British humour or American humour?

[KingOfHyrule]

Being Irish, my sense of humour has been greatly influenced by British and Irish comedy and I just do not get the flamboyant American humour - how does everyone else feel?

Personally I think there is just no topping the likes of Bottom, Monty Python, Mr. Bean, Father Ted, The Fast Show, etc, etc. American humour rarely tickles me.

[JonSt]

I prefer British Humour because it is more willing to mock itself and its subject, which imo means that it is less likely to take itself seriously in other subjects. Where as american humour can often be two dimensional.

[Triple_C]

I love:

Monty Python
Father Ted
Black Adder
Spaced

Also:
Simpsons

[Apple_NdiB]

There are quite a few American comedies I appreciate, not least the Simpsons, Futurama and Family Guy, which all have a wit and grasp of satire rarely seen in British Comedy. The English version of The Office was admittedly far funnier than the American offering, but I'd be inclined to say that it's the quality of the writing, not the country of origin that seems to be paramount.

[Tom The Bomb]

lol british humour <3 Makes you think, although its rite in ur face.

American slapstick humour like eurotrip, austin powers and team america makes it so you dont need to think, its rite in ur face. great to watch when ur tired or not really wanting to think..

great topic btw :)

[JonSt]

I love:

Monty Python
Father Ted
Black Adder
Spaced

Also:
Simpsons

Father Ted is Irish humour, The republic of Ireland is not in the united kingdom, therefore cannot be considered british comedy.

[Strider]

Bottom.....Mr bean......Black adder. yep British humour wins

[Raining_again]

Father Ted is Irish humour, iThe republic of Ireland is not in the united kingdom, therefore cannot be considered british comedy.

well i suppose its sort of in the same category, but regardless of its location Father Ted rocks :D GO onnnn!!

i dont get Friends, it seems a bit....meh, but i love the simpsons.

[Blackfox]

There is a lot of good British humour, the likes of which have been mentioned. I often find that British humour is 'clever-er' than the Yank counterpart. Saying that, there is a lot of funny stuff coming out of America at the moment, so we'll see.

If anyone can, check out Jeff Foxworthy. He's a redneck from the US, and he's -very- funny.

[Jordan]

I sometimes find that American comedy is too "obvious", i'm not sure how to explain it but its incredibly annoying and condisending.

Although Scrubs i find to be hullarious sometimes along with the others previously mentioned.

[Triple_C]

Father Ted is Irish humour, The republic of Ireland is not in the united kingdom, therefore cannot be considered british comedy.
No, it was released on 4 before rte.

[Raining_again]

it is an irish comedy, its from ireland....... doesnt matter which country it was broadcast on first

[JonSt]

Otis Lee Crenshaw is another funny american. He combines music and comedy and his redneck style whilst his style is preated in the us its rare over her

EDIT: Triple C - a program's nationality isnt determined by where its broadcasted first.

[soag]

it is an irish comedy, its from ireland....... doesnt matter which country it was broadcast on first


Look it up it was made for channel 4, iits made to britain to laugh at us irish :p. A damn good job they did at it too. Also the majority of it was filmed in England.

Next time get your facts right :p

[Enigma]

You must NEVER forget Benny Hill.

[Ramar]

I hate it in American comedies when they have those fake back laughs. A prime example would be Friends, some burk walks in, and they laugh. What the hell is funny about that.

Can't beat British Comedies like Black Adder, Bottom and Mr Bean. Even newer stuff like Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights and Little Britain beat every American comedy. Only thing that comes close is Family Guy, but thats obviously different because its animation.

[Raining_again]

Look it up it was made for channel 4, iits made to britain to laugh at us irish :p. A damn good job they did at it too. Also the majority of it was filmed in England.

Next time get your facts right :p

its about irish people therefore its irish humour. no?

[Bowser57]

I hate it in American comedies when they have those fake back laughs. A prime example would be Friends



Wasn't Friends filmed infront of a live audience? Or at least screened infront of one.

I always got that impression anyhow.

[Zakatu]

British comedy i definiately like more.

The likes of Little Britian, The Office, Mighty Boosh are my current favourites.

Theres alot of variety there, something america seems to have less of. Their humour is sorta generic (but sometimes extremely good) but it kinda hits from the same angle. Whereas the office is quite unique and so is the mighty boosh.

Older comedies i love like Fawlty Towers, Dads Army, Monty Python, Blackadder, etc.

My favourite american comedy is stuff like the Simpson's or Family guy.

I also like freinds, its good. but i prefer british comedy.

[soag]

its about irish people therefore its irish humour. no?


ermmm no thats like saying some movie based on mars is a martian movie. Its made by english people for the english market so there for its english.

[JonSt]

Wasn't Friends filmed infront of a live audience? Or at least screened infront of one.

I always got that impression anyhow.

Yeah friends was recorded in front of a live audience to start with. They then changed to just use recordings.

[The3rdChildren]

I don't appreciate one over the other. Whatever makes me laugh is good enough for me, although you do get MAD PROPS for mentioning Bottom. A great comedy indeed.

[harribo]

Its gotta be british comedies like little britain, monkey dust(the pedo finder general is class), blackadder, red dwarf, the mighty boosh etc. However the Americans do make some good cartoon comedys e.g. futurama, family guy etc.

[Ashley]

Generally I prefer American tv, bigger, glossier and better (IMO and I know being bigger and glossier doesn't always mean its better). Same with comedies, its not that I don't appreciate British humour, but it draws upon British life, and to me thats meh. I don't deny it, I'd rather live in America.

Besides, I prefer to watch TV with subtle comedy. I mean I watch Frasier and catch Friends repeats at times, as well as The Simpsons and Futurama but give me the Sex and the City, Buffy/Angel and Veronica Mars any day. Some nice comedy in them all. Just watched a new ep of VM and I laughed so many times, so many great comments. Such as Charisma Carpenter's arse being referred to as "totally awesome". So true.

[Roostophe]

Let's have a think...

British:
Bottom
The Young Ones
The Mighty Boosh
The Royle Family
The Fast Show
The Office
The Day Today
Little Britain
Mike Bassett (Film and Telly)
Black Adder
Mr. Bean
Red Dewarf ;)
Fawlty Towers
I'm Alan Partridge

Then there's the Quiz shows:
Never Mind The Buzzcocks
They Think It's All Over
QI
Mock The Week

American:
Friends
The Simpsons
Family Guy
South Park

And yankee bathtard films such as Team America, Austin Powers (specifically Goldmember), the stupid ones such as Hot Shots and Hot Shots: Part Deux, Airplane. And many Jim Carrey films (but Jim Carrey is Canadian, oh well), Ace Ventura, Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar.

But, I think Brit humour is better, some of the stuff on those programmes are complete genius. (The Mighty Boosh, The Young Ones etc.)

[KingOfHyrule]

Fawlty Towers! Jesus how could I forget Basil and Manuel lol supreme comedy. And The Young Ones - goes without saying!

[ViPeR]

well i suppose its sort of in the same category, but regardless of its location Father Ted rocks :D GO onnnn!!

i dont get Friends, it seems a bit....meh, but i love the simpsons.

Was watching Father Ted the other night :D. Oh the joy of having every series on DVD. I, also, have no idea why people find Friends funny. I have laughed accidentally at it on occasions simply at the random crap the characters were coming out with and I didn't know what was going on. There are some decent American comedies though. Like someone said earlier it's the scriptwriters not the country. Although few tend to brake the mould. Scrubs, Simpsons, and Futurama are good examples of great American comedies. In fact British comedy has lost its appeal these past few years. The BBC and ITV are churning out some real dog shit to be honest. I want Bottom back! The only show that has had me watching over and over is Peep Show. It's pure genius.

[The3rdChildren]

If it makes me laugh, its good. American or English. Friends is consistently very funny, despite what anyone says, and if you look hard enough at what's on offer in the world today comedy-wise... you'll realise more time should be spent watching these shows, and far less time writing unfunny debate posts concerning them.

SIMPSONS SERIES SIX TIME, LADIES.

[RATM_4_EVA]

If anyone can, check out Jeff Foxworthy. He's a redneck from the US, and he's -very- funny.
Wow! are you kidding me LOL. serously, I have met no onr that likes red-neck humor. soooooooooo 70's. but hey some people like it.

British humor I love and also American.when I watch The Holy Grail and Seinfeld I crack up. its not that any of them make you think, its sometimes inside humor. Such as current events, pop culture and stuff that is the opposit. I all comes down to who your aiming your product at. Cultures are different and you can tell by what they find funny or strange or just dumb.

[harribo]

In fact British comedy has lost its appeal these past few years. The BBC and ITV are churning out some real dog shit to be honest. I want Bottom back! The only show that has had me watching over and over is Peep Show. It's pure genius.

I cant say I agree with you there there have been some great comedies recently like Little Britain, Monkey Dust, QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I got News For You, Dead Ringers, They think its all over and peter kays comedies have never failed to make me laugh.

[Roostophe]

Was watching Father Ted the other night :D. Oh the joy of having every series on DVD. I, also, have no idea why people find Friends funny. I have laughed accidentally at it on occasions simply at the random crap the characters were coming out with and I didn't know what was going on. There are some decent American comedies though. Like someone said earlier it's the scriptwriters not the country. Although few tend to brake the mould. Scrubs, Simpsons, and Futurama are good examples of great American comedies. In fact British comedy has lost its appeal these past few years. The BBC and ITV are churning out some real dog shit to be honest. I want Bottom back! The only show that has had me watching over and over is Peep Show. It's pure genius.

I forgot about Scrubs and Peep Show. Both class

I agree with you about Bottom there. Rik Mayall did send a script to the BBC of a final series of Bottom, but it was rejected, the bastards.
I'm not sure about British comedy losing its appeal, what with Peep Show, Little Britain, Bo' Selecta (I just remembered that, too), The Mighty Boosh etc. etc.

[Bren]

Im into american humour in cartoons (family guy, simpsons) but theyre live acts, are shite, bar the def jam comedy series, that shits ace.

British humour is funny as hell, im into Lee Evans, and the usual popular english acts (peter kay, alan partridge),

so, both equal imo

[Pit-Jr]

American comedy sucks in general, ive never seen any British shows cause they dont show them here. Our only saving grace is pre-season 12 Simpsons and older sitcoms like Roseanne and a few good stand-up comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Margaret Cho. Oh if you guys get a chance to see the Pamela Anderson Roast on Comedy Central, i dont think ive ever lauged so hard in my life.

[#1cubeplayer]

In addition to South Park, Futurama, Simpsons, and Family Guy (which have all been mentioned), I like That 70's Show, Seinfield, and Everybody Loves Raymond. I grew up watching Mr. Bean so I love his comedy. I don't know much other British comedy, though.

[Platty]

i like anything thats funny! british, american whatever, if its good and makes me laugh its alright in my books.

[Shorty]

Living in America now, I'm beginning to turn to enjoy more humour in shows like Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Cheers, Friends - but I think when the British do it well, they do it best :)

[Dieter]

The thread title is a perfect example of what question NOT to ask on a mostly UK-based site (and yes, Europe is closer to UK than USA).

If anyone can, check out Jeff Foxworthy. He's a redneck from the US, and he's -very- funny.

I have his cd, 'You might be a redneck...'. I know it by heart by now :) 'Nuff said :heh:

[fatnickc]

I prefer British humour mostly. There are some American shows which i find funny etc., but the only ones which have ever made me actually laugh so that someone sitting close to me could here it are British. Have I Got News For You is one of my favourites (great one on Saturday 22nd), and very recently I've started watching Supernova, which I quite like.

[Sarka]

I love Father Ted, Family Guy, The Office (UK), American Dad, Blackadder, Futurama, I'm Alan Partridge, South Park etc.

For films, I love American stuff it seems though. Jim Carrey films, Hot Shots, Austin Powers etc.

Meh...

[Hostile]

Young Ones.

We win, tbh.

[dukkadukka]

to be honest i don't really care if it's american or british, if it makes me laugh then it's done its job. family guy and scrubs are brilliant, but i also love adam & joe and league of gentlemen. i'm really getting into nighty night at the moment too, any fans here?

[ViPeR]

I cant say I agree with you there there have been some great comedies recently like Little Britain, Monkey Dust, QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I got News For You, Dead Ringers, They think its all over and peter kays comedies have never failed to make me laugh.

Well 4 of those are quiz shows, which I didn't think about but are good examples of Brit comedy. As for Little Britain, well yes it is great. That was until it got whored out and every stupid gimpy kid from here to the falklands could be found saying "Yeh I know". It lost its appeal for me after the first series. As for Dead Ringers, the same applies. After the first two or three series it did get a little repetitive but the fact it's based on current events keeps it a little fresh and entertaining.

[Aimless]

I find a lot of American shows funny, but I have to wonder whether something like 'Spaced' would ever get the go ahead in the US. But then I can only judge things from this side of the pond, my only evidence the programs that money-grabbing executives decide to release over here.

My impression is that American shows are a lot 'glossier' than British comedies, but part of the charm of things like 'The Young Ones' is the shoddy props. I suppose you could say that shows made in the UK are more honest with both themselves and their subject matter.

I was bought up on British TV, so naturally I prefer it. If I had been raised in the US of A things might have been different. I'd probably have been shot for one thing.

[Daniel]

america has produced some classic comedies... no ones mentioned M*A*S*H yet!? thats up there with British greats like Monty Python, Faulty Towers, The Young Ones etc

[Athriller]

I've always liked a bit of both. Anchorman was the latest offering from the U.S. that made me guffaw like a dawg.

[#1cubeplayer]

The thread title is a perfect example of what question NOT to ask on a mostly UK-based site (and yes, Europe is closer to UK than USA).

Quite a discovery you've made there, Sir.

[Dan Dare]

I hope you arent trying to diss Airplane! I'd be mighty pissed if you are...

[Waylander]

I prefer British comedies but I like American animated comedy series like The Simpsons and Futurama.

[uəʌəsʎɐɾ]

Coupling. I have no clue how many series they're up to by now, but the first two were above average in terms of funz. Spaced is genius: bring on series 3! Teachers, the first three series, i loved. Dick & Dom In Da Bungalow is clearly the brainchild of some tripping dreams and monty phython. Mr. Bean,Blackadder, Fawlty Towers. Red Dwarf, Monty Phython, all traditional stuff.

Newer stuff; Green Wing was really good, here's hoping for a series 2 sometime soon, with a nice series 1 dvd collection to go with it. Black Books is another nice little gem; Bill Bailey is a brilliant guy, and Dylan Moran's character is perversely charming to watch... Nathan Barley/BrassEye/that other Chris Morris show, more perversions of the national humour for you.

Y'see, I don't always understand 'british humour' as a phrase, I mean I understand that apparantly the americans don't 'get' irony, but i don't understand. I don't think I've given much analytical thought-power to what sort of tickling any given show does.

The american comedies i've come into will be known and said in this thread already. Of course, I'll emphasise on Scrubs because it's the best thing around, even if the show's ever so slightly dampened since they gave the janitor such an active role (yes i know he's hilarious but his quirks were better in smaller doses). I am a fan of the Ben Stiller franchise; clearly a formulaic routine has been plotted by the guy, but it's an equation I don't mnd casting my eyes over. Malcolm in the Middle was a classic in the making.

Sometimes I think comedy shows appear to become less brilliant sheerly through their hugeness. There are so many episodes of some things, and so many more to come, it's hard to accept a new one as a Great one.

Ahem. This is kinda the opposite to posting impotance... Kinda splurting all sorts of crazy shit out. It ain't pretty!

There are actually few shows that can have me properly laughing, and they are usually quiz shows for some reason. I think knowing that much of what i see is spontanious means I'm far more leniant with exhaling my giggles. I find myself in some sort of smiling trance, often laughing at something I didn't even hear properly just because i KNEW it would have been funny even if i had heard it. I bet everyone's done that. Laughed along.

This post is easily in the "meh too long to read" phase. Perhaps if I keep going it'll reach the "wow this post takes up my screen several times! I can't help but read sentances as I scroll down!" era. Are we there yet?

So yeah, this is a bit of an essay now, SO I guess I should retort; I think I prefer british humour if only because I've been exposed to much more of it. I have seen a fair few american comedies, most of what has been mentioned here, but not a lot of it catches my attention for very long. I genuinely find that accents act as some sort of barrier to me [OK so I just typed out and then deleted a minor essay on the ways I react differfently to british and american cinema, and how easy it is to forget that americans ARE NOT BRITISH, that they are fundamentally different to me in teh same way a frenchman or japaneseman is. I think it's easy to imagine the americans as people just like me except with an accent, which I think overlooks a hell of a lot of things. I also think that me narrating that I just deleted an essay WITH AN ESSAY as the narrative is slightly hypocritical]... and so I reach my.. point. Yeah. That point in my long posts where I forget what I was writing and just decide to hit "post message" and pass the buck onto you guys.

Must Try Harder.

[Mr. Bananagrabber]

As a whole I normally prefer British. But Scrubs is my favorite show ever.

[Atomic Boo]

British humour for me!
i love the office, i have the whole of series 1 + 2 and its amazingly clever, how you suddenly get the long silences when a bad joke is told, and the people there are really dumb

also i watched wallace and gromit the other day and it was laugh a minute
it appeals to kids and adults

[Girly hiyaz!~ Gamer]

I prefer American humour ANYDAY.

[RATM_4_EVA]

Napoleon Dynamite...Nuff Said :awesome:

[gaggle64]

There are a couple of good US shows around at the moment like Family Guy and Simpsons. Scrubs is OK. Friends, Cheers and Fraiser were all great too. Will & Grace is complete crap though. I think UK humour is much better overall, simply because it's so much more intresting and varied. Love Potion is one of my current favourites, I always look forward to Have I Got News for You and I simply can't wait for the next series of Bremner, Bird and Fortune. I also hope they make another series of Monkey Dust or The Peep Show, one of the finest sitcoms ever made. Those great satirical skits they do on Radio 4 rock too. Did anyone hear the show about the PR gurus trying to help improve the image of a local superstore? Currently living in a small town with a frankly oversized Tesco's, I hadn't laughed so hard in ages. When was the last time an American comedy show made light of large American corperations? Show me a US satire on the Coca-Cola Company, and I'll hush up.

[Hellfire]

Well I really love Monty Python, Mr Bean, Black Books,Fawlty Towers , Black Adder and the office. America has Scrubs, Simpsons,Futurama,Family Guy and lots more. So... I dont know and I dont care as long as I get to laugh.

[blumeanie.]

I will have to go old skool - the kenny everitt show, in sickness & in health , the young ones, the two ronnies, smith & jones, hale & pace, only fools & horses and porrige. American- different strokes, fresh prince of belair, the addams family, beavis & butthead, the cosbys and i strangely remember the waltons being a bloody good laugh for some reason . The best british humour of all - billy connolly- no contest .

[Atomic Boo]

3rd series of little britain anyone???

[Kurtle Squad]

British humour is most obviously better. There are only a few good American comedy's (Friends, E.L.Raymond). The, thing is, America is adopting more british comedy into some of their comedy's.
My Family was written by an American

[uəʌəsʎɐɾ]

My Family was written by an American
What? More than one person writes the shows.

[dukkadukka]

The, thing is, America is adopting more british comedy into some of their comedy's.
My Family was written by an American
erm, that doesn't really prove your point :heh:

[Mr. Bananagrabber]

3rd series of little britain anyone???
It was awful. Season 1 is the only good one.

[Tyson]

Black Books, Blackadder and Nevermind the Buzzcocks are awesome while most American humor is based around sexual jokes, ie Friends, Will & Grace.

British humor it is.

[dukkadukka]

It was awful. Season 1 is the only good one.
you've seen season three?

[Atomic Boo]

i didnt think the 3rd series of little britain was out yet
but i think its really good, but i dont know why they dropped ray mcooney at the hotel cos that was hilarious
"id love to say yyyaaaayss but im afraid its a no"

[Raining_again]

Is it just me that doesnt get little britain at all?

[Apple_NdiB]

Is it just me that doesnt get little britain at all?

Nope, I can see where they're coming from but I think the satire is too blunt to warrant any laughs.

[Ashley]

Little Britain is shite. Well now it is. Every episode is the same character, saying the same catchphrase but in a different sitch. So damn repetative.

[Atomic Boo]

i see what you mean, but ive only seen the first series....loved it

[Kurtle Squad]

erm, that doesn't really prove your point :heh:

Hahaha...yeah, I know, It was just an example (and I do know they're written by more than one person, he's one of the main guys though).
I can't really explain how I mean, but if you look back on older American comedy's, they're shit generally. It's only recent ones that are good AND add a more british comedy in there aswell, I don't really know how to explain it.

And yes, I also can't really get into Little Britain. The Fast Show repeated things, but they were repeated in a funny sort of way. :grin:

Is it me or has no-one mentioned the League of Gentlemen? That RULES. I didn't think I'd like it origionally, but I really got into it.

also i watched wallace and gromit the other day and it was laugh a minute
it appeals to kids and adults
It is. The best bit is the Arson joke, hahahaha. I still prefer The Wrong Trousers though

[Shorty]

Brass Eye... Paedogeddon, a classic which will never die... just remembering the jokes makes me giggle even years later. No American satire could ever dare do that....