British and American Television Comedy

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Originally Posted by Ja'chyra

Back on the subject has anyone mentioned QI or Mock the Week, although Mock the Week isn't what it used to be since Frankie Boyle left, such an angry man but as a fellow Weegie I know where he's coming from, very funny.

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QI is a fantastic show. Though I have noticed the entire show is dependent on the quality of the guests. The less the guests know, the better the show. There are a couple of semi-regular guests (names escape me) who know far too much about little trivia things and that just irritates me in a show where knowledge is only supposed to be secondary.

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Originally Posted by Secura

I love QI, although I kinda wish Alan Davies wasn't a core feature of it. With a smaller panel of just four people... I'd like to see him rotated off, if only because I find him irksome and boring.

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Really? I think Alan Davies helps to tie the show together and gives it a bit of continuity and some running jokes (his 'love' of Pliny the Elder for instance, or Classical Greek). Then again, I also find him to be extremely hilarious most of the time.

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Originally Posted by CountArach

There are a couple of semi-regular guests (names escape me) who know far too much about little trivia things and that just irritates me in a show where knowledge is only supposed to be secondary.

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I know that, as of the latest series, there's quite a few who've appeared a fair few times: Jo Brand (24), Sean Lock (21), Phill Jupitus (21), Bill Bailey (19) and Rich Hall (19). Everytime I turn on QI, I see Jo Brand on it. >.<

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Really? I think Alan Davies helps to tie the show together and gives it a bit of continuity and some running jokes (his 'love' of Pliny the Elder for instance, or Classical Greek). Then again, I also find him to be extremely hilarious most of the time.

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There's some continuity, yes, I guess that's the good thing. But I just... don't find him that funny, and think he detracts from the bundle of awesomeness that is Stephen.

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Originally Posted by Thermal Mercury

Did you see frankie boyles live show (on dvd lol) by todays standards, hes as heavyweight as allowed (some of his remarks got more gasps, even boos, than laughs :creep: )

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And yet he's diluted himself for TV. He's a sellout, in that everybody thinks he's edgy, but his TV set is in comparison to some stand up comedians not exceptionally outrageous.

Besides, Boyle is just "offensive". His set has no structure. It's just "offensive statement", "offensive statement", "offensive statement". If we go back to Sadowitz as an example, Sadowitz has a much better structure, in that everything he says leads on into the next thing. Combined with Sadowitz's social commentary and his fantastic magic tricks, this makes him a better comedian.

Sadowitz is also genuinely offensive. He started a TV series that got pulled after one episode, after it recieved a record number of complaints that was surpassed only by "Sachsgate". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Sadowitz#Career for more evidence.

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Originally Posted by CountArach

I think Alan Davies helps to tie the show together and gives it a bit of continuity and some running jokes (his 'love' of Pliny the Elder for instance, or Classical Greek). Then again, I also find him to be extremely hilarious most of the time.

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Likewise. I always find him funny, he's quite the character. But, maybe the fact that he supports the same football team as I my judgement may be clouded.

I've enjoyed the clips of Fry and Laurie and Blackadder I've seen on youtube.

I've looked at a couple inbetweeners clips as well. I don't think that would fly as a show aimed at teens in the US - to vulgar. But at least it seems more realistic and better written than that other show.

I'll mention a couple other current American comedies I like; Chuck and Glee.

Chuck is about some best buy geek squad member who gets a government database downloaded into his brain via the internet and so he gets roped into government plans to defeat evil spying organizations in the greater LA area. It's amusing, but oh so ridiculous at times. And completely unintended ridiculousness; the writers seem to have done no research on anything for any of the situations they put Chuck into. So I find I just have to not care to much about the plot or I'd get bogged down in the plot holes and hollywood science.

Glee is about highschoolers in Ohio joining a new glee, or singing and performance, club at their high school. Definitely not the same disney-clean fare as 'high school musical', it features a lot of television tropes and humor mixed with drama. And the singing is good too. Usually well written, and the character of Sue Sylvester is great.

As for Scrubs, I liked the first few seasons. But the longer plot lines and the JD character I grew to dislike.

CR

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Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

I've looked at a couple inbetweeners clips as well. I don't think that would fly as a show aimed at teens in the US - to vulgar. But at least it seems more realistic and better written than that other show.

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How come? Even if an American remake (Shudder) that preserved the "grittiness" of the original was made?

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Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

Glee is about highschoolers in Ohio joining a new glee, or singing and performance, club at their high school. Definitely not the same disney-clean fare as 'high school musical', it features a lot of television tropes and humor mixed with drama. And the singing is good too. Usually well written, and the character of Sue Sylvester is great.

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Ugh, my sister watches Glee. And as my computer is in the same room as the TV, I have to listen to Glee. It's driving me mad.

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Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

As for Scrubs, I liked the first few seasons. But the longer plot lines and the JD character I grew to dislike.

CR

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I totally agree. The first and second scenes are great. But when they run out of jokes and start doing serious stuff, it just fails.

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Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

I've looked at a couple inbetweeners clips as well. I don't think that would fly as a show aimed at teens in the US - to vulgar. But at least it seems more realistic and better written than that other show.

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Wow, really? I have the DVDs for The Inbetweeners and they say '18' on, but the show seems to be a little like Skins (which is also 18, I think) but more comedic rather than dramatic. Both shows are orientated around students in the 16-18 age group, and they are both popular with 16s+ here, though Channel 4 wouldn't admit that under-18s are watching the programmes. :P

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Chuck is about some best buy geek squad member who gets a government database downloaded into his brain via the internet and so he gets roped into government plans to defeat evil spying organizations in the greater LA area.

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One of the prettier actresses in this show is in a computer game, like-for-like; technology, huh? I haven't gotten around to seeing this yet though, it looks funny though. :3

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Glee is about highschoolers in Ohio joining a new glee, or singing and performance, club at their high school. Definitely not the same disney-clean fare as 'high school musical', it features a lot of television tropes and humor mixed with drama. And the singing is good too.

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I've watched this show a few times, and it's certainly more palatable than High School Musical; I'm struggling to really get into it though. :<

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As for Scrubs, I liked the first few seasons. But the longer plot lines and the JD character I grew to dislike.

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Dr. Cox got better and better though. :P

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Originally Posted by Secura

I've watched this show a few times, and it's certainly more palatable than High School Musical; I'm struggling to really get into it though. :<

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Don't force yourself, :brood:

Its basically a wannabe musical, those are never good.

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Originally Posted by Secura

I know that, as of the latest series, there's quite a few who've appeared a fair few times: Jo Brand (24), Sean Lock (21), Phill Jupitus (21), Bill Bailey (19) and Rich Hall (19). Everytime I turn on QI, I see Jo Brand on it. >.<

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My bigger problem is with people like Clive Anderson, who I don't find particularly funny and who is far too knowledgeable for that show.

I just watched Frankie Boyles DVD last night I enjoyed it but I found it to be a bit lacking continuity now Dara O'Briain can give a seemingly random set which merges seemlessly with the prepared stuff and its intelligent stuff too.

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Originally Posted by Secura

Dr. Cox got better and better though. :P

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Meh. I've got a not dissimilar personality to Dr Cox, so I found myself not at all surprised when he insulted J.D. with some new taunt, as they'd be the kind of things I'd say.

American TV always seems to drag on far too long. They keep trying to prod the old dog, wanting to see the tricks he used to play, but he's just too brittle and frail for them. Sadly, instead of realizing their folly and writing off a series with a nice finale, they keep it going, with a "Make everything more pronounced" mentality. Soon, characters are unrecognizable, plots far-fetched, and continuing with our dog metaphor, our dear pet has been beaten, kicked, and his flopping, ugly innards are available for all to see.

Has anyone else watched Modern Family? That's quite a funny new show. Community and 30 Rock are also quite good, as mentioned before.

For British comedy I usually end up going back to Fawlty Towers (it can be painful but it's truly brilliant), or Jeeves and Wooster (partially because I like Fry and Laurie, partially because I love P.G. Wodehouse).

There are some classic comedies referred to in the thread, particularly British ones. However, US sitcoms have often scaled the absolute heights of brilliance and yet seem strangely absent from the roll call here.

My three favourite long running sitcoms are Frasier, Cheers and M*A*S*H. Each relies on wonderfully clever wordplay and deeply affecting characterisation that makes the journey over some years sweeter and funnier.

As a fan of timing and the ancient art of farce, I cannot praise this (below) greatest of scenes from Frasier highly enough. I weep with laughter every time. Immaculate timing, increasing chaos, in tempo to the music and perfect use of character - and a dog. True comic genius - enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTdD_dVyteA

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Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

As a fan of timing and the ancient art of farce, I cannot praise this (below) greatest of scenes from Frasier highly enough. I weep with laughter every time. Immaculate timing, increasing chaos, in tempo to the music and perfect use of character - and a dog. True comic genius - enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTdD_dVyteA

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It was like Mr. Bean, but more obvious. I could see the Iron fire from a mile away for example.

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Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost

My three favourite long running sitcoms are Frasier, Cheers and M*A*S*H. Each relies on wonderfully clever wordplay and deeply affecting characterisation that makes the journey over some years sweeter and funnier.

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Early M*A*S*H, with Trapper and Frank, was utterly hilarious. I never felt that Hawkeye had the same interplay with BJ or Winchester. The show also gradually became much more serious, which in itself is not a bad thing, but it isn't what I watch it for. Still the complete collection of M*A*S*H is in my house and I have watched all of them. A masterpiece of television but perhaps slightly too long-running.

I was going to mention M*A*S*H as well, actually. I recall someone noting that when it was first broadcast in the UK the canned laughter was removed from the soundtrack. Also, I have to say that 'Allo 'Allo is pure genius, especially the early stuff. If you know something about the SOE it's even funnier because they really DID try some of those insane plans.

I must admit I am enjoying GLEE immensely, but I suspect that has something to do with a certain actress.

This contains some naughty words, Lemur wouldn't allow his kids to hear. So if you do not want to be confronted with an F-bomb, or an H-bomb or any other Bombs, do not go to the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIyNzRvKBw4

It is from the TV Show "Mock the Week" bonus round, where the contestants are given a theme, and have to come up with material for humour. The theme there is "Unlikely Lines in a Hollywood Blockbuster Movie". I am sure there are other links to other parts, etc through the related.

I loved that round!

"Nemo, where the **** have you been?!"

Shows that MTW can still be funny without Mr. Boyle. :P