Waldorf Salad
- Episode aired Mar 5, 1979
- TV-PG
- 32m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Customer dissatisfaction with the Fawlty Towers dining experience comes to a head when an insistent American comes for a stay.Customer dissatisfaction with the Fawlty Towers dining experience comes to a head when an insistent American comes for a stay.Customer dissatisfaction with the Fawlty Towers dining experience comes to a head when an insistent American comes for a stay.
Mark Kirby
- Hotel Guest
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFawlty Towers was originally broadcast without individual episode titles. Some episodes were given names in TV listings, only. However, they were not named as we know them today. Waldorf Salad was originally called "U.S.A." in the listings. It wasn't until the show was marketed as a VHS set in the 1980's when all episodes received proper titles, such as Waldorf Salad, that have lasted since.
- GoofsAccording to the dialogue, The Hamiltons arrived at the hotel by car, having driven five hours from London. However, when Harry Hamilton decides to make an early departure following the dinner fiasco, he calls for a taxi. If the couple arrived by a car they drove themselves, then presumably it would still be parked outside. Calling for a taxi to leave the hotel doesn't make sense.
- Quotes
Mr. Hamilton: What I'm suggesting is that this place is the... the crummiest, shoddiest, worst-run hotel in the whole of Western Europe.
Major Gowen: No! No, I won't have that! There's a place in Eastbourne.
- Crazy creditsThe Fawlty Towers sign has been re-arranged into Flay Otters (both "W"s missing).
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Late Debate: Episode #1.90 (2023)
Featured review
It's Meant As Parody Not As A Documentary
An American couple come to stay at Fawlty Towers . Being Americans they expect the best service possible . It goes without saying that they're not going to get it at this hotel
I'm somewhat surprised at some of the comments on this page regarding this episode . On its initial broadcast I thought it one of the very best episodes from the show an opinion that hasn't been diminished by time and multiple viewings . Its agenda is probably not so much satire but parody and this it does perfectly
There's probably a perception in Britain in the 1970s that most Americans are loud philistines only interested in money . This probably a hang-over from the war when the Yanks were over paid over sexed and over here . The British perception amongst the general public is probably even less complimentary with the only people defending Americans being British soldiers who have served in recent war zones . Their praise for Americans is boundless so stop taking things so seriously guys
The episode revolves around the constant premise of the show that Basil finds himself in a tight spot and tries to dig himself out only to dig himself in to a deeper hole . Like Mrs Richards from the season debut and Mr Hutchinson from season one it involves a very difficult guest a Mr Hamilton who is portrayed as a parody of a loud mouthed American philistine . Again it could have descended in to farce but there's an air of reality about the differences between British and American culture and it's the show that made the Waldorf Salad a much better known dish in the British Isles
I'm somewhat surprised at some of the comments on this page regarding this episode . On its initial broadcast I thought it one of the very best episodes from the show an opinion that hasn't been diminished by time and multiple viewings . Its agenda is probably not so much satire but parody and this it does perfectly
There's probably a perception in Britain in the 1970s that most Americans are loud philistines only interested in money . This probably a hang-over from the war when the Yanks were over paid over sexed and over here . The British perception amongst the general public is probably even less complimentary with the only people defending Americans being British soldiers who have served in recent war zones . Their praise for Americans is boundless so stop taking things so seriously guys
The episode revolves around the constant premise of the show that Basil finds himself in a tight spot and tries to dig himself out only to dig himself in to a deeper hole . Like Mrs Richards from the season debut and Mr Hutchinson from season one it involves a very difficult guest a Mr Hamilton who is portrayed as a parody of a loud mouthed American philistine . Again it could have descended in to farce but there's an air of reality about the differences between British and American culture and it's the show that made the Waldorf Salad a much better known dish in the British Isles
helpful•198
- Theo Robertson
- Jul 14, 2013
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