Never seen Porridge, but The Good Life played in the United States under the title Good Neighbors (Felicity Kendall, Richard Briars, Penelope Keith, and Paul Eddington). One of our favorites. As a matter of fact, I videotaped every episode of Good Neighbors and As Time Goes By.

Also The Vicar of Dibley. I love Alice. One can easily assume that she's a grown-up with the mind of a very peculiar child, but I think she's actually a true philosopher who just happens to inhabit a not quite parallel universe. One episode has a schtick in it that I think ranks right up there with Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" Alice mentions the product "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" to Geraldine, and tells her that she can't believe it's not butter. "That," says Geraldine, "I think, is the general idea." But Alice then goes on to say that she's found another product that's not "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter," but she can't believe that the product that is not "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" is not "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter." As Geraldine stares at Alice with her brows knit and her mouth open, Alice weaves this into one of the most convoluted bits of monologue that's ever been done. Absolutely hilarious, and if you manage to follow the whole thing, it makes perfect sense. A real tour de force.

Don Firth