Summary
"Fawlty Towers" is a British sitcom starring John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, a social-climbing hotelier working in a job that requires him to be pleasant to people he despises. He is terrified of his wife, Sybil (Prunella Scales), and takes out his frustrations on Manuel (Andrew Sachs), a well-meaning Spanish waiter with a poor grasp of the English language. Chambermaid Polly (Connie Booth) frequently becomes embroiled in Basil's ridiculous schemes when she loyally tries to help him conceal something from Sybil. Semi-regular characters include down-to-earth chef Terry (Brian Hall), elderly ladies Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs (Gilly Flower and Renee Roberts) and the eccentric Major Gowen (Ballard Berkely). Written by Cleese and Booth (husband and wife at the time), it was not critically acclaimed when it first premiered on BBC One in 1975, but is now regarded as one of the funniest British sitcoms of all time. Two series were made, with the second run of six episodes premiering in 1979.
