DaveW on 9/9/2007 at 19:09
Quote Posted by Shakey-Lo
Really? I love all the modern British comedy that gets shown over here. (I am English born). There's the obvious stuff like The Office and Extras, but also Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh, Three Non-Blondes, Broken News, etc etc.
There's the odd good comedy, but most are awful - like the IT crowd. There was another I saw on BBC2 (a haven of shit comedy series), I think on Thursday, that I watched all the way through and didn't laugh once. Oh, and the Catherine Tate show (an example of how taking an unfunny line and repeating it over and over for an entire 3 series does
not make it funny) . Or "The Mitchell and Webb look". Actually, pretty much anything with them in it is guaranteed not to be funny.
I think the best comedy on British TV is panel shows - Never mind the Buzzcocks, have I got news for you, 8 out of 10 cats, mock the week etc..
SubJeff on 9/9/2007 at 19:26
Peep Show. Gold.
Gestalt on 10/9/2007 at 00:04
Quote Posted by Rug Burn Junky
Canadian Bacon? CANADIAN BACON? That was a fucking abortion of a movie.
It's kind of funny to see agwpt recommend a Michael Moore film, at least.
Scots Taffer on 10/9/2007 at 00:47
I think British comedy has had its faulters and missteps along the way but generally holds a very high standard - the good comedies in the UK are usually so good that they're untouchable by offshore comedies, the only exception to this rule in a long time (for me) has been Arrested Development.
DaveW listed some weak-links, well, there are a bunch of success stories too: like it or not (I do not), but Little Britain has been a worldwide success for one reason or another. The Office and Extras have also proven to be extremely successful. There's a sketch show that's been around for the past two or three years called Man Stroke Woman that's utterly hilarious - I think it's had a muted reception though since it was aired on BBC digital. Prior to that, I loved The League of Gentlemen and have heard others speaking highly of Black Books and Spaced.
For me, British comedy is always way, way up there and it's usually because it fails to adhere to a strict formula. One could say there is a strict formula to the Fawlty Towers episodes: Basil fucks up, Cybil gets annoyed at him, Manuel is stupid but good intentioned, etc, but it's the delivery by the actors that elevates the quality. That's why it is so much stronger than a show like Friends which runs on a formula and not much else, the characters lack charisma and their delivery is pretty much exactly the same every time.
I agree that panel shows are generally good in the UK, but that's because they tend to get some really quickfire wit people in them (such as Bill Bailey in the Buzzcocks).
Tocky on 10/9/2007 at 02:19
I wish there had been more episodes of Coupling. Maybe it had run it's course though.
Anyone remember the Tizwaz show? Tiswas? Tizwas? I got a kick out of the "nobody for president" skit.
Drazur on 18/9/2007 at 04:24
Mighty Boosh is my favourite TV Comedy of all time. The two lead actors are sheer madmen, and in my opinion are either - insane, or geniuses (Geniui? - Bah! Latin!). Or a heady mix of both. And Rich Fulcher should be knighted, and then possibly spayed - the very invention of a "Pocket Cup" is a lunacy bordering on the freakish, and tantamount to technological vandalism...
I live in Australia, and not being a fan of Aussie humour, (which appears to consist SOLELY of pointing out the shortcomes of others - how very witty of us) I tend to look overseas for my guffaws.
Although, 'Thank God You're Here' has been pretty good - when it steers away from pointless sledging.
(I should point out that I don't particularly hate the idea of humour based on criticism of others - I'm just very, very, very tired of being expect to laugh at 256 variations of "That's what your girlfriend said last night!", "Just like your mother!", and "Jeez, I'm glad I'm not you!" - That's what barbecues are for, not TV! In my opinion.)
ercles on 18/9/2007 at 08:14
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
For me, British comedy is always way,
way up there and it's usually because it fails to adhere to a strict formula/QUOTE]
(
http://www.tv.com/benny-hill-show/show/3329/summary.html) You've got to be kidding.
As much as I like british comedy, especially stand up (Eddie Izzard ftw), I honestly think that it is just as prone to shiteness as the rest of the world, and I really can't think of a better example than Benny Hill, although I have noticed quite a few shows in the same vein late at night on UK-tv. Although America probably produces the most rubbish television I have ever seen, it has also produced South Park, which is just sublime at its best. At the same time Australia was churning out horrendous sketch shows for a long time before we managed to come up with the Chaser's War, and Summer Heights High which are both pretty awesome.
scumble on 18/9/2007 at 09:37
Benny Hill is rather unjustly remembered for his late preoccupation for sketches involving him running after girls. Earlier on he was much more original and quite influential.
This thread is turning into a fairly good resource for comedy films. I'd say some of my favourites are Wes Anderson's films, although they aren't to everyone's taste.
Also, I have to say that Planes, Trains and Automobiles is still one of my favourites. Always had a soft spot for Jon Hughes in general.
vurt on 18/9/2007 at 11:30
Quote Posted by Drazur
Mighty Boosh is my favourite TV Comedy of all time. The two lead actors are sheer madmen, and in my opinion are either - insane, or geniuses (Geniui? - Bah! Latin!). Or a heady mix of both.
Just watched the first episode, wow, some seriously funny shit!! :cheeky: Thanks for the tip :D
