Keeping Up Appearances

Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom which ran on BBC1 from 1990 to 1995. It has developed a rather devoted cult following in North America as well, airing regularly on PBS stations. It revolves around the constant struggles of the protagonist Hyacinth Bucket—who pronounces her surname as Bouquet, although her husband always pronounced it "Bucket" before he married. Hyacinth gets very aggravated whenever someone "mispronounces" it. She always seeks to appear to be of a higher social class than she is. Episodes often feature her latest scheme to move up in life from her middle-class existence—for example her sophisticated "candlelight suppers"—getting foiled. She frequently attempts to outdo her neighbours as well.

Running Gags

The running gags in most episodes are:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Hyacinth answering the phone as, "The Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking. Oh, it's you...".
• Hyacinth getting a call from Violet and yelling to Elizabeth, "It's my sister Violet! You know the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony!?"
• Conversely, Hyacinth getting a call from Daisy or Rose and yelling to Elizabeth, "It's my sister Daisy (or Rose)... she's not the one with the Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony!"
• Hyacinth yells "Sheridan!" very loudly when she receives a call from him, usually only when Sheridan needs money from "mummy". Richard (but not Hyacinth) realizes this; oftentimes asking in an exasperated tone, "what does he want?"
• Frequent mention of Hyacinth's son, Sheridan, but he does not make an actual appearance in any episode. There are some fairly obvious clues indicating that Sheridan is homosexual. Richard, and we the viewers, know this; however Hyacinth is oblivious to the fact.
• Frequent reference to Hyacinth's wealthy sister Violet, who has a Mercedes-Benz, a sauna and "room for a pony", though it's unclear whether she really does have a pony. Bruce, Violet's husband, has peculiarities that embarrass Hyacinth, including cross-dressing and "ice cubes in the shape of naked ladies". Bruce is wealthy because he is a "turf accountant".
• People unaffectionately referring to Hyacinth as "the Bucket woman" behind her back.
• The postman dreading delivering mail to Hyacinth's address: In one episode, he tried to bribe a neighbourhood boy to deliver the mail for him, but he responded, "For the Bucket woman? Forget it!" The milkman has similar troubles. Both the postman and milkman become exasperated by Hyacinth's ridiculous requests, such as Hyacinth's insistance that only first-class stamps be on the mail delivered to her house, and putting in a request that her milk come from a particular herd of cows she saw on a titled gentleman's estate.
• Neighbour Elizabeth dreading Hyacinth's coffee breaks and, finding herself clumsy around Hyacinth, likewise dreading using her cups (Hyacinth rarely trusts her with her fine china—"Royal Doulton with the handpainted periwinkles" — instead offering her a beaker). Elizabeth often nervously drops a biscuit into the coffee or spills the coffee on the table or rug, prompting Hyacinth to remark "Think nothing of it dear, I'll only have to replace the rug!" or something to that effect.
• Daisy making unsuccessful sexual passes and innuendos at husband Onslow ("Forget it, I've got a headache!")
• Rose storming into a room followed by a statement usually along the lines of "I've made a decision! I've given up men!". This is often followed by a wisecrack from Onslow.
• Rose announcing that she's awaiting a phone call from a Mr. (insert name here). This is usually followed by Daisy or Onslow asking about the previous Mr. (insert name here) and Rose insisting that the old man was "swine"- and that this one is "different".
• When coming home, Emmet, Elizabeth's brother, tries to sneak past Hyacinth to avoid her high-pitched singing. "She'll sing at me, Liz," he frets to his sister.
• Onslow's car's backfiring smokily.
• Onslow's front gate falling off its hinges, prompting Richard to bend over to pick it up, only for Hyacinth to say "Leave it, leave it" and step over it.
• Onslow's dog (which lives in an abandoned car in the front garden) barking loudly at Hyacinth, and her falling into the hedge as a result. However, the dog is quiet when Richard passes by.
• Onslow hitting the TV set to turn it on and Daisy whacking the set in odd ways to change channels.
• An anonymous caller mistakes the Buckets' phone number for the "Chinese takeaway".
• Whenever Onslow inquires about foodstuffs (for example, usually beer or smokey bacon flavored crisps) and Daisy tells him that they're out, he responds with an exasperated, "Oh, nice!" He also uses this phrase for other unusual situations, usually revolving around Hyacinth.
• The Major's attempts at flirting with Hyacinth.
• When off at parties or church outings, Hyacinth frequently chooses to wear expensive hats, which are modelled after Queen Elizabeth II's collection.
• Hyacinth requiring her visitors to remove their shoes before entering her house and instructing them to "Mind the walls!" or "Please be careful not to brush up against my wallpaper."
• Hyacinth "backseat driving" Richard with ridiculous warnings, usually about thing that do not even effect his driving ("Mind the trees!").
• Hyacinth disparagingly telling her husband that "I wish you wouldn't..." (example: "Richard, I wish you wouldn't wave at people with dirty garden gloves.")