Talk:Fawlty Towers

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[edit] Amanda's

In 1983 there was an attempt to make a remake called Amanda's (or "Amanda's by the Sea") with Beatrice Arthur in the part of the struggling hotel owner, but she couldn't fill John Cleese's shoes so it was probably cancelled after just one season. // Liftarn

Just another example of a US network buying a UK sitcom and then removing precisely those elements which made it work and wondering why it flops. Lee M 03:31, 10 Nov 2003 (UTC)

Were there actually only 12 episodes? The duck a l'orange? the moose head? It would appear to have run for countless weeks; judging by its lingering value of comedic moments. YES, there were only 12 episodes, it's just that each one had a lot of sub-plots.

Is Fawlty towers really an example of a bedroom farce? I don't think so. Any sexual content is only ever minor or even unintended, it is never a main plot driver.

What about the episode where Fawlty is franticly trying to catch out the bloke who had a woman in his room? Nah, it was one of the main themes, be it subtle (Basil and Sybil sleeping in seperate beds) or blatent (Basil thinking one of the customers needs batteries for a vibrator).--Crestville 22:38, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

It used to be common for TV couples to sleep in separate beds, though in this case there was probably that additional subtext. - Richardcavell 14:26, 3 April 2006 (UTC)
[Edit: Wait, I'm a fool!] "Basil thinking one of the customers needs batteries for a vibrator?" I'm afraid you've severely misinterpreted that scene! The guy has just arrived with a beatiful woman and is now asking if there's a chemist's (pharmacist's) nearby, so Basil thinks he must be in need of a condom. The guy is actually hoping to buy batteries for his razor. -Mike 131.111.8.104 17:58, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
Initially he thinks he want condoms from the chemist, but it isn't until he announces he wants batteries that Basil accuses him of being disgusting. Then he explains he want them for his razor and Basil has to back-track. Watch it again! It's great!--Crestville 17:18, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
I'd completely forgotten about that part! I apologise for contradicting you, you're absolutely right. -Mike. 131.111.8.104 20:25, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
Not at all my friend. I watched it a few times before it clicked with me.--Crestville 15:31, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Sign

Was the sign really changed to 'Flowery Twats', wasn't it 'Flowery Tarts'? Sprintstar 09:04, 8 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Yes it really was Flowery Twats - The are numerous websites that list all 12 variations on the sign if you are interested.MarnetteD | Talk 19:40, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)
Yes, it really said that. It was a nod to Connie.

[edit] Geoffrey Palmer

I noticed the link to Geoffrey Palmer directs to a different Geoffrey Palmer. It should direct to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Palmer_%28actor%29

It should indeed, but you can correct this sort of thing yourself. I have now corrected it, however. DavidFarmbrough 16:01, 5 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 12 Episodes?

It doesnt explain why there were only 12 episodes. Was is that poorly received when it first aired only to be recognized later as one of the best of all time? Weird.

I think Cleese just wanted to do other things (Monty Python were still making films, for one thing). It certainly wasn't poorly received. I gather he and Booth did hammer out some possible ideas for a third series, but it never got beyond that. --Bonalaw 13:08, 16 November 2005 (UTC)


UK comedy drama series often have seasons of six episodes in length; longer seasons are pretty rare. This is partly because the series normally remain in the control of the original writers, who tend to work in pairs. The comedy series Red Dwarf was revived by the BBC with one of its express purposes being to bolster the number of episodes to 100 or so, which is apparently the minimum at which it was expected to be attractive to the US networks.

In the case of Fawlty Towers, Cleese and Booth wrote one series and left it, but were asked to revive it for another series about three years later. They apparently didn't feel that they could take the idea any further. --Tony Sidaway|Talk 13:27, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The Robbers 13th Episode

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/9197366188/downandoutint-21 http://www.fawltytowersrevisited.com/blog/FawltyTowersCollectibles

There is a thirteenth episode called The Robbers. Found via BoingBoing 206.53.17.227 00:52, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

If this exists at all, it is as a script. The source for this is a person who wrote a book incorporating this script. Is there any authentication from Cleese himself? DavidFarmbrough 15:36, 13 January 2006 (UTC)
I just ordered this book at the local Barnes & Noble. If you look at this page on FawltySite.net, author Lars Holger Holm actually "pestered" John Cleese to at least do a foreword to the book. Here is an excerpt from the site:
"For me, Fawlty Towers belongs to a painful, confused, not to say disturbed, period of my life.
"Fawlty Towers: A Worshipper’s Companion is…incredibly well written and witty."
Not sure if you can call it authentication, but at least you get a contribution from "the big man himself." Mattderojas 17:42, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
I've read somewhere - and I suspect it is correct - that this "13th episode" was actually written by the author of "Fawlty Towers: A Worshipper’s Companion". Rocksong 01:21, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

The problem with this is that it's *obviously* fake. A script I might just believe (although yeah, I suspect it's written by the author of A Worshipper's Companion) - but a made, but unbroadcast episode? That Cleese has never mentioned, that anyone in the studio audience has never talked about, that has never leaked in any way? It's clearly absolute nonsense, and whilst I understand we probably need Cleese to confirm it's non-existence, it's a shame that such an obviously false rumour is given such credence on Wikipedia. I realise it's flagged as rumour, but the way it's put (especially "persistant", and the detail given to it supposedly having been shot) will spead an obvious falsehood way beyond it deserves. 82.46.43.115 11:22, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

Hear hear. Read this link http://www.fawltytowersrevisited.com/blog/FawltyTowersCollectibles ; the "Worshipper's Companion" author obviously is a guy who likes to make stuff up. I agree with the sentiments above: the "lost episode rumour" should be given short treatment, and I think it doesn't deserve a separate page. I vote to remove it from the template. Rocksong 13:05, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
I've deleted the sentence outright; I debated whether to do a small mention, but I reckon that it actually doesn't deserve a reference to at all. If anyone disagrees, then can they try and rewrite giving the rumour the short shrift it deserves? 82.46.43.115 14:50, 3 August 2006 (UTC)
Could this please be discussed on the WikiProject. I know I'm the only person who give a toss about it round here, so if you could please discuss things further Foxearth 04:11, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
Despite my opinion above, there is now a separate page for Fawlty Towers Episode 13. So the correct place to discuss it is its talk page, i.e. Talk:Fawlty Towers Episode 13. Rocksong 00:27, 7 August 2006 (UTC)

If it's of any help, I've just been reading Michael Palin's Diaries where he writes, for Monday the 12th of March 1979,
"Supposedly a day off before completing 'Whinfrey' on the Ealing stages, but the continued strike of riggers and drivers has changed all that. At the moment we can do no more filming until the dispute is settled - and I hear that the last Fawlty Towers episode has been cancelled altogether." 87.194.41.43 14:31, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Spoiler?

Other than the episode summary, I don't think there is much in the "spoiler" section that is actually a spoiler. The "Plot" and "Background" sections don't really give any particular secrets away: they just explain what the series as a whole is about. Thoughts? -- ALoan (Talk) 22:56, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

It was a recommendation of the Peer Review. I suppose you could remove it. Still, I have seen spoiler warnings on the most arbitrary of pages and its better safe than sorry. smurrayinchester(User), (Talk) 23:06, 13 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] The Major

I never got the impression that Basil saw the major as an inferior. When Basil is forced to interact with a guest that he regards as his inferior it is pretty obvious: at best he is abrupt and condescending, on average he treats them with barely concealed rudeness, and at worst he is outright offensive.

With the major, Basil seems quite friendly, and treats him pretty normally (with neither the rudness he directs toward his "inferiors" nor the fawning obsequiousness he reserves for his social superiors). TomH 20:00, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

I agree with this and have removed "such as the Major and Misses Tibbs and Gatsby" --Lox (t,c) 21:06, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
Ooooh, i dunno. He treats those two ladies awfully, slapping them, shoved one in a cupboard, insults them. he's not too bad to major but still condecending.--Crestville 23:41, 5 February 2006 (UTC)
He slaps them?! I honestly can't remember that, which episode does that happen in? As I said, I agree that he doesn't treat the major badly, but if you feel he insults the old ladies, please add them back in! --Lox (t,c) 07:29, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
He slapped one over the head in the Kipper episode when she sees the dead man. I'd say he is pissed off at the Major sometimes but he doesn't actually show that verbally and doesn't insult him. — Wackymacs 07:58, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
Oh wait, maybe that was Manuel - He tells Manuel to do it, I think. — Wackymacs 07:58, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
Sorry, it was Polly who slapped the old woman coz she kept screaming, but Basil locked her in the cupboard. He was rude to the major, but not really to his face.--Crestville 19:34, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ms Tibbs

The "Trivia" section reads "Gilly Flower (Ms Tibbs) is still alive today.". Can anyone verify this? There's an interview with Prunella Scales on the DVD and she says something like "they've left us now", referring to the two old women in the hotel. There's no information on it at IMDB. Ouuplas 21:12, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Well, interesting as the Gilly Flower pages says she is dead. I don't mean to be rude but considering Fawlty Towers was produced 30 years ago and she was old then, I imagine she probably is dead. DavidB601 19:02, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Manuel

Manuel is actually changed to Italian (called Manolo) for the Basque region of Spain ONLY. For the rest of Spain he is MEXICAN.

see link..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3730650.stm

Could someone update this please. Thanks, Freddie

If you see a factual error in the article, you can change it yourself. Gamaliel 17:24, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
The article on BBC News is not accurate. I have the spanish DVD release of Fawlty Towers, it comes with Spanish, Catalonian an Basque audio, and in every version the character of Manuel is changed.
In Spanish he is called Paolo, he is Italian (from Napoli) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Italian and French. In Catalan he is called Manuel, he is Mexican (from Jalisco) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Catalan and Spanish with strong Catalan accent. In the Basque version he is called Manuel, he is Spanish (from Barcelona) and Basil talks to him in a mix of Basque and Spanish. McKlain 18:55, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Does anyone know which city Manuel the Mexican/Manolo the Italian comes from? "El es de Chihuahua" (???)

I guess this character, though funny, is a great mistake by John Cleese, not for being a dumb spaniard, but from the part of Spain where the character come from. Catalonians are not immigrants, in fact they are immigrant-holders from other parts of Spain and now from everywhere in the world, as it is a very industrialized region. And they don't have that lame 'typical' look of castilian spaniards, having much a closer look to french people. You can see it, for example, in footballer Francesc 'Cesc' Fàbregas, who plays for Arsenal FC. Catalonians doesn't like to be included in that topic of the big-moustached, brown-skinned and pretty ignorant spaniard because they are not like that at all. It's just as if you see an english character with a scottish or welsh look and attitude. It's sad when you are a smart Oxford guy you make such a terrible mistake. If he wanted a spanish character for the show, he should have been assisted by some people who really knows Spaniards, like great british historian Gerald Brenan, for example. And, last but not least, if Manuel was a catalonian, his name shoul have been 'Manel', which is the name form in catalonian language.

Chihuahua is a Mexican city. Check here at Wikipedia for further information. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.209.64.135 (talk) 00:00, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Curt?

The article suggests that the cook during the first season was Curt. It's my understanding that Curt was "borrowed" from Andre temporarily, to cook for the Gourmet Night.

Curt apears in only one episode, Gourmet Night as you say. The script implies Curt has been hired permanently, and that Andre put the Fawlty's onto him. He does not return for subsequent episodes. Asa01 02:50, 21 March 2006 (UTC)
Curt is hired by the Fawltys because Andre helped him get the job. Andre knew of a personal problem that Curt was having and it's never disclosed as to whether Andre actually told the Fawltys about it. This is eluded to in the episode but never outrightly stated. I always assumed that he was fired after "Gourmet Night" due to his drinking and thus never returned in any other episodes. Dismas|(talk) 02:46, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Article Expansions

It is clear that Fawlty Towers, as a gastronomically phenomenal television program - deserves better recognition on Wikipedia. Don't take this the wrong way by all means! What I'm thinking of is reformatting the existing episode pages Gourmet Night' and 'The Germans', and create pages for the remaining ten, so that a consistent, and appealing layout is noticable straight away (for an idea of what I'm talking about, see the Doctor Who episode pages). Basil, Sybil, Manuel and Polly deserve individual pages of their own to be honest. Keeping the summaries on the main page respectively. I will try to begin sorting things out.

Foxearth 13/5/06

[edit] Wikiproject Fawlty Towers

I want to hear others views on this. The users over at the Dad's Army article have created a stub, many relevant pages, and a wiki table template. I think a similar thing can be done with Fawlty Towers. It deserves recognition on wikipedia, and I believe massive expansion is the way to go. Please answer back on this. Foxearth (logged out for computer errors) 31 May 2006

I'll help if and when I can.--Crestville 10:06, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for replying, help is much needed and appreciated - not done this before so I need all the backing... please if anyone reading this is interested sign your interest on Wikipedia:Wikiproject/List_of_proposed_projects - WikiProject: Fawlty Towers is towards the bottom of the page Foxearth 6 June 2006 (UTC)
Thankyou for signing your name (those two supporters who have), I've never done this type of thing before, so I would eternally appreciate anyone who offers help, criticism, advise etc. How many users have to show their interest before the project is allowed to commence. If this goes ahead, and becomes successful I'm thinking of doing a similar project, that of Father Ted. Foxearth 12 June 2006 (UTC)
Although it's a good idea, one comment I have about this proposed wikiproject would be that with there being only 12 episodes and a few main characters, Fawlty Towers is in less need of a large project - I would say a more general project perhaps focussing on the top 10 or 20 candidates in Britain's Best Sitcom would be more appropriate. Certainly that would then include the Father Ted proposal as well, and would improve other popular sitcom pages. However, I would be quite willing to help improve the main Fawlty Towers page anyway. Bob 17:24, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stairs

It's mentioned in the article that the layout of the hotel is a goof as the stairs are seen leading the wrong way. Is it not possible that the stairs curve around a full 180 rather than the 90 that we supposedly see? ie: A bend in the stairs isn't visible by camera. In this case, the stairs coming into the second floor landing would be facing the opposite direction to the stairs going up from the lobby. Which would mean the walking area of the second floor would be over the lobby of the first floor, and the rooms would be over the dining/kitchen areas, leaving nothing overhanging. Orichalcon 03:15, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

Well forgetting the stairs, the layout is still a goof: the kitchen in interiors is actually at the front of the building, just across from the main entry. The kitchen, as we see (in Basil the Rat at least) has an external door on the same side of the building as the main entrance, and this exterior door leads out to a paved back yard with small sheds. The exterior shot of the hotel shows a large bay window in the position where in interiors, the kitchen is located, and the building exterior features no external doors in this area. The upstairs room layout changes a bit between episodes as well, and various sets, especially the walls about the stairway, flap around and wobble in many scenes. Asa01 08:01, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

I was the original poster of this comment. While it may be the case that the stairs bend off camera, it is unlikely because at times when Basil runs up in a panic, the moment he disappears from the downstairs camera, he appears on the upstairs one. Although not conclusive, it certainly implies there is no 'missing' section on the stairs, else screen time would not be continuous. Tom

[edit] Major revision

I have just made a substantial alteration to the main page - no information has been deleted, just moved around or integrated. The episode guide is now at Fawlty Towers episode guide. I have also added some inline references, and I believe that now it could possibly pass as a good article. Bob 19:07, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Template

Added new proposed related pages to the template. Please give feedback on these ideas Foxearth

[edit] Remake set in india?

I watched BBC tonight (saturday july 1st, about 8pm CEST), and they showed parts of comedy shows on BBC Prime - a sketch reminded me of Fawlty Towers: indian hotel, host complaining to English guest about how they started it (making india a colony), guest complaining about the view (like in a Fawlty Towers episode). Entrance in the back, reception desk on the left, but no staircase - and they had an employee from some other part of india (?) who didn't speak their language well. Hotel owner also quarelling with his wife. (131.130.121.106 23:05, 1 July 2006 (UTC))



[edit] WikiProject is up and Running!

Well... only just. I'm new to the lark. So stubs and templates are foreign to me. Hope that many will be willing to join. Wikipedia: WikiProject Fawlty Towers. Thanks. Foxearth 01:52, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

Hello... umm - all those who signed up for the wikiproject could you please make an effort to try and help me out with these articles. I'm starting to loose patience because no one else seems active enough to help out. You signed up for this project so please try to help out as often as you can, and stop leading me to perceive that this is a one-man band. Foxearth 09:07, 19 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Shooting in Torquay?

The article states that "most of it" was not shot in Torquay. So far as I remember that should be "none of it". On the DVD commentary it is said that all the location shooting was between John Howard Davies' home and BBC Television Centre. Can anyone confirm that this is true, or say which part was actually shot in Torquay? David | Talk 14:55, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

None of it was filmed in Torquay. As the article says, the outside shots of the hotel were filmed in Buckinghamshire and the other outside filming was done in Harrow and surrounding parts. At the beginning of the Germans episode the sign "Northwick Park Hospital" (where Sybil is supposed to be having her ingrowing toenail removed) is clearly visible on the front of the hospital building. Northwick Park Hospital is in North London. MFlet1 12:36, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Donald Sinclair...

First, the link should be to the correct Donal Sainclair, not the disambiguiation page.

Second, the article says "Sinclair died in England in 1981 — despite rumours that he had emigrated to Canada, he never left Torquay", while the Donald Sinclair article says "Sinclair died a bitter man in after emigrating to Canada in 1981".

One of the two is wrong, but I don't know which.

82.230.65.68 22:27, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Contradiction template (Sept. 14, 2006)

This article states that the daughters say the rendition was accurate, but the Donald Sinclair (Fawlty Towers) article claims that "his family remains adamant that Fawlty was an inaccurate caricature of Sinclair". What is the bottom of this? --Liberlogos 00:53, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't think there's any question that his wife thought the depiction was inaccurate. The question is whether his daughters did. I can't find anything to confirm his daughters thought it was accurate, but this article [1] says they thought it was inaccurate. Quoting part of the article:

My husband was not like Basil By Richard Savill (Filed: 11/05/2002) THE real-life Sybil Fawlty has broken her silence for the first time in more than 30 years to defend her late husband, the hotel owner on whom John Cleese based the character Basil Fawlty. Beatrice Sinclair, 87, who helped run a seaside hotel at which the Monty Python team once stayed, said yesterday that her "war hero" husband had been "turned into a laughing stock". ... Mrs Sinclair is now a great-grandmother with one daughter, Ann, living in Palm Beach, Florida, and the other, Helen, married to a dental surgeon in Somerset. "Both have implored me to say something in the past about the Fawlty image because it's so hurtful and unjust. "

Unless someone can find a cite to the contrary, I think we should remove the comments that the daughters thought it was accurate. Rocksong 01:21, 14 September 2006 (UTC)
OK, as indicated above, I'm removing the uncited comment that the daughters thought Sinclair was like Basil. I've also moved those details (of Sinclair's personal life) to the Donald Sinclair (hotel owner) page, which is where it really belongs. Rocksong 01:41, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Should Manuel speak Catalan?

A recent addition to the page reads:

Much has been said about Manuel, because he is clearly Spanish but comes from Barcelona where they speak Catalan, not Spanish. But many Spanish people from around the nation did immigrate to Barcelona giving the city a sizeable Spanish community. But one has to wonder if the writers knew this or not.

Is this really true? The Barcelona page says that both Catalan and Spanish are official languages in Barcelona. Also (though this may not mean much), I have never heard this criticism of Manuel's character before (In other words, I suspect original research). I propose removing the abovementioned paragraph. Rocksong 12:37, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

Most of the time he only says a handful of Spanish/Catalan words anyway (qué and si spring to mind) so it's hard to know what language he is speaking. However, I thought there were occasions when he came out with some Spanish, especially when speaking to Polly. If so, we have to assume that he came from Barcelona but spoke Castillian Spanish. Certainly not impossible. I doubt if Basil Fawlty was much interested in the linguistic variations in the Iberian peninsula though! Bluewave 13:42, 19 September 2006 (UTC)
In the first episode, I think the guest Mr. Brown speaks fluent Spanish to Manuel. In the second episode (The Builders), Polly speaks in Spanish to Manuel early in the episode (just before going upstairs for a nap). Someone who speaks Spanish (unlike me) may want to listen and identify the dialect. Rocksong 00:20, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
There is no 'dialect' in any of both conversations. It's just plain spanish with a strong english accent. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

People in Catalonia can speak both Catalan and Spanish, and would probably be more inclined to speak Spanish to people from outside the region, given that not many people learn Catalan as a foreign language. In the first episode of the series Sybil criticises Basil for hiring Manuel when his (Basil's) grasp of Spanish seems to be somewhat inadequate, to which Basil replies: "Well, I learnt classical Spanish, not that funny dialect that he's picked up!" I suppose this could be a reference to either Catalan or Spanish with a Catalan accent. MFlet1 16:25, 19 September 2006 (UTC)

To me it's clear that Basil's knowledge of spanish is quite poor, so he makes the joke about manuel speaking something that is not spanish. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
I have removed the paragraph in question. Anything that starts with "much has been said" and cites no sources screams original research. All of this discussion is irrelevant without sources. Wikiquote editors are not supposed to research such issues, but rather look for others' research and compose material based on that information. Of course, we usually write what we "know" and only afterward go hunting for citable evidence, but stuff like this is an egregious example of the folly of this common practice. ~ Jeff Q (talk) 10:42, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
Surely someone of Manuel's age would have fallen victim to the 'ban' on Catalan imposed by Franco, and thus learned Spanish? Elcondor 20:08, 18 October 2006 (UTC)
To be honest, I don't think that even the writers of the show were aware of the existence of catalan in 1975. They did choose one widely known big city for the character's origin and that's it. On the other hand, someone like Manuel should have spoken spanish as a native tongue and also have good (or perfect) knowledge of catalan. McKlain 00:39, 4 February 2007 (UTC)
I'm Catalan myself and I've saw Fawlty Towers many times in DVD (in English with subtitles, Catalan and Spanish (Castilian)). I agree with McKlain about the weak British knowledge about Spanish diversity. Catalonia has is own history, language and culture and Manuel (who is brown skinned, short and says 'olé' and dance 'Fandango' music) seems to be an Andalusian immigrant stereotype rather than a Spanish stereotype. There are a lot of Andalousian immigrants in Barcelona and the mistake of identifying an Andalousian as a Spanish stereotype for a foreign is possible, but not for a Spanish or Catalan. On the other hand, Manuel says he's Spanish, not Catalan (I guess British don't know the existence of the Catalonia region). He always says '¿qué?' (in Catalan it would be 'mani?' and 'sí' (in Catalan would be 'd'acord' or 'entesos'). 'Classical Spanish' doesn't exist. There are Medieval Spanish, Castilian Spanish or Latin Spanish... In Spain there are others languages than Spanish or Castilian (Galician in Galiza, Euskara in Euzkadi (Basque country) and Catalan in Catalonia. If he was a really Catalan he doesn't say 'olé' or dance 'Fandango' music. He would wear 'barretina' and 'faixa' and he would talk about 'castellers' (human castles) and dance sardana music indeed. About the ‘paella’, it’s funny because in Spain it’s known to be a Valencian common dish, not as an important typical Spanish dish (www.adhochoteles.com/hoteles/hotel_monumental/valencia/guia_valencia_en.html). A typical Catalan dish is 'escudella' (a sort of soup) and 'crema catalana' as a desert. So, as has been said, in the Spanish dubbed version Manuel is an Italian (who can't speak Spanish properly) called Paolo and in the Catalan dubbed version is a Mexican (who can't speak Catalan properly) called Manuel. I think the Swedish band called 'I'm from Barcelona' is unknown in Spain or Catalonia.

(Toni from Sabadell (Barcelona province)) 00:42, 22 February 2008 (please correct my English)

Hey thanks for the information Toni. Now I've got the bug to go learn more about the Catalan language and culture. Take care. 65.1.149.37 (talk) 07:42, 18 April 2008 (UTC)
Well the "Australian" guest Raelene Miles (Luan Peters) speaks in a clearly fake Australian accent. But like Manuel's dialect, it hardly matters, because in both cases the characters are merely trading on popular stereotypes for the sake of comedy. They are not meant to be serious ethnic / anthropological studies. Format (talk) 22:50, 24 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Memorable Moments

Who decided which moments were memorable or iconic? Two of the 4 I agree are iconic: Basil offending the Germans and then goosestepping (no argument there, without doubt the show's most famous moment), and Basil beating his car (I'll allow that one because a minature toy was made). I don't see how the other two qualify, frankly. They might be someone's personal favourite, but I don't see what makes them especially memorable or iconic. Unless someone can provide some sort of cite (even if not on the web) that those two are particularly iconic or memorable, I'll remove them. Rocksong 01:01, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Yes that would probably be best - I tried to clean-up the section and make it more NPOV, but they are really just somebody's opinion.Bob talk 11:49, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

I'm removing this section as OR mgekelly 10:19, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

I particularly enjoyed the dead man being put in the laudry basket....Basil didn't notice he was dead...so on and so on. Then there was the time he opened up the case, expecting to find MONEY, but found bricks instead. Typical.... Basil

[edit] Remakes

I've tagged the remakes section as contradictory since it asserts that three remakes were produced for the American market but that one of them was not produced. mgekelly 10:23, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

Reworded Elcondor 20:09, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Real Fawlty Towers? section

I'm not sure, but I'm not convinced this section is particularly useful - it really just seems to be advertising. I don't think it particularly adds anything to the page and it's also difficult to reference. I suppose the only exceptions could be the hotel Michael Palin visited, and the Gleneagles, both which can be referenced.

Several hotels and guesthouses have called themselves "Fawlty Towers", including:

The title has also been altered as a pun for other establishments:

Meanwhile, in 2006 the Gleneagles Hotel staged a gala reopening, embracing its notoriety from the television series. Brian Shone, co-owner of the hotel said "We decided Hotel Gleneagles is always going to be famous for inspiring 'Fawlty Towers' so, rather than be embarrassed about what has happened, we have chosen to capitalize on it...You cannot get rid of the spirit of Basil, so you have got to embrace him." [1]

Bob talk 19:49, 16 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Link Removal

Alright, which little twerp's been removing the link to the web poll on my website to find the best ever FT episode? Please reply on my talk page so that I will be alerted with a "message recieved" sign next time I log on. --Indie.Bones 12:42, 24 January 2007 (UTC)Indie.Bones

It's not appropriate for this article - we invite you to contribute to the article, not just add unencyclopedic external links. Bob talk 12:56, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The Wedding Party

Question about this episode. Thought I'd ask here to get a response quicker rather than the individual episode page. When Basil doesn't want to give the couple a key because they aren't married- is this just Basil making up a pretend law to justify his moral code (or whatever you call it) or is there some antiquidated law on the books about it? Cheers, Rothery 08:03, 19 May 2007 (UTC).

I don;t think it was illegal, but it was very much frowned upon.--Crestville 15:05, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Stage play?

There's an unreferenced section about a stage play version of the show, with very little detail. Is this stage production notable enough for inclusion? -- MisterHand 15:58, 22 May 2007 (UTC)

I suspect not - by featuring performance times, it appears to be advertising for the show itself. I think I'll remove it, unless it can be proved to be notable (i.e. with a notable actor in the lead role, etc) Bob talk 16:56, 22 May 2007 (UTC)

Having now seen the play, I have made an article on the show with Episodes, Cast List, etc. --Indie.Bones 12:22, 3 July 2007 (UTC)Indie.Bones

The article is just a list of names and makes no assertion of notability. Is this officially sanctioned by Cleese and Booth? My attempts to Google information, or even a review, turned up nothing. Is this even a professional production? -- MisterHand 13:34, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] What?

12 episodes? What a minute, how can a show have on;y twelve episodes? Did this show get cancelled or something? Please explain

Pece Kocovski 05:19, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

Errr, how can't it? In the UK, it's normal for a "season" to be only six episodes. Two times six equals twelve. Chris Cunningham 07:22, 7 July 2007 (UTC)
Bloody yanks.--Crestville 12:03, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merging episodes articles?

Recently some users have been merging all episode articles into List of Fawlty Towers episodes. Let's discuss it here instead of edit warring.

I assert that there is enough information for an article per episode, and that Fawlty Towers is an iconic enough TV program to merit a separate article on each of its 12 episodes. Peter Ballard (talk) 11:53, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

I would agree with you Peter. Each episode can easily meet our core content policies. It is disheartening to see all the revert-warring that it going on. Catchpole (talk) 12:03, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

I just took another look at The Anniversary (Fawlty Towers) and TTN is right here; there is nothing but plot summary and trivia; and not a source or reference in it. I'm going to restore the redirect this one and ask that a source be found that can reasonably establish notability of this episode before you bring this back. The onus is on editors who want to include content to source it. --Jack Merridew 12:24, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Please don't be so hasty, please read Wikipedia:Don't be a fanatic. Catchpole (talk) 12:31, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
Many, oh so many, tv shows such as The Sopranos, Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Lost (TV series), etc. have an article for every single episode, most of them only have quotes, trivia and plot summary. Just let it be and hope somebody will add a ref eventually.--Yamanbaiia(free hugs!) 12:37, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
A sufficient source for these episodes should be Graham McCann's new book published by Hodder and Staughton [2]. Catchpole (talk) 12:47, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
  • Sources are good if they are used to back up assertions of real world notability, There is no evidence of that here. Clear merge candidates. Eusebeus (talk) 15:33, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
Real world notability? Start here: 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. When such a show only has 12 episodes, an article per episode is not excessive. Peter Ballard (talk) 22:52, 9 January 2008 (UTC)
That is certainly true if real-world notability backed up by reliable sources can be asserted for each. But not if they aspire to little more than plot synopses, trivia and other in-universe details. This is not the place for such content. Eusebeus (talk) 00:18, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
So we merge if The Simpsons episodes merge. Deal? Peter Ballard (talk) 02:02, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
An old argument but if Simpson's episodes can be found wanting in the same respect, then certainly, yes, they should be merged. Eusebeus (talk) 04:25, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Centralized TV Episode Discussion

Over the past months, TV episodes have been redirected by (to name a couple) TTN, Eusebeus and others. No centralized discussion has taken place, so I'm asking everyone who has been involved in this issue to voice their opinions here in this centralized spot, be they pro or anti. Discussion is here [3]. --Maniwar (talk) 01:18, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] I've seen the 13th episode

There IS a 13th episode, and I've seen it, when it was aired - accidently I suppose - in late 70's or early 80's by Flemish television (Then called BRT). It is so long ago that I do not remember exactly when it was anymore nor what the script was (Something to do with robbers, yes, perhaps) EXCEPT for one gag that ran along the whole episode: Ther are some 'Silly stairs' on the first floor of Fawlty Towers (Where the rooms are) : A few steps up, a horizontal strech of a few yards, and then a few steps down again. Against Sybils' will, Basil wants the whole contraption to be removed (Which indeed he has) but for some reasons (Which I forgot) they end up being there again at the end of the episode. Was this episode aired at the start or the end of the second series ? I don't remember for certain enymore but I THINK it actually was at the start (Thus making it episode 6-and-a-half). Had it been deemed 'Not good enough' by Cleese or the BBC, but a copy accidently sliped along when the second series was delivered to BRT? Whenever 'Fawlty Towers' has been aired again (Quite regularly in Europe, and in Belgium we get most European channels on cable) I've been looking for the episode with that gag. I now have the twelve 'Official' episodes on dvd: None has the gag with the stairs.... So? 81.245.166.13 (talk) 13:07, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

So according to you there was a 13th episode made, which was then accidently slipped to the BRT where it was (again accidently) aired. Don't you find that a bit far-fetched? I agree there's a lot of nonsense going on in TV offices but programs don't get distributed or broadcasted by accident. Let alone both. Rien Post (talk) 00:55, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Concern for Sybil?

However, Basil does show genuine concern for Sybil, asking her often in "The Germans" if she is going to be alright from an operation and laments about the times when there was passion in their relationship.

But when he is asking her in "The Germans" about the operation, he is being sarcastic, isn't he? He knows it's an ingrowing toenail and nothing, then when the nurse comes in he feigns concern and gets told "it's only an ingrowing toenail".

He obviously cares a bit about his relationship with Sybil, and about her welfare, but I don't think the toenail incident proves this. Any thoughts as to whether it needs rewriting? --King Rikk (talk) 20:39, 30 March 2008 (UTC)