Talk:Father Ted

The Minor Characters

I was looking at this list, it's terribly long, maybe we should split it into recurring minor characters and minor characters. I'm gonna set about it now but I won't be able to get them all right off the top of my head. Bandraoi 00:07, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

the major characters

Could we list a few of the big things that happened to each character under their descriptions? Like the fact that Father Jack once died, or that Mrs Doyle had a crush on the milkman. The sort of one that reveals more about who they are.

No objections to that; go ahead and put some in! :D Keithlard 13:30, 29 October 2005 (UTC)

The "Banned in Ireland" claims and RTÉ

The claim that Fr. Ted was banned in Ireland is ludicrous nonsense. In fact it is one of the most popular TV shows on Network 2, the second Irish state channel. Some senior Irish Roman Catholic clerics have even described it as their favourite comedy show.

The original idea was not picked up by Radio Telifís Éireann (RTÉ) for reasons other than merely that it was criticising the Catholic Church, which in any case suffered major loss of respect and support in the 1990s due to sex and paedophile scandals. RTÉ had a poor record in producing sitcoms and comedy so lacked confidence in its ability to launch any sitcom. As a result, it opted not to pick up the options on any potentially controversial series, whether in religion, politics, sport or whatever. Only in the last few years has that changed, with successes like the series 'Bachelor's Walk'. In contrast, Britain's Channel 4 had a proven record in comedy and a confidence in its own abilities. As it was a Channel 4 Show, RTÉ didn't initially broadcast it, but that made no difference as 90% of Irish homes watch Channel 4 anyway and so could see the series from the start.

To claim that because it dealt with a religious topic, Irish TV banned Fr. Ted is not just wrong but appeals to the standard clichéd image of a Catholic Church-dominated Ireland, which is as phoney as a Britain full of people wearing bowler hats or a France peopled by men wearing striped jerseys with onions around their neck. (Ireland has some of the most progressive gay rights laws, unlike some US states, hardly a sign of catholic dominance. The Catholic Church also endorsed the first Nice referendum in Ireland. Yet few voters bothered to vote, and those that did voted 'no', even though the Church urged a 'yes' vote. ). JTD 01:31 Jan 29, 2003 (UTC)

Sorry. I wrote that, and I'll admit it was based on my memories of a news report (which may itself have been innaccurate, I don't know) from the time. By the way, do you mean 90% can get Channel 4? If so I've a feeling that the original thing I saw had something about the remaining 10% complaining about not being able to see it. Anyhow, sorry again. Bagpuss 15:50 Jan 29, 2003 (UTC)

I think that 90% of households having Channel 4 wouldn't be completely unreasonable. Just about anyone can get it; most do (either by cable, satellite or terrestrial from NI or Wales. And as a gay male in Ireland, I disagree with the "some of the most progressive" comment. We have among the worst gay rights laws in Europe (they're better than those in the US, but then so are those of a number of developing world countries). In any case, the series was very quickly picked up by RTE.

... I'm sure that I read in an interview with either Matthews or Linehan that they never even considered offering Father Ted to RTÉ. They were encouraged to expand a sketch with priests into a series by Hat Trick Productions, or someone they were working with at the time.

I can't find a URL to back this up, unfortunately. Nevertheless, they had had all their previous comedies produced in the UK, so the idea that they would take a step backwards and offer a promising comedy to a much smaller outfit like RTÉ isn't really believable, thought it is very widely believed in Ireland, mostly because, if true, it would encapsulate perfectly so many things that are wrong with RTÉ's approach to dramas and comedies. ...

There's an interview here with Dara O'Briain (Irish comedian who is reasonably popular in the UK), in which it the claim that Father Ted was originally offered to RTE is described as "erroneous". http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:MQPyqH9UFsIJ:www.wow.ie/comedy/index.php%3Finterview_id%3D1259+%22father+ted%22+rte&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

I'm quite sure that, while this canard is very entrenched (googling turns up dozens of references to RTE getting egg on their face, etc.), it is simply not true. I think it has become somewhat confused with RTE being reluctant to broadcast 'Father Ted', which certainly seems to be true, but is not quite the same as turning down the opportunity to make the series in the first place.

Ok: I've checked it with RTE, and here's their reply: >> From: info@rte.ie

Dermot

I believe you to be correct in your suggestion.

To the best of my knowledge, RTÉ was not approached by the producers of Father Ted, they went directly to Channel 4.

I have forwarded your e-mail to Cathriona Edwards, the Manager of Publicity, RTÉ Television who I expect will respond to you directly.

I would safely say, that you should remove that comment from the encyclopedia, and thank you for giving RTÉ this option to respond to clarify the situation.

Kind Regards

Brigitte Murphy RTÉ Communications <<

In the light of this, the comment about it being offered to RTE first should be taken out (at the time Father Ted was pitched "the Irish networks" were just RTE). I'll have a shot today, if no-one else does. (I'm sorry I haven't signed any of these posts; I haven't had time to get a user ID and son on.)

'went frantically running to buy the rights' is a bit harsh, and definitely non-NPOV. Will tone down slightly.

The editing of Father Ted, after the death of Dermot Morgan.

The idea that series three was 'heavily edited, especially the last episode' after the death of Dermot Morgan has been widely disseminated, but is simply not true. Two very short edits were made in two scenes from two different episodes. The final scene of the last episode (showing Ted, one year on from the rest of the story, joining the depressed priest on the window ledge, in an apparent suicide bid) was removed altogether, but that was because it didn't work in plot terms - the audience in the studio didn't get the gag, and we didn't have the shots to salvage it. I hope this will quash what seems to be a growing myth - and I know it's a myth because I did the edits: I was the producer of series two and three.

(This last comment by User:217.169.47.206).

It certainly was never banned in Ireland but I do remember hearing that when they tried to show the original series in Boston it got cancelled because so many people wrote in complaining about its portrayal of the Catholic church and the Irish. While the catholic Irish loved it, Irish emigrants and people with Irish heritage hated it. Can anyone confirm this?

Source for Divine Comedy correction

"Songs of Love" was based on the Father Ted theme tune, not the other way around. This sounds quite implausible, so I will defend this edit with a source from the Divine Comedy's official web site. [1]

Quotes

Is anyone else getting tired of people (mostly anonymous users) added quotes to this article? Most of them are not really funny when read out of context, and a number of them are not verbatim quotes from the series. I think we should perhaps decide which quotes are the best to leave in and wipe the rest. Anyone else agree? -- OwlofDoom 07:07, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

Agree, absolutely. I'm not overly happy with a quotes section anyway -- that's what the IMDB is there for. The JPS 10:08, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

Right, I'm sick of people just adding crap to this section, so I'm going to delete it altogether. Prepare for an edit war :( -- OwlofDoom 20:40, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Father_Ted is just waiting to be started by all you eager Ted quoters. -- OwlofDoom 20:44, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

Shot where?

The article says "while all of the location footage was shot in Ireland". It would be nice if you could say where in particular. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:24, August 13, 2005 (UTC)

It would be an useful addition, yes. Why don't you research it and add it to the article? The JPS 18:22, 13 August 2005 (UTC)

Done. Incidentialy, I made a redirect from parochial house to rectory (where manse already redirects). I don't know if there's enough of a difference for parochial house to warrant its own article. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 19:34, August 13, 2005 (UTC)

Excellent edit - the article is in much better shape now. The JPS 19:39, 13 August 2005 (UTC)

Irish television programmes

I see this all the time on WP, people trying to remove Father Ted from lists of British TV programmes because they think its Irish. I realise it is culturally Irish, but it isn't an Irish production, so is Category:Irish television programmes appropriate? JW 10:38, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

No it's not appropriate. Father Ted was produced by a UK production company for a UK channel. -- Arwel 12:48, 22 August 2005 (UTC)

Blue Nun?

I'm not too sure, but it seems more likely that the "blue nun" reference is to the cheap german sweet wine rather than "blue as in sexually promiscuous". Any ideas?

Both, I think; I'm sure it's a double entendre. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 17:54, September 1, 2005 (UTC)

Although really "blue" just means "rude", not necessarily "sexually primiscuous" (unless there's more from the context in which the phrase was used). -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 18:01, September 1, 2005 (UTC)

Parishioners

Just a minor point...I don't think Fr. Noel Furlong and Fr. Larry Duff are technically 'parishioners' (surely they'd be in Craggy Island Parochial House if they were - moreover, Ted only seems to meet Noel when he leaves the island and I can't recall Noel ever appearing in a scene on the island at all) - although they're certainly worth mentioning as characters. Perhaps a future edit could distinguish between the parishioners and other characters?

Featurable?

It's a way off yet, but wouldn't it be fecking great? :D Happy to help with any FAC drive --PopUpPirate 00:47, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

Yes, Yes it would, count me in Bandraoi 06:55, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

I've created a subpage for minor characters for starters --PopUpPirate 13:52, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Submitting to Peer Review - won't do any harm will it! --PopUpPirate 00:30, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

Joan

Wasn't the scene with Mrs. Doyle's first name in it cut because the episode ran too long? I don't think it was ever meant to be a secret, it was just an accident that it was never mentioned on screen (of course, by the time The Mainland appeared, the "mystery" was sufficiently entrenched for them to make a rather poor in-joke about it.) --Bonalaw 07:49, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

That's right, the only mention of Joan as Mrs. Doyle's name is in the script. I'm going to edit this, if anyone wants to put it back in can they provide a citation of the reference? Cheers, Dave 22:59, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

Location

Are you sure Craggy Island is on the west coast of island. I seem to remember Ted saying something like it was near where the English ships come to dump the old glowy-glowy

That'd be off the continental shelf - the West coast of Ireland. The sort of scenery shown in the series, the attitudes of the people, the weather, the fact that the opening shots show Inis Oírr which is off the west coast of Ireland, the fact that nearly all the islands in Ireland which are inhabited by small isolated populations are off the west coast of Ireland . . . . Yes Craggy Island is off the west coast Bandraoi 21:00, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

• • I can confirm this; I've physically walked on the shipwreck, which is on Inis Oírr in Aran. Further, the islanders mostly talk in west coast accents. See Image:Thap_aranisland_wreck.JPG. --Kwekubo 01:06, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

Adding the locations shown in the title sequence would make a valuable addition to the article, if you'd care to make it. FYI, we already have articles on Inisheer and Aran Islands to which you might like to link. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 21:06, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Irony

POV and not really irony - I'll remove the following if no one objects. "Nevertheless, it is a rich irony that what went on to be one of the most popular TV shows in Ireland, performed largely by an Irish cast, and containing so many accurate (albeit comically exaggerated) depictions of national Irish eccentricities, was paid for and shot by a British broadcaster."--YellowLeftHand 16:44, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

ha ha, sounds like someone was trying to get a cheap shot at the English. I don't mind where the cast come from, I'd pay for a television programme of that quality any day of the week. Though I do agree it isn't so much surreal as it is an exaggeration of Ireland. I see that in a lot of my relatives.--Crestville 16:47, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it's a cheap shot at the English, if anything it's a shot at the Irish TV industry for failing to take advantage of the talent available. --Ryano 13:37, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

The use of the word "irony" in the context as you suggest may be inappropriate (or possibly just plain wrong). However, I would suggest that the sentence be reworded rather than removed. I would suggest that it was included by an editor - probably not as a "cheap shot" - but because, at the time of it's release and quick and dramatic rise in popularity (both in Ireland and the UK), there was some debate in the media (and pubs) in Ireland about (POV warning) how such a fantastically funny show by and starring Irish writers and actors, and about the peculiarities of (granted very specific) aspects of Irish life and mien came to be made outside the country. There was even debate and suggestion (as evidenced by the "turned down/refused by RTÉ rumour" referenced in the article) that it could not or would not be "allowed" to be made in Ireland. (Irreverent as it is about insitutions and occupations in Ireland that would previously have been "off limits" in mainstream media.)

So, in short, ("too late" I hear you say) if we can find a way to reword the sentence to remain true to the context, but avoiding POV and mis-use of the term "irony", then I would hope it stays in! Guliolopez 19:11, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

--- def.n of irony on m-w.com: 3 a (1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result (2) : an event or result marked by such incongruity

I think the word "irony", in this sense, in the context of the above-mentioned sentence, is accurate: shows commissioned and made by agencies outside a particular country usually would not succesfully and amusingly highlight and make fun of rather obscure aspects of that country.

I wrote that sentence a long time ago, and I certainly did not intend a cheap shot at anyone; I was just trying to preserve the flavour of the previous section about the "turned down by RTÉ" rumour, mentioned by Guliolopez above. I also was the person who contacted RTÉ to confirm its inaccuracy (c.f. the "Banned in Ireland" claims and RTÉ section above), so I did go to some trouble to tidy up this section. 213.131.238.25 13:00, 13 July 2006 (UTC)Dermot

Reception

The article makes barely any mention of the show's reception upon broadcast, its popularity, its status as one of the most successful and well-loved British sitcoms of the '90s, the fact that people like Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci have gone on record saying things along the lines of it being the standard by which all other work of the time must be judged, that sort of thing. Some citations from places like the BBC Comedy Guide, and mention of its placing in the 100 Best Sitcoms, etc., would also be useful to back this up. I think it's a bit of an oversight, frankly, that the article barely makes any mention of the show's (very significant) status in the context of British sitcom history, so if no-one objects I'll probably tackle doing so quite soon. Seb Patrick 09:47, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Canned Laughter

Does this sitcom have canned laughter? Loserdog³⁰⁰⁰ 20:42, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

No, it has genuine laughter. --Bonalaw 10:02, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

It was mostly filmed in front of a audience, but in the dvd commentary they said that sometime, from having to retake etc the laughter heard in the used piece was not enough, so they cut the bigger laugh from the unused take and stuck it on the final one. im not sure about the laughter for the outside shots. Seabhcán 10:55, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikiproject: Father Ted

Hello, I'm hoping to set up a Father Ted wikiproject to enhance the standard of the articles, create definitive episode guides, related pages, templates, stubs etc. Father Ted was ingenious, a one of a kind sitcom unlike anything ever seen before or since - I believe it deserves higher recognition on Wikipedia, if you want to join my proposed project go to: Wikipedia:Wikiproject/List of proposed projects, (it's towards the bottom of the page), and sign your name. It may also be worth (if you want to) signing on for a similiar project I'm hoping to undertake: that of Fawlty Towers thanks.. Foxearth (logged out for the moment).

I'll support this if and when I can. How did the Fawlty Towers one go though?--Crestville 13:42, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

Still waiting for enough names to start both projects... I thought more people would be interested - I'm trying to advertise - but still nothing...! Foxearth

Have you tried Wikipedia:WikiProject British TV shows? The JPS^{talk to me} 12:58, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

Song For Europe

"Ted is goaded by Father Dick Byrne into attempting to write a song for "Eurosong '96" (spoof of the Eurovision Song Contest)"

the name of the show which chose the song for the eurovision was called eurosong and that year would have been eurosong 96 so its not a spoof in the way that sentence makes it out to be Owwmykneecap 02:36, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

In the script as published in The Complete Scripts, the selection programme is called "A Song for Ireland 1996" and the final contest is called "Eurosong". So the evidence is not on your side. --Bonalaw 09:12, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

British?

All exterior shots filmed in Ireland, written and created by Irish people and filmed with Irish Actors, it is hard to see why it is called a British television program. Interior shots were filmed in London, and the production company to which it was contracted was British, but does this serve to make it British?

Well it was produced by Channel 4 (a British company), but written by Irish writers. The actors were (almost entirely) Irish, but the crew were mixed British/Irish. It was filmed in Ireland and London. What's wrong with the idea of two countries cooperating on this? garik 11:33, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Actually, it was produced for Channel 4 (a British company) by Hat Trick Productions (also a British company). Channel 4 does not produce programmes. --Bonalaw 13:31, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Yes, sorry, you're quite right. Either way, the point is that it seems rather silly to debate whether it's Irish or British, when it could quite happily be understood to be both. garik 16:01, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Best we not accuse others of being silly when we are part of the reverting ourselves. Calling "Father Ted" British is like calling "Braveheart" Irish, because some of the same principles are present. I do believe that Wikipedia is nothing if it's not accurate, so the two country compromise should do here with provenance going to Ireland, so I'll do a small edit and put Ireland first. Hope that's okay with everyone. Taramoon 16:36, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Well, OK. Maybe 'silly' was an unfortunate word, though I meant it gently - I apologise if it wasn't taken as such. I can't help feeling, however, that to consider "Father Ted" as Irish or British, rather than both, is actually inaccurate, at least in the absence of criteria limiting nationality to that of the writers or the production company (or whatever). After all, if the rest of this talk page is to believed, it was shown on Channel 4 before it was shown on RTE. Out of interest, by the way, what's the Irish connection with "Braveheart"? I was under the impression it was pretty much an American film, but I know very little about it. In any case, I wholeheartedly agree that Ireland should be first on the Father Ted page. garik 17:59, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Well just on the "Braveheart" question. Over 90% of filming was done in Ireland, over 90% of the actors were Irish, and the main production company was Irish. Yet, quite correctly, it's not classed as an Irish film. That was my comparison. Taramoon 18:19, 24 June 2006 (UTC)

Wikipedia: WikiProject Fawlty Towers

If you're interested in sitcoms you may wish to join my new Fawlty Towers-based wikiproject to maintain the standard, and create fabulous new articles based upon this milestone in British Comedy. If you are interested, and woud like to bcome a member, please enquire at the above link, or on my talk page for more information. Thanks Foxearth 02:48, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Dave, I'm pretty sure you're right in saying Mrs Doyles first name is Joan. I thought the same thing myself.

Way, way too long summary additions of August 21

They are. BabuBhatt 22:28, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Agree. Article is possibly going down the wrong path. While User:Algebra man's additions to the structure of the "season summaries" (by adding tables) are probably a good idea, the extension of those summaries is probably not. The depth of detail added is not appropriate to a general article about the program. If an extensive description of each episode is required for wikipedia, then they should likely be carved out into separate aricles as "List of Father Ted Episodes" or "Father Ted Episodes (Season 1)", etc. This is the standard for other TV programs - see Lost (TV series) + related articles, Friends, etc. Will revert until consensus here Guliolopez 23:29, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Agree with above. The JPS^{talk to me} 23:36, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Agree too. --Archeus 15:29, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

I did originally think that it was to big for the page, but since there was nowhere else to put the info and I didn't yet know how to create a new page, I just put it all there. Well now I have created a new page, Father Ted Season 1, and have put all the info there. Would appreciate some help on wikifying the page.--Algebra man 19:25, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

Probably a good idea to have a link to it on this article? --Archeus 18:32, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

Edited Ted Crilly bio

To add that he would like to retire to a small parish in Las Vegas, quoted from the DVD insert of "The Best of Father Ted".

81.104.187.185 22:41, 3 October 2006 (UTC)