{television} the royle family; season one (1998)

You wouldn't call them an active bunch, but that, of course, is part of their charm: The working-class Royle family spend their days in a Manchester, England, council house enveloped in a nicotine haze and warmed by the glow of their always-on telly in this British sitcom. Ricky Tomlinson plays dad; Sue Johnston plays mom; and Caroline Aherne and Ralf Little play the kids, wannabe hairdresser Denise and sullen teen Antony.

ireviewnetflix.com rating: * I love British humor, but this show just wasn't that funny. The cast was uninteresting, the writing was uninspired, and the dialog was too simple to be entertaining. I just couldn't get into this series at all and was really disappointed as I generally enjoy britcoms.