TV magazine lists 25 top put-downs on the telly

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - JR Ewing witheringly dismissed his half-brother in Dallas, complaining: "Ray was never comfortable eating with the family; we do use knives and forks."

But Dynasty's Joan Collins would not be outdone by Larry Hagman's vile alter ego as she quipped to one hapless character

"I'm glad to see your father had your teeth fixed -- if not your mouth."

When it comes to the perfect putdown, soap operas offer a rich vein of scorn.

And now TV critic John Naughton has compiled the 25 best putdowns for Radio Times listings magazine -- from The Muppets to Blackadder and Cheers.

David Croft, co-writer of the hit situation comedies "Dad's Army" and "Are You Being Served?", complained that the put-down had become much crueller over the years.

"I think there is a lot more unkindness in comedy than there used to be," he said.

"What I think is just as funny is the way the character reacts to a put-down. That is often where the laughs are."