The Complete Fawlty Towers

Rating:
Summary: A perfect companion to the fabulous series
Review: If you love "Fawlty Towers", or know someone who does, this book is an absolute must. It contains the scripts from all 12 epsiodes, as well as still pictures from the show. If you've ever found yourself missing a hilarious line due to an overachieveing laugh track, these scripts are just the thing you need to ensure you don't miss one hilarious word!

Rating:
Summary: It's Like Reliving the Shows on Paper
Review: If you love the show "Fawlty Towers," than this book is for you. This book contains the complete scripts to every single episode that was out. I was very surprised that such a thing even exstisted, and I was very happy to purchase it since I love the show so much.

This is a great read for many reasons. If you love the show, then you will love reading the scripts. It is very much like reliving the show. I still found myself laughing while reading, although it is funnier seen on screen, so I do not suggest that you get this over the shows. This is only for fans of the show who have seen all of the episodes.

Another reason why I liked this so much was because the shows were so chaotic and rapid, it was hard to catch every single word. Basil would mouth off to his wife in a very low and quiet tone, so it would be hard to get every single word. The accents also make it hard to understand what they're saying sometimes.

My favorite episodes, both in here and the shows themselves, are: "Gourmet Night," "The Hotel Inspectors," "The Germans," "Communication Problems," "Waldorf Salad," "The Builders," and "Basil the Rat."

All in all, a very funny companion to the show. I really enjoyed reading this, and I am sure that I will read it over and over again. Every page is filled with nothing but some of the funniest lines you will ever read on paper. Just imagine John Cleese verbally and phsyically abusing Manuel, and you've got yourself a great time! Filled with witty humor, razor sharp comeback, the most outrageous situations, and the most memorable characters, "The Complete Fawlty Towers" is a fine companion to the show and is a must-have for all fans. If you love the show, get this book. I don't think you will regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but GET THE VIDEOS INSTEAD
Review: In some ways I prefer reading the scripts to Monty Python's Flying Circus over watching the original TV series (e.g., your imagination does not have the severe budget limits of the show). But reading the scripts to Fawlty Towers, while a fun experience in itself, is not as good as watching the show. The show did have as good of a set as it needed, and the script loses something without getting to see the wonderful physical comedy of the Basil Fawlty and Manuel characters. I don't honestly know if I would find the book as funny without picturing John Cleese's expressions from various episodes from memory. As a result, while I give the book 5 stars for its side-splitting humour, I would still recommend getting the videos instead.