Oh No! John Inman has left us! (off-off topic)

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Shane,

I guess "Are You Being Served?" is before your time. It was very popular in the 70's. Or was it the 80's? Anyway, the show was best in the first version. Later on the characters were spun off from the department store to running a bed and breakfast, but it wasn't nearly as funny and entertaining as the store shenanigans.

For its time, the show was quite daring... what with Mr. Humphries' infatuation with measuring inseams, and Mrs. Slocum going on and on about her "pussy" (her cat, apparently)... Several catch phrases became famous for a while... in addition to "I'm free", there was also "Don't worry, it will ride up with wear" (usually spoken to a gent who has just been sold a pair of pants that drag on the floor or a jacket with sleeves that cover his hands).
 
They used to show BBC comedies later at night on the PBS station in Minneapolis. Not sure if they do here or not, or if we even have a PBS station, but I'm guessing we do. I think my cable has some sort of BBC station, I wonder if it might be found there. It is a wonderful show if you get a chance sometime. It was made primarily in the 70s though I think it ran into the early 80s.

John Inman played one of my favorite characters.
 
Some PBS stations do, and some don't

Here in the Cleveland area, Channel 25, WVIZ didn't carry any of the Britcoms, just "Masterpiece Theatre," "Mystery," and the like. I was very surprised when they carried "1900 House."

Channels 45/49, WEAO/WNEO do carry the Britcoms.

"Are You Being Served" is very funny, though not a particular favourite of mine. John Inman, however, was hysterical.

"As Time Goes By," "May to December," "Keeping Up Appearances," are favourites of mine.

I've tried to get into "EastEnders," but I find the accent hard to penetrate.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
So Sad...

I had the privilege of meeting Inman at a PBS fundraiser here some years ago. A very nice man, much like Mr. Humphries in some ways, but with an even more wicked sense of humour.

Those of you who like "Keeping Up Appearances" might like to know that Josephine Tewson (nervous next-door-neighbour Elizabeth) is John's cousin. She's currently working in "Last of the Summer Wine", in episodes that haven't been shown here in America yet.

I'm happy that "Are You Being Served?" still enjoys such great popularity thirty years on; being remembered is the best tribute any actor can have.
 
Menswear

This is so very sad. John Inman's absolutely brilliant portrayal of Mr. Humphries help make "Are you being served?" become one of my all time favorite shows.

Mrs Slocombe's ever changing hair colors, the various catch phrases, the eccentric characters, I could go on and on. They just don't make shows like that anymore. On either side of the pond.

Thanks for the memories -- and the laughs -- Mr. Inman. RIP.

BBC - Comedy - Are You Being Served?

With its innuendo-laden comedy, penchant for slapstick and panto-type characters, Are You Being Served? had something for everyone and became a juggernaut of 1970s television.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
For those who don't get what they want from their local PBS stations, even over cable... There's something called FTA or Free To Air satellite service. All you need is the right dish and receiver, and you can get various PBS stations via satellite for free, as well as a lot of other stuff. It's not the same as commercial cable TV, but it is free.
 
Brit Wit.

Although I am barely a quarter-century old, I do enjoy British humor. Are You Being Served is a favorite of mine, along with Keeping Up Appearances, Waiting for God, and of course all things Monty Python. John Inman's acting was always good, his part was well written, and he will be missed.

Saturday Night just lost a shepherd,
Dave
 
Louis....

I have heard of "The Last of The Summer Wine," but haven't seen it. In fact, I watch very little television at the moment, preferring to be on the internet, read, or watch dvd's. To me, watching television alone is just unappealing, for some reason.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
I love the Britcoms! "Are You Being Served" was hilarious! I think what made it even more comical was that painfully 70's set and costuming! John Inman was a hoot as the Menswear employee! His tongue-in-cheek remarks were delivered with perfect comic timing. Who was the saleswoman whose hair would change colour every week?

I believe "Keeping Up Appearances" continues to run, in the afternoons, on satellite tv. It is definitely one of my favourites! The follies of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Boo-kay) has had us laughing for years! I never knew that her poor, nervous neighbor Elizabeth was John Inman's cousin. Thanks for the trivia!
 
catching up now...

I love AYBS, one of my favorites, as is "Keeping up Appearances" and "The Vicar of Dibley"
How could anyone not love Mr. Humphries or Mrs Slocombe or Hyacinth?
When I was in college in Nebraska the PBS station from Lincoln ran Brit-coms every Sunday afternoon, including one I have yet to see again called "Fresh Fields" or maybe it was "French Fields" It was not as funny as the others, but just as endearing.
That NE station also ran re-runs of the old "Lawrence Welk Show" man did that take me back to childhood!
 
Oh what a shame, at least we still have them all in reruns. Funny thing, you might look at that Mrs. Slocombe character and think her hair colors were overdone just for the tv show but plenty of older woman in the UK back in the 70's dyed their hair like that, it was so odd looking when I was there in 72.
 
ROLMAO!!

I don't know what I'm laughing harder at...her hair or her comments!!

Thanks for making my eyes water!! :-D
 
Laughing hysterically here!

The writing! The acting! The comic timing!

Great show, great cast!

Thanks for the good laughs!

Mike
 

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