British Comedy

[Rararaz]

-snip-
If you want to see something wonderful, follow this link and watch the entire episode (it's in 5-minute chunks): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5__VFxOI99E

Spoiler

It's Brian Blessed on Have I Got News For You

The only better host has been Boris Johnson, another British comedy great! :S

 

[Spacewolf]

yes british comedy is great and live at the apollo is great poissibly the best was when dara was hosting and frankie boyle was the other i never stopped laughing first time i saw it.

 

[Riobux]

I like, generally, more British comedy than American, but I also like a bit of Irish comedy like Dara O'Brien, Dylan Moran and Ed Bryne.

Then again, it could be because I'm English.

 

[iBroham]

No ones mentioned Harry Enfield's Kevin and Perry.

with good reason sir

 

[LiquidGrape]

Enough said.

 

[Woodsey]

Never take an american with an underdeveloped sense of humour to watch Life of Brian, tis a real shame when the only part they laugh at is "Biggus Dickus"

badtimes all around ¬¬

Be fair, that part is hilarious.

OT: I am British so I can't really comment. I will say that most American comedy is so ham-fisted and blatant that it makes me want to punch myself in the face (repeatedly). I LOVE Scrubs though, although I've always thought of it as being a little British-y.

 

[DoctorNick]

Well, Monty Python obviously.

I've also yet to see something with Simon Pegg in it that I didn't like, and say what you will but I do enjoy the occasional episode of Last of the Summer Wine for some reason. I've seen some Blackadder but not enough to have an opinion one way or another, but I do plan to watch more. Red Dwarf is always a classic also...

Holy cow, I'm amazed that anyone outside of the UK has even heard of the Last of the Summer Wine... Personally I don't like it so much but thats because when I was young it was part of a very boring stretch of Sunday afternoon programs you were forced to watch along the lines of the Antiques Roadshow ("how much do you think its worth?"), Bullseye ("you get nothing for two in a bed"), the Fashion Show or the House of Eliot or something equally coma-inducing.

Man, before the internet was like living in the dark ages...

Actually, what's kind of amusing is that I also like Antiques Roadshow, both the British and American version of it...

Didn't think of it at the time, but a few of you have brought up Charlie Brooker and I would agree that his show Screenwipe is pretty funny also.

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[small]I've also learned that the 'footnote' tag is a powerful thing that should not be abused, it's putting my little note on every post that quoted me and I'm starting to find it irritating myself...[/small]

 

[vorlon010]

Joining in the chorus of 'I'm British myself, but...' I just want to mention Allo Allo as an utter classic (particularly the first few seasons), and that Spitting Image is a thing dearly missed.

Also I've heard much good about our fine line of political satire, with examples such as 'The New Statesman' and 'Yes Minister'. Not seen much myself, sadly.

 

[Benj17]

Never take an american with an underdeveloped sense of humour to watch Life of Brian, tis a real shame when the only part they laugh at is "Biggus Dickus"

badtimes all around ¬¬

Be fair, that part is hilarious.

OT: I am British so I can't really comment. I will say that most American comedy is so ham-fisted and blatant that it makes me want to punch myself in the face (repeatedly). I LOVE Scrubs though, although I've always thought of it as being a little British-y.

Oh totally, but i was laughing all the way through that film while she only giggled at a cock (related) joke.

 

[FightThePower]

Green Wing was apparently heavily edited for America, so I doubt it's popular.

Shame because it rocks socks.

 

[Jenova65]

Ricky Gervis gets my vote he is so funny and I just love the guy. He rocks.

He is a very funny guy, I love pretty much all of his stuff

conversely, as a british person i can say that my favourite comedian was Bill Hicks, but he was bigger in the UK. strange how the more thoughtful US comedians tend to move over here.

reginald d. hunter is hilarious, and should be on Tv solo a bit more

Ah, Bill Hicks the perfect comedian, he did comedy right, it made you a bit uncomfortable one of the most thoughtful funny men who ever lived..... :'-(
And, a small point to those who mentioned it - If I were Irish I'd be annoyed at people calling Dylan Moran and Dara O'Briain British, they are both Irish. Just saying.
Back OT - I was brought up on Monty Python, The Goons, Tony Hancock etc. And they all entertain me as much now as they ever did. I also love Blackadder and many of the British comedies already mentioned including Simon Pegg, but I love American comedy too (although you guys should have backed away from The Office, talk about missing the point! ;-) )

 

[Jenova65]

Green Wing was apparently heavily edited for America, so I doubt it's popular.

Shame because it rocks socks.

Green Wing might be too funny! But that would be down to Mark Heap being one of the funniest people ever.

 

[rt052192]

im not a fan of british humor, with the exception of monty python

 

[Seth Smith]

Spaced is great. Honestly, a lot of British comedy is good, except for Monty Python. I don't understand why so many people like it, but hey. I bet most people would find Burn Notice bland and uninteresting, so to each his own.

 

[CK76]

I'd think no other nation exports humor the way our friends across the Atlantic have.

My mention goes for Peep Show, multiple cracking up moments.