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Comedy
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Father Fred
By cynicsid
29 October 2006
Come behind the scenes with the Pros and see how your Fav sit-com comes about.



“Right cast, we’ll do a walk through. Father Mick get in the wheel chair, try to remember your lines, you know, “Feck Orse, Feck Orse.
 

Now Father Poodle, you walk in,
 

Father Mick throw the empty beer crate.
 

Father Poodle, Duck down, stand up, shout out, “Missed again”, step back and trip over the crate like you always do. Brilliant, now pick up the TV remote, go over to the mirror, keep pressing the buttons and look puzzled.
 

Now Father Fred you come in, look at Father Mick say Morning Father Mick then duck and bob up in time to be hit by the second crate Father Mick throws, step back and trip over the first crate.
 

Father Mick remember to throw the crate after Father Fred’s ducked down.
 

Now Father Fred go over to Father Poodle and ask him what he’s doing. Do the usual “It’s not a telly routine”, I want it to be natural.”
 

Mrs Luvlly-Gel will come in carrying a tray of tea and all day breakfasts.
 

Go over to Father Mick and say Breakfast Father.
 

Father Mick you will then knock the tray up into the air. But please remember your lines, that ‘s “Feck Orse”
 

Mrs Luvvly-Gel you turn to Father Fred  and say
 

“Father Mick’s in a good mood”
 

Father Fred you say “What makes you say that Mrs Luvvly-Gel
 

Then Mrs Luvvly-Gel says, He never hit me with the tray.”
 

Father Poodle you are now stood pointing the remote control at a loaf of bread.
 

The Doorbell rings, Father Fred answers it, a Nun enters, walks across to Father Mick. Now Father Mick smile and beckon her forward, wait till she’s bent over you, then leap up and send her sprawling to the ground. Get on top of her
 

Mrs Luvvly Gel comes in with a new tray of breakfast and trips over the pair of them.
 

Father Fred you try to catch Mrs Luvvly-Gel but merely fall with her in your arms, onto the pile. Father Poodle walks backwards staring at the loaf of bread and trips onto the seething mass of bodies.
 

At that very moment through the open door in walks the Bishop of Burnham. He looks open mouthed at the mele, throws off his Cloak and Mitre and Jumps on top.
 

Finally and I’ll do his walk-through, through the open door walks a very famous elderly Comic Actor. He removes his cap, scratches his head and says, “I don’t believe it!”
 

Starting places everybody.
 

Reviews

Written by Phil (6632 comments posted) 29th October 2006
I can see it and understand what you're getting at, but this was one of my all time favourite comedy shows. I guess it was purile and childish at times but all great comedy is. Much of comedy (visual) comes down to presentation, timing and the atmosphere created - for me, Father Ted had it all. 
 
Now if you turned on something like that one I can't remember the name of - but he's a dentist and Zoe somebody or other is in it - I'll be right behind you. 
 
Cup o' tea Father? Gowon, gowon, gowon. Feck. 
 
All the best, 
 
Phil.

Written by coosh (844 comments posted) 29th October 2006
Yes, I'm with Phil on this. You portray the show as if it was just slapstick.... the first thing most Irish (or Italian, Spanish, Latin American, etc.) viewers would notice was the exaggerated comic but nevertheless satirical way they depicted the Catholic church, the lives and views and habits of the priests and the long-suffering subservient housekeeper. Plus it tuned in accurately (albeit in almost caricature form) to a lot of national Irish eccentricities. Which is probably why it ultimately and rightly became one of the most successful TV shows in Ireland. 
 
Another target perhaps... 
 
(It's those rapidly multiplying rabbits that still haunt me). 
Slapstick vs Satire
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3291 comments posted) 29th October 2006
I have relatives in Clare who think Fr Ted was a documentary programme,when they laughed it was a laugh of recognition of one of the priests  
"Jes's isn't that just like Fr Nolan" I'm not sure Coosh is right I think you were right to concetrate on teh silly slapstick as that was the most cynical addition to the show to make it "safe" and "harmless" and give it mass appeal and it often undermined the more satirical points and deflected any anger from teh church. Just my opinon, perhaps that is not what you intended but anyway I liked it 
cheers 
BBS
Fond Pastiche?
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 29th October 2006
Many years ago there was a similar prgramme with Derek Nimmo in it-the name escapes me. England is far more secular than Ireland so such satire had long lost its edge. 
 
What remains is just fantastic slapstick. That's why I've got the DVDs. The images are clear cut if two-dimensional 
but I'm sure that you could all see the characters. poodle and the remote control, MrsLG and the tray etc. 
 
But I agree with BBS that the satiric message was diluted by the slapstick, 
 
Brian 
 
PP 
 
Siddie.
Hmmm
Written by givitsum (651 comments posted) 30th October 2006
Yep, I could see what you were trying to do here BRN, but to be honest it's not quite hit the button. I've not seen the show so maybe I am missing summat with the characters. 
 
GVTSM

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