British comedy shows & comedians years ago were brilliant & TV very good but they can't write scripts today like they did back in the 70s , Other shows like Love Thy Neighbour episode 4 Lion & The Lamb, Faulty Towers,2 Ronnies, Benny Hill, Morcambe & Wise, Dad's Army, On The Buses, Peter Kay series called car share episode kidnap a monkey, Comedians Dave Allen, Peter Kay, Jasper Carrott, Al Murray, They are all funny you will love watching them 😂
The reason why they laughed when he spoke about Harrods, because of his Cockney ACCENT he called it Arrods, then she said capital A when he asked her how do you spell it.
The accent is proper London Cockney slang - it is a very working class sitcom that will have you in stitches. Been voted the best British sitcom many times and always on TV during Christmas. The Harrods joke is because of the common Cockney would pronounce as 'Arrods and she was a upper class snob talking down at Del's common accent
"Flexible friend" is a phrase from a credit card company TV advert of the time for a company named Access "Access, your flexible friend". Just another way of saying, get into debt'. Harrods is a shop in London for the very rich. The London accent produces 'Arrods', hence the capital A put down. You must try their sketch involving a chandelier
The book he's writing in is a Filofax - yuppies used them all the time, back when tech wasn't advanced enough for everyone to have electronic/online organisers on their mobiles. The "Arrods" thing - Del's accent is a traditional London accent, so he pronounces "th" as "f", and will cut off the "H" at the beginning of any word beginning with one, so "Harrods" becomes "Arrods". For a long time, the RP (Received Pronunciation) accent (what people associate with posh British people) was accepted by society to be a mark of higher class, so anyone with an accent different to that (except for maybe posh Scottish ones) was considered working class or lower class, and, in a country with a very established class system like the UK, was looked down upon, especially someone with a London accent. The woman he's trying to chat up is clearly posh and a bit of a snob, so she's mocking him for his "lower class" accent.
@@carlhartwell7978 Yeh, but I was trying to be diplomatic. In fairness, that mindset has been a little eroded, as we now have lots of newsreaders and presenters with non-RP accents now. But you're right that it's still a bit of a problem
@@youngyoungmcgurn5088 I do see where you're coming from certainly. but I can hardly agree that it's only 'a bit' of a problem. I personally think of 'those' instances as extremely surface level...I think of those people as mere stooges for the elite, who still think of the common man as worthless plebs. They still 'seem' to me to parrot elitist talking points, or else totally irrelevant issues, whilst totally ignoring the actual issues that the common man cares about on a day to day basis. I'm not bothered about some lass with a northern accent on The One Show talking about the plight of the Long-Tailed Swallow (I know it doesn't exist, you get my meaning, I'm not an ornithologist!). I 'might' for instance care about Grooming Gangs, the difference between MEN and WOMEN and the ever encroaching power of The State on my freedoms. I 'might' be more concerned about the politicisation of MY police and their stifling of my free speech than I am about hearing someone with a similar accent to me reading the news on Radio 1. Surface level representation. You _may_ want to brush me off as a crazy conspiracy theorist...Our new PM is definitely a 'pet' of the WEF...look em up, and prepare to eat da bugs!
When he was trying to impress the lady about his stocks and shares - I think I should explain something. As a fellow Londoner, we tend to drop our H's at the beginning of words - the Department store he was lying about buying thousands of shares was a very well to do exclusive store called Harrods - he asked her how do you spell 'Harrods' and she sarcastically said 'with a capital A' to belittle him. Sorry if you understood that originally, I just thought I'd point it out. Great reaction as always 👍.
This often gets voted the best sitcom ever made. I agree. It never gets old no matter how many times I watch it. The blow up doll clip is another good one. They accidentally buy a bunch of dodgy blow up dolls and have to get rid of them. Lol
@@Dr.IanPlect no it bloody isn’t, fawlty towers’ comedy is aged and its laughs are too spread out. Most Only fools and horses jokes are still funny now, they’re funnier on average anyway and they’re more often per minute or episode than fawlty towers
Another great reaction! Only Fools and Horses is usually voted as the best sitcom over here and it has a great ability to make people laugh and cry throughout all the series. It would be a great series to get into for Patreon, when you have the time of course 🙂.
I think these clips were made for previous viewers from years gone by to reminisce and have that nostalgic experience envelope around them. They were not designed for people who have never seen the show at all, lack of context or appreciation for something so comical the maximum potential for entertainment is lost. It’s the equivalent of sleeping through the episode then waking up, watching this scene and then going back to sleep again.
One of the best stand alone clips ever. A lot of the humour needs the context of the episode, or can even be a running joke through several episodes, but frequently, there is a little gem that stands by itself. I'm glad you're learning about British humour, and learning what makes us tick 🤣😂🤣
"Living in sin with their flexible friend" means back in those times the 80's there was a credit card called "Access" & the moto was "Your Flexible Friend" TV ads always showed it. And "Arrods" really spelt "Harrods" a well known department store,the owner is the father of Princess Diana's boyfriend...who both sadly died. Snotty is always referred to the upper class & posh people,some call them "Toffs".
This is almost consistently voted the most iconic comedy gag ever on British tv. It was written into the script last minute after show-runner John Sullivan witnessed a "Yuppie" almost do this exact thing the night before in a local bar near the studio. Years later the co-star of this show (Nicholas Lyndhurst) got his own primetime BBC comedy show (Goodnight Sweetheart) & they paid tribute to this by having the scene play out just as Sullivan told the OFAH cast he had witnessed.
The actor who played Trigger wasn't originally due to be in this episode as he had a scheduling conflict...however at the last minute he had some free time and came down seeing if there was anything he could do and they wrote him into that scene...his reaction makes the fall even better
It does. The mild alarm when he sees Del has disappeared, the urgent look all around to see where he's gone, and the slight double-take when he turns back and Del's returned - outstanding comic acting. Actor is Roger Lloyd Pack, father of Emily Lloyd.
Harrods is a big store in the UK. When he asked how to spell Harrods, the woman said it begins with a capital A, because he said "Arods". Basically insulting his working class accent.
The only downside of these OFAH clips are they advertise what's going to happen .. this clip and that "other one" .. become 10x funnier because what happens is so unexpected
@@carlhartwell7978 Of course .. it's still funny .. but the biggest laugh is first time watching and if you know what's going to happen beforehand then that somewhat diminishes it ..
@@RaukoDaz3D I honestly can't remember watching it for the first time! I'm 44! Must have seen it literally hundreds of times...kind of my point. But I did concede you're right, just trying to make Mandy feel a little better is all. It's still extremely funny. It's also funnier in the context of the characters, but hey ho!
In case you're wondering the store Del mentioned was a pricey store in London called Harrods but the way some of these cockney londoners say it, it sounds like they're saying Arrods like the way Del said it. So the woman mocked his pronunciation of it by saying capital A when asked for the spelling of it lol.
Del Boy is played by David Jason, who played Granville in open all hours, whose uncle, who owns the shop, Arkwright is played by Ronnie Barker, which I always see the smiliarities, that Arkwright was always sell and get people money and so was Del Boy.
A bit of context... Derek 'The Del Boy' Trotters and his younger brother Rodney 'You Plonker' Trotters are half brothers. They have different fathers. The Derek Boy has a father called Reg and The Plonker has a father who is a frog. Their mother died before there was a Futures Market. Rodney won a painting competition when he was 14 years old but he would later cry in a broken down lift (British English for elevator). Only it wasn't really broken (spoiler). They eat food with coffee poured on it and once had a massive dog called Duke. The Derek Boy once fell over and his friend who is called Triggers looked around for him. Triggers has a friend called Dave that only he can see. Dave drives a motorcar that only has three wheels. Derek Boy's girlfriend, who is a singer who CAN sing songs with a 'R' in them, gave birth. He told The Plonker, "It's a baby, Rodney" If you want to know anything else.
Only fools and horses was a masterpiece of sitcom.. really loved that you enjoyed these short clips. Definitely try and watch the whole episodes as the experience will be better x
@@MandyCaneLane yes unfortunately the BBC has hijacked it from enjoyment and so now it’s almost impossible to watch full episodes, especially on the tyranny format of RU-vid.
"They're all living in sin with their flexible friends" - Flexible friends being their credit cards. :) "How do you spell 'arrods?" "Capital A" - Harrods is one of the biggest department stores in London. The accent Dell has always drops the 'H' :) Voted one of the best moments in comedy this was :)
The book is a Filofax, a personal organiser that no self respecting yuppie would be seen without in the eighties. The young lady is mocking his pronunciation of store Harrod’s (‘arrod’s)
No, you can't act normally after a blunder like that. So the trick is to not act normally before screwing up. That way it doesn't matter how you act afterwards. That was the tactic that I always used. Then again, maybe that's why I am still single...
Stewart Lee has done a standup routine that goes on and on about the Del Boy falling through a bar scene - I can't find the full standup on youtube, but it's followed by a village festival reenactment of the scene that would be a good follow up to this 😂 - video is called "Stewart Lee sketch : Del Boy falling thru the bar." video id 7J1J_iHC2Qw
It used to be an indication or accusation that 'dropping your H's) was an indicator of class and education. Del trying to show off claiming he had bought shares in Harrods, the woman picked up on his pronunciation 'Arrads' hence her reply capital A
Only Fools & Horses (1981-2003) is probably the best loved sit-com in the UK & Sir David Jason (Del) is a national treasure ... your reactions are really outstanding Mandy, don't lose your enjoyment of producing them just to please & keep up with requests etc ... some people don't appreciate how much work / time goes into getting 1 video watched, uploaded & past copyright ... I'm available for room painting next weekend, all I need is to be fed & watered ! 😀 ... try not to be overwhelmed, you've only one pair of hands & can only do so much !
@@roberthereandthere4366 Apparently his first TV role was in a programme called 'Crossroads' in 1964 (never seen the programme, so don't know anything about it)
I've seen this clip many times before from when it was first aired, thought I'd watch it again because your laugh makes me laugh, but strangely enough, I never noticed the pork pie joke. 🤣🤣🤣
The joke about Harrods,which is the most prestigious Department Store in Britain is that she knew he was a Con Artist as she spelt it ARRODS and he did not notice.
@@jeffrey44 My disappointment in myself is immeasurable and no words can adequately express my remorse regarding my inexcusable faux pas. I am mortified that I got to make such a Schoolboy error and I only try to crave your forgiveness for my brief moment of total complete and utter insanity in making this mistake. I have no excuses and I can only apologize, profusely, for my stupidity, once again. You are a good man for pointing this out to me. I'm inconsolable at the moment.....:(
There’s so many layers to this you’re just not getting. The yuppy wine bar, the Filofax, Del’s Cockney, his desperation to climb the social ladder, his yuppy outfit which is nothing like what he normally wears as he’s a “barrow boy”, Trigg’s obliviousness, his consistency in fails at chatting up women, something always goes wrong, so when he gets the look you’re led to believe for once his luck might change but of course it never does.
How could she get it? It's not designed for the upcoming generations at all. Explaining it is like explaining rocket science to a random member of the public.
@@dullaf4099 its not like that though is it. Its not remotely like that. Do you think whenever anyone born after the 80s watches stranger things their brains just melt? Or if anyone mentions the beatles now to a school kid, they're like "that band no exist! Huh?" You can explain to someone that the dinosaurs exist in a much easier way to understand than the science involved in creating and launching a rocket into space. Nobodies getting confused that yuppies were a thing.
@@shanustheanus oh okay you’re analogies that you created to draw a parallel between this episode and historical events are quite simply mind blowing. You miss my point completely though. There are so many references, in this one clip, about the 80s style, fads, fashion, trends etc. that anyone who wasn’t in/from that era would have to learn and understand the terminologies beforehand to view and comprehend this clip without tilting their head to one side, frowning in a confused state. It’s NOT common widespread educated knowledge like the dinosaurs etc. There was a time before the internet and the upcoming generation have no idea what that was like because they haven’t lived through that experience. Sure you could tell them all about it but it’s not quite the same though is it? This clip was about the current events at that time. It wasn’t meant to be educational and definitely was not created for 40 years or so in the future to cater for a young global audience to react to small segments of this fantastic comedy show. It’s gonna be tough on these local and overseas reactors who have never seen the show and only have the basics about the premise and some description about the characters. It is very alien to them and that’s my point. Try to be more objective in your statements thanks.
@@dullaf4099 oh okay, well argued. In that case, I take it back. Explaining there was a trend from the 80s is exactly like explaining rocket science. You right.
Harrods is an upmarket store in London, patronised by the wealthy. He drops the "H" when he pronounces it. Hence her telling him it starts with a capital "A".
Hi Mandy, brilliant reaction, love this, they also have a Classic Clip you should react to called "Chandalier" , you will be absolutely crying with laughter, cheers and keep up the good work!!
@@CEP73 also when they became millionaires although the auction scenes and when they were in the Reliant afterwards is a classic. I would also suggest the Batman and Robin scene.
"th" in the middle or at the end of a word is pronounced as F ("frone" instead of throne)and the letter H is always dropped (appy instead of happy) as is the letter T in the word water ...."er" at the end of a word is pronounced as an A as in "butta" (butter) "ladda" (ladder)
The book is a Filofax. They are glorified notebooks and a must have for all Yuppies in the 80s. The "little " department store is the world famous Harrods in London. But, with Del Boys Cockney accent (working class) he pronounced it 'Arrods. She was putting him down with the wrong spelling, because she is upper class. A lot of British humour is class based.
Could spend hours watching these episodes back to back…so many writers will have been inspired by John Sullivan, and actors with David, Nicholas, Lennard, Buster, Roger, the cast list is infinite. Saw you were non plussed about the capital A line…Del meant Harrods but because he didn’t say with H, the lady answered as it sounded
I don't think you understood two of the references. 1. "Flexible friend" refers to a credit card. It was a slogan used in an advertising campaign. As well as being literally flexible the credit card is supposed to make your money management more flexible. 2. How do you spell "Arrods"? refers to Harrods the posh people's department store. Del Boy is trying to impress her but she picks up on his cockney accent - his dropped aitch (H) which would be considered common by snobbish people. So she mocks him by spelling it with an A instead of an H.
Don't get lemon and come the old acid, Squire, we don't all talk lyke dat, yougetme? I am quite sofisticated medself,my son.Liberties have been taken..
Yes this comedy and Fawlty Towers always voted the best UKs best altho there are other very funny comedies like the IT crowd which loved in USA and quite a few reactors like it, one never mentioned is called MY FAMILY, REALY FUNNY BUT MIGHT be difficult to put up with copyright, that ran for about 19 years
Such a great show. To get around copyright just write - this is here for copyright- over the screen a few times. I've been watching other reactors watch whole episodes/series without any issues.
Have you done the auction scene from the Christmas trilogy when they finally become millionaires? It DOES need you to have some prior knowledge. A running gag from the very first series was Del's constant insistence to Rodney 'Rodders, this time next year, we'll be millionaires'. Right from the very, very beginning they've had in their possession an incredibly rare antique watch without realising. Finally, they get a break. BUT you must watch the whole auction scene, they go in twice! I love this bar scene, I love the chandelier scene, but the auction scene at Sotheby's makes me laugh until I hurt!
You said: "That is the correct response to something like that" [meaning the fall] - you sound suspiciously experienced in such calamities 🤔😂 For next time: the clips from that channel, the subtitles work properly, I just checked 😀
@@davidz3879 It evolved. I was brought up in London, but I spent 4 years in a Regiment from Nottinham which is in the North and 4 years in Dorset, the South West, but yes, I tried to make my accent more neutral, though sometimes I slip back to the London accent, especially if I'm talking to another Southerner.
Commenting on an old clip... Yes, this can stand up on it's own... But if you understand the mindset of Del and Triger it catapults the clip immensely! So whilst it is funny on it's own, to Only Fools fans, the entire scene (before and after the fall) is what made it (literally) the funniest bit in British comedy history. It wasn't the fact the Del fell through the bar. It was Del's persona, paired with Trigger's nonchalant acting that made this clip.
Love this. It is such a shame that the BBC RU-vid channel has no idea how comedy works. Generally it goes Set-Up > Punchline. The BBC were kind enough to name the clip after the punchline thereby kinda destroying the joke. If you don't already know that Del Boy is gonna fall through the bar, the clip has a much bigger impact.
You are likely correct that it has 'a larger impact'. Though I certainly can't remember 'exactly' how much funnier I found it the first time since (and I know I'm not alone) I've seen it _literally_ hundreds of times since, and still laugh out loud _every single time._ So I wouldn't be able to say either way, but since it is still hugely funny even on the hundredth viewing, I don't think it's the worst loss in the world! Still, I do agree, 'Aunty could have named it more sensibly! I don't know _'Del Boy impresses the ladies in a Yuppie Bar'_ All at once that would be _descriptive, non-descriptive_ and _suitably ironic!_
The joke is ruined because it's spoiled in the title of the video you reacted to! 😠Whoever recommended it to you should have given you a link to an unspoiled version.
@@softshallow7435 It meant Mandy was looking for Del to fall through the bar, which is why when the barman opens the hatch she gets an 'oh yeah' look on her face as she anticipates what is going to happen. The joke relies on the audience ignoring the hatch opening as they have no reason to think it's significant.
Ah. Back when tv had to be good. No internet and only 3/4 Chanel’s on the tv. This scene and many from the show were talked about the day after it aired and it’s amazing to see it still holds up now. Crying with laughter once again. Thanks again Mandy, keep laughing and being your glorious self. Have an amazing week 😊
There's a lot foreigners won't understand in only fools and horses. Americans have a stereotypical idea of what English sounds like Or how we speak. When the woman says capital A she's taking the piss out of how he says harrods. Harrods is a department store. Beam me up snotty is a reference to star trek they get beamed back to the ship. I'm not a fan of star trek. snotty means concieted bellend. Apparently Americans aren't aware of what bellend means, if that needs explaining I can help with that. You're not the first American I've come across. Others have probably already explained these things
