After achieving success with co-writer David Croft on the classic BBC comedies Dad's Army & It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Jimmy Perry decided to go solo with a new sitcom. Considering his writing pedigree, how could he fail?
With David Croft also collaborating with Jeremy Lloyd on Are You Being Served, Perry took a leaf out of their book by using a modern setting, & inspired by the success of Faulty Towers & Mind Your Language, he turned the staff of Grace Brothers into funny foreigners & transferred them to the kitchen of a 5 star hotel.
With everything set up for a comedy classic, how could he fail?
Sadly he does - miserably!
Its fair to say the show runs at a rapid pace, & the cast, lead by the always reliable Bryan Pringle & a pre-stardom Matthew Kelly are certainly game, with Freddie Earlle especially going into full throttle as the bombastic head waiter who thinks he's a hit with the ladies.
Unfortunately the zany style & over enthusiastic performers goes against a script that tries hard to be funny, but in the end fails. Not only is Room Service unfunny, its embarrassing for everyone concerned. Too many characters, not enough jokes, with the few that come on screen misfiring. No wonder critics dismissed it as one of the worst TV sitcoms ever made.
The show lasted 7 episodes & promptly disappeared from the small screen. It is now available on DVD & a couple of episodes are on YouTube so perhaps Room Service deserves to be re-evaluated. Chances are its probably better than most modern day sitcoms!!!!!!!!
The show lasted 7 episodes
