Mind Your Language



Monty Python was not my first introduction into British 70s comedies - Mind Your Language takes the cake on that. According to Wiki, The series focuses on the adult students of the English as a Foreign Language class in a London school. The classes take place in the early evening, and are taught by Mr. Brown (Barry Evans), though on occasion other individuals take over the class if he is not available. The class consists of foreigners with varying degrees of English proficiency. The humour of the show is derived from the students misunderstanding English words or terms, and plays up to the cultural stereotypes of their individual nation of origin.

Barry Evans as the hapless English teacher.

Stereotyping it may be, but MYL somehow manages to be incredibly funny without being too offensive. I do consider myself to be extemely sensitive towards cultural stereotyping and discrimination, and often feel uncomfortable when I find the media making rude remarks about different cultures. However, this has not happened with MYL, from the first time I watched it as a child till today. Perhaps I am also aware that in the 70s, such stereotyping has been a staple of Western media, which is why I seem to be particularly forgiving. Haven't we Asians like to stereotype our Western counterparts in our media as well? Then again, it appears to me that these stereotypes are done in good fun. In addition, the characters are likeable, and the misunderstandings which revolve around the absurdity of English grammatic structures and vocabulary are genuinely funny.

However, admittedly, the jokes seem to wane by the last season, so it was probably a good thing that it ceased after 4 seasons.

A clip from the very first episode:


Mr Brown trying to teach the conjugation of "to be", with hilarious results!


And this is my favourite! Mr Brown and his students are accidently locked up in the class. To help pass time till Monday (they were locked on a Friday night, poor things!), Mr Brown asks his students to tell jokes. So Juan Cervantes from Spain gallantly offers one.

"Yes, I sure that was extremely hilarious if only we knew what it was about!"



Truth be told, Mr Brown isn't a very good English teacher. I would expect English teachers to not only correct his student's mistake but also explain why it was wrong. But he sure is a very likeable teacher indeed!

Barry Evans, who played Mr Brown, died in his early 50s alone at home, unfortunately. Many speculated that this was due to an increasing alcoholism as he was unable to find work as he aged because of his youthful looks. A very sad life, I must say. Barry Evans was in fact an orphan who was abandoned as an infant, which was thought to have led to his issues with rejection, as some of his peers have found, leading to some difficult behaviour as he worked on various projects. Such a pity.

Are You Being Served?

According to Wiki, Are You Being Served? was a long-running British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the men's and women's departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London department store. It featured humour based on sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, mistaken identity and occasional slapstick. In addition, there were sight gags generated by outrageous costumes the characters were sometimes required to wear for store promotions, and gaudy store displays frequently featuring malfunctioning robotic mannequins. The show is remembered for its prolific use of double entendres.



From the fifth season, when the department store Grace Brothers is trying an advertising campaign to boost sales, with hilarious results!

"Captain Peacock, stop him at once! I will not have rough workman's hands inside my bra!"

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3