3. Basil Fawlty Fawlty Towers
Cybil: Youre only single once!Basil: Twice can be arranged! By todays standards, a two series output signifies a failed venture with a cult following at best. Not Fawlty Towers though. John Cleese and Connie Booth called it a day after two series simply because theyd written all they wanted to write for it and Basil was reincarnated in as many countries as he was a household name. Well, they tried anyway.
Im coming my little piranha fish! His continuous run-ins with his draconian wife are the sophisticated manifestations of the much beleaguered wife jokes made magnificent by Cleeses performance. A Wise Ass in a slightly different sense in this case because hes actually terrified of the woman. Its unlike most other Wise Asses since they rarely fear anybody or anything but thats the cream of Basils muttered retorts, its as if theyre for him and him alone and were being blessed with earshot.
Oh! Oh, I see! ... Its my fault, is it? ... Oh, of course, there I was thinking it was your fault because I left you in charge ... or Manuels fault for not waking you, when all the time it was MY fault! Oh, its so obvious now, Ive seen the light! Ah well, I must be punished then, mustnt I? Youre a naughty boy Fawlty, dont do it again!!! Hes an elongated tower of rage with the vocabulary of a university professor and the quick wit of a docker. When something triggers his fury hes unstoppable and the resulting tirade of abuse is hilarious! Whether its his useless Spanish bellboy, or poor Polly, or any one of his loathed guests for that matter, whoevers the recipient of his attacks will not leave unscathed ... and often neither will Basil.