{television} rising damp; season one (1974)

This hit comedy series from the 1970s may be England's answer to Archie Bunker. Pretentious, parsimonious bigot Rupert Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) runs a seedy boarding house and loves to insult almost everyone, especially his tenants -- who include shaggy-haired medical student Alan Moore (Richard Beckinsale) and debonair African prince Philip Smith (Don Warrington). All seven episodes from the first series are included.

ireviewnetflix.com rating: **** (Actually 3.5) Leonard Rossiter was absolutely wonderful. This show was hilarious and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were great, the stories were great, and the Rigsby character is classic. Richard Beckinsale, the father Kate Beckinsale was also enjoyable and passed away too soon, only five years after this season at the age of 31. Frances de la Tour was also wonderful, as she always is in anything she does.