Why is British humor so good, or is it?

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 8:51 am

In the US, one of the big truisms among the wine-and-cheese yuppie set is that "British humor is so much funnier." And they put their money where their cheese-munching mouths are, too: they support public tv stations that run BBC comedies, for instance.

Now, I've seen a few of these comedies. Three or four of the series I found extremely fun, my favorite being The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. All the rest were, IMO, on par with American tv comedy series, which means a lot of comic expressions, pratfalls, and bad jokes laughed at by an audience who was promised gifts if their mouths set permanantly in a rictus of joy.

I also like Monty Python. A lot. And the Goon Show. So what? I enjoy Mel Brooks. I think the Marx Brothers were a laugh riot. I think the best written humor to date was authored by Robert Benchley and James Thurber, both Americans.

So, am I wrong? No, let me rephrase that: I *know* I'm wrong, about a lot of things. I mean, am I wrong that British comedy is over-hyped? Your impressions, please, and the first one to do Cary Grant gets hit over the head with a Dr. Pepper bottle.

Anatres · Post by **Anatres** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 8:58 am

I like British humor. But I like American humor also. 'A Night at the Opera' will always get me rolling on the floor. But so will 'The Life of Bryon'.....

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 8:59 am

You realise that you're opening up a can of worms don't you?

Hmmmm, well I was raised for a time in Britain (British father) and then came over here to Canada, so I've had a fair exposure to both. My own feeling is that both the U.K and the U.S produce good and bad comedy. As far as the wine and cheese set go, well I think that it's mostly snobbery. Those are the same people that think everything is better in Europe and go to great lengths to try and prove it. (and I had a Dutch/German mother, so this isn't anglo ethnocentrism speaking).

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:04 am

Originally posted by Dragonwench:
My own feeling is that both the U.K and the U.S produce good and bad comedy.

I couldn't agree more. Maybe you guys only get to see the best stuff

There's a lot of rubbish British comedy too, IMO.

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:07 am

Originally posted by fable:


So, am I wrong? No, let me rephrase that: I *know* I'm wrong, about a lot of things. I mean, am I wrong that British comedy is over-hyped? Your impressions, please, and the first one to do Cary Grant gets hit over the head with a Dr. Pepper bottle.

This is going to be opinion day I can tell...

To the question...IMHO it comes down to the grass is greener on the other side effect.

With rich people sitting in their fancy clubs talking about what they watch can you imagine one saying they enjoy watching Big Bobs Pork Barrel Roundupon channel 3. They would be boot from the place.

Gwalchmai · Post by **Gwalchmai** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:10 am

The deal is, only the good British work is imported to the US PBS stations, at least initially. As demand increases, only the somewhat-good followed by the semi-good British shows will be (or are being) imported. So it stands to reason that people in the US would view British comedy in a better light. We have a skewed and small sample.

(Benny Hill is an example of really bad British comedy being imported over here. Why it was one of the first is beyond me. I think HBO, in the early days of cable TV, was desperate to find something bawdy to show in their late night slots.)

On the other hand, as import/exports increase between the two nations, British comedies may become more Americanized. Balleykissangle bears striking resemblances to Northern Exposure.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:17 am

Taking about worm cans, here comes the first worm

Personally, I prefer British humour far above any other kind. To me, the appeal lies in that if often has many layers, it's often ironic and/or absurd and it pictures tragic events in a tragicomic way, balancing on the line between pathetic and comic. Basil Fawly in Fawly towers is a good example, as is Rowan Atkinson's Black Adder gallery of people.

To me, Monthy Python's flying circus is probably the best comedy ever made, partly because it has so many layers and many different allusions, and party because it's so creative and absurd but at the same time very critical. The later sequences of The circus, like the "Michael Ellis" part, are genious.

I haven't seen a lot of American comedy so it's difficult to compare the two, but what I have seen, I've usually found more shallow, more centred around "happiness" and "romantic" events and less thought provoking. Hope I'm not offending any Americans here, this is just my personal taste, and I think humour is even more subjective than art.

The wine and cheese thing could be related to the fact that some British comedy has many intellectual components, I don't know if the US or any other tradition has this to the same extent.

[ 07-06-2001: Message edited by: C Elegans ]

Anatres · Post by **Anatres** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:34 am

@C Elegans; succinctly put and 'spot on!'.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:38 am

Two words:Jasper carrot.

hermetic · Post by **hermetic** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 9:51 am

I agree with C Elegans. It's a matter of British/European comedy being more reflective and pensive and not as uptight about all the insecurities and baser traits of humanity. American networks have a huge influence on comedic tastes in the US and they ensure that this brand of humour inflates the industry. On any given nightly sitcom in the US, the humour will almost entirely be made up of "inside jokes" and witty references to celebrities or politicians. Take "Friends" for example, a more superficial program you're not likely to find. I watched a whole episode just recently and tried to put myself into the frame of mind of one who is completely unfamiliar with Hollywood. I doubt the average viewer would even crack a smile if he were ignorant of pop culture. And what does the average viewer have in common with Ross or Chandler or Monica? Now Seinfeld was gold, Jerry, pure gold...

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 10:17 am

My fave comedian is between (early) Jasper Carrot and Billy Connelly. It is how they perceive life and their observations on human nature/behaviour - thinking about Jasper Carrots insurance claims stories...hehe...

As far as sitcoms go then I would have to mention Only Fools and Horses, Steptoe and Son, Fawlty Towers, Men Behaving Badly, Black Adder and Red Dwarf to name a few. Films would have to include Monty Python.

In fairness though the US have produced some great commedians/sitcoms that have had loads of followers in the UK such as Cheers, Frazier and Friends (my sister owns all the videos!) and I used to also like Rosanne...

Humour is a personal thing but ultimately it comes down to whether the critics think it may sell as to whether it crosses the water. I understand the US version of Men Behaving Badly was a complete flop....shame - they should have shown the UK version.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 3:20 pm

Originally posted by Gwalchmai:

(Benny Hill is an example of really bad British comedy being imported over here. Why it was one of the first is beyond me. I think HBO, in the early days of cable TV, was desperate to find something bawdy to show in their late night slots.)

Benny hill really bad are you nuts....

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 4:00 pm

Originally posted by Mr Sleep:
Benny hill really bad are you nuts....

I have to agree Benny Hill is nuts.

Still I did like his shows.(OMG I got the theme song going in my head now

)

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 4:04 pm

Grunt had an interesting fact about Benny Hil li wil lsee if i can remember it. Its funny how many times we have descended into talking about Benny Hill, it says a lot about our character

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 5:02 pm

To go back to the original message, I would say that both countries do themselves justice in the comedy department.

And for what it's worth, my favourite british comedy is Only Fools and Horses, whilst my favourite US comedy (and my favourite all time comedy) is Frazier.

I'm not really sure whyit's become my favourite. Perhaps I can relate to some of the charactures (maybe I'd like to be one or two of them

), or maybe because it's just well written, well acted and - quite simply - funny.

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 5:04 pm

...and I can't spell characters!

cheesemage · Post by **cheesemage** » Fri Jul 06, 2001 5:48 pm

stop talking about cheese eaters your messing with my head!!!!!!ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!
*jumps out window*

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 2:10 am

I think Fawlty Towers is the best British comedy ever, it has slapstick elements as well as well written humourous dialogue....

Of course this is all secondary to Benny Hill running around being chased by gorgeous women....

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 3:46 am

I used to find Benny Hill funny when I was a child - it must have been the slapstick that appealed. It wasn't long though before I started to find it a little tedious though...just my personal opinion. Morcambe and Wise and Tommy Cooper I still find funny.

Monty Python's Holy Grail and Life of Brian I could watch again and again (and I have!) and I still laugh.

Nippy · Post by **Nippy** » Sat Jul 07, 2001 5:54 am

One man = funny.

funny = Lee Evans

This guy is hilarious!