Poll: Who's better at comedy? Brits or Americans?

[Housebroken Lunatic]

I can't really pick one over the other. America had Bill Hicks, but Britain has Monty Python.

I'll say this though: I think Britain is better at making sure that comedy creators who are actually FUNNY get famous, while America sadly is too good at letting mediocre hacks become famous while the truly funny ones often have very little screentime, fame or proper recognition. And even when someone who's actually funny gets to have the spotlight, censors force them to tone the comedy down and making it all a bit too "conservative christian-friendly".

 

[Falsename]

Some American shows are funny, some aren't.
The Brits aren't funny anymore, there humor is so... old. Seen the Vicar of Dibley? Not funny.

Australia and New Zealand have the absolute best comedians. Canada as well.... we're f****** funny! You're not.

 

[solad_nathair]

yeah to the rest of the world unfortunately Irish count as British (i know this is untrue personally, but you try telling people half way round the world that)


Well they will have to learn the difference sooner or later. Its easy the IRISH are from IRELAND and the BRITISH are from BRITAIN.

You are right about the Fast Show though it was a great show

 

[Don Reba]

Canadians, of course. We have LRR as the living proof right here on Escapist.

 

[GigaHz]

I prefer African comedy.

No, not African American comedy, African Nations.

Those Swahili people sure know how to write a sitcom. It's a laugh riot!

Much better than those inferior American or British comedy shows everyone's on about.

 

[kickassfrog]

Mitchell & Webb, hands down!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3JKcExmQlA

"I really can't think of anything worse, as a symbol, than a skull"
"A rat's... anus."
Brilliant.

I would say british comedians myself, as american comedians pretty much always resort to "In america..."

Having said that, Rich Hall has a valid point about british adverts.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Why with these American vs Brits thread? Why does it even matter. All i am interested in is funny comedy, dont give a shit where its from.

 

[solad_nathair]

I prefer African comedy.

No, not African American comedy, African Nations.

Those Swahili people sure know how to write a sitcom. It's a laugh riot!

Much better than those inferior American or British comedy shows everyone's on about.

Click Click Bloody Click Pancakes

 

[Teckdeth]

America has a great track record of comedian/preachers like Carlin, Hicks, Rock, Pryor and so on, but Comedy is a cornerstone of British culture. We thrive on the stuff! If we were talking stand up only, I'd go with America, since my top 10 comedians are majority American, but there are far too many amazing comedy dramas, films and panel shows in Britain for this to even be a close call.

Extras FTW.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

America has a great track record of comedian/preachers like Carlin, Hicks, Rock, Pryor and so on, but Comedy is a cornerstone of British culture. We thrive on the stuff!

Hehe, yeah that "stiff upper lip"-thing that's been a cornerstone in britain really shows what a comedyloving bunch the brits are don't it?

I hope you can live up to your claims and actually see the funny side of that observation of mine.

 

[Enibody]

Britain has peep show thus we win!

 

[crudus]

10 years of The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and The Golden Girls. You can argue as much as you want that some shows "aren't as good as they used to be," but American shows have a tendency to run longer than three episodes.

wait so your argument is quantity is better than quality?
I'd rather have three episodes of something amazing then ten seasons of something mediocre.

I don't think he argument is that (well...it shouldn't be). There is a phenomenon known as "Growing the Beard". It is when a show "finds itself" if you will, and it takes more than three episodes to do. It doesn't generally happen with shows that start out amazing, but I suppose shows can always be better. So those three episodes of shit or mediocrity that were produced have the capacity to get better for various reasons.

 

[GigaHz]

Click Click Bloody Click Pancakes

*wipes tears*
See. I'm in stitches.

And in addition, a very relevant social commentary.

This is the future.

 

[KiruTheMant]

In standup, I have to say American, due to only seeing American actors out here, but for written I say the brits, after all, you have Monty Python.

 

[solad_nathair]

Britain has peep show thus we win!

You also had Gimme Gimme Gimme not to mention the rubbish british remake of That 70's Show called Days Like These so you lose a few points for them

 

[Fronken]

My favourite series of all time is Red Dwarf, and my favourite comedy-group of all time is Monty Python, so for me its a major win for the brits.

 

[Zeriah]

20-30 years ago the UK hands down, but nowadays America for sure. They have basically 100% of the Animated comedy market, almost the entire sitcom market and most of the movies.

I mean Futurama, American Dad!, South Park, all the adult swim stuff, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Scrubs, that 70's show, Arrested Development, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Colbert, Jon Stewart and a shit ton of amazing movies that are far too numerous to list. What does Britain have nowadays? The Office, Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost? Everything else from over there at the moment isn't really humorous at all to me.

 

[Henkie36]

Americans are better with sitcoms, but that's about it. They are never as smart, cynical (I mean come on, the only decent cynical American is House. And they still have to bring in a British guy to play him!) or satirical as British comedies. Movies? American Pie vs. Hot Fuzz. Right...

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

none of the above, because they have 1 to 3 layers of signification in their humor.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

Americans, by the simple virtue that I despise - nay, loathe! - british humor.