"Girls on Top" (1985) TV series 1985-1986

Directors:

Ed Bye
Paul Jackson

Writers:

Dawn French (writer)
Jennifer Saunders (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

23 October 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Four women who are nothing alike end up living together in a flat in England.

Plot Keywords:

Landlord | Roommate | Friendship Between Girls | Flat Share | Sitcom

Cast

Dawn French	...	Amanda Ripley (5 episodes, 1985)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Jennifer Marsh (5 episodes, 1985)
Ruby Wax	...	Shelley DuPont (5 episodes, 1985)
Joan Greenwood	...	Lady Chloe Carlton (5 episodes, 1985)
Tracey Ullman	...	Candice Valentine (5 episodes, 1985)
Helen Lederer	...	Felicity / ... (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Pauline Melville	...	Yvonne (3 episodes, 1985-1986)

Runtime:

30 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Company:

Central Independent Television

Trivia:

A final episode was filmed but never aired. Called "Lower the Donkey", it showed Amanda building a shelter because of paranoia over a potential nuclear attack. When Lady C's kitchen explodes, Shelley thinks Amanda was right and the two hide inside of the shelter while Jennifer, wise to what's really going on, spends all of Shelley's money on toys and sweets. Ultimately Lady C really DOES blow them sky high by accidentally throwing a match on a stack of petrol cans. The episode aired in New Zealand, and was also released on a Canadian DVD boxed set.

Quotes:

Shelley DuPont: [reacting to two black male houseguests] All right, this is a raid! Listen, two of you guys in one room, to me, spells riot. I know what's going on. I've seen West Side Story.
Candice: Shell, where's your little white hooded robe with the slits and your burnin' cross, babe?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "A History of Alternative Comedy" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Girls on Top

Very disappointing

I can only say that I was very disappointed with Girls on Top. I recently watched the first DVD with the first three episodes and found it to be more annoying than watchable.

I expected a lot more, considering what a big French and Saunders fan I am, but even knowing that this series was created before their more-celebrated partnership began doesn't make this show any funnier. Dawn French has the only semi-likable character on the show ... with Tracy Ullman and Ruby Wax being completely over the top in their portrayals (Wax is an American, and I shudder to think what the British must really think of us).

Sure, I laughed a couple of times, but most of the time I just strived to try and understand what was being said. It was interesting to see Alan Rickman (one of my favorite actors) in a bit part in the first episode as well, but there really wasn't much to redeem this britcom.

If you like these actresses, check out their later work ... avoid wasting your time with Girls on Top.