Porridge: Difference between revisions

Named for the then slang for being imprisoned (Doing Porridge) Porridge is a prison comedy that aired on [[The BBC]] between 1973 and 1977 with three seasons, two Christmas specials and [[The Movie|a film.]] Set in the fictional Slade Prison it starred [[The Two Ronnies|Ronnie Barker]] as Fletcher, a career criminal, and Richard Beckinsale as Godber, a naive new boy. The plot centered around the prisoners attempts get things past the prison wardens (the stern Mr Mackay and the soft Mr Barrowclough mostly), avoid trouble with the Prison Governor (who thinks he runs the place) and avoid the wrath of Harry Grout (an East End gang boss who really does).

 

* Fletcher - Probably breaking and entering, although a speech that may have been a joke claims it was the theft of a lorry. (five years)

* Godber - Breaking and entering. (two years)

Inspired a short-lived American TV sitcom, ''On The Rocks''.

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* [[And a Diet Coke]]: Fletcher is offered cocoa, which he accepts, and then sugar. He refuses the biscuits, citing watching his weight, as he dumps at least four heaping spoonfuls of sugar in his already-sweet cocoa.

* [[Gosh Dang It to Heck]]: The prisoners use the words "Naff" or "Naffing", depending on context, for viewer-friendly swearing.

** Also possibly a case of [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]], since "naff" was originally, in gay slang, an acronym of "not available for fucking".

{{quote|[Godber bangs his head on the goalpost]

'''Mackay:''' [holds up one finger] How many fingers am I holding up?

* [[Second Episode Introduction]]: Godber and all other prisoners except Fletcher himself do not appear in the pilot.

* [[Shout-Out]]: Harry Grout, who bears something of a resemblance to a certain [[Noel Coward|Mr Bridger]], is apparently doing time for some sort of [[The Italian Job|job in Italy]]...

* [[Unusual Euphemism]]: Retasked the existing word 'naff' as an expletive, as in "naff off". Also created 'nerk' (presumably in place of 'berk') and possibly 'scrote'.

* [[Vetinari Job Security]]: When Mr Mackay is promoted a stricter, crueler screw from a prison Fletcher had been in earlier in his life replaces him and bullies both the criminals and [[Kick the Dog|Mr Barrowclough]]. The prisoners get rid of him by orchestrating a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] for Mr Barrowclough and welcome back Mckay with a rendition of "For he's a jolly good fellow."

** To be clear he ''eats lightbulbs''

 

* [[Expository Theme Song]]: "I'm going straight, along the straight and narrow, and I don't mean straight back to crime..."

* [[Idiosyncratic Episode Naming]]: All the episodes begin "Going..."

* [[Spinoff Sendoff]]

 

* [[Character Outlives Actor]]: Ingrid (Fletch's daughter, who married Godber in ''Going Straight'') gets a phone call from her husband that he can't make it back for the documentary. Richard Beckinsdale died shortly after ''Going Straight'' completed filming.

* [[Distant Finale]]: Quite literally.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:British Series]]

[[Category:Britcom]]

[[Category:TV Series]]

[[Category:Britain's Best Sitcom]]