Father Ted

[Johnboy]

Joe Rooney who played Fr. Damo has a podcast.

I enjoyed this episode with Arthur Matthews from 2016

https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/podarooney/episode/episode-42-arthur-matthews/

[Former Problem]

I once gave him directions to a pub in Bray.

[Former Problem]

Father Ted is a brilliant sitcom, and loving it despite one of the creators thinking people like me are a threat to civilisation feels like (a very minor) act of defiance. As others have said, Linehan was a different person back then, maybe a bit of an arse in other ways but not yet fully consumed by hate.

As others have said, Season 3 is a bit iffy, and I never liked the "accidentally racist" episode - cringe comedy doesn't really fit the otherwise whimsical tone - but I would say there's an 80% hit rate overall. Lots of great guest characters, lots of quotable lines, lots of memorable little bits.

A lot of what makes it work is the performances, each of which is perfect. Dermot Morgan in particular is the right combination of charming, exasperated and just a little bit corrupt.

Do we know if Linehan back then was a racist/patriot? Because now, he very much is, siding with the Coolock crowd, but back then on the commentaries, he seems like the sort of person who wouldn't, and is being critical of racists.
But then back then, GCs didn't find it offensive to call a trans woman a woman, so you know, language changes.

[dontpaintyourteeth]

His opinions are aligned with anyone who tells him he's right, that's his only real conviction, that's he's right about everything.

[madhair60]

it was such a beloved sitcom that i'd picked up a dvd box set from some charity shop, then bought an additional slightly better one from a different charity shop. eventually i threw them both in the wheeliebin without having watched an episode

[Former Problem]

Easier for me than many for obvious reasons, but art firmly separated from artist for me. Still love Father Ted.

Recent hat fuckery moment I had: the obnoxious giggling prick riding around on a tricycle in brutal home invasion/revenge classic Straw Dogs is Bishop Brennan.

He was also in Star Trek the Next Generation as Einstein. And in Babylon 5 as the father of G'Kar. On one of his regular trips to America to see the son.

Although it's slightly soured now that Len's real-life basis, Bishop Eamonn Casey (someone who I genuinely admired, was one of the founders of Shelter before returning to Ireland and becoming the face of 'modern Irish catholcism') turned out to be a massive nonce.

[Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth]

I've no difficulty separating the art from the fart in this case, because his descent into shitness happened so long after the show. Plus, Matthews doesn't deserve to have his work dragged down too.

With the disclaimer out of the way, I think the show remains a great bunch of lads. If I were to start listing favourite bits, I'd be here all day.

Is it on telly any more? It seemed like it was on More 4 every night at one point, but I don't think I've seen it in the schedules for years. Has it been quietly swept under the rug to avoid paying BC any royalties?

[Scoops]

it was such a beloved sitcom that i'd picked up a dvd box set from some charity shop, then bought an additional slightly better one from a different charity shop. eventually i threw them both in the wheeliebin without having watched an episode

could have at least donated them again to a third charity shop

[madhair60]

no i did the right thing - thanks

[Magnum Valentino]

I think about it probably every day of my life. Lines, situations, shots, even comparisons to real life people I might encounter. I probably know it too well to be subjective about it.

It's also the only show I've ever known of that absolutely everyone I know is familiar with, including my wee holy Aunt who has never drank alcohol and runs the local Legion of Mary. My ma, my da, everyone at primary school, my auld pair. It was completely ubiquitous at one point here in Northern Ireland. Mrs Brown has a similar visibility but Ted wasn't as divisive, because it was good.

Like even today before I saw this thread I was thinking about the priest who says "I think I should get the parachute, because I'm great". Why? Who knows. But I cannot not think about that show. I've another friend who's said the same thing about it.

It sort of just moves into your brain.

[timahall]

I think about it probably every day of my life. Lines, situations, shots, even comparisons to real life people I might encounter. I probably know it too well to be subjective about it.

It's also the only show I've ever known of that absolutely everyone I know is familiar with, including my wee holy Aunt who has never drank alcohol and runs the local Legion of Mary. My ma, my da, everyone at primary school, my auld pair. It was completely ubiquitous at one point here in Northern Ireland. Mrs Brown has a similar visibility but Ted wasn't as divisive, because it was good.

Like even today before I saw this thread I was thinking about the priest who says "I think I should get the parachute, because I'm great". Why? Who knows. But I cannot not think about that show. I've another friend who's said the same thing about it.

It sort of just moves into your brain.

It's the same with me (and i'm also Northern Irish). I have such fond memories of watching it right from the first airing of the first episode with my family. It was so universally loved and endlessly quoted by everyone.

The only other show that was on the same level of ubiquitous at the time was The Simpsons.

[Icehaven]

Is it on telly any more? It seemed like it was on More 4 every night at one point, but I don't think I've seen it in the schedules for years. Has it been quietly swept under the rug to avoid paying BC any royalties?

It's still on All4 or whatever Channel 4's streaming service calls itself these days. I'm also almost sure it was broadcast recently-ish (definitely in the last year) quite late at night on E4 or More 4 as my partner was watching it having never seen it properly before, but I may have misremembered and he might have been streaming it.

[Thursday]

I wouldn't say it couldn't still be enjoyed, because there's lots of awful people who were funny.

But at the same time, I doubt I'm ever watching it again because there's so much media I haven't consumed, and so the time I spend re-watching things is going to be at a real premium.

[SirDoris]

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for it - it's one of the last shows that my parents actively "introduced" me to when I was a kid/young teen in that vein of "here's something that we liked, and we think you'll like it too". Fell in love with it right from the start, it's a perfect blend of absurdity, character-based gags, and deep-cut religious observational humour. Shame that one of the writers went fully bananas though.

[non capisco]

I still think an offscreen rabbit that somehow strongly resembles Harvey Kietel is one of the most beautifully specific comedic ideas I've ever encountered.

[Magnum Valentino]

It's still on All4 or whatever Channel 4's streaming service calls itself these days. I'm also almost sure it was broadcast recently-ish (definitely in the last year) quite late at night on E4 or More 4 as my partner was watching it having never seen it properly before, but I may have misremembered and he might have been streaming it.

No it's on Freeview all the time, I think it's a More4 staple.

[Magnum Valentino]

I still think an offscreen rabbit that somehow strongly resembles Harvey Kietel is one of the most beautifully specific comedic ideas I've ever encountered.

He's also mentioned in another episode funny enough. Kietel, not the rabbit

[Utter Shit]

Like even today before I saw this thread I was thinking about the priest who says "I think I should get the parachute, because I'm great". Why? Who knows. But I cannot not think about that show. I've another friend who's said the same thing about it.

Definitely, the little incidental jokes like this are the bits that keep you coming back for rewatches. My two favourite lines in the entire show have little or no relevance to the plot - Eoin McLove resonding to being told off by Ted for eating all the jam with "You leave me alone, I could have you killed" and the milk boss saying "Milk goes sour, you know. Unless it's UHT - but there's no demand for that, because it's shite". The cheerful way he says that last bit gets me every time.

Oh also, another brilliant, incidental line - Dougal's indignant response to being told that his mother is a woman, "she's hardly what you'd call a woman - not like the women on the telly, like the Gladiators, she wouldn't be one of them". As if the Gladiators are the only frame of reference he has for what a woman is.

[checkoutgirl]

Anyone else still like it

The jokes hold up perfectly so it's hard not to love it still. It's in the elite that I'll dust of and watch every couple of years. Really found it's feet in the second series which is still the best. Quotes are often on the lips of Irish people of a certain generation.

It's so good it makes it near the top 10 British sitcoms even though the director, writers and actors are nearly 100% Irish.

[Former Problem]

I've no difficulty separating the art from the fart in this case, because his descent into shitness happened so long after the show. Plus, Matthews doesn't deserve to have his work dragged down too.

With the disclaimer out of the way, I think the show remains a great bunch of lads. If I were to start listing favourite bits, I'd be here all day.

Is it on telly any more? It seemed like it was on More 4 every night at one point, but I don't think I've seen it in the schedules for years. Has it been quietly swept under the rug to avoid paying BC any royalties?

Linehan does seem sympathetic to Glinner, but he seems genuinely 'old-fashioned' (in the same way my dad can't understand transgenderism), as opposed to saying he's old fashioned to cover up for newfound bigotry.

[dead-ced-dead]

Every year on July 19th I think of Father Dougal claiming that this was the date the ice age ended.

[checkoutgirl]

I still love it. I don't see why the actions of one complete cunt should shut out all of the actors and co-writers' contributions.

If it had some link like Ted didn't like trans people then maybe. But Ted doesn't mention trans people at all, not that I could discern any way. He does say a priest puts on dresses but that was a lie to get out of a jam.

Robert Lewellyn could turn out to be the Unabomber I'm still watching Red Dwarf thank you very much.

[checkoutgirl]

It's still fantastic. Probably something from it pops into my head most days.

Just yesterday this popped into my head arriving home from work.

What would you say is in the calendar Father Jack?
A big pair o feckin women's knickers.
Yes Father.
Knickers. Women's knickers.
Yes Father message understood.

[Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth]

Linehan does seem sympathetic to Glinner

I expect he would. Did you Mean Matthews is sympathetic to Glinner, or has Linehan gone so bananas that Glinner is now a full on split personality?

[PsychicHouseHunter]

Yeah, I think it is perhaps easier to divorce Ted from its writer's bigotry because it doesn't, as far as I can remember, come up in the script. I think the setting being isolated from the modern world has helped it seem less dated, though the Niamh Connolly character is tasteless if taken as a parody of Sinead O'Connor. Then again, I don't think Linehan could ever write good female characters.

[checkoutgirl]

Besides, trans rights were probably so far off the radar of Linehan in 1995

I doubt he gave it a second of thought until he got in a row on Twitter. I don't even really believe he has genuine views on it.

[madhair60]

Dougal's indignant response to being told that his mother is a woman, "she's hardly what you'd call a woman - not like the women on the telly, like the Gladiators, she wouldn't be one of them". As if the Gladiators are the only frame of reference he has for what a woman is.

hmm.

[Utter Shit]

I doubt he gave it a second of thought until he got in a row on Twitter. I don't even really believe he has genuine views on it.

Exactly - his involvement in the issue is completely inverted. He started with his conclusion ("I'm right") and worked back towards a justification.

[Utter Shit]

hmm.

Christ, never made that connection before. Nowadays he'd be casting doubt on Diamond's genetic make-up because she's tall.

[Gurke and Hare]

The director's cut of Jurassic Park, with extra dinosaurs.