Poll: British Sitcoms vs American Sitcoms
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I'd guess in general, British ones have my preference. American comedy shows I enjoy watching generally draw my attention because there's one or two brilliant actors in them keeping the thing afloat, rather than having brilliant and genuinely funny writing like Peepshow 
American sitcoms keep me entertained, but I rarely actually laugh at them. British sitcoms on the other hand, I generally find hilarious. Except for "'Only Fools and Horses" I really, really cannot stand that show.
I don't really watch sitcoms... but I guess I'd go with American... Even though they haven't really made any good sitcoms since the 90's... and because I haven't really bothered to watch any British sitcoms...
I'm an American, and in general I would say that the British sitcoms are better. There are of course exceptions, and my favorite comedies are from the US (Barney Miller, for example). But it may be that we all tend to be prejudiced against ourselves in this regard since in our own countries we get all the shows regardless of quality (dragging the average down) while shows from other countries are filtered through at least some kind of selection process (pulling the average up). So the bad shows from other countries won't make it to our televisions - in theory, anyway.
Being British, I can't stand American comedy shows. Sorry guys, just not my thing. I do think Britain has a knack for comedy.
Season 9? Surely that undoes all that came before.Onyx Oblivion said:
Anyway I'd have to go with British overall. Now I do like American sitcoms, to many to list. But none I've seen can compete with things like Blackadder or Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
However I'm not really in a position to judge. When I went to America I noticed on TV they never put on any of the truly great British sitcoms. They put on some like the Office but only the fairly mediocre ones. I guess it's the same with British TV I probably won't have seen the best America has to offer and thus can't make an informed judgement.
Heres my view, not that its worth all that much and has almost certainly been said before me.
American sitcoms will appeal, more or less, to an american market and British sitcoms will appeal to the brits.
Personally, I prefer british. Thats not to say American sitcoms are bad, but Black Books and Red Dwarf win me over.
American sitcoms will appeal, more or less, to an american market and British sitcoms will appeal to the brits.
Personally, I prefer british. Thats not to say American sitcoms are bad, but Black Books and Red Dwarf win me over.
So far I feel it's just done everything right.Jonesy911 said:
What I will say from observation is this:
US comedy is consistently solid but rather formulaic. They show no shame in such a thing and it doesn't affect the quality.
UK comedy is either subtle or random. Sometimes both. I can't say I always know what's going to happen when I switch one on.
Regardless, UK for me. Pure quality.
I'm Australian, I think that makes me non-biased.
I like a couple from both but in general I prefer English.
Is it just me or is there literally no one else in the world that thinks the office is a load of shit?
I have never laughed while watching it.
I guess I'm not the target audience? (20, Male, White, Christian, Uni student, Middle Class Parents, Australian)
Does anyone else find it stupid?
I like a couple from both but in general I prefer English.
Is it just me or is there literally no one else in the world that thinks the office is a load of shit?
I have never laughed while watching it.
I guess I'm not the target audience? (20, Male, White, Christian, Uni student, Middle Class Parents, Australian)
Does anyone else find it stupid?
It's all a matter of personal taste really. Anything before the year 2000 I'd have to give the edge to Britain. Men Behaving Badly, Blackadder, Only Fools and Horses, Red Dwarf, The Brittas Empire, One foot in the Grave, Keeping up Appearances. I actually really dislike most British comedy now. My Family used to be ok...anything with Ricky Gervais in it, or with his name attached to it makes me turn over. The portly one from Mitchell and Webb with the funny voice annoys me, the IT Crowd was ok for a series maybe.
On the other hand I love Rules of Engagement, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, King of Queens, Fraiser, The Big Bang Theory. Hell, I even thought Blue Mountain State was funny.
Ultimately it's what appeals to the individual at any given time. Just because I can't abide Ricky Gervais doesn't mean I think everyone should hate him, he's just not my cup of tea because he's an arrogant prick with his head far too up his own arse.
On the other hand I love Rules of Engagement, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, King of Queens, Fraiser, The Big Bang Theory. Hell, I even thought Blue Mountain State was funny.
Ultimately it's what appeals to the individual at any given time. Just because I can't abide Ricky Gervais doesn't mean I think everyone should hate him, he's just not my cup of tea because he's an arrogant prick with his head far too up his own arse.
Britain has Peep Show, that alone beats all American Sitcoms combined (not to say American sitcoms are bad just peep show is another level). We also have Father Ted, The IT Crowd and The Office.
America's best attempt IMO is 'How I Met Your Mother' and that can't even touch any of the above shows. RULE BRITTANIA
America's best attempt IMO is 'How I Met Your Mother' and that can't even touch any of the above shows. RULE BRITTANIA
I don't really like sitcoms but there are a few from each country that really stand out.
I love some of the older sitcoms of the UK; I grew up on The Young Ones and Fawlty Towers. There are also only a couple of American sitcoms I really like: Seinfeld & Arrested Development.
The reason I usually can't make it to the end of a sitcom is because there's always some sort of dramatic interlude that always seems really contrived and tedious. With shows like Arrested Development (or even That 70s Show to a certain extent) even if there is some sort of dramatic tension, it's building up to a punchline.
American sitcoms have always been like that: mostly overly dramatic slop with a few outstanding shows. In the 50s we had I Love Lucy, in the 60s we had Dick Van Dyke. Then the British took over for us starting in the 70s.
I did always catch Who's the Boss but I just had a crush on Alyssa Milano.
I love some of the older sitcoms of the UK; I grew up on The Young Ones and Fawlty Towers. There are also only a couple of American sitcoms I really like: Seinfeld & Arrested Development.
The reason I usually can't make it to the end of a sitcom is because there's always some sort of dramatic interlude that always seems really contrived and tedious. With shows like Arrested Development (or even That 70s Show to a certain extent) even if there is some sort of dramatic tension, it's building up to a punchline.
American sitcoms have always been like that: mostly overly dramatic slop with a few outstanding shows. In the 50s we had I Love Lucy, in the 60s we had Dick Van Dyke. Then the British took over for us starting in the 70s.
I did always catch Who's the Boss but I just had a crush on Alyssa Milano.
One thing I notice as a Brit is that American networks basically churn out their sitcoms, they're not bad, but it's the sheer number of them, they have loads of writers but lack the charm of the British sitcoms. I mean IT Crowd has only one writer (Graham Lineham). British sitcoms try to go for quality over quantity, except for some of the sketch shows (Catherine Tate, Little Britiain (they get old quick though))or panel shows(mock the week, Have I got news for you) which are funny but are cheap so the poor BBC can afford them, most series last only 6 episodes in contrast to US which lasts 12+ episodes
American sitcoms are all about making money, while British, more specifically BBC sitcoms are to entertain you.
e.g. American and British 'The Office', the British Office had only 2 series but the quality is outstanding compared to the American version, you really feel it's a documentary and that the characters are real. While when I watch the American version, I find it funny but unbelievable, they've given up on basically any pretence of the fact it's a documentary and the characters aren't believable either, with the plots departing to silly excursions as opposed to good characters.
It's quite sad I end up watching more American comedies then British comedies just due to the ability the US networks can produce them
American sitcoms are all about making money, while British, more specifically BBC sitcoms are to entertain you.
e.g. American and British 'The Office', the British Office had only 2 series but the quality is outstanding compared to the American version, you really feel it's a documentary and that the characters are real. While when I watch the American version, I find it funny but unbelievable, they've given up on basically any pretence of the fact it's a documentary and the characters aren't believable either, with the plots departing to silly excursions as opposed to good characters.
It's quite sad I end up watching more American comedies then British comedies just due to the ability the US networks can produce them
My opinion on this is that British TV comedies are better overall. But when America does it right, its glorious. Arrested Development for example is better than anything Britain has ever done (with the exceptions of The Day Today, Brass Eye and perhaps Green Wing). And your Curbs and Seinfelds are fantastic too.
Even greats like Alan Partridge and The Office leave me frustrated with how short they are. Six 25 minute episodes for a couple of series is so disappointing compared with your American series of 12-24 episodes. There's an argument that this keeps them crammed packed with quality but have twice as many episodes never stopped Arrested Development being hilarious.
Even greats like Alan Partridge and The Office leave me frustrated with how short they are. Six 25 minute episodes for a couple of series is so disappointing compared with your American series of 12-24 episodes. There's an argument that this keeps them crammed packed with quality but have twice as many episodes never stopped Arrested Development being hilarious.