I've recently started watching the British sitcom “Yes, Minister”, and I’ve already
seen a few episodes of its sequel “Yes, Prime Minister” too. Needless to say, if it is this famous there
must be a reason.
I really
like the show. It’s extremely clever, and it portraits in a very cynical
way how politics is essentially run. It’s hilarious (and depressing, at the same
time) to see the idealist Minister actually trying to do something, but being
stopped by his Permanent Secretary, from the Home Civil Service. And in the end, the civil service always manages
to make it looks like they did what the Minister wanted, instead of what they
wanted. Hence the very sarcastic “Yes, Minister” that closes every episode.
According to
Wikipedia, the show was actually aired in Italy. By some local channels,
nothing major, of course. Indeed, I don't think anyone knows of it existence. And its
sequel “Yes, Prime Minister” was apparently never aired at all.
I wonder
why… Were they afraid that it would make our politicians look bad? If that is
the reason, no need to worry: we can’t possibly think any less of you.
I strongly
recommend the show. Here is the first
episode from season one of “Yes, Prime Minister”, "The Grand Design". And its best quote: a perfect
description of how Italian politicians consider the press. Years gone by, and the show is as current as it could be.
Secretary Sir Humphrey: Let me put it like this. Do you
really want the press to announce that your first act as Prime Minister was to give
yourself an effective salary increase from £8000 to £10.000 a year?
Prime Minister Hacker: We won’t tell them!
Humphrey: We have no alternative. Prime
Minister’s salary is an expense and it must be published.
Hacker: Is there really no way that we can…?
Humphrey: Open government, Prime Minister.
Freedom of information. We should always tell the press freely and frankly
anything… that they could easily find out some other way.
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