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Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

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Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#171

Post by jabl »

interfixus wrote: post #27
dusted wrote: post #4

Here in Denmark, it's new years tradition to watch this on NYE, it's about as important as the Queens new years address. Also, it _NEVER_ stops being fun* [*] Legally required to hold this opinion.

And lest we forget: The hackneyed Disney Christmas Show at 1600 hours sharp on the 24th of December. In this household, Christmas officially starts when the mouse from Cinderilla squints and runs the thread through the giant needle's eye. These are generally the only two times of the year I have anything to do with live TV. Godt nytår!

This was a favorite of mine growing up. But I made the mistake of trying to watch it with my kids once, and behold, it had turned from showing the best of the Disney classic cartoons into running trailers for upcoming Disney movies.

Thanks for destroying that tradition, Disney Inc.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#172

Post by jFriedensreich »

gegenschall wrote: post #119
jFriedensreich wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

not true. i have seen more david hasselhoff posters in my german peers flats than probably all of the usa combined.

This is an interesting one and I’m going entirely off anecdotal evidence here: yes, you will be seeing David Hasselhoff posters and the like quite often throughout Germany. Me personally, I have yet to meet a single person who unironically likes his music or is a „fan“ (whatever that may mean to you) - and this holds true for the generation of my parents as well. My working theory is that there’s some kind of reverse…

ah i see, well you cannot mix up his music and acting careers. his music career is usually perceived as funny and liking it as a bit ironic, that does not mean that his roles in knight rider and baywatch are not truly loved by many. Just play the opening scene of knight rider at a random party of 30 somethings and you will see the reaction.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#173

Post by aussiesnack »

smcl wrote: post #55
082349872349872 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Australia is not in Europe Maybe not by geography, but by Euro♡ision, it is?

Some of these continental orgs are quite flexible about what countries they permit to join. For example Israel is also in Eurovision, but it’s not in Europe. Similarly Australia are part of the Asian Football Confederation rather than Oceania’s Football Confederation (and Israel is a member of UEFA rather than AFC, for obvious reasons) I don’t think anyone is saying “Australia is part of Europe” with a straight face…

Saying, no, but feeling, yes. Keating's "Asian Century" version of Australia never took strong cultural hold. Our nearest neighbours PNG & East Timor are ignored except by our NGOs and spies, and few visit Indonesia other than the Bali beach resorts. A brief 1990's spurt in Mandarin teaching in schools is in decline, with European languages remaining the most popular. Australia is still by far the most Eurocentric of the post-WW2 immigration nations. And it's literally the whitest, which is why it's been the destination of choice for so many South Africans since the 1990s.

This is changing to some extent with demographics (immigration from China and India, and some generational change). But surprisingly slowly and shallowly. Few Australians know much about Asia, or even the Pacific, let alone feel theirselves to be part of it.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#174

Post by Per_Bothner »

hnarn wrote: post #66
dusted wrote: post #4

Here in Denmark, it's new years tradition to watch this on NYE, it's about as important as the Queens new years address. Also, it _NEVER_ stops being fun* [*] Legally required to hold this opinion.

Don’t forget that while this is broadcast on NYE in Denmark and Sweden, in Norway it’s broadcast on Christmas which is something you should definitely bring up on a mixed Scandinavian family dinner. It’s also quite fun since there’s a joke relationship between Swedes and Norwegians calling each other stupid, so it’s quite fun to insinuate that Norwegians simply do not understand that the movie is set on NYE.

"the movie is set on NYE"

Is it? I don't recall anything to suggest that. The title in German in "The 90th birthday".

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#175

Post by jancsika »

vander_elst wrote: post #18

The best thing about the German version (if you watch in on tv) is that before the comedy begins, there's an explanation about why it's funny.

I'm torn between believing that Germans have a good sense for the absurd, and thinking they just experience joy when they find a good source of randomness with which to re-seed their internal PRNGs.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#176

Post by keepquestioning »

rkta wrote: post #39
vander_elst wrote: post #18

The best thing about the German version (if you watch in on tv) is that before the comedy begins, there's an explanation about why it's funny.

It's a short round up. There's still enough to discover. I must admit that I was way to long already at adult age before I got the final joke.

What's the final joke?

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#177

Post by Per_Bothner »

PurpleRamen wrote: post #64
sveme wrote: post #6

It‘s British actors, but was filmed in Hamburg by the public broadcaster NDR. It is a tradition which is not that funny unless you are already shitfaced. Loriot, on the other hand…

The recording shown on TV is a German Production, but the sketch itself originates from British theater and later TV. The origin story is even somewhat interesting. Seems there is not one, but two people who are involved and mainly known for this little sketch. The original author, and the comedian who made it famous around Europe and is the actor from the recording. And in some way it also kinda sad, as it seems to…

I read that Freddie Frinton is better remembered in the UK for starring in the sitcom "Meet the Wife" (which is mentioned in a Beatles song).

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#178

Post by anglosaxony »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #162
jamesblonde wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it is huge here in Sweden. As an Anglo Saxon, I was surprised it was so popular and we never heard of it.

What is an "anglo-saxon"? iirc they died out a thousand years ago.

[flagged]

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#179

Post by dataking »

dusted wrote: post #4

Here in Denmark, it's new years tradition to watch this on NYE, it's about as important as the Queens new years address. Also, it _NEVER_ stops being fun* [*] Legally required to hold this opinion.

Can confirm; couldn’t have said it better myself!

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#180

Post by Thlom »

keepquestioning wrote: post #176
rkta wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a short round up. There's still enough to discover. I must admit that I was way to long already at adult age before I got the final joke.

What's the final joke?

James assists Miss Sophie to “retire”. The same procedure as every year. wink wink
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