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11 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Brilliantly written!, 31 December 1999
Author: beauvallet (beauvallet@aol.com) from Ohio, USA

Nightingales is the single most innovative, surreal, high farce, low brow, amazing sitcom of my experience. This series, about the bizarre on-the-job occurrences in the lives of 3 night security guards, is highlighted by Makin's extremely funny dialogue and impeccable comic timing by three very fine actors. From pratfalls to parody, from allegories to metaphors, this is one show that makes its point without beating the viewer over the head with moralistic axioms, leaving the viewer free to choose whether in fact there is a point at all or just some really good laughs to be had. Only 13 episodes were made, a real shame since the writing was hitting unbelievable highs in the last two episodes, King Lear II and Someone to Watch Over Me. While Nightingales may not be considered mainstream fare, those viewers who've had quite enough of Seinfeld and Friends may want to investigate it for a true revival of the sense of the ridiculous.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Brilliantly surreal, 18 April 2001
Author: Andrew Moore from Dublin, Ireland

This is true British comedy following in the footsteps of the Goons or Monty Python. You wouldn't think that a sitcom about 3 security guards and an empty building would yield much in the way of laughs but this comedy did using a combination of off-the-wall plots and fantastic characterisation by Lyndsey, Thewlis and Allison.

If you like Nightingales, check out The High Life and Joking Apart.

"Anyone here?" "There's nobody here but us chickens"

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Gleefully daft series about three night security guards in an office building., 26 July 2005
Author: jezburg from United Kingdom

Probably the most underrated of channel 4's sit-coms. Superbly acted by the principles (especially David Threlfall). The reason it is not particularly well known is the stupid scheduling it received (after 11pm midweek), consequently not many people saw it. The surreal humour is not to everyones tastes so it's a case of love it or hate it. People who do love it really do love it. Somehow it manages to capture the slightly demented state of mind that night-workers tend to develop, the in-jokey humour and the flights of fantasy in their enclosed little world. Particularly recommended are the two werewolf episodes and the one with a gorilla called Trevor Oblong.

I wonder what Samuel Beckett is doing now?

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Little Known Gem., 1 November 2000
Author: Ian Collings (brinksmat@talk21.com) from Oswestry

One of those programmes no-one else seems to have heard about. Every carefully scripted episode justifies the expense of buying a television. The fact that this hasn't been rerun since its first transmission is a crime against sitcom.

UK TV comedy is woeful and a re-showing of this to all potential writers is a must. All production companies seem afraid of taking on anything that doesn't scream "Mainstream". Whoever agreed to green-light this series deserves a special "Services To The Comedy Industry".

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
In my opinion one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, 2 October 2007
10/10
Author: p_jones92 from United States

I was only in my teens when this originally aired on Channel 4, so knew nothing about Robert Lindsays previous comedy exploits, or David Threfalls standing as a very well respected actor, but what I do know is that for 30 mins once a week, I was watching one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life, and the 7 days in between seemed an absolute bore.

Like th other commenter on here, I can't understand why more people aren't aware of this diamond amongst the sitcom rough, everyone I've told to see this who has seen this loves it, and can't believe they didn't know about it either.

Like the great Seinfeld, this series has fantastic premises, great dialog, superb acting, and takes twists and turns you don't expect, that are so bizarre, but are hilariously funny it's insane.

The sad thing is anyone reading this is probably also a fan, so knows these things already, but if you haven't seen it yet, trust me, you'll be watching the episodes over and over again for life once you've seen it.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Available on DVD, 8 June 2006
10/10
Author: stevenw-9 from United Kingdom

I just been on play.com and found both series on 2 DVDs. Should be able to buy it from Amazon as well. No other comedy series has me wanting to watch again. I remember sitting in bed late at night watching this amazing comedy. The acting was superb and the plots though mainly surreal were brilliant. I'll never forget the episode with the hypnotist as long as i live.

If you never watched the series just buy it as it is worth the money. The only problem you may have afterwards is that listening to Lady in Red by Chris De Burgh may have you quoting the immortal line "There is nobody here but us chickens" at the relevant space.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Is there anybody there?, 21 August 2005
10/10
Author: thehappybunny1 from United Kingdom

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A, sadly, under-appreciated and little known show - probably due to the time slot it was given and lack of advertising by its host channel (you know who you are!) Not helped by the fact that it was never repeated. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people who watched it way back in the early nineties.

But this is a great show - off the wall humour, bizarre situations (a werewolf who performs open heart surgery?) and lapses into Shakespeare now and again all provided by three superb actors.

A personal favourite was the episode that featured a visit by a psychiatrist - courtesy of Bell's 'liaison' with a horse. It's not long before this visitor is sucked into the guards' warped world and the eventual outcome is... Well I won't say anymore.

If you like your comedy to have that slightly surreal edge then this is the show for you.

I'm first in line for the DVD release, just make it sooner rather than later please.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
and absolute gem, hidden by Channel 4's usual c**p timetabling, 22 May 2004
Author: mairhi from hadleigh, essex, UK

I can only agree with the other contribution. THis was a surreal programme.

THe characters were superbly performed, especially Threfell - where did he get that outfit (too small) and that wig! I have always liked James Ellis - even in Z Cars and Robert Lindsay was his usual excellent self. Perhaps it appealed to me because I too have done my share of night shifts and remember the deranged conversations that we would have to remain awake and sane when there was absolutely nothing going on. If there is anyone anywhere reading this who has the power to put this back on or release it on DVD/Video then please do so. You will be doing the world a favour and making a deranged mind addled by years of nights very happy!

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Totally Surreal, 3 May 2001
Author: bilko1 (bundy@prontomail.com) from London, England

This show is a hidden classic. Most people you mentioned this show to have never heard of it. It was hidden away on Channel 4 in the U.K. for two series (1990-1993). The situations are original, from a replacement guard turning into a werewolf to murder and mayhem. All cast members are excellent, occasionally slipping into Shakespeare with ease. If you can get hold of copies or it is ever repeated watch it. I highly recommend it.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
I wonder what Leonardo Di Caprio's doing tonight, 31 March 2007
8/10
Author: Victor Meldrew from Manchester

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I just recently received the DVD of the complete series of Nightingales. I found it very funny, what more would you expect from Robert Lindsay, who has appeared in two better sitcoms than this: Citizen Smith and My Family.

There are three security guards. The only main location is in there office. There is the enthusiastic Carter (Robert Lindsay), who loves art and literature and has dreams about working in Heathrow. There is the stupid, violent Bell (David Threllfall) and there is the old, Sarge (beautifully Portrayed by James Ellis). Also there is a dead security guard in the office, but they keep that secret because he is on a full wage. The trio often find themselves in surreal situations, including: A Werewolf who performs open heart surgery, a monkey who comes to work in the office, an undercover Police operation, a woman who gives birth to goldfish and the trio's doubles turning up and ending up in a big fight.

I found the character Bell a bit too annoying, but without him Robert Lindsay's character wouldn't have been half funny. If the truth was told, the episodes were a bit mixed, I categorise them like this: Excellent: Moonlight Becomes You, Opening Night, Scrutiny of the Bounty, Terence in the Midst and All at Sea. Good: Takeaway, Crime and Punishment, Reach for the Sky and Someone to Watch Over Me, Average: Kiss and Make Up, Trouble in Mind and King Lear II. Poor: Silent Night. So as you can see I preferred series 1 to series 2.

Best Episode: Scrutiny on the Bounty Series 1 episode 5

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