mr humphries being the gay icon of the seventies for 10 minutes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- while Are You Being Served is a product of it's time and does contain some.. questionable jokes, i always thought mr humphries (who was played by a gay actor) managed to be camp and hilarious, and completely genuine at the same time. an absolute icon honestly
series: are you being served (1972)
Mr Humphries and Mr Lucas have one of the best bromances ever
Omg yes! Mr. Lucas was a bit of a sleazy rake, but he was always so friendly with Mr. Humphries. Mr. Lucas was totally comfortable with his flamboyance and treated Mr. Humphries the way Mrs. Slocombe wished Mr. Lucas treated her - a respectful young man humoring a queen of a certain age 🤭
Made utvextra sad when the character disappeared
It is still meaningful when Mr. Humphries was getting turned on by the His and Her perfume recording that he had that glass of water handy.
"Glass of water for Mr. Humphries." 😂😂😂
@@shawnpeterson3386my thought exactly
The thing that I loved about Humpries is that not only was he beloved by the show, characters, and audiences. He was not made into a fool or character to mock, which would have been so easy, especially back then. He was smart, witty, friendly, popular, and happy with who he was. He had friends at work, everyone knew who and what he was and they all accepted him and adored him. They also show that Mr. Lucas (who was the typical male of the 70s) is best friends at work with Mr. Humpries, they gossip at work and crack jokes together. You can even imagine them spending time outside of work too. Going to the pub or the disco and having a good time outside of work, enjoying each other's company as friends.
💯
He was just a long held and propagated idea of the straight world's perception of every single gay person on the planet. He mocked every single non-flamboyant homosexual who saw his mincing, cringeworthy portrayal of gays. It's like having a straight man hitting his wife and children while going to the pub after work, while flirting with women every day, as representing all men. It's weak, lazy, demeaning, odd and nauseas, regardless of your opinion. But it gets laughs for being completely non-threatening, so that's all that matters
All the other characters would ultimately have falling out with each other but Mr Humphries was always the one to keep the peace.
Yes and no… we always watched ‘are you being served’ as a family. ( i was a teenager ) His effeminate character was actually the reason that i delayed my coming out. As a more masculine gay person i found it hard to accept that i had to identify with the stereotype my parents thought a gay person would be. I never identified through him as an example. It would have helped me if, during the seventies, i had been seeing gay people without the “queerness” as well.
100% spot on.
A show that had flawless British humour.
Fawlty Towers is another for me...
George and Mildred
Which would never have been aired on American television.
@@nickiemcnichols5397Except it did. It regularly aired on PBS
"Glass of water for Mr Humphries." 😂 when your friend knows your thirst traps
Mr. Humphries - He wasn’t free, he was priceless. ❤️😀
I had the honor and privilege to meet John Inman when he came to Dallas… he is every bit the charming person you see in his character. RIP
Salt Lake City for me - Wish I'd been able to have a bit more time, but he was here for an engagement at The Tiffin Room at ZCMI Mall.
I also met him in San Jose/Santa Clara for a book signing with a local PBS Station. In the late 80's He was very cordial. I love his character so much and the show. RIP
All the actors were great in this ensemble, but the show wouldn’t have been the same without Humphries.
Or Mrs. Slocum and her 😸. I love this show and they're my two favorite characters 🩵
Tremendous cast. As I get older and see more comedy ensembles, I become more impressed by this team.
His friendship with Mr. Lucas was such a delight - they had excellent chemistry and genuine affection for one another.
Mr. Humphries was (and still is) one of the best characters on tv. Are You Being Served was a wonderful good time.😅
Mr Humphries was a delight. His optimism and real zest of life and bit of naughtiness really put the joy in being gay. ❤
Mr Humphries was brilliant, and my favorite character. RIP, John.
This was actually quite daring for the 1970s. Especially a programme that was watched by families. Whereas Captain Peacock dancing with Mr. Humphries was shocking enough that it made the audience and viewers laugh, nowadays programmes such as 'Strictly Come Dancing' feature male-male couples (although not necessarily gay) and quite rightly, no one really bats an eyelid and focus on how good they are as dancers. In the world of politics, Europe has now three openly gay prime ministers in Luxembourg, Ireland (The Taisoeach), France and it looks increasingly likely that the upcoming First Minister of Wales will be Jeremy Miles, who is also gay. In the 1970s, a politician being outed as gay would be enough of a reason for them to tender their resignation and their political careers and reputations ruined. So, 'Are you being served?' was really pushing the boundaries with the Mr. Humphries character.
We've gone from Jeremy Thorpe, to Jeremy Miles. That's certainly progress.
It was daring during the AIDS pandemic in the 80s, definitely not in the 70s.
It's sad that here in America no shows dared make this leap until much much later. But I am thankful the reruns were available on TV all through the 90s here and even the spinoff where they all moved to the country ❤
Back2Basic always My favorite, Humphrey muttering under his breath, just showed the reality of WHO he was!! Never saw THIS growing up but I gained notoriety as cashier in convenience store, just trying to SHOW that Best Mike can be!!😅
It's Europe. They are far more sophisticated and better educated about the existence of homosexuality in history. Not a big deal. Whereas America THINKS they are superior. So embarrassing
The writing on the show plots is so good. It takes a man who's kind of a queen and makes him lovable instead of annoying.
Inman stole every scene he was in - an utter treat to watch
Loved that show!!!! At age 75
(2024) I can still laugh at the reruns.
Me too, Sherry
Man I loved this show. We didn't have cable so on Saturday's we'd see this on PBS. The characters are all so likeable and Mr. Humphries certainly added to the mix.
I remember that back in the 80s. when PBS use to switch to BBC Weekends and mostly played BBC shows. like "Yes, Minister." "No, Honestly." and many more including their mystery shows too.
PBS is where I saw it. I looked forward to this one.
PBS was the one place I would go to to see British comedy and culture. America now would never let it be put on regular tv
Worked with John on stage in Boys in The Band. He was a lovely human being, and very very funny!
I bet he was fabulous in that. Hope you had a wonderful experience.
"Don't forget your handbag, Mrs. Slocombe."
"Right, Fairy Cake."
😂
@@jasonmarin8187 Oh, it's all coming out now!
Now please make a compilation of the fabulous Mrs. Slocombe, who out-drag-queens every drag queen on earth. ❤❤❤😸😸😸
Oh lort Mrs Slocombe was a freakin LEGEND and an absolute icon!!!!!
😂😂😂Sooo true
Between Mrs. Slocombe and Mr Humphries, the fabulousness was off the charts!
She rocked hair color almost as much as the rest of her performances.
I'm kind of shocked that no drag queen has done her on snatch game....all the great pussy jokes!
"He's looking for something in Scottish tweed, with broad shoulders." "Aren't we all?" Indeed :D
An incredible ensemble; all of the originals are gone now. Thanks for the memories. I have the entire show on DVD.
My favorite character! Such a scene-stealer! I adored the entire cast, even the side characters, but there's a special place in my heart for John Inman's Humphries that he even helped inspire one of my webcomic OCs!
I love it when he breaks the fourth wall.
He knows how to do it well. Fantastic act!
When was that?
He briefly breaks the fourth wall near the end of series 4, episode 5, "Fifty Years On." It's a really cute, funny moment.
@@amoebastampede9357 Letting the audience know that "we're not going to tell you" what Mrs Slocombe's birthday present was.
Mr Humphries was the best, not a gay icon but a human icon
I like how you said that.
ffs, he deliberately played an over the top gay man, I think he’d appreciate being called a gay icon. Why overlook the trait he worked so hard on?
@@snowwhite5842 Agree. As a gay man growing up in the 70's, we had so few of them. Soooo Sorry...we're keeping him.
@@snowwhite5842 if you think he played an over the top gay man .. then you dont know John Inman.. he WAS an over the top gay man... quick witted, talented, smart, kind, and caring ... his character on the show wasnt a character it was just him being himself within the confines of the script. i've talked with the man himself back in the late 1980s early 1990s when WHYY in Philly had their fundraisers he was a guest on a couple times. he was even answering phones at certain times and i happened to be one of the lucky ones who got to talk to the man himself. he was as bright and cheerful as ever ... a very kind sweet man ..
@dinocub1 I like that claim, giggled out loud! Good on you. He played a well rounded gay character. It wasn't his whole identity, but an important part of it.
As a 57 year old gay man, I grew up watching Are You Being Served. Despite Mr. Humphries playing an overexaggerated effeminate man, being so was never viewed as offensive or as a put down. All the other characters never made an issue of him being gay and was inherently respected as a contributing member of the store. Seeing a character on TV at the time, made me feel accepted at least in this fictional world. A rarity for the time. Still, it's funny to watch some of these jokes and wonder if they'd ever be done today? I think not without someone, somewhere being offended and calling for a ban (either from the left or right). You think we've come so far today and better off than previous generations...however, perhaps too far. We truly need to get back to not taking ourselves/each other so seriously. A little laugh can go a long way.
Amen! I doubt anyone would be able to create a movie like Blazing Saddles today. As you point out there would be an outcry from the left and the right.
@@kimhohlmayer7018 OMG, loved that movie. Or Young Frankenstein. The whole "knockers" joke...never fly today.
@dinocub1 oh it's true, its true😂 Madeline khan was a brilliant actress in Mel brooks movies. Rip to both
MAGA Mike Johnson belongs to a cult that wants to implement the death penalty for members of the LGBTQIA. I sincerely doubt that you're being truthful about anything you wrote.
Even in a conservative Christian household, Mr Humphries was a favourite.
This hit me right in the heart of my nostalgia!
I remember when I was small, I would watch this with my grandfather every time they played reruns on TV. He was a quiet, stoic, humbly giving man, a WW2 soldier who spent 2 years as a Japanese POW, would laugh at this show with exactly the same wheezing laugh just like the dog from Wacky Races (Chumsley? Muttley?) and Mr Humphries was definitely one who cracked him up. I don't know if it was more the show I loved, or watching my grandfather watch the show!
God, I haven't thought of that for years!
I still can't get over how beautiful Mr. Humphries's legs are in that Christmas outfit!
You should watch the episode where Mr. Humphries wore the German outfit. His legs were stunning in that eipsode.
Totally jealous. Wish my legs were that lovely. My husband and his dad both had great legs. Lovely proportions though I never saw either one in a dress. 😁
I still remember the Baroque outfit from the first Christmas special that Mr. Lucas joked as being common wear for him😂😂😂😂
@@jodiepalmer2404 OH I remember that outfit. You are so right!
You left off one of my favorites - when they take over the toy department for a week, and Captain Peacock asks Mr. Humphries to show a customer the Wendy House. At first he says he can't because he's in the middle of something else, but when a sailor's head pops up from the house, he quickly changes his mind! 😂😂😂
Also, he keeps wanting to give Fun Time Freddie a shower! 😂
You forgot about 'Willy Weeble' being gobbled up 😂
And Fun-Time Freddy in the shower!
"I'M PETER PAN!!!"
@aariley2 "Does he always keep his boots on?"
@@emilyr3451 "I had a neighbour just like that"! 😂
I love the pacing of old British sitcoms. We Americans can’t talk that fast. 😂
The only exception i can think of was Gilmore Girls... Loved the fast mother/daughter dialogues in that one!
@@heliusfengari Yeah, Gilmore Girls, is the only one that comes to my mind as well. I forget the exact ratio, but their scrips were significantly longer than the average American show simply due to the quick pacing, which was at times a challenge for the writers.
If you watch old tv shows or movies, Americans used to talk that fast.
We CAN, it just doesn’t hit the same. 😏
We do up north.
god I love John Inman..... He was just so damned funny on this show.
Does it light up in the dark? No, but I do, love that line
this show broke many boundaries of modern television.
sad that everyone from the show is long gone. RiP.
Haven't laughed like this in a long time. Mr Humphreys was always my favorite. He'll be missed.
5:10 "I'm extra"
Indeed you are, and we love you that way, Mr Humphries ❤
Mr Humphries was definitely an icon, unashamed and a positive force within Grace Brothers. I had the pleasure of seeing John perform in theatre, a remarkable comic talent… and boy could that man dance ❤.
I love him & I love the show. I was a kid in the 70's so I grew up (in Australia) watching lots of British sitcoms. I miss those days so much. TV was amazing. So many good shows from the UK & the US. Always something to look forward to watching. We were spoiled for choice. I know a lot of those shows wouldnt be PC today. But I dont care. I loved them. And always will. ❤
Same. Grew up on Love thy neighbour, the Goodies, The Benny Hill Show, Watch your language, some mothers do have ‘em, Fawlty towers, Man about the house… later our family still all got together to watch The Office in the early 2000s. Lots of laughs - love the British sense of humour! 😊
@@carolinebender61 I LOVED the Goodies & Benny Hill. They were two of my favourites.
I'm a 25yr old Aussie girl and I too frew up on British comedy. Especially Are You Being Served, The Goodies and the Carry On films (with the odd faulty towers and to the manor born)
Mrs. Slocombe was ahead of her time with the various hair colors she wore.
It’s blue rinse. You see it in some older women today. When you get old, some women’s hair yellows as it greys. To make it look more silvery, a blue or purple rinse is used as a contrasting color to make it look white. But if you use too much, it just makes your hair have a bluish or purplish tinge. This is also why elderly women voters who tended to vote conservative were called the “blue rinse brigade.”
It wasn’t progressive, it was part of her character.
😂😂😂😂
@@ferretyluvWow! I've always wondered in the back of my mind what that was...why the blue colored hair that older ladies used to sometimes have. I haven't seen it for years or decades now. Or just haven't noticed it maybe. But it used to be very common, and I never knew the why of it. I didn't realize it was by accident. I always thought it was on purpose.
@@ferretyluv She did more than just blue. She had every color under the sun. My favorite was when she had the green hair with the green corsette, and Captain Peacock asked what planet she was from. 😂😂😂😂
Nah, my mother's teachers did the same in the 60s and 70s. It was quite common for older women.
For 12 years, while my kids were growing up, we watched "Are You Being Served " every single night. They loved it even though most of it was over their heads at that time. When they each turned 21 (no idea why on the age) I bought them all the entire series on DVD. They still watch it into their 30's. It will always hold a very special place for us.
Omg this is so sweet. I'm 29 and my mom, sister, and I used to watch it on PBS along with the other British sitcoms. But this was the funniest.
@@rpidly4915 totally agree! We watched it on PBS as well. It's even funnier now than it was back then!!!
@@ThePayneFamilyFarm2013 thanks to this compilation I've been revisiting it and you are right!! I'm going to watch it again with my mom next time I see her for sure :')
The TV show would not have been the same without him. He adds a certain element to it that interjects some humor that another character could not pull off.
And to think that those at the top of BBC entertainment wanted him written out of the script before making the series. Thankfully the writers refused.
Forever an Icon. Thanks for all the tear-filled Laughter!
Are You Being Served - one of best comedies on tv anywhere. - loved all the the characters each one perfect for his/ her part
So glad this show is getting love! My family and i love it
He was gay and no one cared.
I loved this program. It took everyone working together to make it such a success. 😂😅😊
I love Mr. Humphries! He was always hilarious. His character was well written and John Inman had wonderful comedic timing. ❤
RIP John Inman
We met him during the filming of the Australian version. Lovely lovely chap
I was in Grace Brothers, Sydney, Christmas 1986 and heard over the intercom "Are you free Mr Humphries" - so funny.
This just popped up and made me smile! What a great series that was. Thank you to whoever posted this.
thank YOU for leaving such a sweet comment~
I didn’t realize that Mr. Humphries wore a toupe .. he always looked great and was so funny 😅 Such a great show.
My fav sitcom of all time. Unlike all other sitcoms of that time or newer, this one still holds up as funny
That last clip where Peacock and Humpries dance was truly mind-blowing. I didn't know men could dance without counting aloud.
That scene never bothered me a bit, since there have been cultures throughout recorded history where it was normal for men to dance together and women to dance together. Google the "L'Chiam" scene in Fiddler on the Roof, or the wedding scene in that musical. Everyone is scandalized when Perchik wants to dance with Tevye's daughter, since in their culture, men and women just don't dance as couples. And this was just over a century ago.
So I don't get the shock over Mr Humphries and Captain Peacock dancing. It was a dance lesson, as I recall, not them having any kind of inappropriate relationship (Captain Peacock was married).
One of my mom's favorite shows. This, Black Adder, Fawlty Towers, and the Vicar of Dibley.
I love Are You Being Served, I watched them over and over and still watch them from time to time ...Mr Humphries ❤
A staple of childhood TV viewing, absolutely loved Mr. Humphries, not only hilarious and daring but genuine warmth and joy of landing brilliant innuendos on the audience.
I think everyone over the age of ten who watched that show knew he was gay.
Thank you, PBS, for letting me watch this absolute gold as a kid(as well as Waiting for God) in reruns.
I ADORE HIM!
I miss that show. It was among the best. Complete end was elevator working ...and empty
Absolute comedic legend. The first five seasons of this show are some of the best in television history.
My #1 favorite Britcom ever! Never "predictable", characters are relatable...we've all worked with a Capt. Peacock, Mrs. Slocum or Mr. Lucas. It's hard to pick a favorite character, but for me, it's Mr. Humphreys. They all had their own unique quirks and charm, on and off camera. Still very funny after all these years, never gets old. I miss the staff at Grace Brothers!
I watched every episode of this show on PBS as a kid, and I will love replays of it forever! ♾️
My dad loved this show....he'd howl at Humpries antics
That must have been such a delight to go to work on a talented television set like that 🤣
Imagine loving your job so much that you couldn't wait to be with everybody and laugh together every day right along with the audience ❤
So far from doing harm to the homosexual image, I feel I might be doing some good." Both Inman and David Croft stated that the character was "just a mother's boy", and that his sexual orientation was never explicitly stated.
Oh come on! It might not have been explicitly stated but it was certainly explicitly acted. And beautifully too
Oh so true.Humphries was gay , but not obnoxious not in your face.Not like some of these people nowadays.
Brilliant show. I adored and loved Mr. Humphries he was my favourite witty character and I am a straight female.
Are You Being Served is one of the best shows to exist, and is largely responsible for my sense of humor
I loved this show. I laughed at his character because he was genuinely funny and endearing. As a kid, I didn't know he was a gay icon, I just knew that he was funny. People laughed with him, not at him.
Good memories! I watched this late night on PBS from 1982 to 1984 on PBS while attending Purdue University.
His walk is iconic ❤
I love Mr. Humphries!!!
Simply fabulous!
RIP John 🕊️
I love this show so much. Grace and Favour is amazing as well. An icon in that too. RIP John
This was one of my mom's favorite shows when I was growing up. Aa a kid, I couldn't keep up with the dialogue and humor, but now that this memory has been unlocked, I will need to hunt it down amd watch it.
Mr. Humphries is the very definition of adorable.
Great show ! All great actors ! Very funny !
John Inman was so much fun on this show! I had the occasion to meet him once at a charity dinner. He sat next to me at our table for several minutes and was a delight to talk to. Absolutely charming.
I absolutely loved watching this show growing up in the 90's, Mr. Humphries was my favourite character for a lot of reasons, but i didn't quite understand why yet back then. I will always have a warm spot in my heart for this show!
I miss this show. I used to watch it with my daughter. We laughed so much. When we were in public and saw something odd we would look at each other and say, as Mrs. Slocumb would say, The things you see when you haven’t got your gun!
My daughter I did the same thing!
He needs a fan cam so bad especially when he wore that fur coat, heels and wig.
I have so many episode faves, but when he told that customer, "You have a hat face!" I felt that because others like seeing me wear hats
@@kayfey9544 I have a hat face but my head won't let me wear even a baseball cap because it's an odd shape lol
My favourite show of all time! lol
Omg thank you so much for this! I love are you being served so much I only have one friend who knows the series
Icon for sure
One of a kind actor and character. I miss this show.
This was always one of my favorite shows and Mr. Humphries was my favorite character. Thanks for this. ✌🏻👩🏻🦰👍🏻
Absolutely LOVED that show! Mr. Humprey's was my absolute favourite!
What a fantastic compilation! Thank you for making it. It's so much fun!
RIP Yall!😢😢😢❤❤❤
I have this show on DVD, absolutely my favorite.💖
I loved this show.
However, doing my A Levels, I worked in a market town's gentlemen's outfitters and school uniform shop...it was like being on the Grace Bothers' set!
I worked at an old Grace Brothers-like department store when I was in college in the '70s - menswear department, too! Many real life similarities to this show. Seems like another world now.
Fantastic. Wonderful talent! Thank you for sharing.
This show, along with "Not on Your Nellie" were very brave and even revolutionary when you consider how recently the legal punishment for same sex relationships had been abolishished.
One of the greatest characters ever created and played perfectly by John Inman.
Ready for the fishtail!
A show so far ahead of its time
How is it that once television made shows that were worth watching, at that time there were just 3 TV stations. Now there's hundreds and nothing worth watching.
Ah the 70's when camp was funny, lovable and free spirited, unlike today where it is serious and politicised.
You seriously believe this wasn't political?
Denial isn't just a river in Egypt
I subscribed to BritBox because I still love British comedy. Don't care who dislikes the shows. They can turn the knob on their TV...
😂😂😂😂😂 I Love Love Mr Humphrey. Plus soooo good
This show must have been airing on PBS back then, we didn't get the BBC in America...
And I clearly remember seeing this show...
Always laughed at Mr. Humphrey's getting offended when Captain Peacock told him to "walk around and look normal" LOL.
Mr. Lucas and Mr. Humphries are my two favorite characters.