British vs. American comedy
 

As I lay slouched on my couch today watching Little Britain, it occured to me that the brits and the yanks have a very different sense of humour. It seems to me that the british sense of humour has always been on the cutting edge, always pushing the boundries; from Monthy Python, through Blackadder, The new statesman and the new stars, Da Ali-G show, Little britain, Peep show, The office. American humour, save for South Park ( I can't think of anything else at the moment ), has always been a bit more conservative I think. Sure, Will and Grace make me laugh, but there's nothing really new about it.

It also struck me that the best british comedians are absolute wackos, if you stop to look at any episode of Little Britain, you could easily conclude that those two ( geniuses ) are completely insane, but since they wrap their insanity in a comedic tv show, they get away with it.

So, which do you preffer? I'd have to guess that americans are gonna go for their type, seeing as how they're not really exposed to anything outside their hermetic society, and anything that does manage to get through is of course adapted to suit them ( why buy The office and make an american version when you can easily just buy and show the original series? They can't understand the english accent? )


Oh and Urban, I finally get it, Daffyd, the only gay in the village joke...:laughing: ( wasn't very impressed with The peep show though, well at least the first episode ). Oh and bloody hell, I can't belive it's all two people in Little Britain, that blond bloke would be a perfect drag queen, he has an unbelievably androgenous face.

Have you seen the League Of Gentlemen?
That is insane!!!

I can't comment on which is best...I'm biased.
Although, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' is one of my favourite comedy shows.

Eveytime I meet an American, it's not long before they refer to Monty Python, so I think they do appreciate British humour, even if they don't fully understand it's nuances.
And I'm not being condescending with that above statement. It helps if you can understand the English psyche, which I believe Americans don't fully.

The Britsh version of the Office owns the American version. Hands down.


That is all.

I'm installing a security system so nosey little kids don't watch me run around my house naked smearing peanut butter all over me.

Thats all I have to say.

I think I did see the League of Gentelmen, but I think it was a bit too far out there for me...

Little Britain type of show isn't exactly new, I remember a couple of years ago they were showing a similar sketch show, different comedians, but similar sketches, there was a woman at the cash registery ( I'm almost positive this isnt the correct term ) that analysed each customers groceries and made fun of them? Anyone know what I'm talking about?

If americans don't understand the british psyche, how can croatians? You think it's a european thing maybe? Or maybe we've just been exposed to that kind of humour for a long time and have gotten used to it. The croatian telly was one of the first to show Monthy Python ( and that was back in the commie days which is pretty amazing considering the censorship that went on back then ).

From what I've heard Balkan humour is multi layered and a comment can have many layers...that helps....possibly?

PS: I love your sig adidass

Hmm...well the croats have absolutely no sense of humour, back in commie days we had bosnians make our best comedy shows. Our comedy shows suck major balls....

Oh and if you really wanna piss off a croat , thell him he's from the balkans...;)

^Your from the Balkans ^

You can't spell....:love:

Yuck, peep show is DREADFUL that guy who is in it, the poofy one, I wish he'd just die. He is on a new show it made me cringe it was THAT bad.

i listen to music from the balkans

Impossible...it's a musical wasteland.

Explain Canada.

OMFO

Ok Mikey, what do you listen to? ( be very careful what you say next ) :D

I like both. I watch more American comedy (even if the best shows always get cancelled), but that's because living in America I'm obviously exposed to more of it, and the only time I really get to see Brit comedy is on BBCA or by renting DVDs.

And speaking of, am I the only one who was very, very upset when they found out that HBO decided to show Extras on HBO Comedy before finally airing it on regular HBO? Does anyone even get that channel? :mad:

OMFO
fanfare Ciocarla
Kocani Okestra
Esma rendespova
Mahala rai Banda

So, gypsy music....I think it's Esma Ređepova....allright, it can pass off for world music, you did ok Mikey...;)

What about the wonderful world of bittorrent? That's how I get to see all them wonderful shows...

Have you seen Borat?
they do a very intersting dance...

Too much effort. I only use torrents for music and PC games.

Oscar nominations for best song:

“O Kazakhstan” from “Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan”

Wouldn't that be the best acceptance speech ever?

Hmm...true, I suppose only losers from eastern Europe are stuck with downloading Tv shows...:fails at life:

While I enjoy the british comedy that Ive been exposed to (i.e. Monty Python:bowdown:, The Office, Da Ali G Show [which actually isnt very funny, just a bit entertaining]), I must say Im partial to american comedy (of course, being american what did you expect?). Comedy Central has brought american comedy to the forefront of american culture, with shows like South Park (which wasnt expected to last past 1 episode), Reno 911 (which is a parody of the show "Cops"), and also by giving the limelight to up-and-coming comedians. NBC's "My Name is Earl" is also near the top of my list. I agree that british humur is more cutting edge and witty, while american humor is more in your face and creates much shock value, which in turn ups ratings, especially with shows like "Jackass" and its spin-offs "Viva la Bam" (which I personally hate) and "Wild Boyz". Fox also has a few gems in the form of "The Simpsons" (which no one can deny is funny), "Family Guy", and my personal favorite "Arrested Development".

^ I agree Reno 911 is ace, I love that show. On the other hand Jackass and WildBoyz and Viva La Bam all suck shit, and then some. The Simpsons are genius, always have been, Family Guy is cool but isn't half as comprehensive as the Simpsons imo.

Britain does have some of my favourite shows, Thin Blue Line, The Office and recently My Family, even if only for the sarcastic dad and the oldest son who seems to start a new business every day. Though Britain does do bland very well too, but probably not quite to the same shitness that is Will and Grace. And can I get a fuck yeah for Only Fools and Horses?

I like bits and pieces from both places, I love the British comic geniuses such as Ricky Gervais and Derick Haig, but I also love the American style of "piss taking", always entertaining when done well.

yeah, i was into "Jackass" when I was like 12, but i now agree its utter fertilizer. So have you ever seen "Arrested Development"? Its by far the best show on american television (with the exception of pro wrestling of course;))

Yeah, it sure is the best show on TV right now if you overlook the fact that it was cancelled months ago so Fox could make way for whatever ****ty reality show (or are game shows big again?) they put in its place.

its actually replayed several times a day on G4......................smartass.

The last couple of seasons of The Simpsons are kinda weak actually...South Park pisses all over them. Not to mention that they're much more provocative.

Oh and Will and Grace is funny whachyatalkaboutfool?? Well not them exactly, but Karen and Jack, and Rosario.

anyone here into complete savages?

Heh, i just started a similar thread i suppose, i just dont think many americans get british humour, they miss the point.

I thought Peep Show was brilliant. I love the direction on it and the scripts are hilarious.

I like a little of each, though seemingly more American simply because I've been exposed to more of it. That said, the majority of American humor fails.

i think most american humor is based on inside joke that have gotten stale, i can watch most show and not laugth at all

I think also that in the US, rubbish shows somehow manage to continue quite often* whereas in the UK if comedy isn't really, really good it tends to be taken off air very quickly. I'm not sure why this is, guess it's to do with marketing... there's probably more of it for each TV show in the US.

EDIT: Sorry not to name names, but I've seen so many appaling American sitcoms and have blanked their names from my memory. It involved families wandering around houses and doing pretty much nothing except mocking each other and whining. There seems to be A LOT of shows like this around. There are three 'different' shows in particular like that that keep popping up. They are the same setup, except in one they're all Italian-Americans, in one they're Jewish and in the other they're all black. Other than that, they're pretty much the same show.

that show had like 2 episodes on ABC about 3 years ago right?

And has anyoe seen "Weeds" on Showtime? Ive only seen a few episodes but its great. Its about a surburban mother who is forced to sell weed after her husband dies, and all the escipades it involves.

Yeah, that makes it the best show on TV in the same way that Leave it to Beaver reruns are still the best on TV.

And people actually watch G4? :laughing: