The Young Ones: British comedy classic
Meet The Young Ones - classic British TV
It's a touch disheartening when TV shows that seemed to happen only yesterday become regarded as old time classics. It really makes you feel old. But there's a hidden benefit and that is that when programs like this are considered classics, they become available on DVD so that we can watch them all over again. Ah, one of the positives of getting older.
At home with students in the eighties
I'd been out of college for a few years when this series started but nevertheless, as soon as I watched the first episode, I realized that I knew these people. Not literally of course, but the four main characters are almost a distillation of so many students I knew. Oh and yes, student houses in those days were exactly like that.
The quotes live on
For those of us who were obsessed and devoted fans, we still use quotes from the episodes in our conversations, even today. If someone says to me 'no way dot' or 'it's a larf, innit' then I know that they are one of us; one of a select group. Even phrases like 'retractable pencil' can crack us up. Totally, completely daft.
Dodgy language, mindless violence and very funny
This might not be for everyone! Apparently there was an American version planned (with only one of the original cast) but never got beyond pilot stage. It has slapstick, silliness and sarcasm and the crazy thing is that it's very nearly true-to-life - it's simply an exaggeration of college days in the 70s and 80s in England. On every episode there was a musical interlude and there are various very funny cameos throughout the series. And the good news is that all the episodes are available on this boxed set.
You can see more details and order the series using the button on the right.
The series is so interesting to watch today and see how student life has changed.
But this was very typical of how students used to live when I was studying for my degree and the characters are only mild caricatures - there really were some strange people around in those days.
Watch a clip
See a video clip below to see if this is your sort of humour. It's like Marmite - you either love it or you hate it.
More British comedy
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