This sitcom was a launching pad for Tracey Ullman, even Ruby Wax, Jennifer Saunders, and Dawn French in the cast as four unlikely roommates in a Chelsea flat with Lady Carlton (played by the wonderful Joan Greenwood). The series is mindless fun to watch and even thirty years later. Tracey Ullman has always been one of my favorite comics, a British Lucille Ball. She and the executive producer (her husband Allan McKeown) would move to America and produce her show. Tracey is still talented and funny even here. Ruby Wax OBE plays Shelly Dupont annoyingly but lovable too. She met her husband, Ed Bye (director) on the series. Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French's professional comedic partnership is first displayed here. French plays Amanda as a left wing feminist and funny. Saunders plays a moody roommate. Each roommate has a character developed to show their strengths. This series would not be one of British comedy's best but watchable and lovable all as well. You can't help but enjoy it.

I hadn't seen this series since it was first shown in the eighties, so what an absolute joy it has been to rediscover it. Although recorded in the mid-80s, the humour hasn't dated one jot - there are few contemporary references which has helped the show stand the test of time remarkably well.For me the star of the show was Tracey Ullman though. It wasn't long after this series that she defected to the US and it shows what a sad loss to British TV comedy she was. Its also interesting to see Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders so early in their careers, although they seem to play "second fiddle" to Tracey Ullman and Ruby Wax in series one.All in all, this show comes highly recommended.

Possible spoilers so be warned!This is a fascinating series, for its eighties nostalgia and the opportunity it gives to see these famous women "before they were stars". The guest stars are also a handful of success stories - Hugh Laurie, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane and OMG Katherine Helmond, like you have NEVER seen her before, as Shelley's American mother!I agree that the comedy is uneven - some episodes lack that spark, but others are totally over the top, giving us a glimpse of what is to come from these women. There are moments of inspired insanity though, which is why I recommend it.Strangely, (and I am a big Tracey Ullman fan), although the series was supposed to be a TU vehicle, she has the least to do and is really the least interesting character. I think the show takes a huge leap forward in the second season after she leaves. It seems edgier, crazier and funnier. At this point I have seen the entire series, bar three episodes, and I am enjoying it a lot.Dawn French is the sort of "sane" one and is somewhat typically herself until they let her go man crazy in the second season.Jennifer Saunders is also better in the second season when she gets more to do and her speech becomes a bit clearer, but as one of the odder characters, she is also one of my faves.I LOVE Ruby Wax, and although she may be a sterotype, I know plenty of Americans just like her! Plus I love how her character, Shelley, always sinks her own boat with her pushiness and outright stupidity!Like I said I think Tracey Ullman doesn't get the opportunity to shine here.She's okay and appropriately "bimbotic" but wish we had seen more.Finally, Joan Greenwood's Lady Carlton is OUT THERE! In outer spaaaaace! We LOVE her! Her over-dramatic entrances, her dead stuffed dog she carries around with her, how she always calls TU's character, "the Slut" all over-enunciated and wonderful! She is this gay man's camp dream! You have to see her in action.All in all, I think that had this series continued, it would have improved. But it's a valentine, and you should give it a try. Stop by when you're in Boston and we'll invite you for a viewing!

Four of the funniest comics around (Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Tracy Ullman and Ruby Wax) all together in one show? Hilarity abounds!Girls on top has these four lasses playing four flatmates in a flat owned by Lady Carlton (Joan Greenwood).Dawn French plays Amanda Ripley, hypocritical left-wing feminazi with a secret hobby of keeping pictures of penises in a box under her pillow.Jennifer Saunders plays slow witted and childlike Jennifer Marsh who lives in a corner of the lounge room and is constantly victimized and bossed around by AmandaRuby Wax is failed American actress Shelly DuPont, who has a habit of being the annoying character that you wish would sometimes just tone it down a notch.And Tracey Ullman plays (in the first series only) Bimbotic Candice Valentine.Watching these four and Joan Greenwood in a show for which the script was edited by Ben Elton is certainly one of the funniest shows to grace television screens.Come back GIRLS.