Group Discussion

Do you like watching Comedy? Why?

What comedy series are famous in your country?
What makes a good comedy?
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television that was first broadcast
on BBC2 in 1975 and 1979. John Cleese and Connie Booth, both of whom also starred
in the show, wrote the show. The series is set in Fawlty Towers, a fictional hotel in the
seaside town of Torquay, on the "English Riviera". The plots centre around the tense,
short fused and rude owner Basil Fawlty (Cleese), his bossy wife Sybil (Prunella
Scales), a comparatively normal chambermaid Polly (Booth), and hapless Spanish
waiter Manuel (Andrew Sachs) and their attempts to run the hotel amidst farcical
situations.
The episodes typically revolve around Basil's efforts to succeed in 'raising the tone' of
his hotel and his increasing frustration at the numerous complications and mistakes,
both his own and those of others, which prevent him from doing so. Much of the
humour comes from Basil's overly aggressive manner, engaging in angry but witty
arguments with guests, staff and in particular his formidable wife, whom he addresses
(in a faux-romantic way) with insults such as "my little piranha fish" and "my little nest
of vipers". Despite this, he frequently feels intimidated, she being able to stop him in his
tracks at any time, usually with a short, sharp cry of "Basil!" At the end of some
episodes, Basil succeeds in annoying (or at least bemusing) the guests and frequently
gets his comeuppance.
Match the words in Bold with the definitions below:
1) Showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour.
2) A punishment or fate that someone deserves.
3) Very difficult to deal with
4) A quick temper.
5) A genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment:
6) Unfortunate
7) Fond of giving people orders
8) A skill term defined as the events that make up a story

Fawlty Towers Season 1 Episode 6 The Germans

Original Air Date: 24 October 1975
Plot: With Sybil in the hospital, a moose's head to hang up and some German guests
arriving the next day, Basil has his work cut out for him. After an attempted fire drill
goes wrong and Basil lands up in the hospital with concussion, he succeeds in causing
much offence to the German guests after finally escaping back to the hotel. This episode
is the origin of the quote "Don't mention the war."
Watch the episode and answer the questions
What is happening tomorrow?

What does Basil have to remind the Chef to do?

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Why is Sybil in the hospital?
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How does Basil react when the nurse tells him to leave?

What does Basil do when the Doctor tells him Sybil will be in pain after the
operation?

What Poet does Basil quote when talking to the Major about women?

When Basil asks Manuel for a hammer, what does Manuel think he wants?

Describe the fire drill fiasco as well as you can:

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Describe Basils encounter with the Germans in as much detail as possible
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Did you like the episode? Why/Why not?
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Role Plays
The BBC has decided that they are going to renew Fawlty Towers for one more season.
Unfortunately none the scriptwriters can be found and so the BBC is desperate for new
scenes for the upcoming season as recording starts in 45 minutes. The actors are waiting
to read the first draft of the script and are eager to record. You have been asked to work
together and create a scene. You may pick from one of the situations below. Not only
do you need to write it but you must also act it out.
Situation 1: Manuel has taken a booking for 30 people but he didnt understand the
person on the other end of the phone and he has mixed up 13 with 30 and so Basil and
Sybil have only prepared 13 rooms. As the guests arrive, Basil is furious with Manuel
but he has to be careful as he was supposed to be working on reception when the call
came and he asked Manuel to cover for him when he went for a cup of tea. Manuel
doesnt understand what he has done wrong and so takes everyones bags upstairs, even
though there arent enough rooms. Sybil is furious with Basil, thinking he made the
mistake and wants to know how he could mix up 13 and 30. All this is going on as
guests continue to check in.
Characters needed: Basil, Sybil, Manuel, Guests (One student can repeat the guest role)
Situation 2: Basil finds a painting and thinks it is one that Polly did. He thinks it is
rubbish and throws it in the bin. Sybil comes looking for the painting. It turns out that it
is one she spent 10,000 euros on. It is a present for her mother whose birthday party
both Basil and Sybil are going to. Basil realises his mistake and blames it on Manuel but
Polly gets upset when she hears that Basil thought the painting was hers and threw it out
and threatens to tell Sybil the truth. Basil tries to avoid Manuel and Sybil speaking too
much together so as the truth doesnt come out. Polly tries to help Manuel and Basil,
although she is very angry with her boss.
Characters: Basil, Polly, Sybil, and Manuel

Situation 3: Basil decides to have a theme night in the restaurant and has decided to let
Manuel cook. The problem is that Manuel forgot to give Basil his shopping list and now
the guests are arriving. Afraid that he will let down Basil, someone who he admires,
Manuel invents a menu with things he finds in the fridge. Unfortunately one of the
guests husbands is from Madrid and so when Basil brings out the Spanish food the
guest is not happy and decides to argue with Basil. Basil decides that he has always
been too cruel to Manuel and so for once he will stand up for the waiter and starts to
argue with the guest, as poor Manuel watches from the kitchen trying to stop Basil
from making a fool of himself
Characters: Basil, Manuel, Guests (At least two)
Situation 4: Basil has decided that the gardens of the hotel need work and so he starts
to dig up everything and plant flowers with Manuels help. Basil tries to explain exactly
where he wants everything but Manuel doesnt understand him and does things
completely wrong. Sybil checks on the work and tells Manuel to change things around
but her ideas are very different to the plans that Basil has. Poor Manuel is in the middle
again, but who will win?, Basil or Sybil?
Characters: Manuel, Basil, Sybil
Situation 5: Basil has had enough of Manuels mistakes because of his English and
decides that he will teach him English. Sybil believes that Basil should just hire an
English Teacher but he thinks that he can do the job himself. First problem is that Basil
doesnt understand any of the grammar terms and so he teaches Manuel badly. Sybil is
determined to prove a point and says she wants to test Manuel at the end of class. Basil
is determined that Manuel will succeed but how can he pass if his teacher hasnt a clue.
Characters: Manuel, Basil, Sybil
Situation 6: A Spanish couple are staying in the hotel and both speak perfect English.
Manuel misunderstands and thinks that they have come to work in the hotel. He is
surprised that Basil has given them a hotel room but he is determined that his fellow
countrymen dont let him down and so he is constantly giving them work to do.
Because he refuses to speak to them in Spanish, the couple are confused and angry that
they are constantly being asked to clean and wash up after themselves. Basil sees what
Manuel is doing and so pretends that the couple are being recorded for a TV show.
Problem is that there are no cameras, no microphones and Manuel seems very serious.
The couple are determined to speak to Manuel but Basil knows it would be a disaster if
they spoke to him and especially in Spanish.
Characters: Basil, Manuel, Spanish Couple

Answer Sheet and some information

Info Before Doing The Class: This class may take more than two hours. In my
experience you can make it as long or as short as you want. There is no need to all the
worksheets and some teachers may prefer only to use the first one. The second part of
the class is based on the episode The Germans. Most episodes of the series can be
found on Youtube or online. It may be necessary to explain to some students that the
series was set in the 1970s when there was little or no political correctness. In this
episode and particularly in one scene where Basil and the Major have a conversation
there is some very racist language. After much consideration I decided to leave the
scene in for a class and actually discovered that a very interesting and fruitful
conversation developed from it. We discussed how society and television has developed
not only in technological ways but also in ways those things that were accepted years
ago are now racist. Some teachers may prefer to avoid it though. Also in relation to
The Germans episode it may be necessary to explain that although WWII finished 30
years ago that there was still some tension in the air and that people had only started to
forgive and forget.
The third part is an excellent role-play and teachers can add or subtract as many
characters as they want. Also teachers can invent other situations. Encourage students to
use as many verb tenses as possible.
Group Discussion: Let students give their own answers but encourage them not to give
Yes/No answers. Get them to describe in detail the comedy series and films that are
popular in their country.
Words in Bold answers
1) Witty
2) Comeuppance
3) Formidable
4) Short fused
5) Sitcom
6) Hapless
7) Bossy
8) Plot

Fawlty Towers Season 1 Episode 6 The Germans

Original Air Date: 24 October 1975
Answer Sheet
As mentioned above, explain that although the war finished 30 years ago that there was
still some tensions. This episode is one of the most famous of the 12 episodes.
It is remembered for its line "Don't mention the war" and Cleese's silly walk when he is
impersonating Adolf Hitler. Cleese has also spoken about the scene with the Major and
the language he has used to describe Indians, saying that bigotry was very common then
and that most people ignored it or played it off as old idiots living in the past
Answer to questions
1) A Fire Drill
2) To scrap the mould off the Cheddar
3) An ingrown toenail
4) He asks if a dog had entered the room as he felt the nurse had spoken to him as
of he were a dog
5) He claps his hands and smiles
6) Oscar Wilde
7) First he thinks he asks for a Ham sandwich and then his hamster
8) Maybe students didnt have enough time to write everything down but get them
to recount as many details as possible
9) Again this is similar to the previous question
10) Students own answers
After the class ask students their opinion of the episode. Ask them who they thought the
writers were laughing at: The English or the Germans? Most will say the Germans.
Then read this quote from John Cleese Everybody thinks that was a joke about the
Germans but they missed it. It was a joke about English attitudes to the war and the fact
that some people were still hanging on to that rubbish
Ask students their opinion on the quote.
Also ask students what they feel the Germans thought of the episode in 1993 when it
was aired there. The answer is that it is one of the most popular of the series.
Ask students if they feel the series would be successful and accepted if it were to be
aired today.