Poll: American or British Comedy?

[Mr Metzger]

Its strange to think that most people like British comedies. I'm from Ireland and i prefer American comedies. Scrubs, That 70s Show and How I Met Your Mother any day of the week!

 

[thenumberthirteen]

I love American comedy. I think the UK should negotiate rights to get the Today Show and Colbert Report broadcast over here.

The Colbert Report was on FX. Don't know if it still is.

 

[Xanadu84]

I'm tempted to say American, but honestly, I'm not sure anyone can really, properly make an informed decision. I do like a lot of British comedy. But when I think British Comedy, what I think is absurd non-sequitar along the lines of Monty Python or Fawlty Towers. American comedy seems to be more broad, and more grounded in reality. It seems like American comedy has a little bit of everything, and still can match British Surrealism with, say, Mitch Hedburg standup or Andy Samberg SNL digital shorts. But I have a feeling that a Brit will likely think British is better because they see British comedy as more broad, seeing a wider range of it, and think that American comedy is comprised entirely of slapstick.

 

[Kranay]

British, British, British! British ALWAYS wins out. In Britain, you've got things like Monty Python and Death at a Funeral. In America, you've got shows such as the Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. While these shows aren't necessarily bad, and CERTAINLY have their moments, they're often very repetitive after a few seasons.
British comedy is very witty and favours smartarse comments over slapstick. Barry Humphries

That's not to say American comedy isn't worth checking out. Dennis Leary, for example.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

Black Adder
Monty Python
Fawlty Towers
Death At a Funeral
Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead
Brits win.
Whenever I think of American comedy I think of those stupid ass sitcom shows with the freaking canned laughter.

 

[Akalistos]

It depends on how I?m feeling on whether I choose to watch a British comedy or an American comedy. In these modern days both can be witty however, American is mostly slapstick, in your face type of comedy, whereas, British Comedy is more dry and tend to more black.

Gun to my head, id say British-style comedy was better.

What do you think is better and why?

Where i came from, there also comedy. It's mostly in french, but i said we hit the stop between slapstick and black.
Here a nice example, you don't need to understand since it more of a revenge. The story is that two of our good Humorist Patrick Groulx and Mike Ward did a sketch with their mentally deficient character. One of the new humorist which name i forgot got on stage, disrupt everything and told the audience the final punchline. Without material, they were left on stage with nothing but shame. A year later, that new guy got to do a standup during our humor driven festival call JUST FOR LAUGH. Needless to say, they destroyed that humorist.

You don't need anything, just enjoy revenge to the purest of form.

PS: Presentator: Mike Ward, the other one that come later is Patrick Groulx. Also, when they came in character, watch what he does.

 

[Treblaine]

Four words, "Da Ali G Show".

EDIT: I guess Da Ali G Show can go both ways since it started in Britain and then went to the U.S and A.

They only visited there. The cast, crew and writers remained British.

Friends didn't become a British comedy when they visited London.

 

[Canid117]

They both have their strengths and weaknesses and I appreciate both equally.

 

[Hashime]

Canadian comedy!
basically same thing as british comedy but more canadian.

Agreed.

 

[DustyDrB]

I wouldn't say Hot Fuzz was subtle. I really don't think there's as much of a difference as people tend to think.
I like both equally. I guess I'd honestly have to say I like Canadian comedy most just because of Seth Rogen.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

It's mixed for me. I've liked my share of both.

But if I HAD to choose, I guess I'd go with American mainly because I've been around it more often.

 

[Treblaine]

I love American comedy. I think the UK should negotiate rights to get the Today Show and Colbert Report broadcast over here.

Personally, it's not for me. Too much straw-man bullshit.

Common problem with American comedy, it isn't THAT funny just to ridicule your political rivals, especially if it just goes on and on. They tend to exploit the contractions in people they don't like rather than in the situation itself.

For example, even a Christian should be able to find The Life Of Brian funny because it finds the humour in such an important era surrounding their belief. It doesn't just say "hah, look at Jesus being so stupid" but subtly-subverts the situation:

Like Michael Palin the ex-lepper, it cleverly exploits the ridiculous scenario that someone would complain about the Messiah curing them of their terrible disease. Doesn't insult Jesus or the Christ story.

In fact the entire overarching story is how would someone deal with the pressures of being a religious leader if they didn't want to be one and had no idea how to handle it with grace. The more he tries to rid himself of them, the more he seems to attract.

I still retain that Life Of Brian is the perfect film even for all Christians, though fundamentalist type tend to completely miss the joke and automatically think they are the butt again.

Compare and contrast 'Life of Brian' with that crappy American comedy 'Dave' where someone is mistaken for the US President (Political rather than Religious Leader) the movie instead just spends the time dissing the real president by saying basically "huh, why don't you do this, like any ordinary guy would". Less drawing humour from the farcical situation of mistaken identity.

 

[Teh Ty]

I kinda like american comedy because it's straight forward, usually out of the box, and blunt, though, I still like British humor because of the complexity, and the thought having to be brought into it. Overall, I kinda like american humor better.

 

[Trizshjen]

I prefer British comedians but there are a number of shows coming out of the US which are really raising the bar of late, better of ted and community specifically.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Hot Fuzz is my favorite movie of all time. The funniest American television show ever was Arrested Development and that's the closest we'll ever get to British style humor. So I'll say British. I like my humor how I like my meat... dark, dry, and witty.

 

[Hidan03]

I can be swayed either way. They both have their high points and low point. For instance a low point for the U.S.: Dane Cook (I'm A.D.D. and I find it obnoxious), and for Britain: (I'm sorry) The Office.

I'm sorry, but the original is like watching the same day of my life over and over and over for what feels like forever. It hasn't made me laugh once. I think it's a low point in Gervais' career.

 

[Enigmers]

I haven't been exposed to much British humour, but what I have (basically, random Monty Python clips) were delightfully nonsensical. American humour, I think, can be funny, but there are also a lot of juvenile things like dick jokes and toilet humour which isn't quite funny. I don't think I've seen or heard enough of either to make a sound judgment.

 

[Blackvegie]

It's hard to argue for American when you consider that Black Books is British.

Then again 30 Rock...

 

[Dreey]

South Park, The Onion, Family Guy. Gotta say American. British is great, but I almost die laughing more often when watching american.

 

[PiCroft]

I love American comedy. I think the UK should negotiate rights to get the Today Show and Colbert Report broadcast over here.

Personally, it's not for me. Too much straw-man bullshit.

Common problem with American comedy, it isn't THAT funny just to ridicule your political rivals, especially if it just goes on and on. They tend to exploit the contractions in people they don't like rather than in the situation itself.

For example, even a Christian should be able to find The Life Of Brian funny because it finds the humour in such an important era surrounding their belief. It doesn't just say "hah, look at Jesus being so stupid" but subtly-subverts the situation:

Like Michael Palin the ex-lepper, it cleverly exploits the ridiculous scenario that someone would complain about the Messiah curing them of their terrible disease. Doesn't insult Jesus or the Christ story.

In fact the entire overarching story is how would someone deal with the pressures of being a religious leader if they didn't want to be one and had no idea how to handle it with grace. The more he tries to rid himself of them, the more he seems to attract.

I still retain that Life Of Brian is the perfect film even for all Christians, though fundamentalist type tend to completely miss the joke and automatically think they are the butt again.

Compare and contrast 'Life of Brian' with that crappy American comedy 'Dave' where someone is mistaken for the US President (Political rather than Religious Leader) the movie instead just spends the time dissing the real president by saying basically "huh, why don't you do this, like any ordinary guy would". Less drawing humour from the farcical situation of mistaken identity.

I haven't seen Dave, so I can't comment on it, and I agree on Life of Brian, but I don't think you're giving American comedians a chance.

Eddie Murphy is a side-splitter, Jay Leno is a genius, Lenny Bruce, while not a contemporary and I haven't heard very much of his stuff, was a visionary when it came to unpeeling the crappy hang ups we have about swear words and obscenities and a fucking human stick of dynamite when it came to saying what had to be said. I am still ashamed (but not surprised) that the UK deported him on arrival because of his routines.

George Carlin was a goddamn genius and he remains one of my favorite comedians and I honestly nearly wept when I heard of his death. An atheist, a strong critic of organised religion and politicians and a penchant for criticism in the most stylish and obscene manner possible.

Robbin Williams, a man who can actually have me weeping with laughter effortlessly and his improvisation is something to be seen to be believed. And the legendary Bill Hicks, who, while his mannerism on stage grated on my nerves, didn't detract in the least from the gravity of his words and the manner in which he expressed them.

American comedy isn't like British comedy, which is a good thing. Americans have their own style and it is extremely refreshing.