American Humour
Apr 26th 2005, 4:21 pm
#1
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American Humour
Is there really much difference between British and American humour?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
Apr 26th 2005, 4:26 pm
#2
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Is there really much difference between British and American humour?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
Apr 26th 2005, 4:55 pm
#3
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Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Manc
American Comedy for the most part is utter shite.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
I think Phoenix Nights would be too localised to tra vel over the Atlantic.
But if you look past the local to the essence of the humour I reckon it has much the same flavour as Jeff Foxworthy and his redneck jokes.
Apr 26th 2005, 5:38 pm
#4
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,894
Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Manc
American Comedy for the most part is utter shite.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
As for his beer ads, now they SHOULD be shown here, the one we saw last December had him as a dj at a wedding playing a song for the Bride from her father, cue "Annie I'm not your Daddy" as Kay says, " What I thought everyone knew ?"
Apr 26th 2005, 5:47 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
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Posts: 14,858
Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Dimsie
Is there really much difference between British and American humour?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
I haven't found much difference so far, although I haven't been here that long. I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great, and would probably do well in Britain if the local aspects of their jokes were adjusted.
Bill Hicks (RIP) was brilliant too - died much too soon. Bill Maher is another favourite of mine.
As far as ordinary folk go - well, my husband's immediate family all share a very British type sense of humour - rave about Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc. I suppose it's not possible to generalise, but I suspect that we are all getting closer in humour styles nowadays, thanks to the internet, satellite TV etc. How do others think on this?
Apr 26th 2005, 6:13 pm
#6
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: American Humour
I quite liked the blue collar comedy tour as a one off. However it soon got old with the Blue Collar TV.
I think it is very sad that being a redneck is fashionable.
Git R Done.
I think it is very sad that being a redneck is fashionable.
Git R Done.
Apr 26th 2005, 7:10 pm
#7
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: American Humour
A lot of comedy is funny here, but post of the tv series like friends or whatever just weren't very good or funny, too much in your face to smack the punchline...nothing subtle, hardly any irony or sarcasm....
Apr 26th 2005, 7:16 pm
#8
Sarah's Hubby
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Quahog
Posts: 83
Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Manc
American Comedy for the most part is utter shite.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
British Comedy is ok to a certain extent.
I mean I don't think the Office is all that great, personally. It wouldn't have been much more than a couple of sketches on Monty Python, but Gervais was able to stretch it to 2 series worth.
Phoenix Nights is fantastic, but I think most Americans just wouldn't get it.
I find Phoenix Nights quite funny and easy to understand. I think the only difference between American and British comedy is what the humor is based on. Of course it will be different due to the different experiences of each culture.
BTW - I think Foxworthy and Redneck hick humor is total trash. I'm embarrased that such retarded crap is popular.
Last edited by jjw152; Apr 26th 2005 at 7:19 pm.
Apr 26th 2005, 7:18 pm
#9
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Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
Re: American Humour
Actually, up until recently I thought Friends was crap. But I've been watching a few of the re runs recently and I now see why it lasted so long. It was imo brilliantly written and something the spin off show Joey, has tough time matching.
Apr 26th 2005, 8:25 pm
#10
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,894
Re: American Humour
On Radio 7's comedy hour they are repeating King Cutler, Phyllis King & Ivor Cutler..Sadly both Scots comics are King Awful.
Apr 26th 2005, 8:43 pm
#11
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Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Dimsie
I think Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall are both great
Apr 26th 2005, 9:15 pm
#12
trout pout
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 248
Re: American Humour
My other half loves Little Britain and The Office....haven't tried sitting him in front of Phoenix Nights yet. I'm a northern lass so it might be scary for him to watch it having just had my parents out for a visit! 
I like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Scrubs .....more the dry humour than the Friends/Joey stuff (puke). Saw Wanda Sykes and also Lewis Black doing standup in Boston recently and pissed my sides at both. Other half loves Eddie Izzard.
Can't for the life of my understand what people find so funny about Everybody Loves Raymond (utter crap) but thankfully he can't stand it either!
I have lost a lot of my sarcasm here having had to tone it down....if you don't say "just kidding" at the end people tend to take me seriously.....that was an interesting learning curve when I got here!
I like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Scrubs .....more the dry humour than the Friends/Joey stuff (puke). Saw Wanda Sykes and also Lewis Black doing standup in Boston recently and pissed my sides at both. Other half loves Eddie Izzard.
Can't for the life of my understand what people find so funny about Everybody Loves Raymond (utter crap) but thankfully he can't stand it either!
I have lost a lot of my sarcasm here having had to tone it down....if you don't say "just kidding" at the end people tend to take me seriously.....that was an interesting learning curve when I got here!
Apr 26th 2005, 9:54 pm
#13
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Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Texas Brit
Well, then you are disqualified from playing at all.
Apr 26th 2005, 10:06 pm
#14
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Re: American Humour
For every Office, there is a (insert name of the comedian in father Ted who played a super hero in a sitcom)
And for every That 70s show, there is a Larry Sanders on HBO.
My point being, there is crap and great on both side of the Atlantic
And for every That 70s show, there is a Larry Sanders on HBO.
My point being, there is crap and great on both side of the Atlantic
Apr 26th 2005, 10:42 pm
#15
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Re: American Humour
Originally Posted by Pimpbot
For every Office, there is a (insert name of the comedian in father Ted who played a super hero in a sitcom)
And for every That 70s show, there is a Larry Sanders on HBO.
My point being, there is crap and great on both side of the Atlantic
And for every That 70s show, there is a Larry Sanders on HBO.
My point being, there is crap and great on both side of the Atlantic