My Family (TV series)

My Family is a British sitcom that first aired in 2000 on BBC1. The fifth series of the show aired in 2004, and there was speculation that this may have been the last, as no series was recorded or aired in 2005. The BBC then announced a brand new series, with fewer episodes than previously. This series has now been broadcast in the UK and a seventh series has been commissioned.

The show was created by Fred Barron who also worked on Caroline in the City and The Larry Sanders Show.

The show is about the antics of the Harpers, a fictional British family, in everyday life.

'My Family' has a large team of writers which includes: Jim Armogida, Steve Armogida, Ian Brown, Penny Croft, James Hendrie, Darin Henry, Brian Leveson, Paul Minett, Sophie Hetherington, Shawn Schepps and Andrea Solomons.

Jim Armogida and Steve Armogida (who are brothers), James Hendrie and Ian Brown and Brian Leveson and Paul Minett work in pairs to create an episode. Creator Fred Barron also writes a few episodes.

Characters

*Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay) (Series 1 onwards) is a misanthropic dentist who shows little compassion for his family, his patients or anyone else he encounters.
*Susan Beryl Harper (neé Riggs) (Zoë Wanamaker) (Series 1 onwards), Ben's wife, works as a tour guide and is a control freak who wants to run the lives of her children, and is known for being a bad cook. She is in her forties, but her actual age is not known because, although she celebrated her 40th birthday in the first series, it was claimed that that was not the first time she had turned 40.
*Nick Harper (Kris Marshall) (Series 1-5), the eldest son of Ben and Susan, is an eccentric 20-something still living with his parents in the early series, before moving out in later series. He is unable to hold a job for very long and, while he is often called "a pillock" by his father and "an idiot" by his sister, he is actually much cleverer than he appears. For instance, in "One Flew Out Of The Cuckoo's Nest", the final episode of series 3, where he owns a damp little flat, he cunningly made his father pay for his rent by making a friend impersonate a furious landlord demanding it. In the series 5 christmas special "Glad Tidings We Bring", he is seen in a video postcard, apparently trapped in a jungle and threatened by terrorists demanding £3000. It is shown in the end of the episode however to be a scam cooked up by him and Michael.
*Janey Harper (Daniela Denby-Ashe) (Series 1-3, and 5 onwards), the eldest daughter, is known as a shopaholic and becomes pregnant with baby Kenzo at the age of 19 (Series 3/4). She temporarily leaves the cast in series 4, after going away to university in series 3, where she had a limited part in the series. In series 5, she drops out and returns to live near the rest of the family. Known by Ben as "that airheaded shopping machine from hell".
*Michael Harper (Gabriel Thomson) (Series 1 onwards), the youngest, who was at secondary school until series 6, but is now in the sixth form, is known for his short-term relationships, and is the black sheep of the family, being an extremely intelligent supporter of the Conservative Party (as opposed to his Labour Party father).
*Abi Harper (Siobhan Hayes) (Series 3 onwards), the daughter of Ben's cousin, a very clumsy and dimwitted student, who moves in with the family during the third series. Is romantically involved with Roger Bailey (Series 6).
*Roger Bailey, Jr. (Kieron Self) (Series 3 onwards), Ben's eternally optimistic and good-natured (much to Ben's chagrin) colleague, works in a surgery above Ben's starting series four. He is forever intruding upon and annoying Ben. He really likes Abi (who obviously likes him back), but can never seem to gain the courage to ask her out in early series. This changes in series 6 when they begin to date. In the final episode of the series he proposes to her. Her response is currently unknown, though, as she fainted on the spot.
*Alfie Butts (Rhodri Meilir) (Series 6 onwards), a friend of Nick who turns up at the house in the 2005 christmas special and moves in with the family. Is a Welsh starting musician but is never very successful in the industry.
*Brigitte (Daisy Donovan) (Series 1 only), worked as Ben's dental assistant in series 1. Was fired at the end of the series. Out of Ben's many dental assistants, she was the only one who lasted more than one episode. This changed in Series 6, when Muriel became Ben's dental assistant, and lasted the entire series.
*Hubert (Alex Dawson) (Series 4 onwards), Michael's posh geeky mate.
*Stupid Brian (Kevin Bishop) (Series 2 only), Janey's very dumb boyfriend in series 2.
*Grace Riggs (neé Ryman) (Rosemary Leach, although she was played by a different actress in a one-off appearance in series 2) (Series 4 onwards), Susan's mother. Likes her drink, and make the odd appearance in the series. She is 70 years old.

Reception

"My Family" was almost universally panned by critics, but despite this the series has been popular with viewers and more successful than earlier attempts to ape the American product. It has won numerous television awards in Britain and abroad and is a rare example of a successful pre-watershed modern British sitcom. Critics have claimed that it also mimics many of the worst aspects of globalised mass media in that its slick production has rendered it bland and soulless.

Production details

The series is notable as it is scripted by a team of writers, following the American model. Historically, British sitcoms were more generally written by one or two authors. By employing a wider number of writers to brainstorm jokes for each episode, the BBC has been able to maintain a consistent and relatively long-lived product without having to wait for a single writer to produce more material.

The production values for the programme are also different from the traditional 'Brit-com'. The family's standard of living is more aspirational than realistic. The first series was shot in field-removed video (FRV), to give it a film-like effect similar to American sitcoms (although most American sitcoms are actually shot on film rather than video), and thus in order to maximise overseas sales potential. The 2004 DVD release is presented without the FRV effect, although it is still there on repeat showings on both BBC1 and UKTV Gold.

The programmes were recorded in front of a live audience, except where the set used was too large, this was then filmed, and played out to an invited audience 'as-live'. Also, the show, unlike most British sitcoms but in common with most American television comedies, has no location footage.

The show played Monday to Thursday in Canada on YTV at 10 PM EST, and repeated at 12 AM, but as of late May the show's airtime has been reduced to once a week: Monday at 10 PM EST. The show includes adverts, making the broadcast 38 minutes long, but this isn't much of a problem as it is shown so late at night. In the US, it has been shown on BBC America and some PBS stations.

DVD releases

The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, minus the Christmas specials that accompanied series 3 and 4.

DVD	Release date
The Complete First Series (1 disc)	March 22 2004
The Complete Second Series (2 discs)	June 7 2004
The Complete Third Series (2 discs)	September 12 2005
The Complete Fourth Series (2 discs)	March 20 2006
The Complete Fifth Series (2 discs)	August 21 2006
The Complete Sixth Series (1 disc)	September 18 2006

Episodes

Series One (2000)

# The Serpent's Tooth - The family's women see a different dentist while Nick tries his hand at Internet dating.# Pain in the Class - Michael has trouble at school.# Droit de Seigneur Ben - Ben learns a patient's son is making advances toward his daughter.# The Last Resort - Ben romances Susan by taking her to the hotel they stayed in when they got married.# Farewell to Alarms - Susan wants a burglar alarm but Ben is much less enthusiastic. Nick decides to become a stripper.# Death Takes a Policy - Nick has an ulterior motive: Michael fears death.# The Awkward Phase - Nick wants a job, Janey wants new jeans, Michael wants dating tips, and Ben and Susan want peace and quiet.# Much Ado About Ben - Ben discovers his son takes Viagra before making changes to his own lifestyle.

Series Two (2001)

# All Roads Lead to Ramon - Ben must replace his new assistant; Ben is suspicious of Janey's academic performance.# The Unkindest Cut - Susan's pregnancy could be bad news for Ben.# Parisian Beauty - A foreign exchange student visits the Harpers.# Trust Never Sleeps - Ben & Susan let Janey have a party whilst they are not there.# Death and Ben Take a Holiday - Ben's Aunt dies, so Ben and Nick go to Leeds for the funeral.# Driving Miss Crazy - Ben has a feud with the next door neighbour and his dog, Janey takes her driving test.# I Second That Emulsion - Janey's boyfriend, Stupid Brian, is asked to decorate the living room, but Susan can't decide which colour to go with.# Age of Romance - Nick's new girlfriend causes concern among the older people.# Get Cartier - Ben suspects his latest client is an underworld kingpin.# 'Tis Pity She's A Whore - Janey finds out that there is a prostitute in the family.# The Last Supper - Susan's new boss dies in Ben and Susan's bed.# Ben Wants To Be A Millionaire - Ben's old school friend gives him a share tip.# Breakable - Nick forms a motorcycle stunt display team.

Series Three (2002)

# Absent Vixen, Cheeky Monkey - Janey leaves for University; The others fight over who gets her room.# Shrink Rap - Ben and Susan attend a promise auction at Michael's school.# Desperately Squeaking Susan - Ben's cousin's daughter Abi moves in with the family.# Of Mice and Ben - Abi makes a documentary about Ben and Susan, and a mouse terrorises the family.# Imperfect Strangers - Susan and Ben play a role playing game in a Manchester Metrolodge.# The Second Greatest Story Ever Told - Nick lands the lead role in an amateur theatre production, as Jesus, greatly annoying Susan who is stuck as a shepherd.Ben is scared to go to the dentist.# Waiting to Inhale - Ben and Susan smoke some drugs that Michael was hiding in his socks.# Misery - Susan visits Janey at University, whilst Ben has a golfing weekend planned.# Auto Erotica - Nick wins an ancient car in a poker game, which Ben falls in love with.# Handful of Dust - Janey comes to stay with the family for the weekend, with her new 'girlfriend', and Ben has a birthday.# The Lost Weekend - Susan and Ben try to amuse themselves whilst the children are out for the weekend.# Ghosts - An old boyfriend of Susan's turns up.# One Flew Out Of The Cuckoo's Nest - Nick finally leaves to get a flat of his own, to Ben's joy.# Christmas Special: Ding Dong Merrily... - Janey reveals that she is pregnant when she returns to spend Christmas with the family.

Series Four (2003)

# Fitting Punishment - Ben and Susan have problems with the plumbers; Nick has a job as a film extra.# They Shoot Harpers Don't They? - Ben and Susan join a dance class.# The Great Escape - Susan's mother pays a visit, and everyone visits Nick's flat as a refuge from her.# Return of the Prodigal Prat - Nick manages to move back in to the house.# Owed to Susan - Susan forces Ben to write her a poem.# Deliverance - As Ben and Susan drive up to Manchester to visit Janey, who is in labour, they recall Nick's birth. At the end we see baby Kenzo for the first time.# Blind Justice - Seeing Michael in bed with a girl causes Susan to go blind temporarily.# Friday the 31st - Susan plans a halloween night in, but Ben isn't as enthusiastic; The house is besieged by children trick or treating.# Sitting Targets - Janey leaves Kenzo with the family to look after, and only Nick can stop him crying.# Loco Parentis - Michael starts skipping school but Ben and Susan get the blame.# The Canary Cage - The family have a holiday in Spain.# May the Best Man Win - Ben is asked to be Abi's Father's Best Man at his 5th wedding.# It's a Window Filled Life - The family are put under quarantine by Susan as Roger's patient called to say he had a rare tropical disease.# Christmas Special: Sixty Feet Under - The family are trapped on a tube train as they try to do the Christmas shopping. Guest Star Richard Whitely.

Series Five (2004/2005)

# Special: My Family: Reloaded - Clips from past episodes, intertwined with a mini story in which Ben has just broken Susan's leg by running her over with the car.# The Mummy Returns - Janey returns from University, having dropped out, and the police are after her.# You Don't Know Jack - Michael gets a new friend, Jack, who Ben likes, and who fancies Susan.# What's Up, Docklands? - Ben and Susan flat-sit for some friends in the Docklands.# Luck Be a Lady Tonight - Roger tries to make Abi jealous by dating an Escort Girl.# First Past the Post - Susan stands for election on the local council.# My Will Be Done - Ben believes he is soon to die, so writes his will. Nick also makes his only appearance of the series, as an 'Official Mourner', which he soon gets sacked from, after embalming his leg and wrecking a hearse.# My Fair Charlady - The family hire a cleaner.# The Mouth Trap - Susan becomes obsessed with Inspector Morse, and investigates one of Ben's patients who confessed murder, and called Ben his 'Velcro newsletter', under sedation.# While You Weren't Sleeping - Ben has a snoring problem, causing a huge fall out between Ben and Susan.# Dentist to the Stars - Ben gets a famous patient, who Roger steals when Ben gets injured trying to move Michael's history books.# A Wife Less Ordinary - Susan tries living as a single woman in Janey's flat, whilst Janey tries to live at the family home as a housewife with an imaginary husband, and goes crazy in the meantime.# The Book of Love - Susan joins a local book club that consists of surprisingly few members. Roger, meanwhile, has bought tickets to see Coldplay, from Michael, for a rather large sum, to impress Abi.# Going Dental - Ben and Janey, followed by pretty much everyone else, go to a dental convention where all manner of things go wrong when Ben tries to impress a potential business partner.# Christmas Special: Glad Tidings We Bring - Janey reveals she is getting married to someone about as old as her parents.# Comic Relief Special: - In this short special, during a thunder storm, Ben and Susan are joined in bed by everyone scared of the thunder, from Michael and Janey to Adam Hart Davis and Nell McAndrew.

Series Six (2005/2006)

#Christmas Special: ...And I'll Cry If I Want To - Susan wants to make Kenzo's third birthday a memorable one by reuniting him with his father, much to Ben's dismay.#Bliss for Idiots - Ben is unhappy with his patients, but is even less happy with Susan's book-writing house guest. Perhaps the Brotherhood of the Cockerel has the answer. Also, Roger speaks the Welsh to Abi and Alfie joins in.#The Spokes Person - Ben starts a one-man anti-cycling campaign which causes chaos in the household, and Susan compounds it with her fund-raising efforts.#Dentally Unstable - While Ben is away, Janey starts an affair with a dentist whose charm captivates the rest of the females in the Harper household, while Michael's latest scam eventually puts everyone at risk.#Living the Dream - Ben and Susan join a pyramid selling scheme on Roger's advice, and against Michael's...#An Embarrassment of Susans - Ben buys the house next door to help with the family finances, but ends up involved in a "squatter's rights" dilemma; Susan tries to fix Michael up with a new girlfriend called Suzanne, but the similarity isn't limited to the name...#And Other Animals - With Nick still away, Michael joining the army, and Janey getting her stuff out of the attic, Susan is feeling deserted. Then a stray dog appears and tries to become man's best friend. Unfortunately, the man he chooses is Ben. #The Art of Being Susan - With Ben away (again), Susan is invited to dinner by a wealthy art collector. Her mother, Grace, is gathering a collection of her own, and Roger is summoning up the courage to pop the question to Abi.

Trivia

* In the first season, the en suite bathroom on the Harper's bedroom is on the right and the window is on the left. After this series, it changes around. The entrance door remains in the same place.
* At the beginning, the handle and lock on the front door was on the left (from the inside) but changed round later on.
* At least twice in earlier series, Michael asks where his football kit is, but in one episode of series 5, it is established that he hates football.
* Michael's school uniform changes three times in five years. In series one it is a white polo shirt and black jumper (as is his sister Janey's who is 16), in series three it's a white polo shirt and burgundy jumper and in series four, a white shirt and blazer. Michael would have gone from age 12-16 which means he was always in secondary school, and the family doesn't move house - so why does his uniform change three times?
*In the Christmas Special of 2005, Susan says she had "Three children under five". In Series one, Nick was 19, Janey 16 and Michael was 12. On the day Michael was born, Nick was 6 - so how can Susan's statement be true?
*The BBC and UKtv refuse to re-broadcast series four episode 'Blind Justice' due to an upheld Ofcom complaint. Although this episode is banned from TV, it is still on the Series Four DVD release.
*In the 24-30 June 2006 edition of the Daily Mail weekend magazine, a repeat run of Series 5 (starting on June 28) was advertised, both in the listings and by the TV critic, as a "Brand New Series".

External links

* Official BBC Website
* British Sitcom Guide
* BBC Comedy Guide entry