Their shows are still some of the most watchable on TV. Funny, I was just debating it today and most of my favourite shows are from the past, especially, The Likely Lads, Porridge, Open All Hours (and now still Open All Hours), Steptoe & Son, Only Fools & Horses, The Good Life, Last of the Summer Wine, Black Books... etc. To me they are all short comedy playlets with honesty and reality in them. The writers were on their game and picked up on human failings and wonderful irony. Not cheap laughs but laughs at plausible and real situations; Situation Comedy describes them perfectly. Things that do happen in life. Todays best are Black Adder with Upstart Crow looking like a classic too. Victoria Wood was a genius at finding the humour in real life. I can watch Dinner Ladies over and over. Its my go to sitcom when I need a safe haven from the crap of life. Most of those mentioned are. My least favourite was Love Thy Neighbour and I never really understood its appeal. Cheap Laughs I felt. There were several on that level. As for comedy double acts, Little and Large left me cold. For me they never worked that well, Sid with his massive bow tie and Eddie rehashing the same gags week after week - at least it seemed like that. It was all a poor facsimile of the Morecambe and Wise formula. Given the years of material, there must be many shows yet to rerun yet... I hope!
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