I can't pick one show that I liked the best. They were all hilarious. Mr. Bean is an iconic character who will still be funny years and years from now.
I wish they would put in on here again. My local PBS station runs the same BritComs all the time (Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, As Times Goes By, Waiting for God and Yes, Minister). There are so many other good ones that I would they would change them around a bit.
Mr. Bean was one of my earliest introductions into British Comedy. I wasn't allowed to Watch Monty Python, and "Are you being Served" was on too late on a school night.
The Brits have a very interesting take on comedy. There's a lot of innuendo in their comedy shows which I think is the best. Mr. Bean is up there as the funniest BritCom ever. I've seen a lot of them like Fawlty Towers, The Last of the Summer Wine, Only Fools and Horses, etc.
I'd take it a step further and say the Brits invented comedy. They certainly invented Sarcasm. Romeo and Juliet being classified as Tragic Comedy is pure evidence of that. I remember watching Benny Hill as a kid and not knowing what the hell it was, but liking it because segments were sped up like old cartoons. As Soon as I found Monty Python I was on a mission to consume as much possible "Ab-Fab" "Allo Allo" "Keeping Up Appearances" "Doc Martin" etc.
My father was born in Wales and most of my family still live over there. They have the same great sense of humor so I grew up with it. I watch Benny Hill as a kid too. What attracted me was the great music and the funny songs. I watch as many of them as I can. 'Allo 'Allo is one of my all time favorites. It's been years since I've seen it. One Foot in the Grave was another great one. I like Penelope Keith too. She's the ultimate snob (To the Manor Born and The Good Life).
One Foot in the Grave, I can't believe I forgot about that one. Every now and then Antenna TV will Play a Benny Hill Marathon and I will drop everything and watch it. Much to my G.F.'s Chagrin. She laughs at it, But I think she doesn't like the fact that she secretly likes it. But I watch Toddler's and Tiara's Complaint free (sort of) So she can sit through hours of entertaining, Creative television.
Benny Hill had classic bits and the non sequiturs Were always hilarious. Unless someone is the type of person who reads way too deep into things, They may think the woman chasing was Misogynistic and deviant. But if I'm lucky enough to catch a marathon, I realize how much SNL, Mad TV, The State, Broken Lizard, Kids in the Hall etc. all use (steal) bits from Benny Hill.
I always thought Benny Hill was lighthearted and silly. It was all in fun. Anyone who gets uptight about it simply shouldn't watch it. It's easy to see the routines Benny Hill used repeated in other shows.
Compared to the crude, obnoxious one liners that we call punch lines. Benny Hill is nowhere near what we consider offensive. In fact, he should return to TV During the Saturday morning Cartoons. The Hyperactivity, Running around, Silly music, And the faces Benny Hill when he had a close up. Kids would eat that right up. And It wouldn't be inappropriate for them. I remember watching Dragon Ball Z with my daughter when she was little, and there were moments that weren't appropriate for children.
There is no real comedy today. Benny Hill knew how to be funny and on the edge without being crude. I watched him when I was a kid, 8, 9, 10 years of age and thought he was terrifically funny. I would have no problem with allowing a child to watch him.
Here is one of my favorites:
Races cars in real life, too.