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British or American Comedy?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:53 pm
by Twist
Which do you think is better?

Personally I am a huge fan of both mainstream (i.e. Little Britian), classic (Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, Porridge etc.) and more 'alternative' British comedy, such as The Mighty Boosh, Black Books, Peep Show etc.

American comedy is ok, but its all a bit samey and so fucking cosmopolitan it hurts (i.e. Will and Grace). I am partial to a bit of Scrubs, but at the end of the day nothing beats, original, witty, 'out there' British Comedy.

I could go on all night about my love of British comedy, but i'm gonna throw the floor to you guys, what do you think?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:09 pm
by NeoShredder
American comedy is so shit, nothing is sutble, it's all Slap-stick, blanty obivous kind of comedy. British comedy plays on words and can be much more subtle.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:19 pm
by Kenny
Eeeh, I think it's funny enough that they say things like "bum", "wanker", and all those little words in their everyday language. I don't need to watch a comedy about that when I can just watch a european news channel or something.


For me, I prefer American, Canadian, and Mexican comedy. Stuff like the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Kids in the Hall, and any random comedy I see on Mexican stations are good enough for me.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:22 pm
by Twist
Kensuke NOL, dude. wrote:Eeeh, I think it's funny enough that they say things like "bum", "wanker", and all those little words in their everyday language. I don't need to watch a comedy about that when I can just watch a european news channel or something.


For me, I prefer American, Canadian, and Mexican comedy. Stuff like the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Kids in the Hall, and any random comedy I see on Mexican stations are good enough for me.


Obviously your knowledge of British comedy is limited to parodies from the simpsons and family guy. Have you even seen an episode of Blackadder? It's a little more than the occasional profane comment!

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:28 pm
by Kenny
Actually Beavis and Butthead, but that's beside the point. :lol:



In all seriousness though, I saw the original Whose Line Is It Anyway and I thought it was alright. I can see why they had to add some of the American cast later on.


'sides, I don't have any euro channels to watch. And even if I did, I don't know if i'd get used to those british accents unless it was all part of a joke skit or something.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:31 pm
by Twist
used to our accents?
we invented the language, its not our fault you can't speak the queen's english :P

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:47 pm
by Staplerfahrer Klaus
I like some mainstream and alot of alternative British comedy (not much into the classics). I'd say good American and British comedy is on a par. The British are just way more likely to make something good.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:06 pm
by KiBa
Seinfeld.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:09 pm
by Kenny
Twist wrote:used to our accents?
we invented the language, its not our fault you can't speak the queen's english :P


Yah, i'm more used to way my friend stoners and my family consisting of mexicans speak. :P

But don't get me wrong, I bet there are a few good shows out there. There always are. Just currently I see more of the other stuff in my own country, and i'm not too impressed with a few of the things I see over there.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:11 pm
by ShOzO MiZuKi
Dave Chappelle and Dane Cook. Nuf' said.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:36 pm
by Kenny
Dave Chappelle is alright. He just has a few good skits but I never seen anything drop dead funny from him.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:39 pm
by Nameless
This is ridiculous. This is basically a question of where you live? I live in the states so I see zero British comedy, I don't know if I ever even have so I couldn't say I like one more than the other but who am I to judge. So far out of the 4 people that I know where they live, 3 are in the U.K. so what do you think they will say? British of course, now grant it in all honesty it might be funnier. I just don't know cause I am never exposed to that. So my un biased and un informed answer is American.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:54 pm
by Araviel
I like both....for different occasions,
Like, I grew up with a dad and grand parents who loves British comedy, so naturally I adapted that kind of sarcastic, dark sense of humor. Intelligent humor I guess one could call it. Or simply cruel. Norwegian humor is quite similar actually...
The American humor. Depends what kind. Like I don't laugh at Will and Grace, but I do laugh at Team America or say Shrek (brilliant). Also, for hangovers, nothing like a bad teeny weenie movie from the States. You can laugh or at least snigger without having to think too much...
But in all...British or Norwegian I'd say, but that's what I'm used to, so a bit of bias there for sure...

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:03 pm
by IveBeenCensored
hmm a mixture of stuff, from what I see I'd say
1.) American - Seinfeld, Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, SNL, Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, late Show with Letterman, late night with conan, Family Guy, enough said

2.) Canadian - Corner Gas, Kids in the Hall, SCTV, Royal Canadian Air Farce, Red Green, Talking to Americans (those americans will believe anything), This hour has 22 minutes, Just For Laughs, Comedy at Club 54, Puppets who Kill, and I'm sure theres a couple I'm forgetting about.

3.) British - okay honestly I haven't seen that much, but Are You Being Served was good back in teh day (its funny how they keep saying knickers and knockers), Keeping up Apperances was good too, Yes Prime Minister was horrible. Thats all I've really seen.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:12 pm
by Kenshin
Ren Suzuki wrote:hmm a mixture of stuff, from what I see I'd say
1.) American - Seinfeld, Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, SNL, Daily Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, late Show with Letterman, late night with conan, Family Guy, enough said.


^^nuff said. Also Mad Tv.

I don't think I've seen any British comedy in all my 19 years of living. So I'd say I'm a bit biased. :P