The Valiant Varneys

The World of Wodehouse

1967

The World of Wodehouse was a comedy television series, based on the Blandings Castle and Ukridge comedy stories by P. G. Wodehouse. The series, which followed The World of Wooster, was shown on BBC Television during 1967 and 1968. Apart from one or more extracts from a solitary episode of Blandings Castle broadcast in February 1967, all episodes of both series are lost.

It's Murder. But Is It Art?

1972

It's Murder. But Is It Art? is a 1976 six-part comedy thriller serial written by David Pursall and Jack Seddon, and produced for BBC One. It stars Arthur Lowe, John Gower, Dudley Foster, Arthur Howard, and Anthony Sagar. Eccentric artist-turned-detective called Phineas Drake investigates when beautiful blonde Tina Kent is discovered murdered in the drawing-room of Brigadier Austin Binghop. Insp. Hook is convinced that Binghop is the culprit and takes him into custody. However, Mr Drake thinks otherwise and places himself in considerable personal jeopardy – with the trail leading him to the house of Chelsea socialite Mrs MacPherson. Barring some low-quality, off-air recorded monochrome trailers from the time, the entire series is believed to be lost.

The Young Lady from London

1959

One-Upmanship

1976

A quintessentially British comedy-of-manners. Based at the fictional Yeovil College of Lifemanship, Richard Briers plays Stephen Potter and is joined by Peter Jones as the snooty Gatling-Fenn and Frederick Jaeger, complete with monocle, playing Cogg-Willoughby. "The world is divided into two types of people," Potter says, "winners and losers, the one-up and the one-down. He who is not one-up is surely one-down".

The Hello Goodbye Man

1984

The Hello Goodbye Man is a short-lived 1984 British sitcom, starring Ian Lavender as Denis Ailing, a nervous salesman struggling with his job and romantic life, particularly with his colleague Jennifer. The series follows his disastrous attempts to succeed, including using pep pills and adopting unethical sales tactics, leading to awkward social and professional situations.

The World of Beachcomber

1968

The World of Beachcomber was a surreal television comedy show produced by the BBC, inspired by the Beachcomber column in the Daily Express newspaper. The show, like the column, consisted of a series of unrelated pieces of humour. Links between the items were provided by Spike Milligan, dressed in a smoking jacket and cap, as in the cartoon logo above the newspaper column. The other actors were a Who's Who of British comedy of the time, encompassing almost every supporting player seen or heard in comedy, not excluding people of diminutive stature.

Cracking Up

2004

Cracking Up is an American television sitcom created and written by Mike White. It aired on the Fox Network on Monday nights from March 9–May 5, 2004; it only aired six of the twelve produced episodes. Psychiatrist Dr. Bollas is assigned to examine Tanner Shackleton, a child of a Beverly Hills family, only to discover that Tanner doesn't have any problems — his family does. The story is in fact about Ben Baxter, a student who moves into the Shackletons' guest house, interacting with Tanner and his crazy family.

Faces of Jim

1961

An anthology of half-hour standalone situation comedies starring British comedian Jimmy Edwards in various roles alongside guest stars.

His Honor, Homer Bell

1955

Homer Bell, an elected judge/practicing attorney and widower, looks after his orphaned niece Casey with the help of his housekeeper Maude.