremely similar cultures, especially when it comes to humour so most shows translate between audiences almost seamlessly.

The show does also have a bit of a cult following in Australia and North America, but it's a very, very small one. It was brilliant in its time, but truth is I think it has aged pretty badly.

TheQuietFella · 06-06-2015 6:40pm

ihavenoname3 wrote: »

what about paths to freedom? far better than fr ted.

and Fergus's Wedding! Another show that was well before it's time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnQ5jcooF_0

tipparetops · 06-06-2015 6:59pm

father ted is the greatest comedy TV ever made.
saw chris the unhappy sheep episode the other night, brilliant. Genius.

06-06-2015 7:07pm

I like FT, and don't mind the quotes, it's just when there's a quote thrown in everything for the sake of it that it starts to wear very thin. Things that are scarce can become precious, things that are plentiful you get sick of.

For Ted's sake, keep the references for when it's really apt.

Mister Vain · 06-06-2015 7:21pm

ihavenoname3 wrote: »

what about paths to freedom? far better than fr ted.

It was in its hole.

DeanAustin · 06-06-2015 7:36pm

Great comedy, still makes me laugh but people quoting it on here endlessly is annoying.

Same as those people in real life who quote it thinking they're the first people in history to say "careful now" or "down with that sort of thing". Tools.

porsche959 · 06-06-2015 7:37pm

jonnypacket wrote: »

The show is almost 20 years old and still we have self-proclaimed comedians quoting the same 5 predictable lines on a daily basis in futile attempts to be funny. It is heralded as the pinnacle of Irish comedy, never to be unseated from it pedestal, and has assumed a bizarre status as a national pop-culture asset. Every single protest in this country is guaranteed to have several chromosomally-disadvantaged yobs holding "careful now" signs. How do fully mentally developed, mature adults still find this amusing?

Look, the show was great in its hey-day, but maybe it's time to move on? Frankly I find it embarrassing that we haven't produced anything greater or equal to it since. The continuous adoration rained upon it is cringe worthy.

I'm sure someone will gleefully rush in here to respond "if you ever say that again, I'll put your head through the wall". Just know that your not funny in advance. Thanks.

IT wasn't even produced by 'us'. It was made by a British-based production company and first shown on UK tv (granted, with a lot of Irish involvement on the writing and acting front).

Will Father Ted ever die?

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