malmborgimplano-92-599820 My sister the Cumberbabe says this is unwatchable. She gave up on it after a couple of episodes. I didn't literally watch the entire series, but I did listen to the whole thing while shredding some papers and glancing up now and then, which isn't a bad way to experience it if like me you're really not a fan of low, heavy-handed dumb-dumb farce in which everyone is either really stupid, mean, or mean AND stupid.To me the only thing this series has going for it is that amazing cast (Hugh Laurie and Benedict Cumberbatch playing father and son is an idea worth trying again in better circumstances) but since the clowning they have to do is so tasteless and embarrassing it's not much fun. The sex farce stuff with the young people (what my sister calls the "Mum, he's shagging my girlfriend!" stuff) and the lame-butted "Twelfth Night" derived sequence in which Capaldi and Chancellor do Malvolio and Olivia just made me hate whoever was responsible for it.

blanche-2 I found this little gem when I was desperately searching Netflix for anything Benedict Cumberbatch had ever done. Lo and behold, Hugh Laurie is the star, though after watching him on House, he sounds dubbed speaking with his real British accent! You have to really appreciate what a wonderful actor he is - for House, he has lowered his voice as well.Fortysomething is about a family of crazies - Hugh Laurie plays Paul Slippery, a doctor; his pretty wife Estelle, played by Anna Chancellor, is a headhunter; her boss is lesbian Gwendolen Hartley (Sheila Hancock). The Slipperys have three hormonal sons: Rory (Cumberbatch), Daniel (Neil Henry), and Edwin (Joe Van Morland). Daniel has stolen Rory's girlfriend Lucy (Siobhan Hewlett) while Rory was away, and Rory's girlfriend and her sister Laura (Emma Ferguson) seem to be living at the house. Paul's partner (Philip Manikum) is a complete maniac after Estelle, sending her sexy emails which have been erotically answered by son Daniel.Fortysomething is a bit chaotic, as families are, and very, very funny. When Paul admonishes Daniel for just walking in his parents' bedroom without knocking, saying, "We might have been..." -- Daniel looks at him and laughs as if the idea is absurd. Paul has just as bad a time at work, as does Estelle.This series streams on Netflix. Unfortunately, it only ran a season in Britain; I understand the time slot was changed or something. Delightful to see these actors.

Adrian Bailey Although I agree that 40sthg was funny and well acted, and that it was a shame that it was demoted to a later timeslot, it did begin to pall after the first few episodes. I don't know, I think that the project was strung out too much; maybe the episodes should've been fewer or shorter, or it should've been a movie rather than a series. When you have several irritating characters I think you have to expect that the viewing public will also begin to get irritated, well before the denouement arrives to make it all seem worthwhile.

neardark I've just seen the third episode tonight, and this really is the most staggeringly brilliant comedy I've had the pleasure to view in a great many moons. Quite why ITV has decided to move it to the 11pm slot on a Saturday night I know not, but I would thoroughly recommend that you check out the rest of the series and then rush to acquire a copy as soon as it's released on DVD or video.The characterisation, script, performances and plot are all excellent - Hugh Laurie, Anna Chancellor and Peter Capaldi are all at their very best, and there's some quite stunning physical comedy from Mr Capaldi in particular. All the supporting roles are excellently played as well, particularly the three sons, their two inane girlfriends and Ms Chancellor's employer (the ever-wonderful Sheila Hancock).All of which may sound a tad hyperbolic, but if I'd just said "Well, it's about this doctor facing a midlife crisis, he's worried that his wife may run off with someone else, his practice partner is psychotic and obsessed with his wife, his teenage sons can't stop either thinking about, or having, sex, and meanwhile he can't remember the last time he actually had any himself," I'd never really have got it out of my system, now would I?