"Goodness Gracious Me" (1998)TV series 1998-2000

Directors:

Gareth Carrivick
Nick Wood

Writers:

Sanjeev Bhaskar (writer)
Anil Gupta (additional material)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

12 January 1998 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Asian Stereotype | British Asian | India | Sketch Comedy | Based On Radio Series

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Amanda Holden	...	Various roles / ... (4 episodes, 1998)
Sanjeev Bhaskar	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)
Meera Syal	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)
Kulvinder Ghir	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)
Nina Wadia	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)
Dave Lamb	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)
Fiona Allen	...	Various Roles (2 episodes, 1998)

Runtime:

30 min (18 episodes) | 45 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The title of the show is a reference to the hit comedy song "Goodness Gracious Me" by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren, in which Sellers plays an Indian doctor in brownface make-up and sings the title phrase.

Quotes:

[In an English restaurant in India. Ordering some food]
Indian man 1: . For starter we shall have 6... no 12 bread rolls. For main course everybody?
Indian Man 2: What's the blandest thing on the menu?
James the Waiter: The scampi's our specialty sir.
Indian Man 2: I'll have that.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Kids TV Shows (2001) (TV)

Funny, if flawed.

If it's big laughs that you're after, then Goodness Gracious Me may just be the show for you. Even though it is faulted, it can still provide some genuinely funny moments that will make you laugh and make you realise just how true most of it is. The show is in sketch form, and basically runs on one premise; making fun of Asian culture. How did this ever get on the air then, I hear you cry? Don't get you politically correct knickers in a twist, it's okay, this is made by Asian people, making fun of themselves. Therefore, it has to be funny, right? Well, for the most part, it actually is. What could had easily become a tiresome premise is actually used quite well at times, with some memorable recurring characters providing the best laughs, including the deadpan father who believes everything originated from India, and the mother who insists she can make anything you like for nothing at all. All she needs is a small aubergine. The performers are all very talented, and are skilled in all areas, making this a delight to watch sometimes. But, of course, the format easily ran out of steam after the first series (like most shows) so you're just left to savour the few moments of comic enjoyment left of this sometimes very funny, if not always great, comedy.