Customer Reviews

Only When I Laugh Series 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Only When I laugh follows the hilarious adventures of three men looking for happiness in the National Health Service. Archie Glover (played by Peter Bowles) is an upper-middle class hypochondriac who tries to use the hospital as a resort and general hideout from the world (he was in prime shape *before* he got there). He shares a ward with Roy Figgis (James Bolam), a working-class activist who fears the treatment he's gotten, but is equally afraid to leave, and young Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli) who tries to keep the peace of the ward.

And through it all, Dr. Gordon Thorpe (Richard Wilson) and nurse Ram Gupte (Derrick Branche) try to keep their uncooperative patients in line and on the road to recovery (or somewhere anyway).

This boxed-set contains two DVDs, each with three of the half-hour episodes. As opposed to some of the other BBC projects, these episodes are all in order, representing the first six episodes (of seven, grrrr) of the second series. The odd thing is that the set with the first series also didn't have the seventh episode either, and I do wonder why the two #7 episodes are missing.

But, that said, this is a great show, with witty dialogue and lots of that great British humor. I highly recommend these DVDs to any fan of British comedy. The following episodes are included:

Whatever Happened to Gloria Robbins? - Series 2, episode 1 (April 29, 1980) - When a famous actress comes to the hospital, Glover sets out to win her affection. Norman and the rest would also like to move into Miss Robbins' affections, but how can they do it?

Where There's A Will - Series 2, episode 2 (May 6, 1980) - A new addition to the ward has Glover and Norman up in arms; he smells bad and is obviously more than a little deranged. However, his claims to have a fortune in gold and land may be more than ravings, and he is writing his will...

It Can Damage Your Health - Series 2, episode 3 (May 13, 1980) - The men of the ward have been smoking cigarettes like there's no tomorrow, but when they decide to quit, it proves to be no little adventure.

The Cosmic Influence - Series 2, episode 4 (May 20, 1980) - Figgis has convinced Glover and Norman that astrology can tell them their whole future, but the belief in the occult soon brings the ward to grief.

The Visitors - Series 2, episode 5 (May 27, 1980) - It's visitor's day, but the visitors have brought along a suitcase full of trouble. Norman's mother soon becomes locked in a struggle with his girlfriend Nurse Jenny, and Figgis gets a visit from his lovely Peg...wait a minute, isn't his wife named Edie?!?

The Lost Sheep - Series 2, episode 6 (June 3, 1980) - Figgis has found religion, and decides bring the rest of ward along with him, whether they want to go or not...but he was not christened as a baby, and he is looking to change that.

Only When I laugh follows the hilarious adventures of three men looking for happiness in the National Health Service. Archie Glover (played by Peter Bowles) is an upper-middle class hypochondriac who tries to use the hospital as a resort (he was in prime shape *before* he got there). He shares a ward with Roy Figgis (James Bolam), a working-class activist who doesn't understand why they keep running more tests on him (the hospital has so many x-rays of him that it looks like a map of the Tube), and young Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli) who waits for his appendectomy and tries to keep the peace of the ward.

And through it all, Dr. Gordon Thorpe (Richard Wilson) and nurse Ram Gupte (Derrick Branche) try to keep their uncooperative patients in line and on the road to recover (or somewhere anyway).

This boxed-set contains three tapes, each with two of the half-hour episodes. As opposed to some of the other BBC projects, these episodes are all in order, representing the first six episodes (of seven, grrrr) of the first series. I enjoyed these episodes immensely, and if they bring out the other 21 episodes, I will be very quick to buy them as well! I highly recommend these tapes to any fan of British comedy.

A Bed With A View - Series 1, episode 1 (October 29, 1979) - When Norman is placed in their ward, Glover and Figgis begin a war to see who gets the bed next to the window. Sadly for everyone involved, they change beds without changing the charts. In such an environment mishaps are bound to happen!

Operation Norman - Series 1, episode 2 (November 5, 1979) - It's time for Norman's operation, but Figgis' horror stories have filled him with terror. That's it, whether it's needed or not, Norman is not going to have it.

The Rumour - Series 1, episode 3 (November 12, 1979) - Figgis, sneaking a smoke in the bathroom overhears Dr. Thorpe telling Gupte about a sad, terminal case. But who is it? The men of the ward want to know.

The Man With The Face - Series 1, episode 4 (November 19, 1979) - When a violent, jealous boyfriend of one of Glover's conquests shows up looking for revenge, Figgis hides Glover with a bandaged face. But, when the girl, Anna, shows up, all sorts of new possibilities open up!

Let Them Eat Cake - Series 1, episode 5 (November 26, 1979) - The men of the ward are sick of the food served at the hospital, and go on a hunger strike. However, when Figgis' labor agitation results in a staff strike at the hospital, they go hungrier still.

Tangled Web - Series 1, episode 6 (December 3, 1979) - When a romance novel set in a hospital falls into the patients' hands, and a pretty nurse walks into their lives, life begins to imitate cheap literature!

Only When I laugh follows the hilarious adventures of three men looking for happiness in the National Health Service. Archie Glover (played by Peter Bowles) is an upper-middle class hypochondriac who tries to use the hospital as a resort (he was in prime shape *before* he got there). He shares a ward with Roy Figgis (James Bolam), a working-class activist who doesn't understand why they keep running more tests on him (the hospital has so many x-rays of him that it looks like a map of the Tube), and young Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli) who waits for his appendectomy and tries to keep the peace of the ward.

And through it all, Dr. Gordon Thorpe (Richard Wilson) and nurse Ram Gupte (Derrick Branche) try to keep their uncooperative patients in line and on the road to recover (or somewhere anyway).

This boxed-set contains three tapes, each with two of the half-hour episodes. As opposed to some of the other BBC projects, these episodes are all in order, representing the first six episodes (of seven, grrrr) of the first series. I enjoyed these episodes immensely, and if they bring out the other 21 episodes, I will be very quick to buy them as well! I highly recommend these tapes to any fan of British comedy.

A Bed With A View - Series 1, episode 1 (October 29, 1979) - When Norman is placed in their ward, Glover and Figgis begin a war to see who gets the bed next to the window. Sadly for everyone involved, they change beds without changing the charts. In such an environment mishaps are bound to happen!

Operation Norman - Series 1, episode 2 (November 5, 1979) - It's time for Norman's operation, but Figgis' horror stories have filled him with terror. That's it, whether it's needed or not, Norman is not going to have it.

The Rumour - Series 1, episode 3 (November 12, 1979) - Figgis, sneaking a smoke in the bathroom overhears Dr. Thorpe telling Gupte about a sad, terminal case. But who is it? The men of the ward want to know.

The Man With The Face - Series 1, episode 4 (November 19, 1979) - When a violent, jealous boyfriend of one of Glover's conquests shows up looking for revenge, Figgis hides Glover with a bandaged face. But, when the girl, Anna, shows up, all sorts of new possibilities open up!

Let Them Eat Cake - Series 1, episode 5 (November 26, 1979) - The men of the ward are sick of the food served at the hospital, and go on a hunger strike. However, when Figgis' labor agitation results in a staff strike at the hospital, they go hungrier still.

Tangled Web - Series 1, episode 6 (December 3, 1979) - When a romance novel set in a hospital falls into the patients' hands, and a pretty nurse walks into their lives, life begins to imitate cheap literature!

Only When I Laugh is a British comedy written by Eric Chappell, who also wrote Rising Damp. I must confess that I definitely prefer Rising Damp (whose star, Leonard Rossiter, can at times be simply hilarious). Nevertheless, this is still a cute show.

The series is set in the ward of a hopelessly and humourously inept hospital. If there wasn't much wrong with a person upon being admitted, he needn't wait long, for there soon would be under the care of the crotchety and incompetent Dr. Thorpe (Richard Wilson of One Foot in the Grave). Then there is Gupte, the overworked and overstressed hospital assistant.

This 3-volume set consists of six 25-minute episodes which revolve around three patients. Firstly, Peter Bowles (To the Manor Born, Rumpole of the Bailey) plays the posh, middle-class Archie Glover, who seems to be perfectly well upon his re-admittance, save for a few vague aches and pains. Then there is Roy Figgis (James Bolam), the loud, boisterous, working-class rabble-rouser whom one could easily envision leading a trade union rally. He's a hypochondriac who's been a resident at the hospital for a while and is every patient's worst nightmare for a room-mate. Finally, there is newcomer Norman Biggs, a pleasant but very naive young fellow who provides a middle ground between his two very opinionated and highly-strung room-mates.

I should just mention (as some of the boxed sets have had the tapes inadvertently inserted in reverse order) that the first episode is the one entitled "A Bed with a View." One should watch this episode first as it introduces the characters and sets the stage for future episodes (some of which are, of course, better than others). Overall, this is a very light, clean, amusing (if occasionally zany) comedy suitable for the entire family.