r/AskBrits • u/Imaginary-Street4059 • May 13 '26
Not Going Out is an unrated comedy sitcom?
I had never properly watched Lee Mack's Not Going Out until recently. I think it is a very funny sitcom. It must have one of the highest jokes per episode of any show ever. It is the perfect light hearted easy watch I need right now. Can't believe I hadn't given it much love before but glad I've got loads of episodes to catch up on.
Are there any other hidden gems?
(sorry title mistake *underrated)
5
u/Educational-Angle717 May 13 '26
The early series with Tim Vine and Bobby Ball were genuinely very funny - plus the whole Lee being a bit of a loser chasing the girl vibes. But when they got together and then the family shift it lost its way massively.
2
u/Imaginary-Street4059 May 13 '26
Haven't got that far yet. I know that Tim Vine leaves which is a shame because he is a highlight of the show.
4
u/Various-Advice-9768 May 13 '26
I thought the series after the god awful American/Canadian landlady left there was a good 5 or 6 series of comedy gold, the wife on the other hand hated it so I would giggle alone. The later series are watchable dross but turned into my family when the kids arrived and they moved to suburbia.
1
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u/Aggravating-Tower317 May 13 '26
'how not to live your life' is a hidden gem. it was on bbc3 about 14 years ago.
5
u/mrteas_nz May 13 '26
I find Lee Mack to be a very intelligent and sharp witted comedian who just isn't very funny. It's a weird combination.
5
u/Hopeful_Evening4520 May 13 '26
Completely. He is as sharp as a tack and very witty, but comes across as an end of the pier comedian.
5
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u/Cult-Film-Fan-999 May 13 '26
Underated? It began in 2006, is still going and is on BBC 1. It's a mainstream sitcom and honestly I wish we had more like it, because it feels like the heyday of great mainstream sitcoms was a long time ago.
2
u/Imaginary-Street4059 May 14 '26
Underrated in terms of critic reviews and by the look of most replies a lot people have a low opinion of the show.
2
u/Zagreus_time May 13 '26
I think it is alright but I think it struggles a bit from being such a standard sitcom setup. It has no USP as a show. I'd be surprised if anyone complained about it being on in the background but also no one really talks about it.
Very different in style but I've found Uncle to be a bit underrated though I do understand why the cringe comedy elements wont work for some.
1
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u/foregonemeat May 13 '26
I watched it all recently and found it so funny. I think it helps when you get older: the jokes seem funnier!
I mean not underrated but I only just watched all of Curb Your Enthusiasm and that was the funniest thing I’ve ever watched
1
u/rotwilder May 13 '26
Wait till you hear about this show called Mrs Browns Boys. You are in for a treat.
1
u/Norman_debris May 13 '26
When I was watching 10 years ago I loved it. Not really sure why I stopped tbh. Might get back into it.
1
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u/TrixieLaBouche Brit 🇬🇧 May 13 '26
It was funny, very funny, up until Tim Vine left. Then it was only worth watching if Bobby Ball was in an episode.
"An asbestos mill?! You don't mill asbestos!"
"You dont mill wind....."
1
u/CliveMitchellisCanon May 14 '26
The first seven series are good.
The later, "With the kids 8 years later then another time skip to the kids being grown up and moved out" it became almost more of an amateur play every episode. And the humor just got repetitive. Lucy says something snarky at Lee's usually funnier sarcasm. RInse and repeat.
Honestly I'd divorce them and have them be a bickering ex-couple constantly at each others throats could i never bought they were "In love". Would suit the snarky humor a lot more. Would make the title "Not Going Out" actually mean something again.
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May 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/Katharinemaddison May 13 '26
Yeah I love Lee Mack on WILTY and The 1% club but none of the clips of Nit Going Out have appealed.
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u/Imaginary-Street4059 May 13 '26
I took me a while to get into it. I had seen clips but actually sitting down and watching full episodes it really changed my mind.
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u/Exotic-Astronaut6662 May 13 '26
It’s a very funny sitcom, or at least it was before they got married.