Blackadder

By Jhon Rojas

Synopsis:
Blackadder is a British sitcom considerate as a masterpiece of the television around the world. Blackadder is based in many significant periods and places in British history. The first series was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, while subsequent episodes were written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton. It was based on several series which have in common the main character Edmund Blackadder and his servant Baldrick. The first series was called “The Black Adder”. It is a play of words of the last name of the main character. The second series was called “Blackadder II”. The third series was called “Blackadder the Third” and the last series was called “Blackadder Goes Forth”. Blackadder is the generic name that encompasses these four series of this historical sitcom focus on different eras in the Blackadder family dynasty.Each Blackadder is apparently a distant descendant of the previous one. However, the two first Blackadder died without have children and people believe the first one died virgin. The first Blackadder was a Prince, the second one was a Noble, the third one was a real Butler and the last one was a Captain.

Critics:

Blackadder is one of the finest and brilliant examples of British sitcom. Sharp and extremely funny scripts have been combined with outstanding comic acting to produce a very superior sitcom. It is perhaps therefore not surprising it has been named the second best British sitcom ever. The unique way the same memorable and likeable characters are transported through time for each new series adds to the fun. In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes draw up by British Film Institute in 2000, voted for industry professionals, “Blackadder Goes Forth” was placed 16th. Without a doubt you have to see this comedy.

Series:

Series 1: The Black Adder
Set in middle Ages, This series was written as a secret history. It was opened on 21 August 1485, the eve of the Battle of Bosworth Field which in the series was won by Richard III. After his victory Richard III is then killed by Lord Edmund Plantagenet. The late King’s nephew, Richard, Duke of York who is Edmund Plantagenet’s (The Black Adder) father, is crowned as a Richard IV. Lord Edmund never took part in the battle. This logical but very silly historical premise combined with interwoven bits of Shakespeare, lends real intellectual delight and challenge to the humor.
Richard, Duke of York was reality only twelve years old when the Battle of Bosworth Field took place in 1485, and thus too young to have had two adults sons. This and historical discrepancies do not detract from the comedy. The series follows the fictitious reign of Richard IV (1485-98). Richard and his Queen Gertrude of Flanders, the Witch Queen, have two sons. By the end of the series, events converge with our timeline, when King Richard and his family are poisoned, allowed Henry Tudor to take the throne as King Henry VII. He then rewrites history, presenting Richard III as a monster, and eliminating Richard IV’s reign from the history books.

Series 2: Blackadder II
It is set in England during reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), played by Miranda Richardson. The principal character is Edmund, Lord Blackadder, the great-grandson of the Black Adder. During the series, he often comes into contact with the Queen, her pretentious Lord Chamberlain, Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) and her demented formed nanny Nursie (Patsy Byrne).
Following the BBC’s request for improvements to be made to the show, several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar character of Blackadder: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast with Prince Edmund of the first series. To make the show more cost effective, it was also shot with far fewer outdoor scenes than the first series and several, frequently used, indoors scenes, such as the Queen’s throne room and Blackadder’s front room.

Series 3: Blackadder the Third
Blackadder the Third was set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period know as the Regency. In the series, Edmund Blackadder Esquire is the butler to the Prince of Wales (the prince was played by Hugh Laurie as a complete fop and idiot). Despite Edmund’s respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of.
As well Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent, and Helen Atkinson-Wood as Mrs. Miggins.

Series 4: Blackadder Goes Forth

This series was set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War. Another “big push” is planned, and Captain Blackadder’ one goal is to avoid getting shot, so he plots ways to get out of it. Blackadder is joined by the idealistic Edwardian twit Lieutenant George, and the world’s worst cook, Private S. Baldrick. Loony General Melchett rallies his troops from a French mansion thirty-five miles from the front, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, Captain Darling, pencil-pusher supreme and Blackadder’s nemesis, whose name is played on for maximum comedy value.

Characters:

Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson): He is a member of an English family dynasty. He is a slim Prince who is rude, cunning, scheming and who has no morals.

Baldrick (Tony Robinson): He is the Edmund Blackadder’s servant. He is the victim of Blackadder’s anger. On each series he is weirdest and dirtiest.

Melchett (Stephen Fry): He is a sycophantic Lord Melchett, an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I in the fist series. He is the General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant of Lord Melchett in the fourth series.

Lord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny): He is a noble a little crazy. He only appeared in the two first series.

George (Hugh Laurie): He is the Prince George Augustus Frederick Hanover in the third series and the Lieutenant the honorable George Colthurst St. Bartleigh in the fourth series.

Allo Allo

By Judith Saiz

'Allo 'Allo!
UK, BBC, Sitcom, colour, 1982

Starring: Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Vicki Michell

'Allo 'Allo! was a direct-hit domestic sitcom and huge international success that made a star out of its lead, the funny and talented actor Gorden Kaye
In 'Allo 'Allo! Kaye played René Artois, a café owner in the town of Nouvion who becomes unwittingly involved with the resistance when they use his establishment as a centre from which to hatch plans to smuggle two British airmen back to Blighty. This adds complications to René's life which is already convoluted enough: he is married to Edith, a formidable woman who entertains in the café by singing (badly), but like all good comedy Frenchman he is also enjoying a passionate affair. The object of his lust is the beautiful Yvette, a leggy waitress at the café. Much mirth is caused by their constant attempts to steal a few precious moments alone, which they rarely achieve without coming close to being rumbled. René himself is the target of the unwanted attentions of the fey Lieutenant Gruber, aide-de-camp to the Gestapo's Herr Flick. The patronage of Flick and other Germans causes René further problems when resistance agent Michelle embroils him in her (often ludicrous) secret plans.
The show had serial elements, and the sheer number of episodes, 85 in total, meant that similar themes often surfaced. Early on in the series, to escape the wrath of the SS, René fakes his own death and continues through the remainder of the episodes as his own fictitious twin brother. This deception prompts aged lothario Monsieur Alfonse into pursuing René's 'widow', with a view to marriage. Other characters in the show include the fat, thick German Von Strohm and his colleague Hans Geering; ice queen Helga, Herr Flick's right-hand-woman; diminutive waitress Mimi La Bonque; and Edith's mother Fanny 'Fifi' Lafanne, who eventually marries Leclerc. David Janson appeared as Hitler in an episode of series eight and he returned to the cast for series nine, this time taking over the role of Herr Flick.
The show had a cunning method of dealing with language problems. French characters spoke their native tongue with pantomime-style exaggerated French accents, but when they spoke English they adopted equally exaggerated posh Oxford accents. The English characters spoke English normally, but when they spoke French it was with a poor, almost incomprehensible cod French accent. 'Allo 'Allo! proved hugely popular almost from the start. Making the most of this, the fifth series extended to a massive 26 episodes, intended - unsuccessfully - to attract the US market. (The BBC boasted that this was the first time such a long haul had been attempted in the UK, overlooking the longer runs mounted by “THE ARNY GAME”and SNUDGE) 'Allo 'Allo! ended in 1992 as the war approached its end and the town was liberated.

Mr. Bean

By Silvia Candela

Mr. Bean was a British sitcom starring by Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean. It was written by Andrew Clifford and Robin Driscoll; and directed by John Howard Davies and Paul Weiland. It debuted on January 1, 1990 on ITV (Independent Television); it ran for five years until its cancellation on October 31, 1995.
This sitcom had lots of fans around the world during its seasons. The most popular episode was “The Trouble with Mr. Bean” in 1992, which had 18.74 millions of spectators.
Mr. Bean also had some important international awards, such as Rose d’Or. This sitcom has been watched in over two hundred countries worldwide.
Two movies were based on this sitcom, “Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie” (1997) and “Las Vacaciones de Mr. Bean” (2007).
Mr. Bean lives in a small apartment, in the north of London (England), with Teddy and his car, Austin Mini. He doesn’t talk too much, but when he does, his voice is a little funny and very croaky. He also has a regular girlfriend, Irma Gobb, who, besides his personality, loves him and hates him at the same time.

Characters:

Mr. Bean. - He is a grown up man who acts as a kid. People don’t understand his behavior, which is why he suffers their reject. He is a very kind person, though. He solves his problems of weird ways that sometimes cause news problems. His first name and profession were never told.

Teddy. - It is a teddy bear, but Bean treats him as a human. He loves and takes a good care of him; it’s like a son for him.

This is a funny show that you can see over and over and still laugh. If you want to enjoy this hilarious sitcom all you have to do is check the programming of A&E.

Extras

By Jorge Alvarado

Andy Millman gives up his day job to become an actor but finds that the lead roles elude him, so he instead has to settle for work as an 'extra' (background actor). During his time on set Millman has to work with stars such as Kate Winslet, Samuel Jackson and Ben Stiller.
In series two Andy Millman begins filming his sitcom ("When the Whistle Blows") and moves from background artist to TV face. Despite his burgeoning success, Andy is still surrounded by the usual cast of idiots: his hapless best friend Maggie, his incompetent agent Darren Lamb and Barry "off EastEnders". Before long Andy realises fame isn't quite as great as it looks.
Extras is a british television sitcom about extras working on film sets and in theatre. The series ico-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is written and directing by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it.
Extras has two series of six episodes each. The first episode aired in the UK on 21 July 2005 on BBC Two and on 25 September 2005 on HBO in the US. The second series premiered in the UK on BBC Two on 14 September 2006 and began airing in the US on HBO and in Australia on ABC on 14 February 2007. Both series are available on DVD in the UK and the US. In July 2007, Gervais announced on his video podcast a Christmas special would air in the same fashion as The Office.
The series is filmed in a more traditional sitcom style than the mockumentary style used by Ricky Gervais and Merchant in their previous award-winning series The Office. Each episode has at least one guest star; a television or film celebrity, who play what Gervais and Merchant have referred to as "twisted" versions of themselves ; an exaggerated or inverted parody of their famous public persons.
The first series follows Andy Millman (Ricky Gervais) and his friend Maggie Jacobs (Ashley Jensen) as they work as extras and minor characters on film and in theatre. Darren Lamb (Stephen Merchant) is Andy's substandard agent, who fails to procure Andy substantial roles.
Most episodes in the first series are based around a different production in which Andy and Maggie are appearing, with the celebrity guest star usually playing the star of the show. Andy tends to spend a lot of his time looking for ways to get a speaking role, while Maggie is more content with looking among the cast and crew for a boyfriend. At the end of the first series Andy successfully pitches his sitcom, When the Whistle Blows, to the BBC. Most episodes in the second series begin with a cold open on a short segment from the production on which Andy and Maggie are working, followed by a fade into the white Extras logo on a black background without an opening credits theme tune. Each episode ends with Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman" over the closing credits, a track from his 1970 album of the same name.

7 Vidas

By Nataly Bermúdez

7 Vidas is a Spanish sitcom and was created in 1999. Its title translates as "7 lives" and the symbol of the sitcom is a cat, in reference to the belief that cats have 7 lives .
The beginning of the sitcom told the story of a group of friends in Madrid, David (Tony Canto) was in coma for more than 18 years and suddenly awaked and start discovering the new world in which he lives.
His neighbour, Sole (Amparo Baró) was an old woman with a penchant for slapping anyone who behaved in a way she didn't like round the back of the neck. Sole soon became one of the show's most popular characters. Other characters were Sole's sexually frustrated son, Paco (Javier Cámara), Carlota (Blanca Portillo) David's single sister and Laura (Laurita to her friends) (Paz Vega), his cousin from Seville, initially Paco's principal love interest and then that of David.Characters came and went, and by the end of the sitcom the only character who had appeared in the first chapter and lasted until its end was Sole. Other long-standing characters, and the two most popular, in addition to Sole, were Gonzalo (Gonzalo de Castro), a waiter who later became a main character and husband of Carlota (although they were later to divorced), and Diana (Anabel Alonso), a frustrated actress, and a naïve lesbian.