Operation Good Guys (1997–2000) User Reviews

Absolutely one of the funniest things that's been on TV.

[Movie_maestro · 28 May 2005]

I'm not going to bother writing a huge review of this series but to give you an idea of how good it is I'd just like to tell you that the most i have ever laughed in my ENTIRE life, ever, EVER, was at one scene in this series. I have never laughed like that since, and to be honest i don't want to, because it was an unpleasant experience. So to put it bluntly, this series is too funny.

I also believe that the office may have drawn a lot of inspiration from this program.

Its out on DVD finally now so go and buy it.

BUY IT.

precursor of and surpassing 'The Office'

[Andyjn · 10/10 · 23 July 2006]

This TV Series failed to gain any of the acclaim it should have received when originally aired, and remains largely undiscovered and unappreciated.

In describing this epochal fly on the wall spoof, the first port of call would be to parallel its similarities with that of the far more applauded 'The Office'. Despite following on from many other spoof documentaries in the spinal tap vein, this BBC production was aired shortly before the office was conceived, and lends wholesale to its style and format.

The programme revolves around a film crew following the good guys around London on everything from armed police raids to training exercises. It is not uncommon for the crims to know more about secret operations than the good guys do, and there's no end of one-liners stereotyping the police, the public and anyone else you can think of.

Not to be taken seriously, Opreation Good Guys is good healthy fun from start to finish, as faultless in its simplicity as it is innocent and shameful. Sheer Enjoyment!

Outstanding

[richardporter1982 · 10/10 · 1 April 2011]

Had to review this series. I'd completely forgotten its existence until a friend of mine reminded me and considering we hadn't watched it in 9 years or so it was amazing how many amazing scenes we managed to reminisce about! As has been said this series is the obvious precursor to the Office and arguably the first comedy mocumentary. Thats why i feel they added the laughter track, this series was so far ahead of the game that i think people might not have realised it was a comedy at first glance. to my knowledge no other program had tried what they had tried in a comedy context to i think the laughter track was added as a safety net

as for the series itself, amazing i couldn't recommend it enough. It can be quiet slow paced but often the jokes are building up to something, somebody might say something and you might not even notice what was said then 20 minutes later its all revealed in an elaborate set up! very well made TV show considering its 11 years old!

memorable episodes for me are when the royal family visits and beach kicks dog poo everywhere and smoke grenades the queen. The episode with inspector Terra Blanche (named after a famous south African racist which should give you an idea of his racial supremacy ideals!) who has them dressing up in less than politically correct outfits during community outreach programs. The episode set on the desert island that sends up the BBC programs of the day where beach goes insane and thinks he see's the dragon. my personal favourite has to be the Christmas extravaganza where they set up a BBC Christmas special in the vain of the old variety shows you used to get, finishing off with a musical number except they cant find any fake snow, so they use the cocaine from the recent drugs bust with hilarious results! (the faces of the gurning is just so amazing!)

all in all a classic that i can keep going back too it gets funnier and funnier. the accents wont be hard for Americans to deal with either and its well worth checking out

10/10

Where have I been all this time...

[flugluftholgate · 10/10 · 16 July 2008]

I guess I may be speaking for a lot of people, but I never heard of 'Operation Good Guys', I only heard of it in the summer of 2008! One of the lads at work brought the DVD set in and each tea break and dinner time see's us watching a episode. We just howl and hoot! It is the funniest thing I have seen in ages. The only thing I don't like is the canned laughter, it may be a cue for American's to laugh but not on something like this. Personally any so called comedy programmes that needs CL is a big turn off, did not MASH get ruined with it? I also miss Boo-Boo in the second series but hey I'll get over it... I like the idea of having a famous person/actor in each episode. Up to now we are half way through the second series and each day brings another couple of episodes and shrieks and gales of laughter coming from our tea room. There's not much swearing, some sexual references, just good funny and hilarious events. And I was amazed how it pre-dated my other favorite, 'The Office' just where has OGG been??? Guess what I want for Christmas...

Simply the funniest

[rome-51106 · 10/10 · 9 July 2021]

Tapped into the style of spinal tap but way ahead of the many mockumentarys that followed it Doesn't get the air time and recognition it should do, some amazing characters, a belting theme tune, what else do you want, series 3 - non stop laughter

I asked ray Burdis if there was plans for a film (I know honour and obey is already out) but he did say there originally was plans for a film- gutted it never came to fruition.

My father is a genius

[ancianotyler · 10/10 · 4 August 2022]

My father directed this, (Dominic Anciano) so i am biased but i love this. Thanks dad. Perfect amounts of comedy, to good shots, to well written jokes -Tyler.

Totally underrated

[kelly966 · 10/10 · 6 September 2018]

Quite honestly the funniest thing I've ever seen gutted this team are writing and working together anymore

Absolutely Hilarious!

[DavidPumpkins · 26 August 2000]

"Operation Good Guys" is one of the best British comedies for a long long time and yet it is still very much unknown to most people. In the form of a documentary, it follows the exploits of an inept police force who are filmed everyday by a BBC film crew. They get into some bizarre jams, ranging from a nightmare survival course with a huge bald racist hunter to helping the ageing Guv with his boxing career.

Surreal, brilliantly acted and the funniest thing on British television at this moment, "Operation Good Guys" is not to be missed!

10 out of 10, well worth watching!!

[derekchapman · 1 August 2005]

Operation Good Guys is easily one of the best 'fly on the wall' spoofs seen in recent years, particularly when you consider that in 1997 it was one of the first of this style genre and therefore in unchartered territory. I sincerely doubt that other programme makers would admit to this, but, it is apparent that some of the filming techniques (and even jokes) have made their way into other, more popular shows, namely The Office.

The fact that the scripts were genuinely improvised gives a far more authentic representation of any scene in question, particularly in the lighter moments (were there any other types of moments??) where clearly the joke intended for the viewer was also amusing to the cast too. This technique allows the viewer to become far more involved in the performance, rather than simply watching a stale and static scene that, whilst undoubtedly amusing, has been rehearsed to perfection.

Episodes/scenes to note:

Series 2 - Mark Kemp's and Bones' portrayal of Guardian Angels, along with the comedic head-gear and uniforms.

Series 2 - DI Beach's elephant man sketch, brought on by a severe case of sunburn.

Series 2 - Mark Kemp's comedy dance routines (taken from Elton John's 'The Passenger' video???), and particularly the bongo playing clip from the Baldy Song.

Series 3 - Mark Kemp's superb take-off of Don King, difficult to see how the cast/crew were able to keep straight faces throughout those scenes.

Series 3 - DI Beach's immortal line, in the episode named "That's Entertainment", "Get me a midget!!!"

All in all, Operation Good Guys was a brilliantly acted and improvised show that sadly never seemed to receive the credit that it truly deserved; there are probably more fans, particularly those people writing/acting in other similar style shows, than care to admit it.

Overlooked comic genius

[lord-Flasheart · 13 March 2004]

If you like the Office you'll like Operation Good Guys. It's set up, like the Office, is a documentary style, with film crews following the officers while on duty. It plays on the stereotypes of racism and sexism in the police force (the episode the Tera-Blanche), paired with some of the absurd situations, hilarious characters and fantastic acting this is one of the funniest and cleverest comedies the BBC has released in recent years. It really is a comic gem that has been overlooked with repeats being very scarce. Having only seen it again for the first time in a couple of years (disgusted at myself that I forgot how good the good guys really were), I'm hooked again, I suggest that whoever reads this gets hooked as well you'll not regret it.

Not bad. DVD needs to be withdrawn and laughter removed

[geffers · 8 October 2005]

A lot has been said in the other reviews. When it is funny, this series is very good, but it's not that sharp - it certainly doesn't compare to People Like Us. Each show has one or two brilliant moments.

One problem is the audio which is at times very hard to make out.

The opening episode is very dull, which is surprising, because quite often a comedy series uses its best material in the beginning - Operation Good Guys gets better during series one.

The complete series has been released to DVD, but unfortunately a huge error of judgement has been made in putting on laughter (studio audience or otherwise) which made this instantly unwatchable on series two.

If enough people complain, perhaps this will be fixed in the future.

The 'Bad' good guys

[StuJM · 24 November 2002]

This is one of the best British comedies in recent years. Everything about it is fantastic. It follows a patrol of Bobbies that are being filmed by a crew from the BBC. The characters are brilliant, from D.I Beach (the most bizzare D.I on TV), to the really creepy Racist at Camp Alpha. And the Scenario's they get into, these are classic, from running over some royal peoples dogs, to the infamous 'Operation Zoro' Every episode gets better then the last.

Basically everyone should see any of the three series, although I think series 2 is the best. Give it a go, go on, you know you want to.

Very good but...

[prilja · 10 March 2004]

I loved this show! It was unbelievably funny in the first series, so much so my brother and I would literally be crying and rewinding the tape to see it again! I just had one point that I couldn't get over. I know why it was done (some people actually thought this was a real documentary of the police force, apparently) but the laughter track ruined the second series for me. I tried to watch regardless but it was too much. Again loved the show, couldn't stand the laughter track. I thought the whole point was to portray it as real, that was part of the joke?... Such a shame for the creators - so talented - but I hope they release it without the laughter track...