Rating: 
Summary: Most(ly) Impeccable, sir !
Review: Amongst the myriad fields of art and aesthetics, it can be argued that the medium of comedy contains the greatest level of subjectivity for its audience. That which makes one man laugh will make another weep (or sneer), and vice-versa; the polarities of `funny' tend to fall into the time-honored wit-slots of lowbrow (Adam Sandler pleb-fests), middlebrow (mainstream sitcoms), and highbrow (satire, tongue-in-cheek obscurest in-joshing). Alas, the boundaries between `brows are vast, virulently defended, and rarely surmounted by either artist or audience... and as to which is truly `better,' well, that is (I repeat) a subjective preference: for each represents a facet of humanity - from the all-encompassing exit-point of the gutter to the slick exclusivity of the Ivory Tower - and should be respected as such. The language and technique may differ, yet under the surface the similarities cannot be denied - for as any Buddhist will happily tell you, comedy thrives on *suffering*: the pain and folly of humanity exposed, ridiculed, and reduced in turn by the cathartic chuckle; our redundancies, egocentricies, idiocies and plain tomfoolery encapsulated for exorcism and/or easy digestion. Rare is it for one to find a comedy that deftly blends the best elements of all three `brow aesthetics' into a humor-vehicle that is at once escapist and illuminating. *Wooster and Jeeves*, an A&E adaptation of the P.G. Wodehouse serial-novels of the same name, achieves this exceptional distinction. With its natural dialogue (culled directly from the source material), impeccable comic timing and excellent acting, along with an extremely refreshing variation on the standard development-of-conflict/culmination-of-tension sitcom-structure, *Wooster and Jeeves* towers over the dross and diminished returns of mainstream H-wood offerings, exposing the implicit poverty of ultra-recycled miscommunication-muddling, senseless slapstick, lowest-common-denominator joke-dialogue and imbecilic `shock' theatrics. This is one for the archives. *Wooster and Jeeves* centers around one Bertram Wooster (Hugh Laurie), an archetypical English wealth-scion of the flapper `20s (i.e. a playboy and all-around fop), and Jeeves (Stephen Fry), his sophisticated valet. Bertie has devoted his existence to simple pleasures: afternoon excursions to the local gentleman's club for drinks and nine-ball; the occasional golf-game in the countryside; learning all the newest tunes on his piano (and, distressingly, a trombone). But this peaceful existence is constantly threatened by his relatives and school-chum companions, who endeavor often-as-not to involve him in their half-witted shenanigans (often via blackmail), or seek to marry him off so as to be `molded' into an upstanding citizen. Luckily Bertie has Jeeves, his upper-crust manservant of philosophical bent, photographic memory and astonishing reliability, to help him wriggle free from these various entanglements/entrapments: "you're a rare bird, Jeeves!" Bertie invariably exclaims upon hearing the elegant, simple solutions his valet conjures. Indeed, compared to the lassitude and loathsome irresponsibility run rampant in Bertie's circle of the privileged (...peacocks, puff-adders and/or prunes), Jeeves is a pillar and a paragon, far more cultivated in his education and moral fortitude than any of the noble-rank he so impeccably serves. This could be considered a cliché, and with good reason - but we must remember that clichés often have a strong basis in reality, and such is the case here. Wooster & co., born with the silver spoon firmly placed in mouth, have never had to struggle for anything: thus, stressful occasion is usually invented or invited, for excitement, a `lark', a means to obtain the suffering so key in delineating character and defining pleasure, whereas Jeeve's fortitude is all self-made, stamped upon soul and sinew through years of willing trial. But I digress. The one thing I like most about *Wooster and Jeeves,* aside from the top-notch writing, acting, set-design and dramatic construction, is the fact that it sidesteps the typical tension-build of very nearly all comedy. In the usual spate of sitcom and other `brow-aesthetics,' a situation is introduced, complications ensue, and with an unhealthy over-reliance of miscommunication, the tension is milked and milked until `release' - long after the outcome has been thoroughly predicted by the jaded audience. In each episode of *Wooster and Jeeves*, however, the writers have combined several of Wodehouse's short stories, therein threading events, character-arcs and complications into a sinuous storm of tension/release. Rare is it for an uncomfortable situation to wear out its premise: not only are conflicts dispatched in a speedy and sometimes surprising manner, they often mutate into different, contrasting developments...an incredibly refreshing twist. This show is *not* milked, and there is (almost) always enough material to fill a 45-minute episode. Until, that is, the fourth season. All that makes this series extraordinary is astonishingly reputed in the disastrous return-to-America episodes, which stretch credibility well past the breaking point and simply are _not_ up to snuff with the prior three seasons. The Empire State Building climax of `The Once and Future Ex' borders on disgusting parody; the castaway epilogue to `Bridegroom Wanted' is humorous only in a surreal `what were they thinking?' sort of way. Everything returns to normal (more or less) once Bertie and Jeeves reach England, though the spark of the show is discernable weakened afterward and even the return of powerhouse personality-clashes like that of Finknottle and Spode come of more like copycat comedy when compared to their predecessors. Regardless, this box set is well worth the lucre. Five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Most(ly) Impeccable, sir !
Review: Amongst the myriad fields of art and aesthetics, it can be argued that the medium of comedy contains the greatest level of subjectivity for its audience. That which makes one man laugh will make another weep (or sneer), and vice-versa; the polarities of 'funny' tend to fall into the time-honored wit-slots of lowbrow (Adam Sandler pleb-fests), middlebrow (mainstream sitcoms), and highbrow (satire, tongue-in-cheek obscurest in-joshing). Alas, the boundaries between 'brows are vast, virulently defended, and rarely surmounted by either artist or audience... and as to which is truly 'better,' well, that is (I repeat) a subjective preference: for each represents a facet of humanity - from the all-encompassing exit-point of the gutter to the slick exclusivity of the Ivory Tower - and should be respected as such. The language and technique may differ, yet under the surface the similarities cannot be denied - for as any Buddhist will happily tell you, comedy thrives on *suffering*: the pain and folly of humanity exposed, ridiculed, and reduced in turn by the cathartic chuckle; our redundancies, egocentricies, idiocies and plain tomfoolery encapsulated for exorcism and/or easy digestion. Rare is it for one to find a comedy that deftly blends the best elements of all three 'brow aesthetics' into a humor-vehicle that is at once escapist and illuminating. *Wooster and Jeeves*, an A&E adaptation of the P.G. Wodehouse serial-novels of the same name, achieves this exceptional distinction. With its natural dialogue (culled directly from the source material), impeccable comic timing and excellent acting, along with an extremely refreshing variation on the standard development-of-conflict/culmination-of-tension sitcom-structure, *Wooster and Jeeves* towers over the dross and diminished returns of mainstream H-wood offerings, exposing the implicit poverty of ultra-recycled miscommunication-muddling, senseless slapstick, lowest-common-denominator joke-dialogue and imbecilic 'shock' theatrics. This is one for the archives. *Wooster and Jeeves* centers around one Bertram Wooster (Hugh Laurie), an archetypical English wealth-scion of the flapper '20s (i.e. a playboy and all-around fop), and Jeeves (Stephen Fry), his sophisticated valet. Bertie has devoted his existence to simple pleasures: afternoon excursions to the local gentleman's club for drinks and nine-ball; the occasional golf-game in the countryside; learning all the newest tunes on his piano (and, distressingly, a trombone). But this peaceful existence is constantly threatened by his relatives and school-chum companions, who endeavor often-as-not to involve him in their half-witted shenanigans (often via blackmail), or seek to marry him off so as to be 'molded' into an upstanding citizen. Luckily Bertie has Jeeves, his upper-crust manservant of philosophical bent, photographic memory and astonishing reliability, to help him wriggle free from these various entanglements/entrapments: "you're a rare bird, Jeeves!" Bertie invariably exclaims upon hearing the elegant, simple solutions his valet conjures. Indeed, compared to the lassitude and loathsome irresponsibility run rampant in Bertie's circle of the privileged (...peacocks, puff-adders and/or prunes), Jeeves is a pillar and a paragon, far more cultivated in his education and moral fortitude than any of the noble-rank he so impeccably serves. This could be considered a cliché, and with good reason - but we must remember that clichés often have a strong basis in reality, and such is the case here. Wooster & co., born with the silver spoon firmly placed in mouth, have never had to struggle for anything: thus, stressful occasion is usually invented or invited, for excitement, a 'lark', a means to obtain the suffering so key in delineating character and defining pleasure, whereas Jeeve's fortitude is all self-made, stamped upon soul and sinew through years of willing trial. But I digress. The one thing I like most about *Wooster and Jeeves,* aside from the top-notch writing, acting, set-design and dramatic construction, is the fact that it sidesteps the typical tension-build of very nearly all comedy. In the usual spate of sitcom and other 'brow-aesthetics,' a situation is introduced, complications ensue, and with an unhealthy over-reliance of miscommunication, the tension is milked and milked until 'release' - long after the outcome has been thoroughly predicted by the jaded audience. In each episode of *Wooster and Jeeves*, however, the writers have combined several of Wodehouse's short stories, therein threading events, character-arcs and complications into a sinuous storm of tension/release. Rare is it for an uncomfortable situation to wear out its premise: not only are conflicts dispatched in a speedy and sometimes surprising manner, they often mutate into different, contrasting developments...an incredibly refreshing twist. This show is *not* milked, and there is (almost) always enough material to fill a 45-minute episode. Until, that is, the fourth season. All that makes this series extraordinary is astonishingly reputed in the disastrous return-to-America episodes, which stretch credibility well past the breaking point and simply are _not_ up to snuff with the prior three seasons. The Empire State Building climax of 'The Once and Future Ex' borders on disgusting parody; the castaway epilogue to 'Bridegroom Wanted' is humorous only in a surreal 'what were they thinking?' sort of way. Everything returns to normal (more or less) once Bertie and Jeeves reach England, though the spark of the show is discernable weakened afterward and even the return of powerhouse personality-clashes like that of Finknottle and Spode come of more like copycat comedy when compared to their predecessors. Regardless, this box set is well worth the lucre. Five stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Tribute to the Works of Wodehouse
Review: Fans of the books will love this DVD set. The adaptation was done well and provides the true flavor of Wodehouse in a visual medium. If you haven't read the books or just don't like to read - this is your opportunity to see what the rest of enjoy about the writings of Wodehouse.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous wit
Review: Fantastic acting, scenery and props, this is just wonderful comedy. We watch it over and over. I've always loved the Wodehouse books, and this lives up to them magnificently, with some added songs from Bertie. Talent plus.
The only drawback I can find is that the minor characters have different actors playing them from series to series. You just get used to one Aunt Dahlia or Madeline Bassett when another one with a different face and voice crops up next series. A shame, but it still doesn't spoil a 10 star series.
Rating:
Summary: Kes Evenstar
Review: Hilarious. A clueless aristrocrat, Bertram Wooster, gets tangled up in affairs of friends, family and nazis. And occasionally communists. All these loons come together to give each other nosebleeds and headaches constantly. Berty has a variety of defective friends and girlfriends. The people get engaged in this as frequently as the people here date! There's a Hobbit-like quality to many of the characters. Berty constantly needs to be rescued by his brilliant butler, Jeeves. Imagine staying in a house with a psychotic dictater, a drippy damsel-type who talks of baby bunnies and fairy voices, or friends trying to tear each other apart.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: I doubt many people are aware of this fine TV comedy. You are in for a fine treat if you are here. The casting is wonderful, as are the costumes, music, and set design. The series is faithful to Wodehouse's stories. If you are already a Wodehouse fan, as am I, it will give you an extra thrill to see the series rendered so flawlessly. This is definitely a collector's item to be enjoyed over and over again and shared with the family. Tinkerty Tonk!
Rating:
Summary: Really funny
Review: I really love Granada's "Jeeves and Wooster " series. This contains all four seasons. It's really one of the funniest comedies I've seen. Jeeves is the perfect mastermind and butler to Wooster almost as smart as Sherlock Holmes. All the episodes are funny, as Bertie goes into and gets out of one engagement after another and into adventures. It really is true to P.G. Wodehouse's wonderful books. It's a great series for the entire family to watch.
Rating:
Summary: What Ho Jeeves!
Review: I've enjoyed watching this series from it's inception. What has been interesting is sharing it with my family. My kids were only in grade school when they first watched, and they seemed to get as big a kick out of them as us old parents did. Now they are devoted Wodehouse fans and enjoy his other stories too. The characters seem to enjoy being dragged thru the ringer of the old master PGW. If you enjoy comedy, 1920's flavor styles and music, sumptuous sets, or even gorgeous views of old England, you should enjoy these enough to bear through them with pluck and your chin up.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, sir!
Review: If you haven't seen even one episode of "Jeeves and Wooster," you have not lived. It's a toss-up as to whether this or "Fawlty Towers" is the best British comedy series in existance, but one definite thing is that you will laugh yourself silly over these. P.G. Wodehouse's novels are obscenely silly and funny, and the spirit of the TV show is very close to that of the books. Bertie Wooster is in need of a valet, and the low-key, brainy manservant Jeeves is sent by an agency to deal with Bertie's everyday needs. But Jeeves doesn't just fold Bertie's hankies and give him hangover tonics. With predatory young beauties, ditzy idiot pals of Bertie's, and domineering aunts trying to marry him off, Bertie is always in hot water -- and Jeeves always is on hand, with a plot cooking in his impressive brain, to haul his hapless employer out. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are perfectly cast as the endearingly bumbler Bertie Wooster, who is always in trouble, and the dryly witty Jeeves, who is always helping Bertie. Though Bertie's lack of clothing sense (and a trombone) often annoys Jeeves, the brainy valet clearly does have affection for Bertie, and Bertie appreciates Jeeves' ability to save him from fates worse than death (such as marriage to various nightmarish young women that Bertie often becomes engaged to). The stories tend to be very close to the original stories. Some of the novels are simplified and the short stories are mishmashed together, but the results are very pleasing. The main problem is that the casts shift over the course of the various seasons -- Madeleine Basset, for example, is played by three different girls. Even more confusing, occasionally an actor will play two different roles inside the series (one of the Gussie Fink-Nottle actors also played a gambling skunk). But if you aren't annoyed, it isn't really confusing at all. Complicated, cartoonish, slapstick and sophisticated, "Jeeves and Wooster" is one of the funniest shows I have ever seen; it is also the only "Masterpiece Theatre" show I have ever heard of that teenage boys will watch voluntarily. Like the books they are based on, this show is insanely funny and one-of-a-kind.
Rating:
Summary: Took a bit of getting used to, but I love it.
Review: My husband is British and we both loved these guys in Blackadder, so when we saw this set available he recommended I get it (he'd seen the original broadcasts of it). Well, between the time I ordered and the time we watched the first one, he hyped it so much as "hysterical" and so on, that I was rather disappointed in the first show. It was "interesting" and "amusing" but I would not have called it "hysterical." There were a few funny jokes but otherwise just an interesting show to watch. However, as we went on watching them, I got more in tune with it, and by Episode 5 I was loving it. Bertie and Jeeves both use such wonderful hat words and Bertie does use the most alarmingly British phrases! So, I'm looking forward to the rest of it. Perhaps they were merely getting into stride in the first few shows. The one drawback to this is that the actors changed every once in a while. There was a character named Madeleine Basset and she was played by three different actresses over the course of this series. There are other characters who were treated similarly; Gussie Fink-Nottle is played by 2 different guys (sadly) and J. Washburn Stoker was played by a couple of different guys too. But the stories are worth it, as long as you don't get too caught up in this. I spent a lot of time when they introduced new actors or actresses trying to figure out who they were playing, and then when I found out it was an actor change, spent a lot of time griping about it. But since I had it on DVD I was able to go back and watch it from the beginning after this was all clear in my head.
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