New Fawlty Towers: what could possibly go wrong?

The news that John Cleese is going to bring back Fawlty Towers ranks as one of the least surprising surprises in the history of modern comedy. It might also not be as bad as it sounds.

But, first, let’s be clear: this will not be Fawlty Towers. It might share the former show’s name and the character of Basil Fawlty might even appear, but it’s not going to be Fawlty Towers. There will be no Sybil, no Manuel, no Major, no Miss Tibbs or Miss Gatsby, no Terry, and probably no Polly. There won’t be the same sets, the same guest stars, or even the same opening credits.

All we’ll have is Basil and that’s not enough to rebuild the Towers.

So, what will we get?

We’ll get something different and, on those terms, this new show (if it’s ever made) will be judged. It’s the same for Frasier, which is also coming back but without Niles, Daphne, or his father; the three key characters that made that show transcend even the epoch-defining greatness of Cheers.

There’s obviously a good chance that both shows will diminish the memories we have of the originals. The advice of leaving the audiences wanting more might well prove wise. But that wisdom was always sounding a little trite in the postmodern age of pastiche, parody, and bricolage. A way in which we’ve matured as a media-consuming culture involves our ability to take from the past and assemble something fresh.

And here’s a thought: maybe it’s healthy if we do.

Mutability, the ability to change, is one of the greatest qualities that comedy possesses. For too long in this country, we’ve fallen into the habit of deifying the likes of Dad’s Army, Monty Python, and Fawlty Towers. Each had its flaws and reflected the values of their day. They have remained frozen in time. We’ve all moved on. And that’s how it should be. It’s not healthy turning anything into a sacred text and that is as true of comedy as it is about obscure manuscripts recovered from the sand. If there’s fun to be had, why not have that fun, even if it turns into a spectacular misadventure?

The new Fawlty Towers might be similar, but it will be something new. Don’t say it too loudly but… it might even succeed. One thing we know about the US is when they get it right, they do comedy extremely well. It might well be that Cleese has something left in the tank as a writer and performer. He’s making the show with his daughter, Camilla, but, beyond that, we know very little. Maybe a team of young writers will be able to exploit the material, take Basil and inject him with a little Curb Your Enthusiasm.

There are so many ways it could go and become something new. The show will be made by Castle Rock, the company founded and run by Rob Reiner. This is the company behind so many award-winning (Reiner) films such as A Few Good Men and Misery, as well as producing the new Spinal Tap movie (the original being one of Reiner’s first successes as a director). Don’t also forget: Castle Rock produced Seinfeld. They know comedy.

As for Cleese, this might be a chance to alter the narrative around himself. He’s probably been stung by the considerable criticism he’d attracted in the past few years. On Twitter, recently, somebody described him as the “second worst Python” which is puzzling in many ways, even if it were possible to rank Pythons. Cleese himself has been skirting around the edges of comedy, becoming a divisive figure for his comments about cancel culture, censorship, and hate. It’s been a sad spectacle, given that his instincts are probably correct, even if his understanding of nuance is often woefully wrong. For too long he’s been engaging in UK debates from a distance, often putting him at a disadvantage.

At the very least, he might have a vehicle to disprove what he’s been saying for years: that you wouldn’t be able to make Fawlty Towers in the second decade of the 21st century. Perhaps you can, even if it’s different…

Follow David on Twitter: @DavidWaywell