LH, Fawlty WAS funny to begin with, but as it developed, it became more like going to the Bethlehem Hospital and poking the lunatics with sticks. Mocking the afflicted.
I take the same attitude to many over-the-top comics, much preferring the Dave Allen/Ronnie Barker type of sly humourous digs.

Having said that, obviously many people disagree with me, because Fawlty is still being replayed, year after year.

And Dave, Cleese did base the character on a real hotelier he met, so maybe it was the same one.