Girls On Top

1985

Seasons & Episodes

  • 2
  • 1

EP1 Mr Fluffy Knows Too Much Oct 30, 1986

The girls receive word that Candice has been rushed to hospital and has died mysteriously. They struggle to determine which of their vindictive practical jokes may have been to blame for her untimely demise, and more importantly, how to destroy any lingering evidence that might implicate them.

EP2 Big Snogs Nov 06, 1986

Smitten with an electrical handyman, Amanda lures him home to tend to her fuse box. Aroused by the scent of his dirty socks, she is transformed overnight from militant man-hater to Fifties TV house-wife, and she besieges and bewilders the unsuspecting Tom with her feminine wiles. Shelley must teach Amanda the facts about nookie.

EP3 Who's Ya Uncle Shelley? Nov 20, 1986

After being convinced by Shelley of the value of Capitalist worker exploitation, Amanda orders that Jennifer take a job cleaning offices at the stock exchange to help pay the rent. Amanda and Shelley entrust Jennifer with their complete savings when it comes to light that she's a financial genius at playing the stock market.

EP4 Bring Me More Flamingoes Nov 27, 1986

Shelley goes on an animal-theme redecorating kick to set the mood for her ""Let's Welcome Shell to Showbiz"" exclusive celebrity party. Amanda reaches the limit of her patience when forced to camp out with Jennifer in Shelley's room while she's on safari in the living room. A vicious slagging match ensues, and Amanda and Jennifer move out of the flat. But they soon find themselves at Shelley's mercy when they're arrested for vagrancy and can't make bail.

EP5 Mr. Yummy Brownie Dec 04, 1986

Shelley's mother arrives unexpectedly, under the impression Shelley's playing Ophelia at the Palladium when in fact the only part could land was that of a singing tadpole at a grammar school. After learning the truth about her daughter's failure to make it as an actress, Mrs DuPont uses the persuasive power of chocolate to try to coax her into returning to Beverly Hills to marry a dull liver manufacturer. Determined to prove her talents, Shelley crashes a Royal Shakespeare Company production of ""The Importance of Being Earnest"" and literally steals the show.

EP6 Lower the Donkey Dec 11, 1986

Lady Carlton wins a new luxury kitchen, but her failure to understand the basics of operating a microwave oven result in a blackout. Mistaking the explosion for nuclear disaster, Amanda and Shelley hole themselves up in a homemade fallout shelter in their front room and send Jennifer foraging for food.
6.5| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 23 October 1985 Ended
Producted By:
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Girls On Top is a British sitcom that was shown on ITV from 1985 to 1986. It starred French & Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman, and was written by French, Saunders and Wax with additional material from Tracey Ullman. Despite a low budget and poor critical reception, the series was a ratings success. It was made for the ITV network by Central Independent Television. The show focused on four female flatmates and their landlady. The characters were stereotypes with little depth and the comedy focused on conflicts from their personalities. It was an attempt at a female version of The Young Ones, two series of which were made in 1982 and 1984. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders had both appeared on it and, like most of its stars, were members of The Comic Strip group. The theme tune was written and performed by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from the British band Squeeze.

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Reviews

manimal99 I hadn't seen this series since it was first shown in the eighties, so what an absolute joy it has been to rediscover it. Although recorded in the mid-80s, the humour hasn't dated one jot - there are few contemporary references which has helped the show stand the test of time remarkably well.For me the star of the show was Tracey Ullman though. It wasn't long after this series that she defected to the US and it shows what a sad loss to British TV comedy she was. Its also interesting to see Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders so early in their careers, although they seem to play "second fiddle" to Tracey Ullman and Ruby Wax in series one.All in all, this show comes highly recommended.
jacinta-8 These Girls On Top dvds are a must for French & Saunders fans. It's some of the best of their early work. I love Dawn's character, Amanda. And I also think Jennifer is brilliant as the slow, child-like Jennifer Marsh. My only complaint is that Ruby Wax kind of over acts and after a while I find myself wanting to slap her silly. Other than that, this a great show with a lot of funny moments. Once you get to know the characters you will love them. Unfortunately there are only 13 episodes made and I doubt there will be any in the future. I for one would love to see a Girls On Top reunion. Bottom line...you will enjoy the show. Buy it!
TelevisionJunkie Just to note, I think the only real spoiler here is the set-up that's established in the first episode.When I stumbled upon the now long out of print videos of this series, I had never seen "Ab Fab," "The Vicar of Dibley" or "French and Saunders." I was familiar with Tracy Ullman and Ruby Wax (as well as "The Young Ones," which this is always compared to), but I had not yet been subjected to the "Ab Fab" experience. That out of the way... It became very clear to me very quickly that this series had a lot of potential. It was witty, edgy and had five of the wackiest characters I'd seen from Brit TV at that point.To summarize the characters/plot (since I haven't seen an in-depth summary anywhere on the net): Dawn French portrayed Amanda Wripley, a neo-Nazi feminist writer (for "Spare Cheeks" magazine) who is homeless. She cons her way into getting a flat in Chelsea, owned by Lady Carlton (Joan Greenwood), an insane romance novelist who adores her deceased dog, Josephine, so much that she sent the canine to the taxidermist after her death. Upon arriving, Amanda discovers the previous tenant, Candice Valentine (Tracy Ullman), is still occupying the flat. A slutty bar-hopper, Candice gives a very phony story about an illness that she has, and she herself cons Amanda into letting her stay. Meanwhile, nearly retarded Jennifer Marsh (Jennifer Saunders), a school chum of Amanda's, arrives hoping to share a pad with Amanda. The trio soon discover that none of them have the funds to pay the rent. Enter Shelley DuPont (Ruby Wax), a loud-mouthed failed American actress who's leeching off of her parents, running through their wealth like water, while trying to make it big in England. Personalities clash and hilarity ensues. "That's this - interesting." While far more coherent in storytelling than it's male counterpart, "The Young Ones," some of the episodes missed the mark but the characters were so well developed and the one-liners were so hilarious that you nearly don't notice. Stories revolved around Shelley's acting career/social status (or lack thereof), the other girls wanting Candice out of the apartment, Jennifer's stupidity, Amanda's horniness... and it ended with one of the weirdest finale episodes it's ever been my pleasure to see (a finale that ranks right up there with "I Married Dora" on the weirdness scale). Despite some criticism that Ullman was underused, I thought her character was delightful and I was sad to see her go in the second series (though her departure was hilarious -- each of the other ladies thought that they killed Candice). Just as the series ended, it seemed as if the actors/writers had hit their stride, and it's a shame that the show didn't continue. Sadly Joan Greenwood passed away shortly after the show went off the air anyway -- and I can't imagine the show without Lady Carlton's Alzheimer's-induced rantings.Now, the videos/DVDs... The Canadian company that released the series didn't put much care into the release. The picture quality's pretty good for an '80s show shot on video, though some have complained of audio problems. The original 3-VHS set was released in stereo that was not mono compatible -- the sound on the DVDs is far better. But then there's the DVDs themselves. Episodes are scattered across two 2-disc sets (when they could have easily been shoved onto one 2-disc set) and the episodes are completely out of order (to include Ullman in both releases). On the video release (and original airings, I'm sure), halfway through each episode it would go to the theme, pause, say "End Part One" and immediately come to "Part Two." These title cards have been omitted from the DVDs, making the picture/audio choppy in each episode. I sort of wish that BBC video would do an official release, but I've got them all now, so I can't complain.If you're going into this for the first time, go in without preconceptions. While it IS French and Saunders, this was their first big series, and it shows since it is a little rough around the edges. Personally, I like that roughness. It works for the characters, the stories and the series. And it made me seek out "Ab Fab" (which I'd avoided since I loved "High Society" -- which was unjustly referred to as an American-Ab-Fab-rip-off).
FUNCHO MCLALA Possible spoilers so be warned!This is a fascinating series, for its eighties nostalgia and the opportunity it gives to see these famous women "before they were stars". The guest stars are also a handful of success stories - Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane and OMG Katherine Helmond, like you have NEVER seen her before, as Shelley's American mother!I agree that the comedy is uneven - some episodes lack that spark, but others are totally over the top, giving us a glimpse of what is to come from these women. There are moments of inspired insanity though, which is why I recommend it.Strangely, (and I am a big Tracey Ullman fan), although the series was supposed to be a TU vehicle, she has the least to do and is really the least interesting character. I think the show takes a huge leap forward in the second season after she leaves. It seems edgier, crazier and funnier. At this point I have seen the entire series, bar three episodes, and I am enjoying it a lot.Dawn French is the sort of "sane" one and is somewhat typically herself until they let her go man crazy in the second season.Jennifer Saunders is also better in the second season when she gets more to do and her speech becomes a bit clearer, but as one of the odder characters, she is also one of my faves.I LOVE Ruby Wax, and although she may be a sterotype, I know plenty of Americans just like her! Plus I love how her character, Shelley, always sinks her own boat with her pushiness and outright stupidity!Like I said I think Tracey Ullman doesn't get the opportunity to shine here.She's okay and appropriately "bimbotic" but wish we had seen more.Finally, Joan Greenwood's Lady Carlton is OUT THERE! In outer spaaaaace! We LOVE her! Her over-dramatic entrances, her dead stuffed dog she carries around with her, how she always calls TU's character, "the Slut" all over-enunciated and wonderful! She is this gay man's camp dream! You have to see her in action.All in all, I think that had this series continued, it would have improved. But it's a valentine, and you should give it a try. Stop by when you're in Boston and we'll invite you for a viewing!