Fawlty Towers | Communication Problems | Season 2 Episode 1 | First Time Watching | Reaction

Thank you for joining me for my first time watching Fawlty Towers. I hope you enjoy the video and my reaction!
Watch full, un-edited reactions or get one week early access on Patreon: / dawnmarieanderson
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Video Contents
0:00 Intro
1:31 Reaction
10:32 Review/Outro
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#fawltytowers #firsttimewatching #reaction
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[@richln9682]

Love the way Manuel prepares for his "I know nahtheeng" line as if he'a about to address a jury. Clears his throat even, lol.

[@lifelover515]

Mrs Richards is one of the best characters in the series, truly the guest from hell. Bravo and RIP Joan Sanderson, d.1992. But she doesn't deliver my personal favorite lines: 'Flying tart' and 'Is this a piece of your brain?' Connie and John remained on good enough terms to continue their writing partnership for this project, fortunately for us ail. What a joy to share your reaction with us, bonnie sunshine girl. More more more.

[@davehunt5847]

'Is this a piece of your brain?' and 'Please understand, before one of us dies' are two of my favourite lines in comedy ever

[@JohnDoe-bz4yl]

The original Karen

[@Emberchariot]

I think John Cleese and Connie Both both say they found they where better off as friends. So they never truly ended badly, they just divorced and remained good working partners. Also my faveourite line is, Basil saying about Richards, ' If you shan't behave I shall come in the small hours of the night and put a bat up your night dress.' And the other is Manwell with the door when he says,' Door? where is door?? door is gone???'

[@jeanlafayette7152]

This episode contains possibly my favourite moment from the entire series. In the scene where Basil pretends to be talking to Mrs Richards, but just mimes speaking, when he pretends to repeat himself, he mouths "I said" before going through the same routine as before. Just a minor detail, but absolute genius.

[@colibri1]

This is my favorite episode of all of them. It is so tightly written. Everything comes together in the end.

[@geraldmcboingboing7401]

Agree 100%

[@sagnyc]

Mine too, followed closely by The Psychiatrist.

[@APC3370]

Not only it is very well written. But it is also very well preform. As we watch it unfold we all know exactly where it is going ! And still we laugh at the joke behind delivered know is coming !

[@RabbiSteve1]

Same here

[@Naylte]

"It's over there between the land and the sky." Classic.

[@richardmeyer1007]

“Is this a piece of your brain?” My favorite episode.

[@experi-mentalproductions5358]

For anyone wondering, £85 in 1979 is £508 today.

[@dabe1971]

Connie and John divorced in September 1978 but had been separated for two years prior, this was the grounds for the divorce so they weren't a romantic item whilst series 2 was being written and filmed. I think they were just mature about it and wanted to remain on good terms since they had a daughter, Cynthia, together. They are still cordial when their paths cross now I believe but never worked together again professionally.

[@iambecomepaul]

I love how genuinely tickled you get with Basil. Your laugh is infectious.

[@dayceem]

That laugh is infectious and surprisingly similar to Sybil's.

[@olivergrumitt2601]

The Fawlty Towers programmes were all extremely funny but for me “Communication Problems” tops the lot. So, so many hilarious lines apart from the classic “I know nothing” from Manuel. Examples include “What else do you expect from a Torquay hotel window? Sydney Opera House, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the horizon?”. “You can see the sea, it is over there between the land and the sky”, “perhaps you should move to a hotel closer to the sea, or preferably in it”, Call that a bath? - it is not big enough to drown a mouse”, “I wish you were a mouse”, “And if you cause me any more trouble I shall come in during the night and put a bat up your nightdress” , “Is this a piece of your brain”, “I say!” “yes, testing, testing”, “On your head!”, “Want a fight? - I’ll give you a fight all right”, “Manuel, what’s all that?” “22!” (Rolls of toilet paper), “My horse, nitwit!” “Your horse nitwit”, “There isn’t a horse called nitwit, you’re the nitwit!”, “What is nitwit?” “It doesn’t matter, oh I could spend the rest of my life having this conversation - now please, please, try to understand before one of us dies” , “I know that, you told me that this morning”, “Don’t tell anyone not even me, you know nothing” “What was the question again?” “I forget everything, I know nothing”, “No, I know nothing - I am from Barcelona”, “I am going to take the shirt of my back to her too”, “you see, I know nothing” “I am going to sell you to a vivisectionist” and “Fawlty - you did give me that money - you won it on that horse”. All these lines, as well as many others were quite simply comic genius and in my opinion even today decades after the programmes were made and first shown, it is very hard indeed, if not impossible, to find lines funnier than these. I have heard these lines thousands of times over the years, and no matter how often you hear them, they remain as funny as ever.

[@MrChiddler]

This episode has been called the greatest 30-minute farce ever written. It is extraordinary

[@jeremysmith54565]

Connie Booth who played Polly, she's an American actress they wed in 1968 but divorced in 1978, they had a daughter called Cynthia Cleese who was in a Fish Called Wanda as well. I think they divorced pretty close to the end of Fawlty Towers but I can't recall exactly (just done a quick search they divorced just prior to when the 2nd series of Fawlty Towers had finished).

[@tarmaque]

This whole show is a master class on what makes a "situation comedy." It's all about basically two things: Trying to hide something from one of the other characters (for good reason or bad) and miscommunication. That's really all there is to it. 90% of sitcoms wouldn't last 5 minutes if the characters would just talk to one another instead of freaking out.

[@Rincenso]

The "Arsehole Victim" bit is very important too in this. Imagine if Basil was a nice person and only meant well and the stuff still happened to him...

[@barret-xiii]

@@Rincenso Then it'd go from a riotous comedy to a heart-wrenching tragedy.

[@bobbuethe1477]

@@Rincenso Then you'd have Charlie Brown.

[@tarmaque]

@@Rincenso Hence _I Love Lucy._

[@malcolmdrake6137]

No one of intellect would presume to know what makes the "basics" of situation comedy...and John Cleese would agree.

[@MrSlitskirts]

Another great episode. On a side note, John Cleese on a talk show was explaining how the show was picked up by Spain and shown on Spanish TV, with the dialogue overdubbed. The interviewer asked John what they did with 'Manuel the Spanish Waiter (from Barcelona)', John said they made 'Manuel' German. The show was also picked up in the U.S and they decided to make their own version of it (John explained). John said they told him their Screenwriters had improved the show by removing 'Basil'....

[@Haldurson]

Fawlty Towers was the best. So, so good. My all-time favorite episode is coming up soon also: "Basil the Rat". But there isn't a bad episode in the bunch. That's what happens when you have short seasons and quit before you run out of good material. This is the perfect example of how to do a comedy series.

[@haddenindustries2922]

Exactly...it really is the best comedy show ever...my favorite is kippers and the corpse with Manuel dancing😂...but likt you said there are NO bad episodes in Fawlty Towers

[@stevemccullagh36]

Cleese and Booth were married during season one but had divorced the year before season two.

[@jerryhayes9497]

"Please try to understand before one of us dies !" 😂🤣😂🤣🤣

[@bamsejonas]

probably my favourite episode and Manuels "I know nothing" and his and Basils nitwit bit are just the best things ever. Love how proudly Manuel says "eventually"

[@Bjowolf2]

Hwrat iz witnit? 😂

[@jeremysmith54565]

Andrew Sachs (legendary comedian lol since a bit ago had sadly died) was who was Manuel in the show, had a granddaughter Georgina Baillie who had a fling I believe with Russel Brand, which got him a rather large telling off by the BBC (him and Johnathan Ross, excusing spelling of his name) for leaving a rather unpleasant message on his answer phone when Brand was doing something a prank on his radio show I think for Radio Two but can't exactly remember.

[@MichaelPower212]

This episode is my second favorite. Coming in first is "Basil The Rat" which, if I recall correctly, is the last one of the series. I was introduced to Fawlty Towers while in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1984. A Kiwi friend loaned me a video cassette tape which had all of the episodes. Since then, I have not found a funnier sitcom. I binged all seven episodes you have to this date, December 14. You now have my subscription for being the only reactor I've come across who has featured Fawlty Towers along with what I assume is your Scottish accent. I was also stationed in Thurso and found the accent endearing. Looking forward to the rest of Fawlty Towers and exploring your other contents. -Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA

[@Lightmane]

I wish these reactions were a little longer, but I'm glad you're finally watching Fawlty Towers. Some of the funniest stuff I ever watched.

[@calanor4130]

You've got a very infectious laughter! 😄 This is another really good episode! Manuel's "I know nooothing!" gets me everytime!

[@stewartcohen-jones2949]

Excellent episode. One of the best. Great reaction as always.

[@markborder906]

Probably my favourite episode, but then I like sarcasm. Have you watched the film Clockwise? John Cleese plays a headmaster. I think you will enjoy it.

[@jen6879]

9.20

[@Gengrel]

The character he plays in this is supposed to be based on an actual inn keeper, though with John's unique flair thrown in.

[@tenmark7055]

Although it seems like no time has passed, there was a 4 year break between season 1 & 2. There are a lot of strange stories about the hotel mgr (Donald Sinclair) that Basil is based on. One story goes that Mr Sinclair threw Eric Idle's briefcase out the window. When he was asked why Sinclair said "It might contain a bomb. We've had a lot of staff problems."

[@mrlol2238]

Such a well crafted joke, by the best old school comedic characters…..Manual and that other guy. Lolol. Can anyone imagine if they did “who’s on first”? …..who is on first….Que?…..Que’s on second…..

[@Toast960]

This episode is possibly the best of the show. John Cleese was at his best in 1978/1979. He had written Life of Brian with the Pythons in early '78, wrote Series 2 of Fawlty Towers with Connie Booth, filmed the second series, and then went to Tunisia to film Life of Brian.

[@Blue-qr7qe]

I love this one. And i love seeing you enjoy them. I'm having a great time with your reaction to these -

[@bajasmancer]

"I know nooooothing" cracks me up every time :)

[@olivergrumitt2601]

Another classic line - a single word - from Manuel from this Fawlty Towers episode - is “Que?”

[@williamward446]

Connie Booth and John Cleese were married from 1968-1978... She was born in 1940 in Indianapolis, Indiana...

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

Basil isn't ignorant. He is almost always right. Except when he hired O Malley.

[@ianjardine7324]

"I'm from Barcelona and I know nothing" are my favourite lines from the whole show. I use them whenever I don't want to answer a question just to annoy whoever is annoying me.

[@darrylhinko5568]

I remember when I first saw this, luckily we were recording them because we had to rewatch like 3 times because we were laughing so hard. One of the all time great episodes of any show. Yet The Germans still is my favorite.

[@Dirkus17]

For an upgrade from an ice cube to a pair of socks, try A Fish Called Wanda.

[@Bjowolf2]

Real humour - I had almost forgotten what it feels like 😉

[@cessnaace]

John Cleese and Connie Booth divorced while Series 2 (Season 2) was still in production, but before it aired. They had a daughter together. By-the-way Connie appeared in Monty Python's Flying Circus 3 times, and was also in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail (as The Witch). Their daughter Cynthia Cleese appeared in two of John Cleese's films, A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures.

[@EctoCorvis13]

Love all your Fawlty and Monty Python reactions. Don't know if you heard, but John Cheese is developing a sequel Fawlty series with his daughter. Also, a couple other shows you may want to check out are Black Books and Spaced. Both equally great shows.

[@PeterMaranci]

You might enjoy The Young Ones as well. They had about the same number of episodes, and the show was absolutely brilliant. Far more chaotic, though.

[@wadorobin]

This!

[@dannyjoe3343]

Yes yes yes! I still have my collection on VHS.

[@Capohanf1]

Dealing with someone with hearing aids that would turn them up SOO high that they almost had Super Hearing and then down SO LOW they could not have heard an explosion if they had been standing inside it, the scene where Fawlty makes the old lady think her aids were not working and turn them up just before yelling at her was the funniest thing I had seen!!!!!!!!!!

[@Lethgar_Smith]

I visited Scotland a couple of years back and attended the Knockengorroch Festival. Had the time of my life!

[@johnwlipke]

'Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened', 30 years after Fawlty Towers (1975) ended, Stephen Fry narrates a documentary about the making of this classic sitcom

[@dolf370]

"bath, not big enough to drown a mouse" is an unintentional but considering the context very fittning double entendre for a swede, as "a mouse" in swedish is "a pussy" (and I do not mean the cat).

[@JohnLeePettimoreIII]

connie booth and john cleese (whos family name used to be Cheese until his grandfather changed it) divorced between series one and two of fawlty towers.

[@ericanderson8886]

Can't wait for your next Marx Brothers reaction Dawn, John Cleese is so funny as well.

[@dunringill1747]

Yes. More Marx Bros please Dawn.

[@jackthehat1093]

This episode and Waldorf Salad are the best ones in the series.

[@AubreySciFi]

One of my all time favorite episodes of the series! Basil has some great zingers at Mrs Richards in this.

[@PurushaDesa]

This episode was my introduction to Fawlty Towers and what an airtight piece of scriptwriting. This also leans into the dynamic of the guests being just as vile as Basil which is where the show's true magic lies. I don't know the actress playing Mrs. Richards that well but she is phenomenal in this.

[@DoctorStagger]

You rival Jen Murray for infectious cuteness!

[@irakopilow9223]

I thought the phrase "Is this a piece of your brain" was asked of Manuel exclusively. It was surprising to hear him ask the old hard of hearing lady.

[@NecramoniumVideo]

When you finished Fawlty Towers, i can suggest either Allo! Allo! or Keeping Up Appearances, both brilliant in their own way.

[@robabiera733]

This episode is classic and that ending is just iconic!

[@davewhitmore1958]

Manuel is the best! He's from Bartheelona you know 😉

[@zoppie]

I heard somewhere that the original set had been scrapped after the first series and needed to be rebuilt for the second.

[@bacteriajoe9403]

This is my favorite sitcom episode ever. I laugh so hard my ribs hurt. The Simpsons, Futurama, Married with Children, top echelon sitcoms, don't come close to this episode. The Health Inspector episode for Watery Fouls is also good. Watch Wallace and Grommit! Especially "the Wrong Trousers"! [takes off rubber glove. "It's YOU!"]

[@feldegast]

Your top is great 😃 anything like that in Australia wouldn't work at this time of year 😥

[@laurabaus1486]

OMG, I love this episode so much and reaction. Setting hearts to you❤❤❤. You are the best.

[@arconeagain]

Basil's not mad, he's a victim. You see?

[@malcolmdrake6137]

Cleese is quite intelligent. You should watch the televised debates he and Michael Palin were involved in against the church, when they [the church] tried to get Life Of Brian shut down.

[@dunringill1747]

There is about 3 1/2 years between season 1 & 2. John Cleese & Connie Booth had divorced in between seasons, but were still able to work together during season 2.

[@dupersuper1938]

As ridiculous as Basil is, it's hard to blame him after years with Cybil.

[@TigersEye856]

Love your reactions Dawn, I'm probably overthinking this but I think at the end of the day Basil still gained 5 Pounds that Sybil kept 5 pounds spent on the bet, didn't keep winnings 10 pounds up from Mrs Richards found money, 75 given because of breakage 10-5= 5 Pounds that Sybil kept LOL I only comment cause I always assumed he lost a lot, he just didn't gain

[@bobblebardsley]

I honestly did not know there were two series/seasons of Fawlty Towers, only that there's a grand total of 13ish episodes. I just assumed it was one series. That suddenly after all these years makes more sense of why some episodes feel different from the others.

[@MrPhil1503]

75 pounds would have been a lot of money in 1979, it would be the equivalent of £400 in 2022. So a tenner would be like having 50 quid today...

[@brianbooker8724]

Mrs. Richards, the annoying guest, is played by Joan Sanderson. She and John Cleese later worked together again playing a married couple in The Great Muppet Caper.

[@footofjuniper8212]

I hope you watch Ripping Yarns. Joan Sanderson guest stars in one of those episodes as well.

[@cgmat7804]

If you are a big Cleese and Palin fan, a "Fish called Wanda" is a brilliant movie

[@greigclement9081]

Basil Fawlty is mostly miserable and henpecked by Sybil, and moments where he can get a bit of money for himself, are rare.

[@daveftr01]

"Is this a piece of your brain?" LMFAO How many times have your wanted to say that to someone you know (worked for?)

[@markdermody9698]

Omg, You are a very Beautiful young lady, that is one with an extremely Dirty Laugh you have there, I love it! You made my heart melt with such a wonderful laugh that I honestly adore, I just can't help myself! 😍🥰😘😝🤪😂🤣

[@simonmcglary]

Look for the film Clockwise, also with John Cleese.

[@carlhartwell7978]

Concerning the difference in aesthetic. There was a 3.5 yr gap between seasons 1 and 2 of FT's, I'm not entirely sure why, but I do know it wasn't an immediate success, maybe that was the reason. To this day (And this is something I know resinates with literally EVERYONE) I don't fully understand how this series as a whole can have had such an enormous impact with so few eps. No one does, it will likely be an eternal enigma. I love OFAH, OAH, Red Dwarf, Steptoe, Rising Damp, OFITG and so so many other great British sitcoms as well as great US ones like Cheers, MASH, Seinfeld, Friends, Curb, Parks and Mork and Mindy. But FT only had TWELVE eps!!! All those others had usually dozens often scores of eps!!! How on earth do 6 hrs of television earn the adoration of so many? Who knows! Well, you may answer it in your watches...please tell us! My own theory is that every episode is like a hyper-condensed extremely funny film. Every expression, every word, every line, every cut, each delivery is perfect. Such that what emerges is not 2 series of 6 half hr eps, but one glorious masterpiece of television that as a whole never needed to 'find its feet', but was clearly fully formed from its beginning and remained so until its end. A masterpiece that didn't falter and didn't run out of steam, but just kept going until it didn't have to go anywhere anymore. It went from A to B. A was the absence of FT, B is the presence of FT. (It doesn't matter how many carriages a train has, just that it reaches its destination!).

[@fintonmainz7845]

John Cleese played himself.

[@joyofcardboard3230]

You have a wicked laugh, I love it! 😄

[@jaykawala3270]

Basil comes into his own in this season. We love to hate him in season one, but for some reason I find myself rooting for him in these episodes. And of course I love Manuel

[@Bjowolf2]

Best FT episode in my opinion - pure genious 😉

[@I0NIZE]

It's going to be weird going back to one or two video's a week. I've got used to seeing Dawn every day now.

[@SebaVDP]

Another Day another reaction by the Queen Dawn Marie 🥰🥰🥰 hugs !! Stay unique and awesome!!!

[@jimmybisk]

Thanks for a great reaction as always!

[@Nuisance1978]

You could watch them over and over right?

[@petejones879]

Do bears hibernate?

[@Lasherluke]

The birth of the original karen.

[@sneezindragon]

I think we've all had to deal with people like this woman at one time or other. If anything, basil was easy on her.

[@1ListerofSmeg]

Ahem....... I know nothing. Manuel IS best😅👍

[@davido.1233]

Behold: Mrs Alice Richards, THE ORIGINAL KAREN!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hissatsu4937]

Is this a piece of your brain? LMAO

[@mr.a8315]

😅👍

[@o0pinkdino0o]

They split up during this season ! You can always tell when Cleese gets divorced because he starts doing adverts and selling biographies. OK... i lied. This one is my fave ever. "Do you remember when we used to laugh dear, before we were manacled together ?" "Yes but not at the same time Basil..."

[@jamesgilburt1050]

I'm loving your reactions to Fawlty Towers, Dawn - this is an immortal comedy classic. Please watch Aliens (1986) soon. I love your channel. I've been subscribed to it for a while now and you're gorgeous & adorable 😘😘😘

[@tonyneal4716]

Make comments at the end, otherwise it disturbs the flow.

[@rebrox6545]

I’m new here Dawn, and I gotta say I thought Christmas Spirit had long past until I watched your channel. 🧖‍♀️ I love your style The Rat, is one of my favourite FT episodes

[@Bjowolf2]

I asked for a room with a view. (SOFTLY) Deaf, mad, and blind. This is the view as far as I can remember, madam. Yes, yes, this is it. When I pay for a view, I expect something more interesting than that. That is Torquay, madam. That is not good enough. Well, may I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically... Don't be silly. I expect to be able to see the sea. You can see the sea. It's over there between the land and the sky. I need a telescope to see that. Well, may I suggest that you consider moving to a hotel closer to the sea? Or preferably in it? Right. Now, listen to me. I'm not satisfied, but I've decided to stay here. However, I shall expect a reduction. Why, because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment? Because the room is cold, the bath is too small, the view is invisible, and the radio doesn't work. No, the radio works. You don't. What? I'll see if I can fix it, you scabby old bat. (LOUD MUSIC PLAYING) - I think we got something then. - What? I think we got something then! What are you doing? (LOUDLY) Qué? Madam, don't think me rude, but may I ask, do you by any chance have a hearing aid? A what? A hearing aid! Yes, I do have a hearing aid. Would you like me to get it mended? Mended? It's working perfectly all right. No, it isn't! I haven't got it turned on at the moment. - Why not? - The battery runs down. Now, what sort of a reduction are you going to give me on this room? - 60% if you turn it on. - What? My wife handles all such matters. I'm sure she will be delighted to discuss it with you.

[@mistofoles]

Dawn, did anyone ever tell you you're beautiful ?

[@zaftra]

If you'd have painted your back ground green not blue, it could have acted as a green screen and you could have had all sorts of back grounds; grotto for instance.

[@Ian-lx1iz]

(0:20) I've absolutely No idea what _you're_ on, Dawn Marie. Jeez, Louise!!

[@jamesclapp6832]

You really don't get this show.

[@JohntheLNERP2]

£75 for a vase? You know what I do with £75? I wipe my ass with it

[@justinbutler1196]

This isn't funny or entertaining

[@papalaz4444244]

Are you talking about yourself, troll?

[@peterlenham3180]

Yes it is.

[@stewartcohen-jones2949]

Troll. Go back to your shitty video games and sad life. It’s all there on your KZbin page.

[@markborder906]

You have my sympathy.

[@mondegreen9709]

So what's your idea of fun then?