Another post, another reminder that I love comedy. And nobody does it better than the British. I've mentioned some Britcoms before, but for the month of July, I'm gonna be discussing quite a few of them. Think of it like a substitute for June Jokefest, but a little more specific. Because there's something special about the Britcom. See, I kind of want to focus on shows that chart the evolution of British comedy over time. So these aren't necessarily the best (though some of them are), or even my favourites (though some of them definitely are), but they're ones that I feel have impacted the British comedy landscape in some significant way. So, let's honour them, shall we?
And for me, there's no better place to start than with Steptoe and Son. It wasn't the first Britcom, but I think it's the perfect starting place, not just because it's a classic, but also to see how the British sitcom has evolved over time. And if some 60s series have dated, Steptoe certainly isn't one of them. This show is an absolute classic. The series revolves around two rag and bone men: Harold, and his cantankerous father Albert. Like the majority of Britcoms, it runs off a simple premise, but for me it succeeds on the strength of its characters, as well as it's tone.
Harold and Albert make for one of the best pairings I've seen in a series. Albert is so filthy and stubborn, and he makes the perfect foil for the uptight Harold, who dreams of a better life for himself. These two are such polar opposites, but the rapport between Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett is undeniable. The begrudging respect that these two have for each other despite their monumental disagreements ties this show together. The more disgusting and difficult Albert is, the more extreme and, usually funny Harold's response will be. This is what makes the show so funny, the idea of their relationship, with all of Harold's aspirations foiled by his father's.... well, his everything.
But what makes this show special is how the tone and pathos plays into the show. Steptoe and Son is a classic example of the British kitchen sink style. The Steptoes live in bleak conditions, and though Albert foiling his son's plans to make a better life for himself is undoubtedly hilarious, it goes deeper than that. Albert is scared of being left alone, and his attempts to sabotage Harold's plans come from his underlying worries of loneliness and isolation. That's heavy stuff, but the truly awesome thing about Steptoe and Son is that all this sorrow and pathos is in the subtext, and doesn't get in the way of the humour. Yes it's about two men living in squalor, and deals with themes of poverty and elderly loneliness, but it's still one of the funniest series to come out of Britain even half a century on. It doesn't even have that many flaws, because the jokes that don't work are overshadowed by the ones that do, and the relationship between the two leads is engaging enough to forgive any missteps. You should watch Steptoe and Son not just because it's a surprisingly thoughtful and well written series, but also because it's just damn funny. It holds up, and that's pretty marvellous.
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