" Dinner for One "
Did You Know...
We awarded "Dinner for One" with 24 Stars
but viewers like you and many of our members had their say, and over the years,
it skyrocketed to a whopping +80 Stars for a reason.
Curious? Read on...
Discover why this comedy masterpiece has become a international legend!
Why "Dinner for One" is Not Your Average Comedy Sketch
Let’s set the record straight, this isn’t one of those rapid-fire,
modern sketches where joke after joke gets flung at you like confetti.
Ohh NO...,
"Dinner for One" is a masterpiece of subtlety and timing.
It starts off so normal, so polite, that you might think...
“Hmm, did I tune into
the wrong show?”
WAIT... READ ON !
this Sketch builds up, very slowly, like an Alfred Hitchcock thriller
(but with jokes instead of suspense).
You see, poor James the butler isn’t just serving drinks
Ohh... NO he’s drinking for four. At first, he’s just tipsy. Then, he’s wobbly.
And by the end, he’s doing gymnastics over a tiger rug, totally smashed.
It’s a slow, glorious descent into chaos,
with each sip bringing us closer to the brilliant climax.
t’s not about quick gags - it’s about the journey.
So sit back...,
let it unfold, and appreciate how this sketch sneaks up on you like a champagne hangover.
Cheers to comedy done right!
Fun Fact:
Germany, New Year’s Eve,
1980s. For years, "Dinner for One" had been as valued as fireworks and champagne.
- Then, some brilliant genius at a TV station decided,
“Let’s not air it this year. Nobody will notice!”
Spoiler Alert:
EVERYONE Noticed !!!
Ohh Yeah Chaos erupted...
Phones rang off the hook.
Yeah Millions of furious Germans flooded the station with calls,
demanding their annual dose of drunken James and his tiger-skin tumble.
It was like canceling Santa on Christmas.
- The outrage was so epic, they never dared skip it again.
Lesson learned:
Don’t mess with
Miss Sophie’s loyal Fans!
Fun Fact: 1992
In Norway, "Dinner for One" has been broadcast annually on December 23rd since 1980.
- In 1992, the sketch was aired 15 minutes earlier than scheduled,
causing confusion among millions of viewers.
The resulting audience uproar led to thousands of angry calls to the channel,
prompting them to re-broadcast it later that night.
Fun Fact: 1985
Denmark's national broadcaster, DR,
decided to skip the annual New Year's Eve airing of "Dinner for One," a tradition since 1980.
The decision led to a significant public outcry, with multiple thousand complaints from viewers.
- In response, DR reinstated the sketch the following year,
and it has been broadcast every New Year's Eve since.
"Dinner for One" has become a cherished tradition in several countries far beyond Germany:
Austria:
Since 1972, aired on ORF.
Switzerland:
Since 1977, on SRF.
Denmark:
Since 1980, on DR.
Sweden:
Since 1976, on SVT.
Norway:
Since 1980, on NRK.
Finland:
Since 1980, on YLE.
Estonia:
Since 1980, on ETV.
Australia:
Since 1989,
shown on SBS.
South Africa:
Since 1980s, on SABC.
United Kingdom:
Aired on Sky Arts
from 2018 to 2020.
While traditionally associated with New Year's Eve,
some countries have unique broadcast times.
For instance, in Norway, it's aired on December 23rd.
Created / Filmed on:
July 8, 1963,
Aired: Dec. 31.1963
(Germany).
Actors:
Freddie Frinton
(James, the butler):
Born 1909,
Age 54 at filming.
May Warden
(Miss Sophie):
Born 1891,
Age 72 at filming.
Producer:
Heinz Dunkhase
(Germany).
Dear Visitors & Members,
Please send Feedback!
We’ve got a little "Dinner for One" mission for you!
Tell us...
Have you watched it?
When do you watch it?
Is it your New Year’s Eve tradition, a cozy December laugh, or just a random Tuesday pick-me-up?
Yeah! We’re curious!
Share the hilarious details of your Miss Sophie moments,
whether you’ve introduced it to friends, or even memorized the tiger rug stumble.
Don’t forget to tell us your country
we love knowing where James and Miss Sophie have traveled!
Now, let’s get serious
(but only a little):
If your country doesn’t air this masterpiece, don’t let it slide!
- Grab your phone, send an email, send them a message,
or even tie a message
to a carrier pigeon
(okay, maybe not the pigeon)
and ask your TV stations
add it to their lineup.
It’s a timeless gem, and your country deserves its charm and chaos.
So let’s spread the "same procedure as last year" joy worldwide!
Thanks!
We will enjoy your Feedback! And we’re all ears for your stories
Please let us know!
DID You KNOW...
Our Story about this Comedy Sketch ???
The legendary "Dinner for One" began with an impressive 14 Stars from LCS,
our highest initial rating for a video clip.
As you know, we conduct surveys and let members vote on videos
some lose stars, while others climb higher in ranking.
With this clip, it was different.
Shortly after adding it, we realized we had to make an exception
and rank this comedy masterpiece much higher.
We awarded it our internal:
'Gold Award' with 24 Stars,
reserved only for the most exceptional clips and performances.
But our members hold the power !
They can "Vote it up!" or "Vote it down,"
and we always listen.
The numbers for this sketch speak for themselves!
Spoiler Alert:
Not once ! Not even once has anyone requested to 'vote it down'!
!!! ENJOY !!!
and Share it !
Did You Know...
We awarded "Dinner for One" with 24 Stars
but viewers like you and many of our members had their say, and over the years,
it skyrocketed to a whopping +80 Stars for a reason.
Curious? Read on...
Discover why this comedy masterpiece has become a international legend!
Why "Dinner for One" is Not Your Average Comedy Sketch
Let’s set the record straight, this isn’t one of those rapid-fire,
modern sketches where joke after joke gets flung at you like confetti.
Ohh NO...,
"Dinner for One" is a masterpiece of subtlety and timing.
It starts off so normal, so polite, that you might think...
“Hmm, did I tune into
the wrong show?”
WAIT... READ ON !
this Sketch builds up, very slowly, like an Alfred Hitchcock thriller
(but with jokes instead of suspense).
You see, poor James the butler isn’t just serving drinks
Ohh... NO he’s drinking for four. At first, he’s just tipsy. Then, he’s wobbly.
And by the end, he’s doing gymnastics over a tiger rug, totally smashed.
It’s a slow, glorious descent into chaos,
with each sip bringing us closer to the brilliant climax.
t’s not about quick gags - it’s about the journey.
So sit back...,
let it unfold, and appreciate how this sketch sneaks up on you like a champagne hangover.
Cheers to comedy done right!
Fun Fact:
Germany, New Year’s Eve,
1980s. For years, "Dinner for One" had been as valued as fireworks and champagne.
- Then, some brilliant genius at a TV station decided,
“Let’s not air it this year. Nobody will notice!”
Spoiler Alert:
EVERYONE Noticed !!!
Ohh Yeah Chaos erupted...
Phones rang off the hook.
Yeah Millions of furious Germans flooded the station with calls,
demanding their annual dose of drunken James and his tiger-skin tumble.
It was like canceling Santa on Christmas.
- The outrage was so epic, they never dared skip it again.
Lesson learned:
Don’t mess with
Miss Sophie’s loyal Fans!
Fun Fact: 1992
In Norway, "Dinner for One" has been broadcast annually on December 23rd since 1980.
- In 1992, the sketch was aired 15 minutes earlier than scheduled,
causing confusion among millions of viewers.
The resulting audience uproar led to thousands of angry calls to the channel,
prompting them to re-broadcast it later that night.
Fun Fact: 1985
Denmark's national broadcaster, DR,
decided to skip the annual New Year's Eve airing of "Dinner for One," a tradition since 1980.
The decision led to a significant public outcry, with multiple thousand complaints from viewers.
- In response, DR reinstated the sketch the following year,
and it has been broadcast every New Year's Eve since.
"Dinner for One" has become a cherished tradition in several countries far beyond Germany:
Austria:
Since 1972, aired on ORF.
Switzerland:
Since 1977, on SRF.
Denmark:
Since 1980, on DR.
Sweden:
Since 1976, on SVT.
Norway:
Since 1980, on NRK.
Finland:
Since 1980, on YLE.
Estonia:
Since 1980, on ETV.
Australia:
Since 1989,
shown on SBS.
South Africa:
Since 1980s, on SABC.
United Kingdom:
Aired on Sky Arts
from 2018 to 2020.
While traditionally associated with New Year's Eve,
some countries have unique broadcast times.
For instance, in Norway, it's aired on December 23rd.
Created / Filmed on:
July 8, 1963,
Aired: Dec. 31.1963
(Germany).
Actors:
Freddie Frinton
(James, the butler):
Born 1909,
Age 54 at filming.
May Warden
(Miss Sophie):
Born 1891,
Age 72 at filming.
Producer:
Heinz Dunkhase
(Germany).
Dear Visitors & Members,
Please send Feedback!
We’ve got a little "Dinner for One" mission for you!
Tell us...
Have you watched it?
When do you watch it?
Is it your New Year’s Eve tradition, a cozy December laugh, or just a random Tuesday pick-me-up?
Yeah! We’re curious!
Share the hilarious details of your Miss Sophie moments,
whether you’ve introduced it to friends, or even memorized the tiger rug stumble.
Don’t forget to tell us your country
we love knowing where James and Miss Sophie have traveled!
Now, let’s get serious
(but only a little):
If your country doesn’t air this masterpiece, don’t let it slide!
- Grab your phone, send an email, send them a message,
or even tie a message
to a carrier pigeon
(okay, maybe not the pigeon)
and ask your TV stations
add it to their lineup.
It’s a timeless gem, and your country deserves its charm and chaos.
So let’s spread the "same procedure as last year" joy worldwide!
Thanks!
We will enjoy your Feedback! And we’re all ears for your stories
Please let us know!
DID You KNOW...
Our Story about this Comedy Sketch ???
The legendary "Dinner for One" began with an impressive 14 Stars from LCS,
our highest initial rating for a video clip.
As you know, we conduct surveys and let members vote on videos
some lose stars, while others climb higher in ranking.
With this clip, it was different.
Shortly after adding it, we realized we had to make an exception
and rank this comedy masterpiece much higher.
We awarded it our internal:
'Gold Award' with 24 Stars,
reserved only for the most exceptional clips and performances.
But our members hold the power !
They can "Vote it up!" or "Vote it down,"
and we always listen.
The numbers for this sketch speak for themselves!
Spoiler Alert:
Not once ! Not even once has anyone requested to 'vote it down'!
!!! ENJOY !!!
and Share it !