Does America have the best sense of humor?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Just from looking at things like Sienfeld, The Simpsons, The Onion, Woody Allen, Space Ghost, Some of the American stand up comedians, etc. It seems like America has the best sense of humor. Canada has Kids in the Hall, England has Monty Python and Mr. Bean, but do any of these compare? I may just be partial because I'm American, but does anyone else agree? and what other examples of great humor are there?

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:04 (twenty-three years ago)

ptee

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:08 (twenty-three years ago)

no.
i agree you gave the world woody allen etc but still think british humour is more my cup of tea with its quirkiness and oddball/eccentric shows.
monty python was an early one and mr bean can be plain irritating but there are many other examples which of course i cant bluddy think of right now!
i guess to me anyway it isnt that a show or comedian will make me laugh out loud so much as cause a wry smile and sense of empathy. it all depends on your own sense of humour doesnt it.

― donna (donna), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, it does have a lot to do with individual sense of humor.

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:13 (twenty-three years ago)

We have the most to make fun of... politics, corporate state, race relations, suburban affluence, political correctness, etc.

But Space Ghost is the only one of those mentioned that really gets me. The Onion's one-note condescending ironic tone grew stale a long time ago for me. Especially in the wake of the events of... nevermind.

― Aaron A., Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Of course we have a sense of humor. Our politics are hilarious.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I think England has much pride in thier dry wit humor, but there is not much more than that. I think American has more variety from Jackass-style slapstick to New Yorker cartoons.

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:17 (twenty-three years ago)

the "dry wit" of benny hill = we win

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Was Dr. Strangelove more American or British humor?

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:28 (twenty-three years ago)

why, is it funny? < / kneejerk kubrick hate >

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes, http://us.imdb.com/Charts/Votes/comedy

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Is it that American humor is funnier or that American comedy has a higher profile because the U.S. dominates the world media, if only in sheer amount produced?

― j.lu (j.lu), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Uh, Canada, guys.... really

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:49 (twenty-three years ago)

35,127 people vs mark s

― boxcubed (boxcubed), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:50 (twenty-three years ago)

and those are only the regular voters

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Buster Keaton = Amercian
Charlie Chaplin = British

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:53 (twenty-three years ago)

if that's how we're measuring, benny hill still owns this thread

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

35 thousand votes, 277 comments!

― boxcubed (boxcubed), Thursday, 3 October 2002 19:58 (twenty-three years ago)

From mefi today: World's funniest joke no laughing matter!

"Americans and Canadians, on the other hand, preferred jokes where there was a strong sense of superiority - either because a character looks stupid or is made to look stupid by someone else." We rule.

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

game over:

http://home.graffiti.net/buglebear/krankies.gif

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:18 (twenty-three years ago)

britain not's just about dry wit and irony you know.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:21 (twenty-three years ago)

GAME OVER:

http://www.reeldeals.com/pictures/strngcom.jpg

― gabriel rodriguez-doerr (gabe), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:31 (twenty-three years ago)

yay! comedy duo top trumps!

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:32 (twenty-three years ago)

on the uk version of Whos Line Is It Anyway the americans are WAY funnier then the british!

― chaki (chaki), Thursday, 3 October 2002 20:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Tommy Cooper, Stan Laurel, Eric Morecambe, Peter Cook, Frankie Howerd, Paul Merton. The trouble with judging this is that I haven't seen anything much of a lot of the Americans cited as the greats (even Woody Allen - all his films, but I've only ever seen one of his standup routines), and I bet most of the Americans have limited familiarity with, say, Cooper, Morecambe, Howerd and Merton above. The other side: Groucho Marx, Buster Keaton, Woody Allen. A comfy British win on points, from my perspective.

But sitcoms may be different. Again, I bet we've seen more of your best than you have of ours, but I might just give the edge to America there, with The Simpsons and Bilko tipping the scales.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 3 October 2002 21:33 (twenty-three years ago)

League Of Gentlemen
The Fast Show
The Day Today
Alexei Sayle's comedy show (whatever he actually named it)
Drop The Dead Donkey
Red Dwarf
those already mentioned, etc. etc.I mean Fawlty Towers, people!

― Lek Dukagjin, Thursday, 3 October 2002 21:46 (twenty-three years ago)

like any country in the world, america produces an awful lot of really unfunny comedies, and a small amount of really good ones.

― di smith (lucylurex), Thursday, 3 October 2002 22:10 (twenty-three years ago)

the best american sitcoms get cancelled immediately, which must indicate something.

― the actual mr. jones (actual), Thursday, 3 October 2002 22:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Just from this quote of the laughlab experiment article you can see how completely lame the joke prefered by Ireland, UK, Australia and New Zealand is. And how, great the joke prefered by America and Canada.

"People from the Republic of Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand most enjoyed jokes involving word plays.

One example was as follows. Patient: "Doctor, I've got a strawberry stuck up my bum." Doctor: "I've got some cream for that!"

Americans and Canadians, on the other hand, preferred jokes where there was a strong sense of superiority - either because a character looks stupid or is made to look stupid by someone else.

This was an example of American humour.

Texan: "Where are you from?"

Harvard graduate: "I come from a place where we do not end our sentences with prepositions."

Texan: "OK, where are you from, Jackass?"
"

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 3 October 2002 22:21 (twenty-three years ago)

So the British are fond of sodomy and Americans hate intelectuals, then...nice to know that The Stereotypes Still Apply.

Btw, Sri Lankan humor is widely supeior to American humor.

― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 3 October 2002 22:39 (twenty-three years ago)

(I managed to mispell both "humour" and "superior". I rule.)

― Daniel_Rf, Thursday, 3 October 2002 22:41 (twenty-three years ago)

(Fuck. Sorry. Can't keep up with all the new threads.)

― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 3 October 2002 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Most American comedians are actually Canadian aren't they?

― Kim (Kim), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Only the white gentile ones.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyone who has seen She's the Sheriff can tell you that the answer to that question is a resounding no.

― Nicole (Nicole), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Sienfeld, The Simpsons, & Woody Allen were pretty bad examples, seeing as none of them are at all funny.

Canada had You Can't Do That On TV therefore Canadians have the best sense of humour. The Brits were close runners up with the Benny Hill Show.

― toraneko (toraneko), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Australians have Paul Hogan so they win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:42 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Ice Cube so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 4 October 2002 00:44 (twenty-three years ago)

not saying one way or another as I'm a big fan of Canadian and various UK humor, but for the USA I have to mention Richard Pryor (and a whole amazing mess of African-American stand-up - Chris Rock, Redd Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Bernie Mac; does BET's "Comic View" get broadcast anywhere but America).

I'm also wondering what the deal is with "The Family Guy" getting a UK DVD release, whereas here it couldn't even get renewed? That is my favorite sit-com.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 4 October 2002 06:55 (twenty-three years ago)

League of Gentlemen, Absolutely Fabulous, Black Adder, Black Books, Big Train, French and Saunders, Keeping Up Appearances, etc etc.

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 4 October 2002 07:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Sienfeld, The Simpsons, & Woody Allen were pretty bad examples, seeing as none of them are at all funny.

brrr! is it cold in here?

Canada had You Can't Do That On TV therefore Canadians have the best sense of humour

what do you think is IN THE BURGERS?!?!??

― chaki (chaki), Friday, 4 October 2002 07:47 (twenty-three years ago)

sorry, did anyone actually *read* that imdb list? 'one flew over the cuckoo's nest' @ no. 2 - is that really a comedy? 'almost famous' @ 36 ??!! where's laurel & hardy? this is spinal tap? withnail & i? midnight run? crap list number 3,570,009,221,337.

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 4 October 2002 08:26 (twenty-three years ago)

if "friends" is a shining example of "superior humour" then obviously it goes WAY over my head.

― di smith (lucylurex), Friday, 4 October 2002 09:12 (twenty-three years ago)

does america have the best comedians
does america have the best comedies

these are questions that we can agree have been answered

― boxcubed (boxcubed), Friday, 4 October 2002 09:36 (twenty-three years ago)

withnail and i is korrektly placed

UK is disqualified, for entering it at all

US wins, denis leary notwithstanding

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 4 October 2002 09:38 (twenty-three years ago)

withnail and i is korrektly placed

huh? you mean unplaced?

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 4 October 2002 09:41 (twenty-three years ago)

why wd it be placed?

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 4 October 2002 09:49 (twenty-three years ago)

so, for you, it's korrektly unplaced. you're wrong but that's cool.

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 4 October 2002 10:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Father. Ted.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 10:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Top Something tv set Comedians/Comedy Actors etc., (today - could change tomorrow). All from the perspective of East Anglia's fenland since being born in 1974.

1)Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy
2)Harold Lloyd
3)Oscar Wilde
4)Chris Langham
5)Stephen Fry
6)Richard Pryor
7)Tony Slattery
8)Spike Milligan
9)Steve Martin
10)Lily Tomlin
11)Lance Percival
12)Phil Silvers
13)Chris Morris
14)Graham Chapman
15)Rowland Rivron(Especially in his criminally overlooked 'Set of Six'
16)Frankie Howerd
17)Kenneth Williams
18)Bill Hicks
19)Julian Clary
20)Peter Cook
21)Ken Dodd ...
Hugh Laurie, Charles Hawtrey, Tom Hanks (early), Dudley Moore, Lee Evans, John Cleese, Roy Kinnear, Leonard Rossiter, Kathy Burke, Vic Reeves, Kevin Eldon, Ivor Cutler, Dave Gorman, Pete McCarthy, Charlie Chuck, Frank Sidebottom, Rik Mayall (All of The Young Ones), Richard Curtis, Willie Rushton, Charlie Chaplin, Norman Lovett, Freddie Starr, Norman Wisdom, Half Man Half Biscuit, Jimmy Mulville, Edwyn Collins, Neil Mullarkey, Henry Normal, Ryan Styles, Colin Mockery, Jeremy Dyson, Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss, Reece Shearsmith, Steve Davis (snooker player and wit), Mark Thomas, Eric Morecambe, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Andrew Davies (writer of 'A Very Peculiar Practice' and 'Game On'), Bill Murray, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, Matthew Perry, Windsor Davies, John Le Mesurier, Arnold Ridley, Michael Crawford (Some Mother's do ave 'em), Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie, Graham Garden, Armando Ianucci, Harry Enfield, Simon Day, Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Johnny Vaughan, Conan O'Brien, Jonathan Ross, Russ Abbott, Barry Cryer, Lemn Sissay (poet, but so funny as well), Michael Bentine, Morwenna Banks, John Sparkes, Kelly Monteith, Patrick Marber, Clive Anderson, Eddie Izzard, Mark Steel, Nick 'Training Day' Revell, Andy ' Rraining Day' Hamilton, Basil Brush, East Anglia's B.C (Birthday Club puppet tiger from the early eighties), Muppets, Andy De La Tour, The Persihers, Rhubard and Custard, Terry Thomas, Woman who played 'Grace Under Fire', Rory Motion, Jeff Green, Craig Ferguson, Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Ringo Starr, Mark Lamarr, Arthur Smith, Paula Yates, Marilyn Monroe, Mel Brooks, Mel Smith, Rowan Atkinson, Alan Cummings, Robin Williams, David Schneider, Peter Baynham, Steve Coogan, Chris Tarrant, Dawn French, Griff Rhys-Jones, Kids in the Hall, Les Dawson, Lynda Smith, Barry Cryer, Barry Took, Johnny Vegas, John Inman, Ben Stiller, John Candy, Henry Winkler, Michael Barrymore, Steven Wright, Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews ... I mean, I could go on ...

― Owen, Friday, 4 October 2002 10:42 (twenty-three years ago)

surely it would have been quicker to list who you *don't* think is funny.

btw, frank sidebottom should be higher.

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 4 October 2002 10:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I know it - I'm a comedy whore.
I somewow missed off Michael Moore,
Tony Hawks, Brenda Gilhooly,
Garry tibbs and yours truly.

― Owen, Friday, 4 October 2002 11:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Some of the american comedy I have seen is the worst comedy not to have come out of australia.
(All australian comedy shows imported to the UK have been complete shite. Although a couple of autralian comedians shown as part of other shows have been pretty funny, so maybe we are just gettign the shit stuff)
Which isn't to say tehre isn't good american stuff. Simpsons, some SNL comedians, South Park and Jackass all amuse me greatly, and I watch Friends and Will and Grace, which are good for slightly funny.
Which isn't to say there's no bad UK stuff, but if we assume that what we import tends to the top of the scale of US comedy (whcih is true if TV execs know what they are doing) then america has some serious problems

― Sofa King Alternative (Sofa King Alternative), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:04 (twenty-three years ago)

I've noticed that Americans can't really use sarcasm that well, but maybe I'm wrong.

― Elisabeth (Elisabeth), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, right -- that's about right.

― Owen, Friday, 4 October 2002 11:17 (twenty-three years ago)

When I was at uni someone said americans can't use sarcasm, and got the reply "Have you met Rodd?"

Rodd was a fellow student, and American. I think he got into uni on a sarcasm scholarship.

Lyndsey Nagle: Do I detect a note of sarcasm?
Professor Frink:(with sarcasm detector) Are you kidding me? This baby is right off the charts, mm-hai.
Comic Book Guy:A sarcasm detector, that's a real useful invention.
(Sarcasm detector explodes)

― Sofa King Alternative (Sofa King Alternative), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Some of the american comedy I have seen is the worst comedy not to have come out of australia.

that's the art of criticism at it's absolute peak.

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:22 (twenty-three years ago)

But we have all these American shows over here and laugh at them. Surely that's what a sense of humour is about - finding (funny) things funny. Not producing them.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:25 (twenty-three years ago)

A special mention must go to Geoffrey Perkins. And Stu Who.

― Owen, Friday, 4 October 2002 11:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes it's possible for funny people to have a crap sense of humour.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:33 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not talking about the insane.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:36 (twenty-three years ago)

was that directed at me or are Geoffrey Perkins and Stu Who insane?

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:38 (twenty-three years ago)

WHO KNOWS?

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Pun of the year.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 4 October 2002 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

What I want to know is how on earth that Harvard/Texan joke doesn't involve word-play!?!

― Clarke B., Friday, 4 October 2002 12:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Well it kind of doesn't. The joke is in the Texan not having any interest/understanding of the prissy (and *wrong*) Harvard grad's grammatical pedantry.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 12:13 (twenty-three years ago)

It's too contrived.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 4 October 2002 12:15 (twenty-three years ago)

*sob*

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 4 October 2002 12:15 (twenty-three years ago)

I should expand on that, I mean the setup line is so stupid, it's like a joke you'd make up yourself or something.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 4 October 2002 12:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Or a joke meticulously constructed by white-coated scientists in a sterile lab.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 4 October 2002 13:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Is Dan sobbing because he actually has said that to a Texan?

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:01 (twenty-three years ago)

People at Harvard don't do things like that!

(spot the Big Lie)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Aren't quite a few writers on the writer's teams of American TV shows from other countries? I mean, just cause a show is American, doesn't mean their staff is all. The attractive salaries in Hollywood would mean that the best comedy writers from everywhere were there, right?

I dated a guy from Harvard once, only he didn't want any of his Harvard friends to meet me, but preferred to see me at MIT on the weekends... He was freaked out that I was good at maths AND read modern literature.

― marianna, Friday, 4 October 2002 14:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I think many American comedians need to learn that just because you yell really loud it doesn't make you funny.

One thing that works in favour of the USA in this case is Steve Martin's standup stuff. My god, he is a genius.

― Andrew (enneff), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Churchill did the setup line much better half a century ago, thus we win. Er, possibly. (OK, OK, so it's thought not to have happened at all, but still.) And ranking Izzard below Enfield? What?! FITE!

(English poster in finding joke preferred by English funnier than joke preferred by Americans shocker. Though obviously the cream one is rubbish.)

― Rebecca (reb), Friday, 4 October 2002 14:26 (twenty-three years ago)

So in other words, Brits like intelligent wordplay, and we Americans just like it when someone looks dumb? Yeah, I can understand that.. dumb people make me laugh.

― Mandee, Friday, 4 October 2002 15:30 (twenty-three years ago)

But I think the joke is on the Harvard graduate!

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 4 October 2002 15:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey hey hey - anyone notice that Mark S thought I was the pinacle of humour on this thread. Yay!

― Pete (Pete), Friday, 4 October 2002 15:38 (twenty-three years ago)

yes you are funnier than withnail and strangelove combined ptee

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 4 October 2002 15:44 (twenty-three years ago)

"Surely that's what a sense of humour is about - finding (funny) things funny. Not producing them."

Actually from this statement I would agree that America's sense of humor can be pretty bad (I guess not enough people were watching, so they cancelled Family Guy!) But as for comedy coming from America I still think it tops.

― A Nairn (moretap), Friday, 4 October 2002 15:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Special special mentions must go to Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Dom Joly, Jim Sweeney, Jeremy Hardy, Ed Tudor-Pole, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Sandi Tosvig, Graham Fellows, Kirsty Alley, Jack Dee, Cary Grant, Gene Wilder, Screaming Lord Sutch, Peter Richardson, Daniel Peacock, Paul Merton, Dominic Holland, Frank Skinner, Sean Hughes, Aland Davies, Paul Hogan, Jerry Lewis, Emo Phillips, Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash, John Lloyd, Lise Mayer, Richard Stilgoe, Richard Vranch, Tony Hancock, Mike Myers, Rita Rudner, Ian Hislop, Bill Tidy, Charles Schulz, Frank Carson, Paul Kaye, Phil Kaye, Peter Kaye, Will Hay, Arthur Mullard, Bill Maynard, Bruce Forsythe, Bob Monkhouse, Martin Skidmore, Jenny Eclair, Hattie Hayridge, Jo Brand, Dustin Gee, John Hughes, Anthony Michael Hall, Ben Elton, John Thomson, Arthur English, David Jason, Alex Langdon (Teenage Health Freak), Buddy Holly (Jester stole his thorny crown), Phil Jupitus, John Sessions, Benjamin Pell, Woody Allen, Helen Atkinson-Wood ...

― Owen, Friday, 4 October 2002 16:44 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Shannon Sharpe so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 4 October 2002 17:23 (twenty-three years ago)

you are funnier than withnail and strangelove combined ptee

and I always got the impression that Mark liked Pete!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 4 October 2002 18:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Germany has Nina Hagen so we win.

― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 4 October 2002 21:06 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Jean Hagen so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 5 October 2002 03:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Steve Martin is kind of funny.

Mike Myers is v.v. funny, but he's a Canadian (pretending to be a Brit), isn't he?

― toraneko (toraneko), Saturday, 5 October 2002 08:44 (twenty-three years ago)

i'd like to see the U.S. produce something like Brass Eye....that COULD be amazing

or even Spaced...the U.S. should follow the example of its wonderful animated series and make live action smartcoms/anti-sitcoms with NO AUDIENCE but dont structure them like Scrubs and Ed and inject a real surreal edge into them (as with League Of Gentlemen).

conversely i'd love to see the UK produce its own animated comedy series that could match the top U.S. ones - i know it doesnt seem possible but i think it could be done

― blueski, Saturday, 5 October 2002 10:17 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to see the UK produce a standup act as good as Allen Iverson's or Jim Mora's.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 5 October 2002 16:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Trevor and Simon, Jethro, Nick Hancock, Al Murray, Robert Llewellyn, Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Bob Mortimer, Patrick Kielty, Stuart Lee, Richard Herring, Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran,Mark Williams, Graham Norton, Bob Downe, Barry Humphries, Paul O'Grady, Joe Pasquale, Daniel Kitson, Lenny Henry, John Hegley, Denis Leary, Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson, Victoria Wood, Dan Ackroyd, Lenny Bruce, Jack Benny, Ed Byrne, Jim Carrey, Billy Connolly, Jasper Carrot, Willie Day, George Formby, Harry Hill, Bob Hope, Mel & Sue, Jennifer Saunders, Rob Newman, Helen Lederer, David Baddiel, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Greg Proops, Caroline Quentin, Pamela Stevenson, Martin Clunes, Neil Morrissey, Tommy Tiernan, Tracey Ullman, Peter Ustinov, Simon Munnery, Alan Parker (Urban Warrior), Armstrong and Miller, Clement Freud, Simon Pegg, Ernie Wise, Kenny Everett, Benny Hill, Tony Robinson, Tim McInerney, Hugh Grant, James Fleet, James Dreyfuss, Larry Grayson, Jim Davidson, Jimmy Tarbuck, Duncan Norvelle, Charlie Drake, Tommy Trinder, Arthur Askey, David Whitfield, Tracey Ullman, David Copperfield (not the magician), Stephen Tompkinson, The Three Stooges, Eddie Murphey, Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keyton, WC Fields, Hylda Baker, Maureen Lipman, Julie Walters, Alexei Sayle, Nigel Planner, Chris Ryan, Ade Edmondson, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Alistair Sim, Beryl Reid, Thora Hird, Sidney James, Arabella Weir, Fiona Allen, Sally Phillips, Doon MacKichan, Daisy Donovan, Victor Borge, Iain Lee, Phil Cornwall, Rory McGrath, Rob Ryden, Marx Brothers. And the beautiful Tommy Cooper. There may be more, of course - like the guy who used to be on the 11 'p'clock show, and now appears on Richard and Judy's Channel 4 show - you know, the chap who looks like Llod Cole ...

― Owen, Saturday, 5 October 2002 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Frank Muir, Arthur Marshall, Dennis Norden, Jools Holland, Roger Monkhouse, Chris Evans, Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor, Joan Simms and Eric Sykes

― Owen, Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Is Dan sobbing because he actually has said that to a Texan?

He's upset because the Harvard man is the butt of the joke.

Of course, as the saying goes, "You can always tell a Harvard man. However, getting him to understand what you're telling him is a whole other issue."

― j.lu (j.lu), Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:15 (twenty-three years ago)

you know, the chap who looks like Lloyd Cole ...

The Pinefox is now appearing on Richard & Judy?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:27 (twenty-three years ago)

you know, the chap who looks like Lloyd Cole ...

The Pinefox is now appearing on Richard & Judy?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Owen, did you mention Chris Elliot in any of your lists, because he is a hoot!

― Aaron A., Saturday, 5 October 2002 20:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Some of the american comedy I have seen is the worst comedy not to have come out of australia.

hey, aussie comedy ain't all bad. i used to rooollly love shark bay and frontline.

― di smith (lucylurex), Saturday, 5 October 2002 22:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Chris Elliot, David Letterman, Mark Little, lenny Bennett, Phillip Pope, The Chuckle Brothers, Hale and Pace, Tim Vine, Sea Meo, Ellen DeGeneres, Donna MacPhail, Matt Lucas, Milton Jones, Dan Patterson, Rich Hall, Steve Steen (Mike Todd, from Sweeney and Todd),
Mike McShane, Rory Bremner, Ian McMillan, Lee Hurst, Mark Hurst, David Walliams, Ted Rogers, Lesley Crowther, Ted Bovis, Gordon Kaye, Ruby Wax, Steve Wright, Danny Baker, Bob Mills, Alistair Mcgowan, Ronnie Ancona, Phil Cool, Angus Deyton, Richard Wilson, Rosanne Barr, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, Paul Daniels, Hugh (aka: Pete) Dennis, Steve Punt, John Gordon Sinclair, Will Self, Simon Brint, Eric Knowles, Dick Emery, Stanley Baxter, Charlie Chester, Steve Guttenberg, The Simpsons, South Park, King of the Hill, Keith Allen, Kevin Allen, Phil Cool, Lesley Nielsen, Lesley Phillips, Jim Tavare, Tim Vine, Lee Mack, Karen Taylor, Richard Digance, Noel Coward, Rhona Cameron, Toomy Cannon, Bobby Ball, Sid Little, Eddie Large, Les Dennis, Max Bygraves, Shane Ritchie, Kris Marshall (My Family sitcom), Doc Cox (Ivor Biggun), Marty Feldman, Bernard Bresslaw, Mike Yarwood, Tom O'Conner, Des O'Connor, John Bird, John Fortune, John Junkin, Harry Worth, Danny John-Jules, Terry Alderton, Bernard Cribbens, Rod Hull, Derek Nimmo, Kenneth Horne, Hugh Paddick, Bill Pertwee, Proffessor Stanley Unwin, Mike & Bernie Winters, The great Charlie Williams, Sid Firled, Sally Field (with Tom Hanks in Movie), Stan Boardman, Josie Lawrence, Dave Allen, Jim Bowen, Berni Clifton, Dougie Brown, Brian Conley, Bobby Davro, Jimmy Cricket, Bernard Manning, Clive Dunn, Gary Wilmott, David Frost, Bamber Gascoigne, Adam Bloom, Adam Hills, Jarred Christmas, Martin Coyote, Tim Pope, Ross Noble, Ollie Double, Martin Dube, Norman Collier, Colin Sell, Lucille Ball, Celia Imrie, James Bolam, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Keith Harris, Andrew Carr, Bill Carr, Simon Munnery, Mark Heap, Amelia Bullmore, Julia Davis, Gordon Kennedy, Jack Docherty, Peter Baikie, Moray Hunter, Will Osborne, Chris England, Jenny Lecoat, Victor Borge ...

Put all my lists in one room (this one and those above) - who would emerge the funniest?

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:21 (twenty-three years ago)

hale and pace surely?

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Richard Blackwood, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Terry Scott, June Whitfield not invited to your 'lists party', Owen?

― Lurker Nesmith, Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Wasn't Victor Borge Danish?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Victor Borge may have been Danish. I don't know.

I do know that Hale and Pace had their comedy genius moments - they were 'right up there' when they did the 'Walkmen Brothers'sketches, for instance.

Brett Butler played the part of Grace Kelly in the sitcom 'Grace Under Fire', but I still have no idea who that comedian is who looks like Lloyd Cole. And who is the blonde woman, with the striking blue eyes, who stars in BBC2's sitcom, 'Coupling'? She has occasionally appeared in 'Smack the Pony' as a fourth member. That's me done.

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:42 (twenty-three years ago)

samantha janus i believe: she wz also in game on

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 6 October 2002 10:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Sarah Alexander, it is. I've just checked. Though I can see why you said Samantha Janus - similar school of BBC2 blonde.

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 11:13 (twenty-three years ago)

One of the funniest skits I've ever seen was on "Smack The Pony". I don't remember the exact sequence of events, bu was something like this: A couple are having a romantic dinner and the woman looks up at him and says, "So, would you like to get lucky tonight?" The man says, "Well, sure!" The woman says, "You gotta catch me first!" jumps up from the table and starts hiding behind waiters/tables/what have you, wreaking general havok all acros the restaurant, all the while shouting, "Catch me! Catch me!"

BRILLIANT.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 6 October 2002 11:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Sarah Alexander is good, but not as great as the goddesslike Sally Phillips, I think.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 October 2002 11:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Sarah Crow, Otto Waalkes, Rick Wakeman, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Day (excellent), Sean Lock, Simon Fanshawe, Kevin Spacey, Rick Moranis, Jim Broadbent, Jamie 'the student' Broadbent (one of Chris Evans' radio posse), Chris Moyles, Mark Radcliffe and Lard, Fred Aylward (Les, from Les Lives and Vic Reeves' Big Night Out), Jerry Sadowitz, Roy 'Chubby' Brown, Chevy Chase, Bud abbott, Lou Costello, Neil Cole, Mark Arden, Stephen Frost, Marti Caine, Clive James, John Belushi, James Belushi, Paul Ross, Omid Djalili, Dr. Phil Hammond, Paul Zenon, Bob carolgees, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Whoopi Goldberg, Sandra Bernhard, Rhys Thomas, Arthur Atkinson, Eric Knowles, Jane Horrocks, Joanna Lumley, Jessica Stevenson ...

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Henry Naylor, Arnold Brown, Nina Conti, Scott Capurro, Jackie Mason, John Molony, Will Smith, Nick Wilty, Mackenzie Crook, Dave Spikey,
Archie Kelly ...

And finally, the comedian who looks like Lloyd Cole and, apparently, the pinefox: Jimmy Carr!

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 15:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Are Will Smith and Whoopi Goldberg the only black people on Owen's lists?

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 6 October 2002 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

oh, and America has James Traficant so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 6 October 2002 17:32 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not sure anyone is mad enough to read through all of Owen's to find out.

Owen, Dj Martian. DJ Martian, Owen. I think you'll find you get on...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 October 2002 18:02 (twenty-three years ago)

There are quite a few black people on my lists. In fact, one of the funniest on my list is black - Charlie Williams. And, Martin Skidmore - just for a moment imagining that you were 'mad' enough to read through all the names on my list - you will see your own name amongst the other comedians. Check it out, Man.

― Owen, Sunday, 6 October 2002 18:11 (twenty-three years ago)

haha thanks Owen! What have I done to deserve this? I am next to Bob Monkhouse - the comic fan connection? And next to Jenni Eclair, who I have seen live - I'm obviously carefully placed.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 6 October 2002 18:22 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Warren Sapp so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 6 October 2002 19:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Billy Crystal, Noel Britton, Gary Larson ... A question for the obscurists: anyone remember the name of the black stand-up comic who supported Mark Lamarr on a tour between 1995 and 2000?

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 09:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Robb Wilton, Sam Kinison, Max Wall, Max Miller, Andrew Dice Clay ...

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 10:29 (twenty-three years ago)

anyone remember the name of the black stand-up comic who supported Mark Lamarr on a tour between 1995 and 2000?

Marcus Powell (aka Roy Diamond)?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 10:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes - yes, Marcus Powell. Very good. Phew, thank God I found him. Mighty Boosh, Chris Rock etc. etc. (I am getting fart too old for this 'lists' lark). It's clear to me now - re: lists business - it was all always leading up to Marcus Powell. Now I can rest.

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 10:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Today's Chortle news:

Bowen fired over 'nig-nog' jibe
Comic admits career is over
Jim Bowen's showbusiness career lies in ruins today after he called a black woman a "nig-nog".

The 65-year-old made the remark on his Radio Lancashire programme The Happy Daft Farm.

Although he claimed "no racial connotation was intended," he was forced to resign from the BBC station, and admits he never expects to work again.

He told the Lancashire Evening Post: "In this business you don't actually retire. What happens is that the phone stops ringing."

Bowen immediately apologised on-air for the comment, before resigning from the programme.

He said: "When a 65-year-old is employed he brings with him a certain amount of baggage from his era and sadly sometimes this doesn't sit well in 2002.

"The expression I used would identify with the youngsters who were last to be picked in a football team or perhaps weren't the sharpest knife in the box."

"The BBC management have always treated me with respect and generosity and it just seems a pity that this one lapse in discipline has given the senior echelons a problem.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "He tendered his resignation and this has been accepted."

Bowen, a former club comic, shot to fame through TV series The Comedians and darts quiz Bullseye.

Oct 7, 2002

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 10:51 (twenty-three years ago)

I feel sorry for Bowen.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 10:54 (twenty-three years ago)

By the way, that's 'Chortle' as in the website - not my personal reaction to the news. I feel sorry for him, too. Language can cause all sorts of fine messes (as a boy, I told my Aunt Diane that ever since visiting the vets in the morning, our dog has stopped wanking his tail), but at least Jim Bowen has shown integrity post-gaff.

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 11:14 (twenty-three years ago)

That is simultanously hilarious and really fucking stupid.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 14:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Please accept my resignation.

― Owen, Tuesday, 8 October 2002 15:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Forgot a few: Mike 'The Rochdale Cowboy' Harding, Dr Evadne Hinge, Dame Hilda Bracket, Martin Short, Alex Langdon, Danny La Rue, George Formby, Wierd Al Yankovic ...

And who was that comedian who used to wear a prison-type uniform and jump at the same time as shouting 'spook!'?

― After Image, Sunday, 20 October 2002 14:58 (twenty-three years ago)

brits have Rob Brydon so we win!

― JJJ Hypro-cite, Thursday, 24 October 2002 14:22 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

Richard Lumsden (The House that Jack Built, Is it Legal), Max Boyce.

― JJ Hypro-cite, Thursday, 14 November 2002 12:48 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Eminem so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Thursday, 14 November 2002 20:19 (twenty-three years ago)

UK has Hugh Jelly so we win.

― JJ Hyprocite, Friday, 15 November 2002 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Hugh Jelly, AKA Phillip Herbert.

― JJ Hyprocite, Friday, 15 November 2002 19:57 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Pigmeat Markham so we win.

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 15 November 2002 19:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Isnt this a little childish - my dads taller than your dad?
And are US and UK and Canadian humours the only ones around?
Nope. can we be botherd to find out about them. Nope.
Anyway I would say a large % of Americans originated in Europe.

― Lucy W, Friday, 15 November 2002 20:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Not Pigmeat Markham.

Hence America wins.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 16 November 2002 03:14 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Tom Lehre, we have Viv Stanshall. Score draw.

― Matt (Matt), Saturday, 16 November 2002 03:38 (twenty-three years ago)

At the end America has better animations - South Park, Simpsons, Family Guy. Futurama, Bevis and Butthead and South Park are all ace but britain is really crap at them - stressed eric and bob & margaret are both incredibly unfunny and almost embarrasing to watch. Britain is the king of the Sketch and sitcoms: Fast Show, Monty Python, League of Gents, Black Books, Brass Eye, The Office, Smack the Pony are all unbeatable and getting better every series. Compare this to the ton of cack that takes up the majority of airtime on Paramount and you'll see what i mean. Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place - ugh! Even Friends wasn't very goood - no need to copy it!

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 16 November 2002 05:35 (twenty-three years ago)

The British find Family Guy funny, hence America wins.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 16 November 2002 09:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Obv answer: No.

― nathalie (nathalie), Saturday, 16 November 2002 09:52 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

Geoffrey Durham has England so Victoria Wood wins

― JJ Hyprocite, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:09 (twenty-three years ago)

america has bernie mac, so you lose. and you lose the comp. to be funniest too.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 20:09 (twenty-three years ago)

America has Bernie Mac so we win!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 20:52 (twenty-three years ago)

you louse.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I cannot fathom disliking Bernie Mac. He's like the 00s version of Cosby.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:19 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't want to be friends with anyone who doesn't think Bernie Mac is funny.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:30 (twenty-three years ago)

How about those of us who don't know who he is?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:33 (twenty-three years ago)

The Bernie Mac Show, which still isn't as funny as the man's stand-up routines (when you make it through the accent).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:39 (twenty-three years ago)

unfortunately my argument extends only as far as: he is not funny.

to me he seems about as funny as sinbad.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 21:53 (twenty-three years ago)

But Sinbad is also funny!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 22:04 (twenty-three years ago)

that's right...dan...

can we have that killfile thing begun?

haha, only kidding.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 22:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Fred MacAulay, Sean Meo: winsome

― JJ Hyprocite, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 13:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Gina Yashere is brilliant.

― Mac, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 17:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Sinbad out of Brookside?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 17:59 (twenty-three years ago)

he's less unfunny, at least.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 18:46 (twenty-three years ago)

But Sinbad is also funny!

Intentionally or not?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Who, then, is the most famous comedy name not mentioned at least once on this thread?

― Girl, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Mel Gibson

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 21:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Richard Pryor.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 21:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Holy shit, was Richard Pryor not mentioned once? Cuz I know about half the people I mentioned (eg. Allen Iverson) wouldn't exist without him.

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 10 December 2002 21:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Richard Pryor was sixth in Owen's list, above.

― JJ Hyprocite, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 22:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it's sick, personally, that Darren Boyd has apparently been slighted.

― Toby 2, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 22:48 (twenty-three years ago)

And Robert Bathurst, from the sitcom, Joking Apart

http://lavender.fortunecity.com/fullmonty/482/images/july/blueshirt_robert.jpg

― Toby 2, Tuesday, 10 December 2002 22:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Some of the most famous comedians not mentioned are very possibly Tim Allen, Charlie Chase and Tom Arnold. In my view, however, certainly the very best has been left 'till last: born in Scotland (so they win, I suppose) - Jimmy Finlayson. Curelly underrated -- he deserves a thread all to himself.

http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/photos/jimmyf_1.jpg

― JJ Hyprocite, Thursday, 12 December 2002 11:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Keystone Kops: Hank Mann, Billy Bevan, Snub Pollard and Tom Kennedy

― Beck 2, Thursday, 12 December 2002 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Pee-Wee Herman.

― Beck 2, Thursday, 12 December 2002 11:43 (twenty-three years ago)

http://silent-movies.com/Langdon/HarryFace.gif
Harry Langdon

― Beck 2, Thursday, 12 December 2002 11:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Best comedians in Britain: Ollie Double, Sally Russell

― JJ Hyprocite, Thursday, 12 December 2002 12:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Gregor Fisher, Roy Castle, Steve Nallon, Enn Reitel

― Beck 2, Thursday, 12 December 2002 12:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Leigh Francis, Dave Spikey

― JJ Hyprocite, Monday, 16 December 2002 22:58 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, I watch tons of stand up in America, and I'd say almost all of it is totally unfunny. I swear, it's a rule, every comic now has the same routine: "Hey, ya know the thing about (standup's race) is we (stereotype)" over and over and over. Or crappy worn out family/relationship material. And for creating Jackass, America is the worst country on the face of the earth, period.

Then I hear about Brittish "humour" which so many are so proud of, and a great deal of that is unfunny too - however I will give you Eddie Izzard; the man is brilliant.

Perhaps I should just accept that funnyness is VERY rare.

― David Allen, Tuesday, 17 December 2002 00:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Blame Spike Jonze for Jackass (although to be honest Jackass to me has always seemed like a trailer park variation on Japanese TV)

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 17 December 2002 02:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Faith Brown,Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley ...

― JJ Hyprocite, Friday, 20 December 2002 14:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes.

But we have the best sense of humour.

― Rayas Blancas, Friday, 20 December 2002 15:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Marcus Brigstocke, Arthur Haynes, Gracie Fields, Lionel
Jeffries, Deryck Guyler ...

― JJ Hyprocite, Wednesday, 1 January 2003 22:26 (twenty-three years ago)

This argument can be solved in one word: fishguts. That might be two words.

― Aimless, Thursday, 2 January 2003 04:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't believe Henry naylor is mentioned, but not his partner: Andy Parsons. what are you doing?

― Jarred QPR, Sunday, 5 January 2003 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

And JJ, and Owen -- you mentioned Steven Wright, and yet you forgot the brilliant Michael Redmond (stand-up and Father Stone in 'Father Ted'). Also missed: Paul Sneddon.

― Little Larry, Sunday, 5 January 2003 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

This is one of my "Thread Pejudices", man was that "TP" thread good/funny.

― dwh (dwh), Sunday, 5 January 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Maria McErlane

― JJ Hyprocite, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

You idiot, JJ Hypocrite - You forgot Penn and Teller.

― Toby 2, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Avid Merrion - real name Leigh Francis: Bo Selecta

― JJ Hyprocite, Wednesday, 8 January 2003 21:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Cargew the Cad, The Smothers Brothers, Dave King, Stuart Maconie ...

― JJ Hyprocite, Sunday, 12 January 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Ben Lyon, Bebe Daniels ...

― JJ Hyprocite, Sunday, 12 January 2003 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

four weeks pass...

Craig Hill and Roy Walker

― Epic Exit, Monday, 10 February 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

And Bradley Walsh

― Epic Exit, Saturday, 1 March 2003 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

We have My Family, they have Suddenly Susan. EVERYONE should hang their heads in shame.

― Matt (Matt), Monday, 3 March 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Wayne Dobson

― Big Crowds, Sunday, 13 April 2003 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Marcus Brigstocke - homor 10

― Epic Exit, Saturday, 26 April 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Why does this thread keep coming back again and again? It's stoopid.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 26 April 2003 22:59 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

Paul Tonkinson, Johnny Ball, Andy Zaltman, Dara O Brian, Shazia Mirza, Boothby Graffoe, Nina Conti. There are no more comedians, I think.

― Glues, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 10:54 (twenty-two years ago)

America wins, if only for Larry David and Conan O'Brien.

I find the British notion that boobs falling out of shirts=laugh riot to be beneath low brow. Am i missing the sarcasm or something?

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

um, maybe you haven't hit anything at all. were you aiming?

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Obviously you don't have boobs, RJG. They're very difficult to aim.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

tell me more.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

how is boobs falling out of shirts a British notion?

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Conan O'Brien's Canadian. I have a copy of his birth certificate. In fact, I gave birth to him.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Canada's our farm team.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Question for Brits:
So, I enjoy watching "Last of the Summer Wine" when it's shown on PBS here. Good stuff, I say. My ex-GF, who's been in London and Brighton for the past couple of years studying, was visiting and I told her. She laughed at me and said everyone over there finds the show horribly depressing!

Is this true? What's wrong with me?

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

what was your girlfriend studying?

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The ratio of boobs falling out of shirts in the UK versus the US.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Snoop Dogg to thread.

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Ben Dover to thread.

― Mark C (Mark C), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Visual Anthropology, RJG

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

she must have seen her fair share of LotSW.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Roy Jay: 'Spook!'

― Boobs falling out of shirts, Monday, 1 September 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Paul Garner

― Likes Sykes, Saturday, 13 September 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

okay all you folks
I do not get the love for
Conan O'Brien

"he's improved!" hell no.
self-deprecation don't work
if it's just a shtick

never liked his show
never liked his persona
why the hipster praise?*

*full disclosure time
he once dissed a piece I wrote
when we were at school.

actually though
his college writing was ACE
and his simpsons work

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Saturday, 13 September 2003 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Pardon?

― Brommage, Saturday, 13 September 2003 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I think there's more to him than self-deprication...in fact, he uses self-aggrandizement just as often.

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 13 September 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

oops yes you are right
but that part is not just schtik--
he believes his press

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Saturday, 13 September 2003 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

DUDE you're an alum? Have we had this conversation before?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 13 September 2003 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

no dan we have not
I've dropped hints for like two years
(no dropping H bomb)

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Saturday, 13 September 2003 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, now you gotta give up the year. (95 North REPRAZENT!)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:02 (twenty-two years ago)

1988
I am Leverett for life
you sad Quad mofo

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:05 (twenty-two years ago)

FITE

(I'm trying to think of who I know who was there around that time... Do you know Eric W3stby ('90, sang in the Kroks) or Andr3w Watson (I think '88, big theater guy)?)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

freshman year was ACE
Grays Middle was hardcore yo
Everyone Got Laid!

(actually just
the dude I shared a room with;
shoes out, sleep on floor)

________
I knew Andrew well,
we did plays together there.
He went to prep school

with my roomate Den
back in Cleveland. we waited
for him to come out.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:11 (twenty-two years ago)

THE WORLD IS TINY

Also STRAUS C ROXOR UR ALL W/O FIREPLACES.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah what are the odds
two dudes from our college would
be huge music nerds?

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

my wife: wigglesworth
(that's a dorm name, you all,
not a description)

and then winthrop house,
where I ate free for a year--
lunch ladies LOVED me

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha! My wife was 2 years ahead of me in Cabot by way of Matthews. Lots of flip-flopping between those dining halls (even though they share a kitchen).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 14 September 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

okay dan we should
un-hijack this thread pronto
we're grossing me out

but let's reminisce
about Alma Mama
sometime later, okay?

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Sounds good to me (although I'm not averse to hijacking a thread I totally see yr point).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Sunday, 14 September 2003 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

it's decided then:
Costa Rica rules on both
US and England!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Sunday, 14 September 2003 01:20 (twenty-two years ago)

This is American and funny

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/bo/2003/bo030914.gif

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 14 September 2003 07:48 (twenty-two years ago)

When I saw the title of this thread I laughed really hard, so it must be true.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Sunday, 14 September 2003 08:10 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Fred Aylward

― jock ewing, Monday, 20 October 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

England has Monty Python and Mr. Bean

They're yours!

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 20 October 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Tony Capstick

― Likes Sykes, Friday, 24 October 2003 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Fred "ReRun" Berry

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 24 October 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Eddie Izzard is the trump card, so Britain.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Friday, 24 October 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

You are all wasting your time, especially you, Owen.

― Plunging Hen, Thursday, 13 November 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

Tony Aitkin (Blackadder's 'Poor Tom')), Howard Goodall

― nubile blur, Sunday, 18 January 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Bob and Ray (Slow Talkers), Jonathan Winters, Tony Allen, Rolf Harris.

― nubile blur, Sunday, 25 January 2004 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Adam Sandler

― nubile blur, Sunday, 25 January 2004 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Andrew O'Connor, Ian Connell, Robert Florence, Jesse Armstrong

― nubile blur, Tuesday, 27 January 2004 23:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Dave Chapplle and Dave Attell

― A Nairn (moretap), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 07:10 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Michael Fenton Stevens, Julia Davis

― S Wool, Tuesday, 13 April 2004 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Catherine Tate

― S Wool, Tuesday, 13 April 2004 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

UK has Mike Hayley so UK wins.

― DC Lee's Neighbour, Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

six months pass...

I think a great sense of humour is when you can laugh no matter how hard things are. In britain we have always had great humour in media etc. for example dad's army is hilarious. for me americans are not as able to laugh at themselves. Can you imagine them making a comedy like that?

― figgy, Friday, 24 March 2006 11:30 (nineteen years ago)

British humour just pips Jewish humour. They both tower over gentile American humour. Ha!

― Charles (Holey), Friday, 24 March 2006 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

clearly britain has a sense of humor, for how else do you explain the arctic monkeys?

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:22 (nineteen years ago)

for me americans are not as able to laugh at themselves.
are you kidding me? thats the basis for 90% of american humor.

i hate english 'comedies' with a passion. oo look! old people being wacky! boring.

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:26 (nineteen years ago)

Dedication Honors Nude Britney Spears Giving Birth

― Dan (WINNER: America) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:29 (nineteen years ago)

are you kidding me? thats the basis for 90% of american humor.
Americans laugh at sly stereotypes of themselves, or of other types of American. Anything that's close to real is too close to the bone.

― stet (stet), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

such as?

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

Losers are a big part of British comedy, less so in American comedy

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

Um, Seinfeld? Friends? Night Court? Cheers? Everybody Hates Raymond? Roseanne?

Do you people actually watch American comedies or is this all based on ILE posts?

― Dan (Wow) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

i guess to me anyway it isnt that a show or comedian will make me laugh out loud so much as cause a wry smile and sense of empathy. it all depends on your own sense of humour doesnt it.

I know what you mean.Who wants to laugh when you can just smirk?
In fact, I'm going to switch from LOL and ROFFLES to WS and ROFFSE.

SMAO!:-)

― Smirky McSmirkerson, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:33 (nineteen years ago)

And according to gallery co-director, David Kesting, the artist studied a bearskin rug from Canada "to convey the commemoration of the traditional bearskin rug baby picture."

OMG

― pyjamagrama (teenagequiet), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

I could be wrong but pessimism and negativity and despair are much more a cornerstone of British comedy. A lot of "losers" in US comedies kind of win in the end basically, and even when they are "losers" they usually aren't doing that badly

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:36 (nineteen years ago)

xpost: SOL! :-) Wrong thread, buddy! Or maybe not.

― Smirky McSmirkerson, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:37 (nineteen years ago)

Who's the loser in Friends?

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

Don't say the viewer.

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:41 (nineteen years ago)

Spoilsport

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

Aside from the facile answer ("All of them??? These are some fucking horrible people"), Ross is a gigantic dork, Phoebe is a total mess, and Joey is a total fucking loser.

― Dan (LOSERS) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

Joey is not really a "total fucking loser", he lives in a nice apartment, does an interesting job and sleeps with lots of women - hardly Harold Steptoe!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:46 (nineteen years ago)

Hmmmmmm. All good looking, relatively affluent, beautiful boy/girlfriends, beloved by family and friends, never even close to having serious problems; not exactly Harold Steptoe, is it?

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

HAHAHAHA oh dear

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

He's a screaming moron who is pretty much disdained by everyone outside of the other characters on the show who spends more than 15 minutes with him!

― Dan (AKA, Total Fucking Loser) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

joey is a loser. he only has those things b/c it's a ficitional tv show. (see also their apartments)

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/400/steptoeandson_1.jpg

"Sorry 'Arrod, you're clearly the biggest loser of all time"

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

For the record, The Unknown Comic was from Canada.

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

Gawwwwwwwww!

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/brambellwill/brambellwilIMAGE/brambellwil.jpg

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

i thought chandler was supposed to be the friends loser. well, before the whole monica thing, anyway.

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

Hardly bleak tho is it?

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

(xpost) But yeah, find the chinks in the armor of ONE SHOW out of the list of six that instantly leapt to mind if it'll make you happy, I've got more.

― Dan (Cheers, All In The Family, My Name Is Earl, Crumbs, Titus, Grounded For Lif, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

who was it who wrote that the actual loser in the theme song to Friends was actually the viewer of Friends? Whoever it was made a good point.

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

titus?!

― Miss Misery xox (MissMiseryTX), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

they WERE there for me too. thru thick & thin.

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

Yes "All In the Family", that's good example because that was originally a British show and it's worth comparing the two. The British version is (or was) relentlessly downbeat and pessimistic and downright depressing most of the time!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

xxxpost
Those are definitely more plausible! Also Family Guy.

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

See also "Steptoe and Son"/"Sanford and Son" et al

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

Titus

(xpost: And the American version wasn't??? Next you'll be saying that "Good Times" was all sunshine and rainbows, what with that wacky JJ and his crazy antics.)

― Dan (Come On Now) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Serious question, is there an American equivalent to the sketch based comedy shows which have dominated the UK cultural landscape? From At last the 1968 show and Monty Python..up to Fast Show, Little Britain etc.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

"'Til Death Do Us Part" - even the title's depressing!!!!!!! (xpost)

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:58 (nineteen years ago)

Rowan and Martin! (xpost)

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:59 (nineteen years ago)

You mean like Saturday Night Live???????????

― Dan (People!) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 14:59 (nineteen years ago)

Dan, you've got to remember that people in Britain don't see a lot of these American show - Saturday Night Live included

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

So, I admit, I've never heard of (let alone seen) Crumbs, Titus, Grounded For Life or Still Standing. Or Good Times either... I think

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

(The funniest thing here is that I don't think the US has cornered the market on comedy in the slightest; I just find it odd that people apparently are willing to make up untruths to justify a position that you could probably pretty easily prove by not pointing to shows like "Little Britain".)

(xpost: I can buy that to some degree but SNL is as entrenched in American culture as Monty Python is in UK culture and every successful person who was ever on it has it plastered all over their resume/promo material/interviews to the point where it strikes me that you'd have to actively try to avoid hearing about it.)

― Dan (Zany Brits!) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

how about david brent and michael scott. michael scott comes across as goofy, clueless and over enthusiastic but david brent had that air of extreme desperation and awareness of his own situation that made you feel pretty bad.

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:05 (nineteen years ago)

Hahaha wait, so you're telling me that American sitcoms are all based on shiny happy celebrations of the beautiful people based on not having watched many of them?

I mean, I could say all British sitcoms revolve around Mrs. Slocombe's pussy and that would be just as valid, right?

― Dan (RUMBLED) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:05 (nineteen years ago)

why is an argument about humor being fought on which country has more intentionally depressing sitcoms?

― +++, Friday, 24 March 2006 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

todd solondz - funnier than mel brooks!

― +++, Friday, 24 March 2006 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

because britishes find depression funny

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)

But that's actually true, Dan. xpost

― Allyzay Rofflesberger (allyzay), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

Hahaha wait, so you're telling me that American sitcoms are all based on shiny happy celebrations of the beautiful people based on not having watched many of them?

Believe me I have watched many many American sitcoms!!!!!!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.mistodark.com/3stooges27.jpg

― Masked Gazza, Friday, 24 March 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

I didn't say that losers didn't exist at all in American comedy, did I!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:24 (nineteen years ago)

losers don't exist at all in American comedy!

-- Dadaismus, the Male Poster (dadaismu...), March 24th, 2006 2:24 PM. (Dada) (later)

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

Sabotage! Cheney-Rove strikes again!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

I think American comedies have as many 'losers' as British comedies, but their losers tend to be emotionally/mentally disfunctional losers rather than just people with shite jobs.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:30 (nineteen years ago)

otm

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

*dysfunctional

shit

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

Being a rag and bone man is a shite job?

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

You mean like Saturday Night Live???????????

Yes, even this sheltered Brit is aware of SNL but it seems like a one off. Based on what we get it's either sitcoms real or animated or hybrids like Tonight with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:38 (nineteen years ago)

Being a rag and bone man is a shite job?

Well it was never good enough for 'arold.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

The British can't even get the Simpsons right.

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:55 (nineteen years ago)

Lets Anticipate Snakes On A Plane!

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Now, what about http://www.vwler.de/tmp/Real- Life-Simpsons.wmv might suggest non-British involvement?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, even this sheltered Brit is aware of SNL but it seems like a one off. Based on what we get it's either sitcoms real or animated or hybrids like Tonight with Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien.

In Living Color, House Of Buggin', Mad TV, The Carol Burnett Show, Laugh-In, Hee-Haw, You Can't Do That On Television!, Mr. Show feat. Bob & Dave, The State, The Ben Stiller Show

― Dan (And So On) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

We never got any of those shows, apart from "Laugh-In"

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

OK, well I think it is fair to say that your average US ILX poster knows more about British tv than your average UK ILX poster knows about US tv, because you guys don't seem to even get 99% of our shows. So it seems a bit unfair to make sweeping judgements of American television based entirely on Friends and the Simpsons.

― Allyzay Rofflesberger (allyzay), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

There's an awful lot of British TV that America never got!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

Yes but we're talking 70% v 99% (less than that nowadays since we have BBC America and a rather freakish proliferation of UK tv show box set DVDs all of a sudden) and I don't see very many Americans in this recent discussion accusing all British TV of being "Are You Being Served?"

― Allyzay Rofflesberger (allyzay), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

Hold on here, who is actually making the sweeping generalisations on this thread?

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

im not at all sure about those estimates, Ally. Even in australia we had 80% american shows and about 10% each australia and english shows. on the other hand i do remember being in a london hotel room and being horrified that there was literally nothing worth watching on tv, which would probably back up your figures. what british shows does the US get? are they on cable? ive only seen a little on pbs.

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

Are there any British cartoons?

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

Like I've never heard anyone mention one.

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

Hundreds! "Dangermouse"!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:03 (nineteen years ago)

Oh yea that was pretty good!

Count Ducula was German though right?

There were two semi crappy foreignish shows about koalas on american TV in the late 80's... anyone know what they were?

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:09 (nineteen years ago)

Most British cartoons suck though, to be fair. At least the ones I've seen on late night TV.

There is an episode of Dangermouse that has a Count Duckula in it, but it's not the same Count Duckula, might be where they got the idea from though.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

"Count Duckula" was British!

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

In fact wasn't it Cosgrove Hall? Same as "Dangermouse"?

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088500/

Trivia: A spin-off from "Danger Mouse" (1981) (more)

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:15 (nineteen years ago)

count duckula was great

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

what about inspector gadget? american or british?

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

American I think

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

American

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

Did the British equivalent of Edith on "Til Death Do Us Part" offer coffee to her rapist? I'd check myself before I called "All in the Family" shiny and happy.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

Also, UK or US version, 'whose line is it anyway' makes me want to stab

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Who said it was "shiny and happy"? (xpost)

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:09 (nineteen years ago)

But it was basically more positive and life-affirming, no way is Archie Bunker as hateful as Alf Garnett was

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:15 (nineteen years ago)

Hi, are you white?

― Dan (Madness) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

Greatest American Hero
Perfect Strangers
Three's Company
Gilligan's Island
Sanford & Son
Happy Days
Alf
Diff'rent Strokes
Cheers
Night Court
Seinfeld
Simpsons
Family Guy
South Park
Desperate Housewives
Golden Girls
Designing Women
Ren & Stimpy
America's Funniest Home Videos
Candid Camera
(All other funny video shows, the new one is hilarious)
Scrubs
King of Queens
Still Standing
Two And A Half Men
Curb Your Enthusiasm
I Dream of Genie
Bewitched
Munsters
Addam's Family
Just Shoot Me
Becker
Friends
Joey
Frazier
Carol Burnett
Bazaar
Conan O'brien
Dave Letterman
Saturday Night Live
The Office

vs.

The Office
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Benny Hill
Robin's Nest
Keeping Up Appearances
Red Dwarf
The Young Ones

vs.

Kids In The Hall
Beachcombers? Littlest Hobo?

― What have I missed?, Friday, 24 March 2006 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

To borrow your approach Dan, I'm assuming that you have see the entirety of "'Til Death to Us Part", particularly the first few series? Silly question, of course you have! (xpost)

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

Ah, I missed All In The Family.

Also, I think Bazaar was Canadian.

And Til Death Do Us Part and Coupling definitely.

― Turn this into a list, please, Friday, 24 March 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

what british shows does the US get? are they on cable?

Yes. There are multiple channels devoted to "BBC America", at least on digital and sattelite. The ones on PBS are frighteningly shit.

― Allyzay Rofflesberger (allyzay), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

Canadian tv is what really gets the short shift, anonymous jackoff is correct, though. Although I gotta say I can't really vouch if Canadian tv deserves to get the short shift or not, being as I've never seen any of it besides a bit of Kids in the Hall from time to time.

― Allyzay Rofflesberger (allyzay), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

NO DEGRASSI NO CRED

― dean gulpberry (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 18:42 (nineteen years ago)

bob newhart slays all.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 24 March 2006 19:18 (nineteen years ago)

He stopped doing that once he got on the Paxil.

― Dan (Evens Him Out) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 March 2006 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

No shit, Bob Newhart had FOUR shows named after himself. You've got to be good to do that. And yet, I forgot him! I need to watch more TV Land.

― Anonymous Jackoff, Friday, 24 March 2006 19:28 (nineteen years ago)

did i miss a huge sctv section? because my settings only show the last 50 and i'm not going back to read everything.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 24 March 2006 19:34 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think anyone mentioned SCTV. I thought about it and forgot. It was Canadian, wasn't it? I saw it semi-recently and it wasn't as funny as I had remembered.

What about...

Not Necessarily The News?

― Anonymous Jackoff, Friday, 24 March 2006 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

the queen haters from sctv is perhaps the best thing ever to be broadcast over the airwaves ever, anywhere.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 24 March 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

You guys in the States know that British TV does not begin and end with the BBC don't you? Most of the funniest stuff of the last 20 years was on other channels.

― everything, Friday, 24 March 2006 19:44 (nineteen years ago)

SCTV!

um, xposts.

― The Yellow Kid, Friday, 24 March 2006 19:54 (nineteen years ago)

Most of the funniest stuff of the last 20 years was on other channels.

Errrrrrrrrrrr, racks brains............. Oh yeah, "Spaced", "Brass Eye", "Peep Show"

― Dadaismus, the Male Poster (Dada), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

There were many many more American shows on British television in the 70s and 80s than there are now. In many ways the 90s and 00s have been a golden age for British television.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

The thread title just asks if Americans have the best sense of humour, not whether they have the funniest television shows. I personally find a lot of Americans to be well natured and good humoured but it's not in their culture to try to be funny very often. They are usually occupied praying, shooting each other, ironing their shorts or simply gasping for breath after climbing three stairs that they just don't have the time to think of wisecracks.

Brits, Australians and Canadians are a better laugh overall as everyone knows.

― everything, Friday, 24 March 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

it's not in their culture to try to be funny very often.

Yes but typical British people usually fail when they make jokes.

See: Happyslapping

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

Brits, Australians and Canadians are a better laugh overall as everyone knows.

well that sentence is certainly funny.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:25 (nineteen years ago)

Brits, Australians and Canadians are a better laugh overall as everyone knows.

http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/images/ww45.jpg
http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/images/ww42.jpg
http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/images/ww43.jpg

That's for sure!

― R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (ex machina), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

awww the aussie seems nice

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:42 (nineteen years ago)

dan, i can honestly say that 99% of UKers are entirely oblivious to SNL, it just doesn't exist here (and also, currently, chappelle)

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Friday, 24 March 2006 20:44 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah seriously, Dan, he's right. Ditto Letterman.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:00 (nineteen years ago)

There were two semi crappy foreignish shows about koalas on american TV in the late 80's... anyone know what they were?

-- R.I.P. West Village Bird Shaman ]-`: (dr_...), March 24th, 2006.

http://www.progressiveboink.com/b/images/archive/nooztitle.jpg

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:11 (nineteen years ago)

the weirdest episode of that show was when they returned to the koala's home dimension and discovered the koalas were bred as eggs in this machine which they called mother. i shit you not!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:12 (nineteen years ago)

this is the other nickelodeon koala show:

http://www.progressiveboink.com/mike/img/noozleskoala/littlekoala.jpg

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:15 (nineteen years ago)

Originally on Nickelodeon (30 mins)
Status: Ended
Premiered November 4, 1989
Show Category: Animation

Welcome to the Noozles guide at TV.com.

"Noozles" was an Anime made in 1984 & that came to the US in 1989. It aired on Nickelodeon, part of the daily Nick Jr. afternoon line-up.

Renowned archaeologist Alex Brown was on a dig in Australia when he sent a package across the sea, meant for his daughter, Sandy, who was living back home with her mother and grandmother. Sandy was surprised to find that it was a cute little stuffed koala, but the real surprise came when Sandy rubbed noses with it.

After Sandy noozled the koala, it came to life and introduced himself as Blinky. Blinky's equipped with a watch that can stop time. His sister Pinky shows up. Pinky had a magical make-up compact with a mirror that could show glimpses of the future.

Pinky also had a lipstick pencil that can draw portals to other worlds, such as where they came from - a parallel universe called Koala-Wala Land. KWL had recently been overrun by a dictator known only as the High Dingy Doo. The entire place was crawling with KangarooCops who would fly around and shout "STOP IN THE NAME OF THE HIGH DINGY DOO!".

Dr. Brown - Sandy's father - had somehow wandered into Koala-Wala Land during his dig in Australia, and was on the run from the Kangaroo Cops when he sent Blinky to find Sandy, his last hope for freedom.

But all Blinky wanted to do was stay in Sandy's tree and eat all day. The girl frequently pointed out that the leaves on the tree were not eucalyptus leaves and that the bears shouldn't eat them, but they didn't seem to mind.

Pinky often used her magic pencil to draw a portal back to Koala-Wala Land. She spent each episode trying to convince Blinky to go back to Koala-Wala Land with her. Sandy, of course, was always excited to go, even though humans weren't really allowed there. She would wear a disguise to look like a koala; at least in Koala-Wala Land, everybody can fly.

While Pinky wanted Blinky back home, Sandy spent every episode trying to hide the fact that her teddy bear was alive and liked to eat the tree in her front yard. This was especially hard, since her mom was constantly checking up on her, and her "friend" Mark was always popping in to say hi.

The only person who knew about Blinky and Pinky was Sandy's grandmother, who later went on adventures with them. Also, two poachers named Franky and Spike had found out, and they kept trying to nab the koalas for profit. And along on each adventure, was Osgood, a lizard from Koala-Wala Land. He mostly ran about, screaming in a tiny voice. He panicked a lot, but usually lived in Blinky's watch.

By the end of the series, Blinky and Pinky returned home, Sandy was able to rescue her dad from the KangarooJail, and everyone supposedly lived happily ever after. Yay!!!!!

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Sandy Brown - Annoying red-haired girl.

Grandma Brown - Sandy's Lively grandmother

Mark – Sandy's best friend

Franky and Spike – Two thugs

Blinky – Grey, gets hungry and tired easily. His watch could stop time.

Pinky (Pink, perky koala bear. Wants to get Blinky back home. Can travel through space and time.)

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:16 (nineteen years ago)

more here

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

and even more here

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 March 2006 01:22 (nineteen years ago)

I've seen several SNLs in the UK - it has been shown, but never regularly, just a sporadic week of selected best episodes or something. It isn't an equivalent of the British sketch shows, but of the old variety shows - it's Morecambe & Wise with guest stars and addressing the audience plus sketches and the like, not Monty Python or The Fast Show.

The idea that US viewers get to see more UK stuff than vice versa is breathtakingly wrong. Lots of American comedy shows have been regulars in the best slots on at least two of our main network channels, and as far as I can tell ALL reasonably successful US sitcoms make it onto at least the major cable channels. I just watched the first episode of Stacked, for instance. UK comedies need to be winning strings of major awards before they make it onto cable channels hardly anyone watches in the US. I could list a hundred US sitcoms I've seen - how many UK sitcoms can any US resident list? (I've also spent weeks in the US, and spent time looking through your TV channels.)

I have no doubt that the frustrated loser, the man who is certain he is meant for better and finer things but can't reach them, is much more a British thing: we get Hancock, you get Frasier. But that's just style, not quality. Of course British people like British comedy better - it's made by British people for British tastes. And despite my second para, we clearly don't know as much about US comedy as Americans do. I'd like to see more of SNL. I'd like to see lots of classic old stand-up (even an international star like Woody Allen, I've only seen about two minutes of his stand-up) and sitcoms (we get plenty of Bilko and Lucy, but there's a lot I've never seen). I suspect some of you would like Tommy Cooper and Morecambe & Wise and Frankie Howerd, or Porridge and Dad's Army and Rising Damp. Anyway, I'd be interested in the views of those who've lived in the UK and US for long periods of time. There will still be some national bias in tastes, but at least they have a chance of a more balanced perspective. I note we have Tracer on this thread, for instance...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 25 March 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

Just out of interest, these are the American comedies that have a) started this decade b) been shown on the UK big four TV channels (ie, our equivalent of ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX).

God, The Devil And Bob
Malcolm In The Middle
Nikki
Suddenly Susan
Veronica's Closet
Action
Grounded For Life
My Wife And Kids
So Little Time
Taina
The Bernie Mac Show
Do Over
For Your Love
Scrubs
Arrested Development
Men, Women and Dogs
That's So Raven
The Pitts
Good Girls Don't

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 25 March 2006 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

oooh martin - i agree and disagree there. yeah, it has been shown sometimes - i remember a screening of the series around the time of wayne's world hitting UK cinema screens in the early 90s - but the classic series has, to my knowledge, never been aired, save for late night Best Ofs on ITV, and some appearances on cable.

but there's too many US cultural references for it to 'work' over here, its a very localised series, and that's its strength (certainly in the earlier episodes - so closely related with US politics, and often specifically NYC politics, like that early Candice Bergen thing about the rights vote in NYC, and the way the city was treated in the late 70s). in many ways, that's one reason why it differs from UK sketch shows - BUT, despite the musical guests, the rotating hosts, i'd say it *is a sketch show in that sense; the guests were players in the skits, and the cast soon became the 'star' of the show.

i love the show, but for its faults as well as its qualities, and i think it'd never translate here; i'm skeptical that the daily show will ever have more than a cult audience, for similar reasons.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 25 March 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

in many ways, that's one reason why it differs from UK sketch shows

...by which i mean, this sense of political currency, this 'spoilability', like how TW3 would in places suffer if repeated now, or how stuff like Bremner Bird & Fortune has a currency.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 25 March 2006 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

Haha Dom, I'm in the US and haven't heard of half of those shows!

― naus (Robert T), Saturday, 25 March 2006 17:21 (nineteen years ago)

Oh my god Martin, you have to hear more of Woody Allen's standup! Unless you hated what you heard.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 25 March 2006 17:34 (nineteen years ago)

I have heard a bit more in audio-only form, in fact, and every bit I've heard was great.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 25 March 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

As a Brit, I do love a lot of American comedy, stand up and situation. My favourites out of the limited amount that's reached us over the pond are: Taxi, Woody Allen, Seinfeld, Larry David, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphey, Jackie Mason, Simpsons, Rita Rudner, Lily Tomlin.. But I do realise that there's probably loads of other stuff I don't know, that I'd love.

For those Americans who take their comedy seriously, but who currently seem to think British humour is simply Benny Hell, The Office, The Young Ones, Monty Python, and not much more, you really should remember that a quite a significant amount of American comedians and comic actors are British, Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, and you owe it to yourselves to check out:

The Goons
Max Wall
Frankie Howerd
Pete and Dud / Derek and Clive
A Very Peculiar Practice
Round the Horn
Blackadder
Rising Damp
Porridge
Dad's Army
Nightingales with Robert Lindsay
Jack Dee
Harry Hill
Dustin Gee
Marty Feldman
The Carry On's
Ripping Yarns
A Bit Of Fry And Laurie
Absolutely
Ealing films
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Game On
Only Fools and Horses
Dr. Martin Scrote's "Set of Six"
Steptoe and Son
Ivor Cutler
Nick Revell
Andy Hamilton's "Bedtime"

There is so much more - if you don't check this lot out, or at least some, then we really can't have this conversation any longer!

Also, for anyone interested
News here about the possible release of a DVD for "Asolutely"!
http://www.absolutelyandy.com/absolutely/news/index.htm

― epic exit, Saturday, 25 March 2006 19:42 (nineteen years ago)

Danny Wallace is pretty hot.

― Pusterq, Saturday, 25 March 2006 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

I can't believe The Goons hasn't been discussed more on this board.

― epic exit, Saturday, 25 March 2006 19:47 (nineteen years ago)

Saying British humor can be summed up with Benny Hill is like saying American humour is Ruby Wax.

― P. Weller, Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

Dustin Gee

seriously? i was young when he died, but was he not just another russ abbott performer?

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

The culture with the best of humor by far is Yemeni.

― dorkus humungous, Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:39 (nineteen years ago)

Does America have anything akin to The Mighty Boosh or The League of Gentlemen or is it all just sitcoms set in massive houses?

― David Orton (scarlet), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:46 (nineteen years ago)

Does America have anything akin to The Mighty Boosh or The League of Gentlemen

America has plenty of really unfunny stuff, yes.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 25 March 2006 21:41 (nineteen years ago)

John Moloney and Guy Jenkin are both brilliant comedians, and both are half American, half English, so..

― Knet, Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

I don't want to read this thread, but was the answer "yes"?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:16 (nineteen years ago)

The answer was / is Yes Minister.

― Knet, Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

Does America have anything to compete with English satirists James Gillray, George Cruikshank and William Hogarth?

― Creeper Danube, Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:30 (nineteen years ago)

who?

― Cathy (Cathy), Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:40 (nineteen years ago)

Anne Coulter?

― theantmustdance (theantmustdance), Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

Of course, Thomas Nast!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caricature

― Creeper Danube, Thursday, 30 March 2006 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

Pete, the-Dog-With-the-Ring-Around-His-Eye worked with Roscoe "Fatty Arbuckle, Stan Laurel and Harold Lloyd.

http://www.angelfire.com/stars3/petey/meet.html

He was American.

― Peter F., Thursday, 30 March 2006 21:59 (nineteen years ago)

I'd say that the best twenty US sitcoms of the past 20 years would beat the best of the UK's but of the past 50 years it's the other way round.

I also think British comedy is more varied and daring in subject material. Programmes like The League of Gentlemen and Peep Show wouldn't happen in the US

Anyway when the best things, the US has to offer this decade Arrested Development gets dumped due to low ratings it's hard to wager that US citizens have a better sense of humour even if those making the shows do.

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Thursday, 30 March 2006 22:15 (nineteen years ago)

I also think British comedy is more varied and daring in subject material. Programmes like The League of Gentlemen and Peep Show wouldn't happen in the US

I don't know, Strangers With Candy was as weird and off-color as either of those shows. And then there's Wonder Showzen and Saturday TV Funhouse, which lacked subtlety but weren't afraid of pushing buttons.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 30 March 2006 22:23 (nineteen years ago)

but arrested development was terrible!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 March 2006 22:27 (nineteen years ago)

x-post

Maybe, but two of those aren't on the major networks and the other is a minor part of SNL that doesn't appear on one either.

― MitchellStirling (MitchellStirling), Thursday, 30 March 2006 22:30 (nineteen years ago)

Saturday TV Funhouse was a show on Comedy Central.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 31 March 2006 03:30 (nineteen years ago)

The major network rubric is a weird one to bring up anyway. Cable is ubiquitous in America.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 31 March 2006 03:31 (nineteen years ago)

Anyway, I don't actually have an opinion either way; I simply had a taste for snark that I couldnae quench.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 31 March 2006 03:33 (nineteen years ago)

how did Two Guys, A Girl, and A Pizza Parlor not make it to the UK?
Also Suddenly, Susan!?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 31 March 2006 03:40 (nineteen years ago)

The Brits here have been very gracious, shown great restraint on this thread. Americans who flatter themselves that their nation has the better sense of humour should go and watch a Peter Cook DVD and ask themselves why such an amazing one-off talent was stuck as a sidekick to Joan Rivers on her UK talk show.

― Dido (not the real Dido, although my name is Dido), Friday, 31 March 2006 08:17 (nineteen years ago)

Sterling, Suddenly Susan was shown here. It wasn't any good. I don't know the other one.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

Oh my god Martin, you have to hear more of Woody Allen's standup! Unless you hated what you heard.

-- Andrew Farrell (afarrel...), March 25th, 2006 5:34 PM. (later) (link)

I have heard a bit more in audio-only form, in fact, and every bit I've heard was great.

-- Martin Skidmore (lonewolf.cu...), March 25th, 2006 6:28 PM. (later) (link)

There was a great radio 4 series on this just recently, might still be on listen again.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:45 (nineteen years ago)

Desmonds vs New Attitude

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:48 (nineteen years ago)

I think britain does much better in the surreal and the grotesque, from gilray through to python and the league of gentleman, but it very rarely can produce a straight up sitcom, with a less than surreal situation (it can do it, on occasion; drop the dead donkey, the good life, Desmonds)

― Ed (dali), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:49 (nineteen years ago)

Desmonds is not on DVD, I want to see if it can still stand up.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

sorry martin just some failed facetiousness there.

i actually can't believe they would have imported that of all things tho. also, Nikki!?

what next, stacked?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

I watched the first two Stackeds - that isn't very good either, despite having Christopher Lloyd in it, which is what made me try it.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 31 March 2006 11:54 (nineteen years ago)

"I think britain does much better in the surreal and the grotesque, from gilray through to python and the league of gentleman, but it very rarely can produce a straight up sitcom, with a less than surreal situation (it can do it, on occasion; drop the dead donkey, the good life, Desmonds"

Yes Minister, The Likely Lads, Porridge, Only Falls and Horses, Andy Hamilton's Bedtime, Game On, A Very Peculiar Practice - quite a few occasions more!

It depend what you mean by straight up. Do you perhaps mean based on Church of America values? I would suggest that the British "My family" is atheiststic wheras the Cosby show, Cheers, Different Strokes and Friends, all equally straight up (but much funnier) are American Christian. Britain would be at a disadvantage doing American Christian, so it doesn't. TS: Is the surreal and the grotesque less moral?

― Alice Crow, Friday, 31 March 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

Friends isn't remotely Christian, what are you on about?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:18 (nineteen years ago)

do BBC america show all the excellent programmes that are produced on ITV?

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

Are there any?

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

i thought my use of the word excellent was enough to convey sarcasm

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:22 (nineteen years ago)

no but the use of the word 'ITV' was.

BBC America showed Father Ted!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

But there have been many excellent comedies on ITV in the past!

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

Desmonds used to annoy the hell out of me, as all the white kids I went to school with seemed to assume that my home life was like that...Fuckers!

Desmond was from Barbados for fucks sake! My family are from Jamaica, there's a world of difference...

― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

BBC america were advertising footballers wives very heavily when I was in new york.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:34 (nineteen years ago)

Desmond was from Barbados for fucks sake! My family are from Jamaica, there's a world of difference...

I used to think they were much closer to each other than they actually are :/

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

"Friends isn't remotely Christian, what are you on about?"

The writers' Church of America values are reflected I would suggest: love thy neighbour, the family (found outside one's own family); there are moral dilemmas galore - should Phoebe donate her savings to a children's charity or spend it on a big wedding; Is it right for Phoebe to give the baby she's carried for nine months to her brother and his partner? Oh, and who is that outsider - that freak foreigner Gunther! That familyless "Ugly Naked Guy"!

― Alice Crow, Friday, 31 March 2006 12:40 (nineteen years ago)

But two of the main characters are Jewish

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

Surely Gunther was an American citizen born in the States. Describing him as an outsider seems daft too - he runs the business where they all hang out!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:48 (nineteen years ago)

BBC America shows this stuff:

Absolutely Fabulous
Are You Being Served
As Time Goes By
At Home with the Braithwaites
Avengers, The

Bad Girls
Bargain Hunt
BBC World News
Benny Hill Show, The
Black Books
Blackadder
Bodies
Bromwell High

Cash in the Attic
Catherine Tate Show, The
Changing Rooms
Coupling
Creature Comforts
Crimefighters

Ed vs Spencer

Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Footballers Wives
Friends And Crocodiles

Gideon's Daughter
Goodness Gracious Me

Hex
High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman
Homes Under the Hammer
House Invaders

I'm Alan Partridge
Increase Your House Price By Ten Grand

Just For Laughs

Keeping Up Appearances
Knowing Me, Knowing You
Kumars at No. 42

League of Gentlemen, The
Little Britain
Location, Location, Location
Long Firm, The
Look Around You

Madonna: Live
Manchild
Messiah
Mile High
Monarch of the Glen
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Murder in Suburbia
Murder Prevention Unit
My Family
My Hero

Office, The

Peep Show
Persuaders, The
Prime Suspect

Red Cap
Robinsons, The
Rocket Man
Rockface

Saint, The
Sea of Souls
Second Sight
Smoking Room, The
So Graham Norton

Talking Movies
Teachers
Thin Blue Line, The
Trust

Vice, The
Viva Blackpool

What Not to Wear
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Without Prejudice
Worst Week of My Life

Young Ones, The

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

here is the comedy page:

http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/comedy_games/comedy_games.jsp

― scott seward (scott seward), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

Wot no "Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt"?

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

you are all gay

― Houdini Gordonii (ex machina), Friday, 31 March 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

(lock thread?)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 31 March 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

you are all gay

WELL YOU WOULD KNOW

― Superior British Sense Of Humour (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

"But two of the main characters are Jewish". Yes, and see how they're portrayed. One, a Darwinist, can't even hold down a relationship and let the name of his ex-lover slip during his Christian vows. The other is an obsessive compulsive whose journey in life seems to centre on having become thin when she finally abjured her Jewish faith.

"Surely Gunther was an American citizen born in the States." Why the incessant German references, and why is he not called Brad?

― Alice Crow, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

The other thing to remember is that British shows that turn up on American channels tend to be established, critically acclaimed, or at least known "viable" shows that have some sort of fanbase back here and then get imported over there. American shows on British TV are bought before they're shown in America, which explains why Channel 4 has a backlog of cancelled US sitcoms that it shoves on at 4 in the morning after they've realised that nobody could possibly want to watch them (see: Dweebs, Some Of My Best Friends Are, that think about the dog walkers). This also explains why Will and Grace didn't turn up on British TV for roughly six years.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:39 (nineteen years ago)

I liked the Tea Leone sitcom "Flying Blind".

― Staff Member, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Surely Gunther was an American citizen born in the States." Why the incessant German references, and why is he not called Brad?

I'm sure the idea was he had German parentage or great-grandparentage but was born in NY or nearby - his accent seems to suggest he had been there long enough. You are reading far too much into this and it's just not there.

As for your reading of Friends portrayal of the two Jewish characters, it's baffling! Monica and Ross were always regarded higher than any of the other characters, their parents were still together and happy (unlike the other characters) and featured more often than the others. And Elliott Gould rocks. The negative traits of Ross and Monica's characters (nerdiness and obsessive competetiveness respectfully) were highlighted no more than the negative quirks of the other characters (the others being equally 'inept' in holding down a relationship).

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

I think the writers painted themselves into a corner re Ross and Monica.

― Alice Crow, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

omg Joey Tribbiani CLEARLY demonstrates that Catholics are shallow, dim nymphomaniacs who would be sweeping the streets if only they weren't so darn cute.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

bbc america sounds a lot better than bbc uk!!!!

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

i just can't recall any incessant references to Gunther's supposed 'foreign-ness' or 'Germanic nature' other than HIS NAME.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

wait isnt lisa kudrow jewish too

― ++++, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

actually sinker & i have a long co-thesis on the jewishness of friends

― ++++, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

as formulated in his living room

― ++++, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

All the weaknesses of all the characters were evinced in the light of the Church of America.

― Alice Crow, Friday, 31 March 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

wait isnt lisa kudrow jewish too

She might be but Phoebe wasn't. Courtney Cox isn't Jewish anyway, is she?

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

Gunther totally dresses like a Satanist, now you come to mention it.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

i thought Rachel was meant to be Jewish in Friends as well, what with that 'spoilt princess' persona she came in with (but left without). hmmm. oh and her Dad had a boat, and we know how much those guys love the water!

― Konal 'borderline offensive' Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Which church exactly is that?

(Er, Rachel is jewish too? Clue's in the question, like. Oh never mind, xpost)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 31 March 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

Greek!

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

No, hold on, I'm getting the actors and their characters mixed up

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

watching britney spears on will and grace last night was kind of painful

― sunny successor (katharine), Friday, 31 March 2006 15:57 (nineteen years ago)

woo good thing i never watch that show now (the Cher cameo was bad enough)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 31 March 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

i love queeny/bitchy humor but will & grace is not funny

― ++++, Friday, 31 March 2006 16:34 (nineteen years ago)

Gary Shandling

― Lock Thread, Friday, 31 March 2006 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

America has nothing to comapre with the Odd Odes of That's Life's
Cyril Fletcher.

― Snappy Dresser, Monday, 17 April 2006 10:22 (nineteen years ago)

America has nothing to comapre with the Odd Odes of That's Life's
Cyril Fletcher.

-- Snappy Dresser (ks;...), April 17th, 2006. (later)

qft

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 17 April 2006 10:29 (nineteen years ago)

I believe that the Americans like to exaggerate everything leading to more "obvious" comedy as compared to the British wit. Additionally, many British sitcoms have been "Americanised". I love both, but if I had to take a pick I would probably go with British Humour

― TQM, Friday, 21 April 2006 10:43 (nineteen years ago)

Again, the British know when to cancel a sitcom (as well as limiting a series... season in America). The Americans tend to drag their sitcoms on & on... Hence the British sitcoms still seem fresh when compared to their American counterparts...

― TQM, Friday, 21 April 2006 10:47 (nineteen years ago)

Of course, since there's only about 12 episodes usually, they get kind of stale pretty quickly too.

― everything, Friday, 21 April 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

I believe that the Americans like to exaggerate everything leading to more "obvious" comedy as compared to the British wit.

http://www.ontheairmagazine.com/Keeping-up-Appearances-(72d.jpg

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

tho you may be right generally.

anyway, the obv answer is America has the best sense of humor for (most) Americans, Britan for (most) Britishes, etc etc etc

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

actually sinker & i have a long co-thesis on the jewishness of friends

well it was written by Comden and Green

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:52 (nineteen years ago)

Did you mean to post a picture of Patricia Routledge or did you mean to post a picture of Molly Sugden?

― TS: Mick Ralphs vs. Ariel Bender (Dada), Friday, 21 April 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

The Brits have a lot more character comedians / actors who are great at both disciplines: Fred Emney, Hal Gordon, George Cole, Alastair Sim, Graham Crowden, Graham Moffatt, Gus McNaughton (started as a stand up), Edward Chapman (Mr. Grimsdale), Jack Douglas.

― Eat, the indie band of the early 190's, Sunday, 30 April 2006 15:11 (nineteen years ago)

six years pass...

America's comedians had the excellent sense to quit while they were ahead.

― Aimless, Tuesday, 4 December 2012 19:24 (thirteen years ago)

three years pass...

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-political-sitcoms-20160706-snap-story.html

“American TV comedy nowadays tends not to be ironic or satirical,” he related. “There is a wish to make it homey and cozy. When I was talking to a network about turning [“Yes, Minister”] into an American series, I was asked if I could put a kid into it — or failing that, a dog. I decided that life is too short.” (For Lynn’s personal view on Brexit, see his Facebook page.)

― F♯ A♯ (∞), Thursday, 7 July 2016 16:35 (nine years ago)

He's generalizing about comedy on American TV based on his experiences with American network TV, which is a pretty big mistake.

― some anal dread (Old Lunch), Thursday, 7 July 2016 16:38 (nine years ago)

shouldve gone undercover to the underground clandestine american comedy scene

― F♯ A♯ (∞), Thursday, 7 July 2016 16:45 (nine years ago)

I have like 100 gigglebytes of sweet American comedy on my HDD

― skateboard of education (rip van wanko), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:11 (nine years ago)

how many dogs would you say star in them

― F♯ A♯ (∞), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:15 (nine years ago)

British sitcoms have cats in them

― O, Barack: flaws (wins), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:16 (nine years ago)

We are cat people

― O, Barack: flaws (wins), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:16 (nine years ago)

mysterious

― F♯ A♯ (∞), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:18 (nine years ago)

Mind you, 95% of comedy is atrocious regardless of its source or country of origin. And I say that as a lover of comedy.

― some anal dread (Old Lunch), Thursday, 7 July 2016 17:22 (nine years ago)

this list is appallingly Americentric and doesn't even include Vienna from Rising Damp, the quintessential British sitcom cat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_cats_in_television

― soref, Thursday, 7 July 2016 18:06 (nine years ago)

No room for Mrs Slocombe's pussy?

― They could have been Stackridge. (Tom D.), Thursday, 7 July 2016 18:09 (nine years ago)

incidentally, the wikipedia page for Rising Damp has a section titled "Emphasis on personal failure" = this possibly says something about the British sense of humuor, even if it doesn't settle the question of which country's sense of humour is "best"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Damp#Emphasis_on_personal_failure

― soref, Thursday, 7 July 2016 18:11 (nine years ago)

British sitcoms have cats in them

― O, Barack: flaws (wins)

danny john-jules isn't a real cat, he's a human being pretending to be a cat

― the event dynamics of power asynchrony (rushomancy), Thursday, 7 July 2016 19:26 (nine years ago)

DJP is American and he's been on fucking fire today

― El Tomboto, Thursday, 7 July 2016 20:36 (nine years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.