Keeping Up Appearances (Complete Collection - Series 1-5) - 8-DVD Set ( Keeping Up Appearances - Series One - Five (40 Episodes) ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

Everybody loved Lucy in the 1950s. There can be no denying that Lucille Ball was a master at her craft and the preeminent physical comedienne of her day. I was quite certain that we would never see the likes of her again. That was until I was introduced to the work of Patricia Routledge in the hilarious 1990's British sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances" which debuted on many PBS stations around America in the latter part of that decade. I quickly concluded that Lucy Ricardo had met her match. What I found to be even more remarkable was that Patricia Routledge was in her early 60's when she portrayed the insufferably snobbish Hyacinth Bucket (she insists it is pronounced "Bouquet") on this show. And being that she was a rather large woman to boot made the incredible physical prowess she displayed on this series all the more remarkable. Given the grueling demands of her role it is no wonder that only about 8 episodes per season were shot during its five year run and that Patricia Routledge decided to call it quits after the 1995 season. Only 40 regular episodes and 4 additional specials were made. "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet/Special Edition" offers up every single one of these memorable episodes along with a boatload of extra features. Longtime fans of the show are certainly going to want to get their hands on this incredible collection while it is still available. To me it was worth every penny!While Patricia Routledge as Hyacinth was without a doubt the star of the show "Keeping Up Appearances" also featured an incredibly talented supporting ensemble. Clive Swift was just perfect as Hyacinth's henpecked husband Richard. Richard was a rather unassuming guy who just happened to to married to a woman positively obsessed with social status. Just about everything Richard does is wrong in Hyacinth's eyes. Your heart would go out to him in each and every episode. Ditto for the Bucket's next door neighbors Elizabeth (Josephine Tewson) and her recently divorced brother Emmet (David Griffin). Hyacinth had an uncanny ability to make these two otherwise normal human beings quake in their boots at the mere sight of her. Although the scene was repeated with a number of slight variations time and again during the course of the series Hyacinth's seemingly innocous invitation to Elizabeth to join her for a cup of coffee and biscuits would invariably end in disaster for her well meaning neighbor. Each encounter would prove to be nerve-wracking for Elizabeth and always ended with some kind of calamity. And it was always funny....very funny! And then there is Hyacinth's family, You would be hard pressed to find a more disheveled group of individuals anywhere. Most prominent among this group is her sister Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and her chronically unemployed husband Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes) who is if nothing else the consummate slob. Seems like every time Hyacinth is trying to impress someone these two show up unexpectedly to throw a monkey wrench into her plans. Poor Hyacinth! She tries so hard!As I indicated earlier "Keeping Up Appearances: The Full Bouquet/Special Edition" is a 9 DVD set that features all 40 regular season episodes along with three Christmas specials. As an added treat there is a newly produced feature entitled "Life's Lessons From Onslow". You will also find some very funny outtakes and interviews with cast members Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift and Judy Cornwell. At the end of the day I would have to rank "Keeping Up Appearances" at or near the top of my list of all-time favorite sitcoms. I simply never get tired of watching these shows. This is a collection that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Very highly recommended!

I am an American, I was born in America and have always lived in America. I grew up watching sitcoms like Full House, The Cosby Show, Saved By The Bell, The Wonder Years, and Three's Company. Not until just this year have I even seen a BBC sitcom. I have always totally adored British accents and loved the way the British talk and have always found England to be so much better than the U.S. as far as artistic architecture and the way they design the interior of buildings just from what I've seen and read. But I never knew how the British sitcoms were until just a few months ago.I was at a friends' house and they just changed the TV channel to this show that I knew was British just from seeing it but had no idea which sitcom it was. It was where Hyacinth was going to pick up Mrs. Fortescue and driving her somewhere and at first I thought Richard was her servant because of the way she told him what to do but then realized he was her husband. Anyway, seeing Hyacinth not being able to make up her mind once she got to the house just totally cracked me up! First Hyacinth was going to go to the front door, then she decides to wait by the car, then in the car, then by the garden. It's just so funny how she couldn't make up her mind. I was wondering what show that was for a while and then finally I found out and bought this collection just last week. I just totally laugh at every episode because it's so funny!! I love the way Hyacinth always answers the phone "The Bucket residence, the lady of the house speaking!!"I don't know why they had to cancel this sitcom because I am actually loving this more than almost every other sitcom ever made!! I really love how the British sitcoms are more than American sitcoms!! I love how Hyacinth is always so loud and excited and always thinks people just love her and how she always tells Richard what to do, it's just funny!! Of course, in real life I would never treat my husband like that but for a sitcom it's just hilarious!!! And Onslow is just a perfect couch potato, how he always just sits and watches TV. Hyacinth's neighbours Elizabeth and Emmitt are always so scared of Hyacinth that they always try to leave the house by either sneaking or leaving after Hyacinth has left. I swear even my favorite American sitcoms have never made me laugh like Keeping Up Appearances has!! Patricia Routledge who plays Hyacinth is an amazing actress and she is so funny and wish the show was still running because you don't see sitcoms like this anymore and I just totally love this sitcom!!Another favorite that I also started watching is Are You Being Served? and I really wish that was still showing as well. And for years I've heard of Judi Dench and just recently started watching As Time Goes By as well. Judi Dench is also amazing. I really love these British sitcoms so much especially Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served? and As Time Goes By with Judi Dench and now all I can do is watch the DVD's or see re-runs on PBS. I really do wish that they would return Keeping Up Appearances because in my opinion, it beats any American sitcom any day!! I didn't realize what I've been missing all these 26 years of living, living in the U.S. but now that I've discovered the British way of sitcoms, I'll never turn back!!! If only there were more Candlelit Suppers!!