Talk:Fawlty Towers/Archive 1
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Archive 1 |
Cleanup
1. Don't contribute if you can't spell and don't have/use a spell checker.
2. Putting so much 'analysis' of the series in here is really asking for it - asking to be regarded as a professor of TPU (Trailer Park University). Cleese himself says he asked hoteliers what they found most disturbing with guests - the idea was not to concoct provocations towards Basil. The idea was to elaborate on stories related by genuine pros in the business. Cleese already deals with this; refer to him instead.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.193.254.233 (talk • contribs)
- 1. Please don't write patronising comments about the article without attempting to improve matters yourself - if you could be bothered to write a complaint, wouldn't the time have been better spent correcting mistakes?
- 2. Don't forget to sign your talk page comments, please. Bob talk 23:05, 25 June 2009 (UTC)
Amanda's
In 1983 there was an attempt to make a remake called Amanda's (or "Amanda's by the Sea") with Beatrice Arthur in the part of the struggling hotel owner, but she couldn't fill John Cleese's shoes so it was probably cancelled after just one season. // Liftarn
- Just another example of a US network buying a UK sitcom and then removing precisely those elements which made it work and wondering why it flops. Lee M 03:31, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)
The article states that the genders of the Basil and Sybil characters were switched in Amanda's. In reality the amanda character had no spouse and was really both characters in one. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.219.88.140 (talk) 20:38, 5 October 2010 (UTC)
Were there actually only 12 episodes? The duck a l'orange? the moose head? It would appear to have run for countless weeks; judging by its lingering value of comedic moments. YES, there were only 12 episodes, it's just that each one had a lot of sub-plots.
Is Fawlty towers really an example of a bedroom farce? I don't think so. Any sexual content is only ever minor or even unintended, it is never a main plot driver.
What about the episode where Fawlty is franticly trying to catch out the bloke who had a woman in his room? Nah, it was one of the main themes, be it subtle (Basil and Sybil sleeping in seperate beds) or blatent (Basil thinking one of the customers needs batteries for a vibrator).--Crestville 22:38, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)
- It used to be common for TV couples to sleep in separate beds, though in this case there was probably that additional subtext. - Richardcavell 14:26, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
- [Edit: Wait, I'm a fool!] "Basil thinking one of the customers needs batteries for a vibrator?" I'm afraid you've severely misinterpreted that scene! The guy has just arrived with a beatiful woman and is now asking if there's a chemist's (pharmacist's) nearby, so Basil thinks he must be in need of a condom. The guy is actually hoping to buy batteries for his razor. -Mike 131.111.8.104 17:58, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
- Initially he thinks he want condoms from the chemist, but it isn't until he announces he wants batteries that Basil accuses him of being disgusting. Then he explains he want them for his razor and Basil has to back-track. Watch it again! It's great!--Crestville 17:18, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
- I'd completely forgotten about that part! I apologise for contradicting you, you're absolutely right. -Mike. 131.111.8.104 20:25, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
- Not at all my friend. I watched it a few times before it clicked with me.--Crestville 15:31, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
The Sign
Was the sign really changed to 'Flowery Twats', wasn't it 'Flowery Tarts'? Sprintstar 09:04, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)
- Yes it really was Flowery Twats - The are numerous websites that list all 12 variations on the sign if you are interested.MarnetteD | Talk 19:40, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)
- Yes, it really said that. It was a nod to Connie.
Geoffrey Palmer
I noticed the link to Geoffrey Palmer directs to a different Geoffrey Palmer. It should direct to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Palmer_%28actor%29
- It should indeed, but you can correct this sort of thing yourself. I have now corrected it, however. DavidFarmbrough 16:01, 5 October 2005 (UTC)
12 Episodes?
It doesnt explain why there were only 12 episodes. Was is that poorly received when it first aired only to be recognized later as one of the best of all time? Weird.
- I think Cleese just wanted to do other things (Monty Python were still making films, for one thing). It certainly wasn't poorly received. I gather he and Booth did hammer out some possible ideas for a third series, but it never got beyond that. --Bonalaw 13:08, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
UK comedy drama series often have seasons of six episodes in length; longer seasons are pretty rare. This is partly because the series normally remain in the control of the original writers, who tend to work in pairs. The comedy series Red Dwarf was revived by the BBC with one of its express purposes being to bolster the number of episodes to 100 or so, which is apparently the minimum at which it was expected to be attractive to the US networks.
In the case of Fawlty Towers, Cleese and Booth wrote one series and left it, but were asked to revive it for another series about three years later. They apparently didn't feel that they could take the idea any further. --Tony Sidaway|Talk 13:27, 16 November 2005 (UTC)
The Robbers 13th Episode
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9197366188/downandoutint-21 http://www.fawltytowersrevisited.com/blog/FawltyTowersCollectibles
There is a thirteenth episode called The Robbers. Found via BoingBoing 206.53.17.227 00:52, 7 December 2005 (UTC)
- If this exists at all, it is as a script. The source for this is a person who wrote a book incorporating this script. Is there any authentication from Cleese himself? DavidFarmbrough 15:36, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
- I just ordered this book at the local Barnes & Noble. If you look at this page on FawltySite.net, author Lars Holger Holm actually "pestered" John Cleese to at least do a foreword to the book. Here is an excerpt from the site:
- "For me, Fawlty Towers belongs to a painful, confused, not to say disturbed, period of my life.
- I just ordered this book at the local Barnes & Noble. If you look at this page on FawltySite.net, author Lars Holger Holm actually "pestered" John Cleese to at least do a foreword to the book. Here is an excerpt from the site:
- "Fawlty Towers: A Worshipper’s Companion is…incredibly well written and witty."
- Not sure if you can call it authentication, but at least you get a contribution from "the big man himself." Mattderojas 17:42, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
- I've read somewhere - and I suspect it is correct - that this "13th episode" was actually written by the author of "Fawlty Towers: A Worshipper’s Companion". Rocksong 01:21, 28 July 2006 (UTC)
The problem with this is that it's *obviously* fake. A script I might just believe (although yeah, I suspect it's written by the author of A Worshipper's Companion) - but a made, but unbroadcast episode? That Cleese has never mentioned, that anyone in the studio audience has never talked about, that has never leaked in any way? It's clearly absolute nonsense, and whilst I understand we probably need Cleese to confirm it's non-existence, it's a shame that such an obviously false rumour is given such credence on Wikipedia. I realise it's flagged as rumour, but the way it's put (especially "persistant", and the detail given to it supposedly having been shot) will spead an obvious falsehood way beyond it deserves. 82.46.43.115 11:22, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
- Hear hear. Read this link http://www.fawltytowersrevisited.com/blog/FawltyTowersCollectibles ; the "Worshipper's Companion" author obviously is a guy who likes to make stuff up. I agree with the sentiments above: the "lost episode rumour" should be given short treatment, and I think it doesn't deserve a separate page. I vote to remove it from the template. Rocksong 13:05, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
- I've deleted the sentence outright; I debated whether to do a small mention, but I reckon that it actually doesn't deserve a reference to at all. If anyone disagrees, then can they try and rewrite giving the rumour the short shrift it deserves? 82.46.43.115 14:50, 3 August 2006 (UTC)
- Could this please be discussed on the WikiProject. I know I'm the only person who give a toss about it round here, so if you could please discuss things further Foxearth 04:11, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
- Despite my opinion above, there is now a separate page for Fawlty Towers Episode 13. So the correct place to discuss it is its talk page, i.e. Talk:Fawlty Towers Episode 13. Rocksong 00:27, 7 August 2006 (UTC)
If it's of any help, I've just been reading Michael Palin's Diaries where he writes, for Monday the 12th of March 1979,
"Supposedly a day off before completing 'Whinfrey' on the Ealing stages, but the continued strike of riggers and drivers has changed all that. At the moment we can do no more filming until the dispute is settled - and I hear that the last Fawlty Towers episode has been cancelled altogether." 87.194.41.43 14:31, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
- This section had obviously grown in the last nine months so I have cut it back. The production of the "Basil the Rat" episode was delayed for several months, and it will be this that Palin is referring to. Philip Cross (talk) 23:41, 28 June 2008 (UTC)
Spoiler?
Other than the episode summary, I don't think there is much in the "spoiler" section that is actually a spoiler. The "Plot" and "Background" sections don't really give any particular secrets away: they just explain what the series as a whole is about. Thoughts? -- ALoan (Talk) 22:56, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
- It was a recommendation of the Peer Review. I suppose you could remove it. Still, I have seen spoiler warnings on the most arbitrary of pages and its better safe than sorry. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 23:06, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
Ms Tibbs
The "Trivia" section reads "Gilly Flower (Ms Tibbs) is still alive today.". Can anyone verify this? There's an interview with Prunella Scales on the DVD and she says something like "they've left us now", referring to the two old women in the hotel. There's no information on it at IMDB. Ouuplas 21:12, 14 February 2006 (UTC)
- Well, interesting as the Gilly Flower pages says she is dead. I don't mean to be rude but considering Fawlty Towers was produced 30 years ago and she was old then, I imagine she probably is dead. DavidB601 19:02, 26 March 2007 (UTC)
Manuel
Manuel is actually changed to Italian (called Manolo) for the Basque region of Spain ONLY. For the rest of Spain he is MEXICAN.
see link..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3730650.stm
Could someone update this please. Thanks, Freddie
- If you see a factual error in the article, you can change it yourself. Gamaliel 17:24, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
- The article on BBC News is not accurate. I have the spanish DVD release of Fawlty Towers, it comes with Spanish, Catalonian an Basque audio, and in every version the character of Manuel is changed.
- In Spanish he is called Paolo, he is Italian (from Napoli) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Italian and French. In Catalan he is called Manuel, he is Mexican (from Jalisco) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Catalan and Spanish with strong Catalan accent. In the Basque version he is called Manuel, he is Spanish (from Barcelona) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Basque and Spanish. McKlain 18:55, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
Does anyone know which city Manuel the Mexican/Manolo the Italian comes from? "El es de Chihuahua" (???)
I guess this character, though funny, is a great mistake by John Cleese, not for being a dumb spaniard, but from the part of Spain where the character come from. Catalonians are not immigrants, in fact they are immigrant-holders from other parts of Spain and now from everywhere in the world, as it is a very industrialized region. And they don't have that lame 'typical' look of castilian spaniards, having much a closer look to french people. You can see it, for example, in footballer Francesc 'Cesc' Fàbregas, who plays for Arsenal FC. Catalonians doesn't like to be included in that topic of the big-moustached, brown-skinned and pretty ignorant spaniard because they are not like that at all. It's just as if you see an english character with a scottish or welsh look and attitude. It's sad when you are a smart Oxford guy you make such a terrible mistake. If he wanted a spanish character for the show, he should have been assisted by some people who really knows Spaniards, like great british historian Gerald Brenan, for example. And, last but not least, if Manuel was a catalonian, his name shoul have been 'Manel', which is the name form in catalonian language.
Chihuahua is a Mexican city. Check here at Wikipedia for further information. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.209.64.135 (talk) 00:00, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
The article says: "When told by either Basil, Sybil, or Polly what to do, he often answers, "¿Qué?" ("What?"), although in Spanish one would ask "¿Como?". " That's not exact at all. I'm Spanish -- "¿Qué?" is far more common an answer than "¿Cómo?" when you didn't understand what someone else just said. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.59.58.117 (talk) 23:46, 17 January 2009 (UTC)
Curt?
The article suggests that the cook during the first season was Curt. It's my understanding that Curt was "borrowed" from Andre temporarily, to cook for the Gourmet Night.
- Curt apears in only one episode, Gourmet Night as you say. The script implies Curt has been hired permanently, and that Andre put the Fawlty's onto him. He does not return for subsequent episodes. Asa01 02:50, 21 March 2006 (UTC)
- Curt is hired by the Fawltys because Andre helped him get the job. Andre knew of a personal problem that Curt was having and it's never disclosed as to whether Andre actually told the Fawltys about it. This is eluded to in the episode but never outrightly stated. I always assumed that he was fired after "Gourmet Night" due to his drinking and thus never returned in any other episodes. Dismas|(talk) 02:46, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
- Curt apears in only one episode, Gourmet Night as you say. The script implies Curt has been hired permanently, and that Andre put the Fawlty's onto him. He does not return for subsequent episodes. Asa01 02:50, 21 March 2006 (UTC)
Article Expansions
It is clear that Fawlty Towers, as a gastronomically phenomenal television program - deserves better recognition on Wikipedia. Don't take this the wrong way by all means! What I'm thinking of is reformatting the existing episode pages Gourmet Night' and 'The Germans', and create pages for the remaining ten, so that a consistent, and appealing layout is noticable straight away (for an idea of what I'm talking about, see the Doctor Who episode pages). Basil, Sybil, Manuel and Polly deserve individual pages of their own to be honest. Keeping the summaries on the main page respectively. I will try to begin sorting things out.
- Foxearth 13/5/06
Wikiproject Fawlty Towers
I want to hear others views on this. The users over at the Dad's Army article have created a stub, many relevant pages, and a wiki table template. I think a similar thing can be done with Fawlty Towers. It deserves recognition on wikipedia, and I believe massive expansion is the way to go. Please answer back on this. Foxearth (logged out for computer errors) 31 May 2006
- I'll help if and when I can.--Crestville 10:06, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
- Thanks for replying, help is much needed and appreciated - not done this before so I need all the backing... please if anyone reading this is interested sign your interest on Wikipedia:Wikiproject/List_of_proposed_projects - WikiProject: Fawlty Towers is towards the bottom of the page Foxearth 6 June 2006 (UTC)
- Thankyou for signing your name (those two supporters who have), I've never done this type of thing before, so I would eternally appreciate anyone who offers help, criticism, advise etc. How many users have to show their interest before the project is allowed to commence. If this goes ahead, and becomes successful I'm thinking of doing a similar project, that of Father Ted. Foxearth 12 June 2006 (UTC)
- Although it's a good idea, one comment I have about this proposed wikiproject would be that with there being only 12 episodes and a few main characters, Fawlty Towers is in less need of a large project - I would say a more general project perhaps focussing on the top 10 or 20 candidates in Britain's Best Sitcom would be more appropriate. Certainly that would then include the Father Ted proposal as well, and would improve other popular sitcom pages. However, I would be quite willing to help improve the main Fawlty Towers page anyway. Bob 17:24, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
Stairs
It's mentioned in the article that the layout of the hotel is a goof as the stairs are seen leading the wrong way. Is it not possible that the stairs curve around a full 180 rather than the 90 that we supposedly see? ie: A bend in the stairs isn't visible by camera. In this case, the stairs coming into the second floor landing would be facing the opposite direction to the stairs going up from the lobby. Which would mean the walking area of the second floor would be over the lobby of the first floor, and the rooms would be over the dining/kitchen areas, leaving nothing overhanging. Orichalcon 03:15, 16 May 2006 (UTC)
- Well forgetting the stairs, the layout is still a goof: the kitchen in interiors is actually at the front of the building, just across from the main entry. The kitchen, as we see (in Basil the Rat at least) has an external door on the same side of the building as the main entrance, and this exterior door leads out to a paved back yard with small sheds. The exterior shot of the hotel shows a large bay window in the position where in interiors, the kitchen is located, and the building exterior features no external doors in this area. The upstairs room layout changes a bit between episodes as well, and various sets, especially the walls about the stairway, flap around and wobble in many scenes. Asa01 08:01, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
I was the original poster of this comment. While it may be the case that the stairs bend off camera, it is unlikely because at times when Basil runs up in a panic, the moment he disappears from the downstairs camera, he appears on the upstairs one. Although not conclusive, it certainly implies there is no 'missing' section on the stairs, else screen time would not be continuous. Tom
Major revision
I have just made a substantial alteration to the main page - no information has been deleted, just moved around or integrated. The episode guide is now at Fawlty Towers episode guide. I have also added some inline references, and I believe that now it could possibly pass as a good article. Bob 19:07, 14 June 2006 (UTC)
Remake set in india?
I watched BBC tonight (saturday july 1st, about 8pm CEST), and they showed parts of comedy shows on BBC Prime - a sketch reminded me of Fawlty Towers: indian hotel, host complaining to English guest about how they started it (making india a colony), guest complaining about the view (like in a Fawlty Towers episode). Entrance in the back, reception desk on the left, but no staircase - and they had an employee from some other part of india (?) who didn't speak their language well. Hotel owner also quarelling with his wife. (131.130.121.106 23:05, 1 July 2006 (UTC))
WikiProject is up and Running!
Well... only just. I'm new to the lark. So stubs and templates are foreign to me. Hope that many will be willing to join. Wikipedia: WikiProject Fawlty Towers. Thanks. Foxearth 01:52, 11 July 2006 (UTC)
Hello... umm - all those who signed up for the wikiproject could you please make an effort to try and help me out with these articles. I'm starting to loose patience because no one else seems active enough to help out. You signed up for this project so please try to help out as often as you can, and stop leading me to perceive that this is a one-man band. Foxearth 09:07, 19 July 2006 (UTC)
Shooting in Torquay?
The article states that "most of it" was not shot in Torquay. So far as I remember that should be "none of it". On the DVD commentary it is said that all the location shooting was between John Howard Davies' home and BBC Television Centre. Can anyone confirm that this is true, or say which part was actually shot in Torquay? David | Talk 14:55, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
None of it was filmed in Torquay. As the article says, the outside shots of the hotel were filmed in Buckinghamshire and the other outside filming was done in Harrow and surrounding parts. At the beginning of the Germans episode the sign "Northwick Park Hospital" (where Sybil is supposed to be having her ingrowing toenail removed) is clearly visible on the front of the hospital building. Northwick Park Hospital is in North London. MFlet1 12:36, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
Donald Sinclair...
First, the link should be to the correct Donal Sainclair, not the disambiguiation page.
Second, the article says "Sinclair died in England in 1981 — despite rumours that he had emigrated to Canada, he never left Torquay", while the Donald Sinclair article says "Sinclair died a bitter man in after emigrating to Canada in 1981".
One of the two is wrong, but I don't know which.
Contradiction template (Sept. 14, 2006)
This article states that the daughters say the rendition was accurate, but the Donald Sinclair (Fawlty Towers) article claims that "his family remains adamant that Fawlty was an inaccurate caricature of Sinclair". What is the bottom of this? --Liberlogos 00:53, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
- I don't think there's any question that his wife thought the depiction was inaccurate. The question is whether his daughters did. I can't find anything to confirm his daughters thought it was accurate, but this article [1] says they thought it was inaccurate. Quoting part of the article:
My husband was not like Basil By Richard Savill (Filed: 11/05/2002)
THE real-life Sybil Fawlty has broken her silence for the first time in more than 30 years to defend her late husband, the hotel owner on whom John Cleese based the character Basil Fawlty.
Beatrice Sinclair, 87, who helped run a seaside hotel at which the Monty Python team once stayed, said yesterday that her "war hero" husband had been "turned into a laughing stock".
...
Mrs Sinclair is now a great-grandmother with one daughter, Ann, living in Palm Beach, Florida, and the other, Helen, married to a dental surgeon in Somerset.
"Both have implored me to say something in the past about the Fawlty image because it's so hurtful and unjust. "
- Unless someone can find a cite to the contrary, I think we should remove the comments that the daughters thought it was accurate. Rocksong 01:21, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
- OK, as indicated above, I'm removing the uncited comment that the daughters thought Sinclair was like Basil. I've also moved those details (of Sinclair's personal life) to the Donald Sinclair (hotel owner) page, which is where it really belongs. Rocksong 01:41, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
Should Manuel speak Catalan?
A recent addition to the page reads:
Much has been said about Manuel, because he is clearly Spanish but comes from Barcelona where they speak Catalan, not Spanish. But many Spanish people from around the nation did immigrate to Barcelona giving the city a sizeable Spanish community. But one has to wonder if the writers knew this or not.
Is this really true? The Barcelona page says that both Catalan and Spanish are official languages in Barcelona. Also (though this may not mean much), I have never heard this criticism of Manuel's character before (In other words, I suspect original research). I propose removing the abovementioned paragraph. Rocksong 12:37, 19 September 2006 (UTC)
- Most of the time he only says a handful of Spanish/Catalan words anyway (qué and si spring to mind) so it's hard to know what language he is speaking. However, I thought there were occasions when he came out with some Spanish, especially when speaking to Polly. If so, we have to assume that he came from Barcelona but spoke Castillian Spanish. Certainly not impossible. I doubt if Basil Fawlty was much interested in the linguistic variations in the Iberian peninsula though! Bluewave 13:42, 19 September 2006 (UTC)
- In the first episode, I think the guest Mr. Brown speaks fluent Spanish to Manuel. In the second episode (The Builders), Polly speaks in Spanish to Manuel early in the episode (just before going upstairs for a nap). Someone who speaks Spanish (unlike me) may want to listen and identify the dialect. Rocksong 00:20, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
- There is no 'dialect' in any of both conversations. It's just plain spanish with a strong english accent. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
People in Catalonia can speak both Catalan and Spanish, and would probably be more inclined to speak Spanish to people from outside the region, given that not many people learn Catalan as a foreign language. In the first episode of the series Sybil criticises Basil for hiring Manuel when his (Basil's) grasp of Spanish seems to be somewhat inadequate, to which Basil replies: "Well, I learnt classical Spanish, not that funny dialect that he's picked up!" I suppose this could be a reference to either Catalan or Spanish with a Catalan accent. MFlet1 16:25, 19 September 2006 (UTC)
- To me it's clear that Basil's knowledge of spanish is quite poor, so he makes the joke about manuel speaking something that is not spanish. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
- I have removed the paragraph in question. Anything that starts with "much has been said" and cites no sources screams original research. All of this discussion is irrelevant without sources. Wikiquote editors are not supposed to research such issues, but rather look for others' research and compose material based on that information. Of course, we usually write what we "know" and only afterward go hunting for citable evidence, but stuff like this is an egregious example of the folly of this common practice. ~ Jeff Q (talk) 10:42, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
- Surely someone of Manuel's age would have fallen victim to the 'ban' on Catalan imposed by Franco, and thus learned Spanish? Elcondor 20:08, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
- To be honest, I don't think that even the writers of the show were aware of the existence of catalan in 1975. They did choose one widely known big city for the character's origin and that's it. On the other hand, someone like Manuel should have spoken spanish as a native tongue and also have good (or perfect) knowledge of catalan. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
- I'm Catalan myself and I've saw Fawlty Towers many times in DVD (in English with subtitles, Catalan and Spanish (Castilian)). I agree with McKlain about the weak British knowledge about Spanish diversity. Catalonia has is own history, language and culture and Manuel (who is brown skinned, short and says 'olé' and dance 'Fandango' music) seems to be an Andalusian immigrant stereotype rather than a Spanish stereotype. There are a lot of Andalousian immigrants in Barcelona and the mistake of identifying an Andalousian as a Spanish stereotype for a foreign is possible, but not for a Spanish or Catalan. On the other hand, Manuel says he's Spanish, not Catalan (I guess British don't know the existence of the Catalonia region). He always says '¿qué?' (in Catalan it would be 'mani?' and 'sí' (in Catalan would be 'd'acord' or 'entesos'). 'Classical Spanish' doesn't exist. There are Medieval Spanish, Castilian Spanish or Latin Spanish... In Spain there are others languages than Spanish or Castilian (Galician in Galiza, Euskara in Euzkadi (Basque country) and Catalan in Catalonia. If he was a really Catalan he doesn't say 'olé' or dance 'Fandango' music. He would wear 'barretina' and 'faixa' and he would talk about 'castellers' (human castles) and dance sardana music indeed. About the ‘paella’, it’s funny because in Spain it’s known to be a Valencian common dish, not as an important typical Spanish dish (www.adhochoteles.com/hoteles/hotel_monumental/valencia/guia_valencia_en.html). A typical Catalan dish is 'escudella' (a sort of soup) and 'crema catalana' as a desert. So, as has been said, in the Spanish dubbed version Manuel is an Italian (who can't speak Spanish properly) called Paolo and in the Catalan dubbed version is a Mexican (who can't speak Catalan properly) called Manuel. I think the Swedish band called 'I'm from Barcelona' is unknown in Spain or Catalonia.
(Toni from Sabadell (Barcelona province)) 00:42, 22 February 2008 (please correct my English)
- Hey thanks for the information Toni. Now I've got the bug to go learn more about the Catalan language and culture. Take care. 65.1.149.37 (talk) 07:42, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
- Well the "Australian" guest Raelene Miles (Luan Peters) speaks in a clearly fake Australian accent. But like Manuel's dialect, it hardly matters, because in both cases the characters are merely trading on popular stereotypes for the sake of comedy. They are not meant to be serious ethnic / anthropological studies. Format (talk) 22:50, 24 May 2008 (UTC)
- Hey thanks for the information Toni. Now I've got the bug to go learn more about the Catalan language and culture. Take care. 65.1.149.37 (talk) 07:42, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
Memorable Moments
Who decided which moments were memorable or iconic? Two of the 4 I agree are iconic: Basil offending the Germans and then goosestepping (no argument there, without doubt the show's most famous moment), and Basil beating his car (I'll allow that one because a minature toy was made). I don't see how the other two qualify, frankly. They might be someone's personal favourite, but I don't see what makes them especially memorable or iconic. Unless someone can provide some sort of cite (even if not on the web) that those two are particularly iconic or memorable, I'll remove them. Rocksong 01:01, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
- Yes that would probably be best - I tried to clean-up the section and make it more NPOV, but they are really just somebody's opinion.Bob talk 11:49, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
I'm removing this section as OR mgekelly 10:19, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
I particularly enjoyed the dead man being put in the laudry basket....Basil didn't notice he was dead...so on and so on. Then there was the time he opened up the case, expecting to find MONEY, but found bricks instead. Typical.... Basil
Remakes
I've tagged the remakes section as contradictory since it asserts that three remakes were produced for the American market but that one of them was not produced. mgekelly 10:23, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
- Reworded Elcondor 20:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
Real Fawlty Towers? section
I'm not sure, but I'm not convinced this section is particularly useful - it really just seems to be advertising. I don't think it particularly adds anything to the page and it's also difficult to reference. I suppose the only exceptions could be the hotel Michael Palin visited, and the Gleneagles, both which can be referenced.
Several hotels and guesthouses have called themselves "Fawlty Towers", including:
- A youth hostel in Darwin, Australia, visited in an episode of the travel documentary Full Circle with Michael Palin.
- A motel in Eilat, Israel.
- A motel in Bunbury, Western Australia
- A hotel in Sidmouth which was painted like a Union Flag
- A hotel in the tourist town of Yangshuo in southern China
- A hotel in Rome, near Termini Station
- A hostel in Livingstone, Zambia
- A youth hostel in Fingal, Tasmania, now a campus of Scotch Oakburn College
- A hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida
The title has also been altered as a pun for other establishments:
- In Newquay, Cornwall, there is a bed and breakfast establishment called "Salty Towers".
- In Christchurch, New Zealand, you will find a private youth hostel named "Foley Towers".
- There are many Indian restaurants throughout the United Kingdom called "Balti Towers".
Meanwhile, in 2006 the Gleneagles Hotel staged a gala reopening, embracing its notoriety from the television series. Brian Shone, co-owner of the hotel said "We decided Hotel Gleneagles is always going to be famous for inspiring 'Fawlty Towers' so, rather than be embarrassed about what has happened, we have chosen to capitalize on it...You cannot get rid of the spirit of Basil, so you have got to embrace him." [1]
Link Removal
Alright, which little twerp's been removing the link to the web poll on my website to find the best ever FT episode? Please reply on my talk page so that I will be alerted with a "message recieved" sign next time I log on. --Indie.Bones 12:42, 24 January 2007 (UTC)Indie.Bones
- It's not appropriate for this article - we invite you to contribute to the article, not just add unencyclopedic external links. Bob talk 12:56, 24 January 2007 (UTC)
The Wedding Party
Question about this episode. Thought I'd ask here to get a response quicker rather than the individual episode page. When Basil doesn't want to give the couple a key because they aren't married- is this just Basil making up a pretend law to justify his moral code (or whatever you call it) or is there some antiquidated law on the books about it? Cheers, Rothery 08:03, 19 May 2007 (UTC).
- I don;t think it was illegal, but it was very much frowned upon.--Crestville 15:05, 19 May 2007 (UTC)
Stage play?
There's an unreferenced section about a stage play version of the show, with very little detail. Is this stage production notable enough for inclusion? -- MisterHand 15:58, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
- I suspect not - by featuring performance times, it appears to be advertising for the show itself. I think I'll remove it, unless it can be proved to be notable (i.e. with a notable actor in the lead role, etc) Bob talk 16:56, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
Having now seen the play, I have made an article on the show with Episodes, Cast List, etc. --Indie.Bones 12:22, 3 July 2007 (UTC)Indie.Bones
- The article is just a list of names and makes no assertion of notability. Is this officially sanctioned by Cleese and Booth? My attempts to Google information, or even a review, turned up nothing. Is this even a professional production? -- MisterHand 13:34, 3 July 2007 (UTC)
What?
12 episodes? What a minute, how can a show have on;y twelve episodes? Did this show get cancelled or something? Please explain
Pece Kocovski 05:19, 7 July 2007 (UTC)
- Errr, how can't it? In the UK, it's normal for a "season" to be only six episodes. Two times six equals twelve. Chris Cunningham 07:22, 7 July 2007 (UTC)
- Bloody yanks.--Crestville 12:03, 7 July 2007 (UTC)
Merging episodes articles?
Recently some users have been merging all episode articles into List of Fawlty Towers episodes. Let's discuss it here instead of edit warring.
I assert that there is enough information for an article per episode, and that Fawlty Towers is an iconic enough TV program to merit a separate article on each of its 12 episodes. Peter Ballard (talk) 11:53, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- I would agree with you Peter. Each episode can easily meet our core content policies. It is disheartening to see all the revert-warring that it going on. Catchpole (talk) 12:03, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
I just took another look at The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers) and TTN is right here; there is nothing but plot summary and trivia; and not a source or reference in it. I'm going to restore the redirect this one and ask that a source be found that can reasonably establish notability of this episode before you bring this back. The onus is on editors who want to include content to source it. --Jack Merridew 12:24, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- Please don't be so hasty, please read Wikipedia:Don't be a fanatic. Catchpole (talk) 12:31, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- Many, oh so many, tv shows such as The Sopranos, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Lost (TV series), etc. have an article for every single episode, most of them only have quotes, trivia and plot summary. Just let it be and hope somebody will add a ref eventually.--Yamanbaiia(free hugs!) 12:37, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- A sufficient source for these episodes should be Graham McCann's new book published by Hodder and Staughton [2]. Catchpole (talk) 12:47, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- Many, oh so many, tv shows such as The Sopranos, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Lost (TV series), etc. have an article for every single episode, most of them only have quotes, trivia and plot summary. Just let it be and hope somebody will add a ref eventually.--Yamanbaiia(free hugs!) 12:37, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- Sources are good if they are used to back up assertions of real world notability, There is no evidence of that here. Clear merge candidates. Eusebeus (talk) 15:33, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- Real world notability? Start here: 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. When such a show only has 12 episodes, an article per episode is not excessive. Peter Ballard (talk) 22:52, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- That is certainly true if real-world notability backed up by reliable sources can be asserted for each. But not if they aspire to little more than plot synopses, trivia and other in-universe details. This is not the place for such content. Eusebeus (talk) 00:18, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
- Real world notability? Start here: 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. When such a show only has 12 episodes, an article per episode is not excessive. Peter Ballard (talk) 22:52, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
- So we merge if The Simpsons episodes merge. Deal? Peter Ballard (talk) 02:02, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
- An old argument but if Simpson's episodes can be found wanting in the same respect, then certainly, yes, they should be merged. Eusebeus (talk) 04:25, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
- So we merge if The Simpsons episodes merge. Deal? Peter Ballard (talk) 02:02, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
Centralized TV Episode Discussion
Over the past months, TV episodes have been redirected by (to name a couple) TTN, Eusebeus and others. No centralized discussion has taken place, so I'm asking everyone who has been involved in this issue to voice their opinions here in this centralized spot, be they pro or anti. Discussion is here [3]. --Maniwar (talk) 01:18, 16 January 2008 (UTC)
I've seen the 13th episode
There IS a 13th episode, and I've seen it, when it was aired - accidently I suppose - in late 70's or early 80's by Flemish television (Then called BRT). It is so long ago that I do not remember exactly when it was anymore nor what the script was (Something to do with robbers, yes, perhaps) EXCEPT for one gag that ran along the whole episode: Ther are some 'Silly stairs' on the first floor of Fawlty Towers (Where the rooms are) : A few steps up, a horizontal strech of a few yards, and then a few steps down again. Against Sybils' will, Basil wants the whole contraption to be removed (Which indeed he has) but for some reasons (Which I forgot) they end up being there again at the end of the episode. Was this episode aired at the start or the end of the second series ? I don't remember for certain enymore but I THINK it actually was at the start (Thus making it episode 6-and-a-half). Had it been deemed 'Not good enough' by Cleese or the BBC, but a copy accidently sliped along when the second series was delivered to BRT? Whenever 'Fawlty Towers' has been aired again (Quite regularly in Europe, and in Belgium we get most European channels on cable) I've been looking for the episode with that gag. I now have the twelve 'Official' episodes on dvd: None has the gag with the stairs.... So? 81.245.166.13 (talk) 13:07, 23 January 2008 (UTC)
- So according to you there was a 13th episode made, which was then accidently slipped to the BRT where it was (again accidently) aired. Don't you find that a bit far-fetched? I agree there's a lot of nonsense going on in TV offices but programs don't get distributed or broadcasted by accident. Let alone both. Rien Post (talk) 00:55, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
Concern for Sybil?
However, Basil does show genuine concern for Sybil, asking her often in "The Germans" if she is going to be alright from an operation and laments about the times when there was passion in their relationship.
But when he is asking her in "The Germans" about the operation, he is being sarcastic, isn't he? He knows it's an ingrowing toenail and nothing, then when the nurse comes in he feigns concern and gets told "it's only an ingrowing toenail".
He obviously cares a bit about his relationship with Sybil, and about her welfare, but I don't think the toenail incident proves this. Any thoughts as to whether it needs rewriting? --King Rikk (talk) 20:39, 30 March 2008 (UTC)
Criticisms "Critical Reaction"
The criticism section is highly opinionated and written as though a newspaper article rather than something that would belong to an encyclopedia. "By the time the series had ended, it was an overwhelming critical success. This did not stop the critic from Television Today from condemning such praise in an article on 14th September 1976". An "overwhelming" success claimed by whom? The Daily Mirror and The Observer? Unless the overwhelming success claim can be cited by either viewer ratings or other measurable data, it remains a matter of opinion, whats worse is that the opinion is embedded in the article itself rather than to remain an external claim by another entity giving the notion that it is a fact, when in reality, it is an opinion. There were far more other critics of Fawlty Towers than just Ingram at the time, and honestly, the viewer ratings themselves put Fawlty Towers far from an "overwhelming success", until later decades when peoples stupidity caught up with such type of humour. Personally I think Fawlty Towers was the 1970's equivalent of todays Jackass, consisting mainly of humour that requires one to laugh at another human getting hurt, resulting in a cheesy comedy requiring one to enjoy watching others get hurt for it to be received well. Someone please neutralize the Criticisms section, and rename the title to Criticisms so it can tie in with the format of other sitcoms/comedies as well as to truly reflect the content of the subheading as it trespasses way beyond any critical reaction. --78.86.159.199 (talk) 22:07, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
- My recollection (and yes I was around in the late 70s) was that it was regarded as a classic at least by the early 80s. Here's one quote: "At the time of it’s broadcast in 1975 the first series was moderately successful. In an age before widespread use of home video recorders it was reliant upon repeats in order to find its audience. By the time of the second series some four years later it was a hugely successful programme. In the intervening two decades it has become a much loved, oft-quoted British comedy classic."[4] I've no idea whether the reviewer (Simon Evans of dvdtimes.co.uk, presumably this Simon Evans) is a WP:RS, but the quote pretty well matches my recollection (except I'm not old enough to know whether the first series did only average). Peter Ballard (talk) 01:40, 23 July 2008 (UTC)
- Here's another comment on 1970s reception, this time from The Age, which certainly qualifies as a WP:RS: "The critics weren't unanimous to begin with, but by the time the second series arrived in 1979 it was clear that Cleese and Booth had created a classic."[5] Peter Ballard (talk) 01:45, 23 July 2008 (UTC)
- BTW if you want any references/quotes from Clive James' reviews in the Observer, I have them here in book form, happy to provide references. They are quite elegant in themselves: for example pointing out that Manuel is there for the specific purpose of being misunderstood. SimonTrew (talk) 20:31, 24 March 2009 (UTC)
Flowery Twats
I have merged the paragraphs on the Paperboy and the Sign together (in the Characters section). As the article used to state, the Sign is not a 'character'. It's the tool of an actual character. You wouldn't really describe the blackboard or the couch in the opening credits of The Simpsons as 'characters', would you? Even if they do appear in almost every edition. Also, it doesn't seem necessary to have the information behind this simple running gag split in two like that anyway. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Kisbie (talk • contribs) 21:46, 23 July 2008 (UTC)
I corrected a few mistakes in regards to the sign on the first episode of the second series. At least on the DVD, in that episode the sign actually spells "Fawlty Tower" not "Fawlty Towers" and only the letter 'L' is askew. I double checked this by opening up that episode again. Jedakiah (talk) 00:40, 28 November 2009 (UTC)
No Category
I was not aware until now of the "root" "Category:Fawlty Towers" being deleted on the grounds that linking through the navigation box is adequate! I think linking several subcategories (episodes, characters) is justification for having a main category with all the subcategories off it. So under Category "BBC Television sitcoms" there are subcategories of "Dad's Army" etc but not one for "Fawlty Towers" (although the main article is listed there). Hugo999 (talk) 23:12, 24 July 2008 (UTC)
Problems with the "Television Today" quote
The reference for this quote is given as this web page. It is now dead, so we need to use something else. Given that the precise date is known, why not simply make Television Today the reference, rather than the now-dead webpage? My other concern is that the quote is rather long for a single quote (250 words); can we justify that much from a fair-use point of view? (Also, and off topic, if someone could please devise a way of stopping Wikipedia going into read-only mode quite so often, it would be really, really great!) 86.132.142.207 (talk) 19:50, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
Detail of plot synopses
I am starting to feel (the latest edit was to kipper & the corpse before I think communication problems) that these synopses are slowl evolving, through the good faith of various editors, from synopses into full scripts. Is it really necessary or desirable to have so much detail?
Also for example in the kipper and the corpse it gives background information which really belongs in the main article and could just refer to it there. SimonTrew (talk) 17:00, 24 March 2009 (UTC)
Audrey
I thought Audrey was Sybil's sister. I may be crossing wires, but I seem to recall Basil referring to Audrey as a "dreadful woman" and later she appeared on screen in context. 98.117.207.115 (talk) 05:08, 31 July 2009 (UTC)
Budget
Does anyone know what the cost was for making the two series? This would be interesting information given the massive success the programmes have had. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.194.206.189 (talk) 18:46, 1 October 2009 (UTC)
- Try looking it up at IMDB, but broadly speaking the budget would have been larger than normal for a sitcom - the writing and production process was unusually thorough. Still, one of the program execs or producers said later that when he read the first finished scripts, he had no sense this would make great tv.Strausszek (talk) 08:31, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
This sort of information was rarely released by the BBC at the time - I can't imagine it would have been particularly higher than other sitcoms. There aren't that many external film segments, for example. Bob talk 07:42, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
Paperboy rearranging the sign, citation needed
There's a "Citation Needed" tag next to the part which mentions that the paperboy is responsible for re-arranging the sign. This is revealed at the beginning of "The Psychiatrist" episode, as we see the boy doing it. Should I add this information and remove the Citation tag? Dantilley (talk) 06:59, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- Yeah, probably best. You could always add a note about the episode name as a footnote. Bob talk 07:43, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- How do you add a footnote? (Sorry, not so experienced at this!)Dantilley (talk) 08:13, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- It's just a little bit of code. If you go on the Fawlty Towers article editing tab, you can find it in the article introduction after the mention of the BFI list. Any questions, just ask. Bob talk 08:18, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- OK done, thanks for your help! Dantilley (talk) 08:39, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- It's just a little bit of code. If you go on the Fawlty Towers article editing tab, you can find it in the article introduction after the mention of the BFI list. Any questions, just ask. Bob talk 08:18, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
- How do you add a footnote? (Sorry, not so experienced at this!)Dantilley (talk) 08:13, 18 May 2010 (UTC)
Farce
Isn't Fawlty Towers more of a farce than just a straightforward sitcom? Each episode gets more and more out of control till it reaches a climax at the end, surely the epitome of a farce. Shouldn't this be mentioned in the opening paragraph? Any thoughts?--Tuzapicabit (talk) 01:03, 7 August 2010 (UTC)
Theme music
The Dennis Wilson who composed the theme is NOT the same Dennis Wilson who was in the Beach Boys. Can someone remove the link? (This mistake has been repeated a number of times on Wikipedia). 81.156.48.167 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 22:01, 30 November 2010 (UTC).
- Yup. Same problem on You’re Only Young Twice. I have delinked them for now. Winston365 (talk) 01:00, 1 December 2010 (UTC)
- They are now redlinks to Dennis Wilson (composer). I created Dennis Wilson (disambiguation) and added him there as well. He seems notable enough,
he did the theme songs for a number of British sitcoms, notably Steptoe and Sonactually it seems he did the incidental music for Steptoe and Son, the theme song was written by Ron Grainer. This should discourage people from linking to the wrong guy. Now we just need someone to create the article, I haven't got the energy right now. Winston365 (talk) 02:07, 1 December 2010 (UTC)
Python Location Filming
I've always wondered what the Pythons were filming when they found themselves in the hotel. Michael Palin's diary dates the stay from Monday 11 to Tuesday 12 May, which was just after series one had finished, and four months before series two of Monty Python was broadcast; filming dates and locations are the kind of anorak-style things that Python fans would probably know - they're like that - but I can't find a good source. Judging by this blog post a surprising amount of the second series was filmed in Torquay, and John Cleese has kind words about it, but obviously we'd need something more authoritative. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 18:14, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
- Obviously this would amount to just a brief reference - "whilst staying in Torquay, filming scenes for X (reference)" - but it's the kind of tiny detail that demonstrates thoroughness of thought and commands respect. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 18:19, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
They were actually on a two-week scheduled shoot, most of the team staying only one night at the Gleneagles. You seem to have your source already. Assuming you have Michael Palin Diaries 1969 - 1979: The Python Years, p25 (Tue May 12 1970) "That afternoon we filmed "Derby Council v. The All Blacks" at Torquay rugby ground, and then in the evening some night-time election sequences at a vast neo-classical mansion in Paignton, which used to belong to the sewing-machine millionaire, Singer..." That last tidbit enables me (a local) to identify it unequivocally as Oldway Mansion (a quick google ought to throw up documentary confirmation).
Next day: "..Terry went off to film at a rubbish dump a piece of Jean-Luc Godard cine verite involving an exploding lettuce." and "We drove out to the location and spent the rest of the afternoon playing football dressed as gynaecologists"
Tuesday 19th - "Scott of the Sahara" at Goodrington Sands. Friday 22nd - "Psychiatrists' Dairies"
Though not mentioned by Palin, "Live from the Grill-o-Mat" was also filmed in Paignton TriumFant (talk) 21:12, 11 December 2010 (UTC)
Polly wants a picture
She was a (discrete) main charachter, especially in the later episodes; so, could someone upload an image please? walk victor falk talk 07:24, 8 April 2011 (UTC)
- Anybody can upload a fairuse non-free image if they're a registered user. What would be more suitable would be a picture/screenshot which features more than one of the cast, so that we can reduce the number of non-free images. Bob talk 17:20, 8 April 2011 (UTC)
The Major
I never got the impression that Basil saw the major as an inferior. When Basil is forced to interact with a guest that he regards as his inferior it is pretty obvious: at best he is abrupt and condescending, on average he treats them with barely concealed rudeness, and at worst he is outright offensive.
With the major, Basil seems quite friendly, and treats him pretty normally (with neither the rudness he directs toward his "inferiors" nor the fawning obsequiousness he reserves for his social superiors). TomH 20:00, 17 January 2006 (UTC)
- Yes, this is quite obvious in the episode "The Hotel Inspectors", where the Major asks Basil for the papers while he's on the phone. Basil, not realising it's the Major asking, at first answers in his usual rude way, however he corrects himself and replies politely once he realises it was the Major. Andrimner (talk) 15:10, 20 October 2008 (UTC)
- I agree with this and have removed "such as the Major and Misses Tibbs and Gatsby" --Lox (t,c) 21:06, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
- Ooooh, i dunno. He treats those two ladies awfully, slapping them, shoved one in a cupboard, insults them. he's not too bad to major but still condecending.--Crestville 23:41, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
- He slaps them?! I honestly can't remember that, which episode does that happen in? As I said, I agree that he doesn't treat the major badly, but if you feel he insults the old ladies, please add them back in! --Lox (t,c) 07:29, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
- He slapped one over the head in the Kipper episode when she sees the dead man. I'd say he is pissed off at the Major sometimes but he doesn't actually show that verbally and doesn't insult him. — Wackymacs 07:58, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
- Oh wait, maybe that was Manuel - He tells Manuel to do it, I think. — Wackymacs 07:58, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
- Sorry, it was Polly who slapped the old woman coz she kept screaming, but Basil locked her in the cupboard. He was rude to the major, but not really to his face.--Crestville 19:34, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
- He slapped one over the head in the Kipper episode when she sees the dead man. I'd say he is pissed off at the Major sometimes but he doesn't actually show that verbally and doesn't insult him. — Wackymacs 07:58, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
- He slaps them?! I honestly can't remember that, which episode does that happen in? As I said, I agree that he doesn't treat the major badly, but if you feel he insults the old ladies, please add them back in! --Lox (t,c) 07:29, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
I've always had the feeling that The Major (and Misses Gatsby and Tibbs) was simply a "cash cow" for Basil. He treats the permanent guests as badly as he can get away with. "...I didn't know you did, Major". — Preceding unsigned comment added by Christgill (talk • contribs) 01:39, 11 March 2012 (UTC)
Unreasonable Guests
I've changed one of the episode references for "unreasonable guests" from "Waldorf Salad" to "Gourmet Night" because... The whole point of Waldorf Salad is that the guests ARE reasonable, it's Basil's failure to either provide a Waldorf Salad or simply say "Sorry - we can't make that" that makes the comedy. In "Gourmet Night" we have the boy who wants Salad Cream (NOT mayonnaise)... — Preceding unsigned comment added by Christgill (talk • contribs) 01:15, 11 March 2012 (UTC)
Polly's Room
Polly doesn't live at the hotel. In one episode she fell asleep and woke up the next morning but that was presumably an accident and the Fawltys were away from the hotel. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.184.222.222 (talk) 23:06, 9 January 2013 (UTC)
- I watched this episode today and have just had a closer look after reading this comment. It's very clearly Polly's room. The bookshelf and dressing table are full of personal belongings and the room looks very much lived in.89.240.81.30 (talk) 01:14, 20 January 2013 (UTC)
Then-wife?
Should this really be hyphenated? Martin Hogbin (talk) 07:51, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
- I can't find any reference that says that it should be spelled with a hyphen. I have therefore split each instance into two words. Dismas|(talk) 08:26, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
- Thanks, that is what I thought. Martin Hogbin (talk) 23:12, 28 August 2013 (UTC)
Andre's
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this or I haven't had enough sleep but "In the episode "Gourmet Night", the exterior of Andre's restaurant was filmed on Preston Road in the Harrow area. The launderette next door to the restaurant still exists today and Andre's is now a Chinese restaurant called "Wings"". Why is Andre's "now" anything? Not like it existed in the first place. If appropriate, it may be better to say the original building/business (prior to sticking up signs for fictional businesses) is still there. NKTP (talk) 12:00, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
- But was it the same business back in those days? Presumably the editor that put that in there knows the area but only knows what's there now and not what was there before/during/after filming. Dismas|(talk) 12:07, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
- That's why I said "if appropriate". I don't know the area but it would be nice to know what the business in question was before it was temporarily rebranded and what happened to it afterwards. The original point I was making though - the latter part of the sentence sounds in-universal-like, ie suggesting that at some point Andre possibly retired/died/went bankrupt/was bought out/whatever and and there's now a Chinese restaurant there where Andre's was. Andre's was never there in the first place and as Andre's never existed originally Andre's cannot now be anything. (the more I revise the more I think I'm reading too much into this) NKTP (talk) 19:39, 30 August 2013 (UTC)
Theme music
In the article it says "The series theme music was written by Dennis Wilson and was inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's Minuet in G major." I think some years ago I heard (before there was widespread internet) that it was also inspired by Liebesfreud, by Fritz Kreisler, and that this link was a joke related to the state of marriage between Basil and Sybil. I won't add this to the article myself because I can't verify it, but it would be great if someone can find a written reference (acceptable to Wikipedia) to support this. 86.150.58.68 (talk) 03:37, 26 January 2014 (UTC)
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Found many missing citations
I believe this article should be flagged for too many missing citations. --Xavier (talk) 01:21, 2 November 2015 (UTC)
- The Lead might not need it as it directs to a another Wiki page sourcing the claim.
- --Xavier (talk) 01:25, 2 November 2015 (UTC)
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Edit 10/27/16
Moving the content from the section "British Film Institute" to the section Awards, which is being renamed to "Awards and Accolades". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.175.67.190 (talk) 21:23, 27 October 2016 (UTC)
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Curious here...
I'm trying to find info on this, but some of the Original DVD Collections had the Wrong Introductions where the Outside Sign's Letters were rearranged into funny Phrases like "Farty Owls." Does anyone know more about this?
albabe - The Writer/Artist Formally Known as Al Gordon 19:46, 26 January 2017 (UTC)
- I'm not sure I understand the question but anyways the funny signs for each intro can be seen here and here. SlightSmile 20:20, 26 January 2017 (UTC)
- Oops... sorry. I guess I wasn't that clear. There are a few different Versions of the Faulty Towers Box Set out there. Some have the Original, different and specific for each episode, Intro that rearranges the Hotel's Name into cute things like "Farty Owls." And some have just One (1) Intro repeated throughout the series episodes. I've heard that the latest 2009 "Remastered" version is complete. I just figured this would be information that I would like to find on this Wiki Page.
- albabe - The Writer/Artist Formally Known as Al Gordon 22:28, 1 February 2017 (UTC)
- When the episodes originally came out on VHS there were four different tapes with three episodes each, and were edited together in such a way that there was only one set of opening and closing credits on each tape, with just a caption with the episode title (e.g. "The Germans") indicating the start of the next episode. Maybe this is what you're thinking of, though clearly this isn't an issue with the modern DVD releases which contain all the episodes in their entirety. MFlet1 (talk) 12:26, 2 May 2017 (UTC)
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Added new proposed related pages to the template. Please give feedback on these ideas Foxearth --— Preceding unsigned comment added by Foxearth (talk • contribs) 30 June 2006
- ^ "Fawlty Towers Reopens, Rejoicing in Its Notoriety", Associated Press report, The Washington Post, Sunday 24 September 2006, page D-3