TV comedy from the US; trounces the UK?
Posted by: Tarquin Maynard - Portly on 15 October 2009
Muchachos
just realised that I could quite happily watch 2-3hours of US comic TV per soir; Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl ( OK I know its stopped but what the hey ).
Writing verges on the sublime; laugh-out loud funny, on plenty of occasions.
Apart from Dad's Army and Hyperdrive, can we compete?
just realised that I could quite happily watch 2-3hours of US comic TV per soir; Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl ( OK I know its stopped but what the hey ).
Writing verges on the sublime; laugh-out loud funny, on plenty of occasions.
Apart from Dad's Army and Hyperdrive, can we compete?
Posted on: 15 October 2009 by BigH47
Obviously not seen Eastbound and down?
Fawlty Towers, Black Adder. I'm sure there must be something newer.
Fawlty Towers, Black Adder. I'm sure there must be something newer.
Posted on: 15 October 2009 by akseland
Bring back Benny Hill and the Carry On Gang..!
Posted on: 15 October 2009 by novelty
quote:Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
Muchachos
just realised that I could quite happily watch 2-3hours of US comic TV per soir; Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl ( OK I know its stopped but what the hey ).
Writing verges on the sublime; laugh-out loud funny, on plenty of occasions.
Apart from Dad's Army and Hyperdrive, can we compete?
Friends? Samantha Who? i hope you're kidding.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by tonym
Comedy is a matter of personal taste and, try as I might, mine does not extend to american TV shows.
I used to enjoy MASH but that was mainly because on the BBC2 version I didn't have to endure the nauseating gales of canned laughter that accompany every sentence uttered on the rest of the so-called US "comedy" shows.
Having been given a boxed set of MASH episodes on DVD I was horrified to discover a stuck-on canned laughter track, thus rendering the whole thing unwatchable. OK, english comedy also has canned laughter but it's a more refined version.
I used to enjoy MASH but that was mainly because on the BBC2 version I didn't have to endure the nauseating gales of canned laughter that accompany every sentence uttered on the rest of the so-called US "comedy" shows.
Having been given a boxed set of MASH episodes on DVD I was horrified to discover a stuck-on canned laughter track, thus rendering the whole thing unwatchable. OK, english comedy also has canned laughter but it's a more refined version.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by scottyhammer
I agree Tony canned laughter should be....well... "canned" spoils shows as you say.
cant watch us comedies for this reason.
cant watch us comedies for this reason.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Don Phillips
Frasier, Cheers, MASH were superb. Most of the rest, poor.
IMHO American comedy is either very good or very bad.
Don overcast downtown York
IMHO American comedy is either very good or very bad.
Don overcast downtown York
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by BigH47
We enjoyed Studio 30 on the Strip, but it was dropped after first series.
6 Feet Under was good, not too sure what to file that under, as too Californication?
We mainly enjoy US drama ER/West Wing/Dexter/NCIS/CSIs/Bones/Lie to Me/ Mentalist, and their weird serials Lost/Heros/Flashforward.
6 Feet Under was good, not too sure what to file that under, as too Californication?
We mainly enjoy US drama ER/West Wing/Dexter/NCIS/CSIs/Bones/Lie to Me/ Mentalist, and their weird serials Lost/Heros/Flashforward.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by fatcat
quote:Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
Apart from Dad's Army and Hyperdrive, can we compete?
Is it a coincidence that the only British shows you rate, poke fun at the bungling British military.
Red Dwarf and Father Ted are classics. The funniest American comedy has to be Married With Children
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
"Friends? Samantha Who? i hope you're kidding"
Not in the slightest. I've recently converted to Friends, and watched my first episode of SW last night; laughed out loud on three or four occasions.
Ref Red Dwarf; I find Craig Charles so irritating that I cannot watch the programme.
Not in the slightest. I've recently converted to Friends, and watched my first episode of SW last night; laughed out loud on three or four occasions.
Ref Red Dwarf; I find Craig Charles so irritating that I cannot watch the programme.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by BigH47
quote:I find Craig Charles so irritating that I cannot watch the programme.
You wait until series 3 or 4 of Friend and tell me they don't get on your tits.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by shoot6x7
The comedies that we watch right now are:
- Two and a half men
- Gary Unmarried
- Big Bang Theory
I used to love Father Ted and Red Dwarf ... and still maintain that the comedies shown on BBC Canada are better than the average North American Comedy.
btw if you ever get the chance to catch it "Corner Gas" is a rare piece of hilarity from Canada.
- Two and a half men
- Gary Unmarried
- Big Bang Theory
I used to love Father Ted and Red Dwarf ... and still maintain that the comedies shown on BBC Canada are better than the average North American Comedy.
btw if you ever get the chance to catch it "Corner Gas" is a rare piece of hilarity from Canada.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
I don't find American comedy shows that funny - though I liked Wacky Races, the Flintstones and Secret Squirrel.
What are ER/West Wing/Dexter/NCIS/CSIs/Bones/Lie to Me/Mentalist - never seen any of them. Probably seen 5 minutes of Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl - can't see the appeal.
Modern British shows dissapoint too, but back in the golden age we had
'Allo 'Allo!
After Henry
Alas Smith And Jones
Alexei Sayle's Stuff
All Gas and Gaiters
Are You Being Served?
Blackadder
Butterflies
Benny Hill Show
Bless This House
Brittas Empire
Chef!
Citizen James
Citizen Smith
Comrade Dad
Dad's Army
Dear John
Dead Ringers
Dick Emery Show
Fawlty Towers
Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin
George and the Dragon
Goodies
Hancock's Half Hour
Here's Harry (Harry Worth)
Hi De Hi
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Hot Metal
Hudson And Pepperdine Show
I Didn't Know You Cared
In Sickness and In Health
It Ain't Arf Hot Mum
Kenneth Williams Show
Kumars at No. 42
Likely Lads
Liver Birds
Marty!
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Murder Most Horrid
New Statesman
No That's Me Over Hear
Not The Nine O'Clock News
Now Look Here
Oh Brother
On The Buses
One Foot in the Grave
Only Fools and Horses
Open All Hours
Outnumbered
Office
Porridge
Q... (Spike M)
Red Dwarf
Ripping Yarns
Rising Damp
Russ Abbott's Mad House
Rutland Weekend Television
Small People
Sorry!
Steptoe and Son
Stressed Eric
Sykes
That Was The Week That Was
Thin Blue Line
Till Death Us Do Part
Up Pompeii!
Waiting For God
Wack-O
Whoops Apocalypse
Yes Minister
Yes Prime Minister
You Rang M'Lord
Apart from that not a lot to watch
What are ER/West Wing/Dexter/NCIS/CSIs/Bones/Lie to Me/Mentalist - never seen any of them. Probably seen 5 minutes of Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl - can't see the appeal.
Modern British shows dissapoint too, but back in the golden age we had
'Allo 'Allo!
After Henry
Alas Smith And Jones
Alexei Sayle's Stuff
All Gas and Gaiters
Are You Being Served?
Blackadder
Butterflies
Benny Hill Show
Bless This House
Brittas Empire
Chef!
Citizen James
Citizen Smith
Comrade Dad
Dad's Army
Dear John
Dead Ringers
Dick Emery Show
Fawlty Towers
Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin
George and the Dragon
Goodies
Hancock's Half Hour
Here's Harry (Harry Worth)
Hi De Hi
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Hot Metal
Hudson And Pepperdine Show
I Didn't Know You Cared
In Sickness and In Health
It Ain't Arf Hot Mum
Kenneth Williams Show
Kumars at No. 42
Likely Lads
Liver Birds
Marty!
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Murder Most Horrid
New Statesman
No That's Me Over Hear
Not The Nine O'Clock News
Now Look Here
Oh Brother
On The Buses
One Foot in the Grave
Only Fools and Horses
Open All Hours
Outnumbered
Office
Porridge
Q... (Spike M)
Red Dwarf
Ripping Yarns
Rising Damp
Russ Abbott's Mad House
Rutland Weekend Television
Small People
Sorry!
Steptoe and Son
Stressed Eric
Sykes
That Was The Week That Was
Thin Blue Line
Till Death Us Do Part
Up Pompeii!
Waiting For God
Wack-O
Whoops Apocalypse
Yes Minister
Yes Prime Minister
You Rang M'Lord
Apart from that not a lot to watch
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
I don't find American comedy shows that funny - though I liked Wacky Races, the Flintstones and Secret Squirrel.
What are ER/West Wing/Dexter/NCIS/CSIs/Bones/Lie to Me/Mentalist - never seen any of them. Probably seen 5 minutes of Scrubs; Friends, Samantha Who?, My Name Is Earl - can't see the appeal.
Modern British shows dissapoint too, but back in the golden age we had
'Allo 'Allo!
After Henry
Alas Smith And Jones
Alexei Sayle's Stuff
All Gas and Gaiters
Are You Being Served?
Blackadder
Butterflies
Benny Hill Show
Bless This House
Brittas Empire
Chef!
Citizen James
Citizen Smith
Comrade Dad
Dad's Army
Dear John
Dead Ringers
Dick Emery Show
Fawlty Towers
Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin
George and the Dragon
Goodies
Hancock's Half Hour
Here's Harry (Harry Worth)
Hi De Hi
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Hot Metal
Hudson And Pepperdine Show
I Didn't Know You Cared
In Sickness and In Health
It Ain't Arf Hot Mum
Kenneth Williams Show
Kumars at No. 42
Likely Lads
Liver Birds
Marty!
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Murder Most Horrid
New Statesman
No That's Me Over Hear
Not The Nine O'Clock News
Now Look Here
Oh Brother
On The Buses
One Foot in the Grave
Only Fools and Horses
Open All Hours
Outnumbered
Office
Porridge
Q... (Spike M)
Red Dwarf
Ripping Yarns
Rising Damp
Russ Abbott's Mad House
Rutland Weekend Television
Small People
Sorry!
Steptoe and Son
Stressed Eric
Sykes
That Was The Week That Was
Thin Blue Line
Till Death Us Do Part
Up Pompeii!
Waiting For God
Wack-O
Whoops Apocalypse
Yes Minister
Yes Prime Minister
You Rang M'Lord
Apart from that not a lot to watch
I think only one of those was written within the past 20 years; some go back 30-40..
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by winkyincanada
Ripping Yarns! Oh yeah. Loved that one.
I think "The Office" stands out in recent times. The space it occupies between comedy and tragedy is remarkable. To be fair, the US version is (very surprisingly) also excellent, but not quite the same impact for me.
I think "The Office" stands out in recent times. The space it occupies between comedy and tragedy is remarkable. To be fair, the US version is (very surprisingly) also excellent, but not quite the same impact for me.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by rodwsmith
The sublime and hilarious "Spaced" is being repeated imminently on 'Dave'.
If you have not seen this, then you are in for a real treat. Any single one of the characterisations could have carried a lesser series. Watch it from the beginning.
If you have not seen this, then you are in for a real treat. Any single one of the characterisations could have carried a lesser series. Watch it from the beginning.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by David Scott
Peep Show (not so funny as it used to be ) Nathan Barley, Alan Partridge, Shameless - there are a lot of funny British shows. To me, the funniest things of all though are American cartoons, Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, South Park. When it comes to period drama, which the BBC is supposed to be best at, Sweden wins hands down for Fanny and Alexander and Best Intentions, with Germany coming second for the Heimat series.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by pumpkinhead
quote:Originally posted by David Scott?:
Peep Show (not so funny as it used to be ) Nathan Barley, Alan Partridge, Shameless - there are a lot of funny British shows. To me, the funniest things of all though are American cartoons, Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, South Park. When it comes to period drama, which the BBC is supposed to be best at, Sweden wins hands down for Fanny and Alexander and Best Intentions, with Germany coming second for the Heimat series.
Peep show is hilarious up to series 4. The last two series are still watchable but I think they are running out of ideas. The canal trip and the wedding episodes are my favorites.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by tonym
I was particularly fond of Green Wing. And of course The League of Gentlemen.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Don Atkinson
ROTF
Did you deliberately omit Drop the Dead Donkey?
Cheers
Don
Did you deliberately omit Drop the Dead Donkey?
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Ah I knew I missed one - good show.quote:Originally posted by Don Atkinson:
ROTF
Did you deliberately omit Drop the Dead Donkey?
Cheers
Don
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by John M
30 Rock
Parks and Recreation
Glee
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Little Britain
and ROTF - my goodness, like a good boy scout, always prepared. An impressive list. I just added your list of classic albums into my amazon shopping cart and clicked "buy." What other kind of lists do you maintain? How about "top 10 reasons to convince your wife why you should play soccer on saturday and leave her with the kids?" That would be useful. Or "why i need to buy more albums/have more that three copies of the same album" Please help.
All the best!
Parks and Recreation
Glee
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Little Britain
and ROTF - my goodness, like a good boy scout, always prepared. An impressive list. I just added your list of classic albums into my amazon shopping cart and clicked "buy." What other kind of lists do you maintain? How about "top 10 reasons to convince your wife why you should play soccer on saturday and leave her with the kids?" That would be useful. Or "why i need to buy more albums/have more that three copies of the same album" Please help.
All the best!
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by JamieWednesday
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by Happy Listener
Tonym -
Re MASH DVDs, you should be able to turn the canned laughter off - my versions allow this.
I must be one of the very few in the UK who thinks The Office is a bore-fest. Gervais is massively overrated in my view.
Peter Kaye is amazing and thinks like Not The Nine O'Clock News stand out even by today's standards.
Re MASH DVDs, you should be able to turn the canned laughter off - my versions allow this.
I must be one of the very few in the UK who thinks The Office is a bore-fest. Gervais is massively overrated in my view.
Peter Kaye is amazing and thinks like Not The Nine O'Clock News stand out even by today's standards.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by winkyincanada
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Happy Listener:
I must be one of the very few in the UK who thinks The Office is a bore-fest. Gervais is massively overrated in my view.
[QUOTE]
That others think this doesn't surprise me. I understand how it isn't for everyone.
I must be one of the very few in the UK who thinks The Office is a bore-fest. Gervais is massively overrated in my view.
[QUOTE]
That others think this doesn't surprise me. I understand how it isn't for everyone.
Posted on: 16 October 2009 by BigH47
quote:I must be one of the very few in the UK who thinks The Office is a bore-fest. Gervais is massively overrated in my view.
Peter Kaye is amazing and thinks like Not The Nine O'Clock News stand out even by today's standards.
I too think this about Gervais and also think Peter Kaye is about as funny as leprosy.