Everyone Likes a Person With Flaws

Who’s your favourite British comedy character? The humanity of my favourites is what fascinates me; their painfully ordinary lives, punctuated by petty victories that can be stolen away as easily as they happened. Characters such as Basil Fawlty and Harold Steptoe make efforts to rise above their limitations which can be pathetic and touching, but also very, very funny. And everyone likes funny.

Copyright BBC

In the U.K.
As Edmund and George, Rowan Atkinson was a sarcastic intellectual and Hugh Laurie an innocent fool.

In the U.S.
As Mr. Bean and Dr. House – while inhabiting separate worlds – their roles were reversed.

OK, they’re actors playing different roles (well done, you) but here’s exactly what appealed to me:

George and Mr. Bean
These lovable dim-wits are very small fish in terms of both their intellect and their standing in the world. They’re fools, but with great likability.

Dr. House and Blackadder
These witty yet cruel characters both have authority. However, they also occasionally suffer humiliation. Despite their barbed words and apparent lack of sensitivity, they are flawed enough for us to like them.

Be flawed, be human, be liked.

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