Comedy

[The Ragin' South Asian]

I'm always hearing things like "British comedy is so good" and "British comedy is so awful"
So anyway, what are the distinguishing features of different culture's comedy? American, British, Chinese, whatever

[Legend of Tenshi]

Aussie humour has a trend of being self-depricating (spelling?). A classic example would be Eric Banna's character 'Poida' (sometimes called poiter by the novitiate) who made fun of Australian blue collar workers.
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[Dragon Phoenix]

British: quality before quantity
American: quantity before quality

The best British comedy series did not last long (Fawlty Towers: 12 episodes, the original Blackadder series 4x6 episodes); they stopped before the formula got stale. Like Friends, how many did they make? 8-9 seasons, with, what, 20 per season or so?

[The Ragin' South Asian]

wow, british series are that short? are new episodes really spaced out, or are there totally new shows every few months?
[edit]
i dunno if the greater quantity of episodes of american series would really make them worse. granted, a lot of shows are stretched way too far, but a lot of good shows don't really hit their stride until after a season or two. i think american series are just designed to last longer.

[Dragon Phoenix]

Let's look at my other favourite sitcoms:

Yes Minister - 23 episodes total (The later Yes Prime Minister 17, already less good)

Red Dwarf - 52 (last 16, series 7 and 8, way less interesting)

Bottom - 18

One foot in the grave - 44

Now for some of my fave American ones (at least they were good some time):

Cheers 270
Friends 209
Frasier 325

[Aarondalf]

Brittish comedy isn't really all that much better than American, in my opinion.

Brittish comedy is more about making fun of yourself. Americans can't do that.

What I mean is, in a brittish comedy series you usually find characters who you can relate to. Sometimes a little dumber than the average person, sometimes a little smarter. But really, they show the quirky little failings of the average person.

Americans, as said before, tend to not like being shown that they are fallable. Hence, the exaggerated character. Fallable characters, just like the brittish, but to such an extreme that nobody ever really relates to them. People like Joey from friends, Homer from the simpsons, Peter Griffin from Family guy, etc... even Niles from Frasier is so foppish that nobody would ever be THAT exaggerated.

Aussie humor seems to me to be about 50% brittish, 10% american, and 40% unique. It's hard for me as a native to really compare it. I'm at a loss for words.

But in regards to Brittish vs American, it seems to me that you can watch a brit com and say 'I know someone/I am sooooo like that sometimes' whereas american comedies seem more 'I'm pretty bad sometimes, but at least I'm not THAT bad'.

I put it down to the fact that Americans (as a stereotype) are hopelessly insecure.

[extro...]

I've often heard it said that the French regard Jerry Lewis as a comic genius. What's up with that?

[Guest]

Probably related to how the Septics like Benny Hill

[Dragon Phoenix]

Indeed, apparently Benny Hill and Are you being served are regarded as the highlight of British humour by the average American.

And BTW, in my 2+ years France, I have never seen a Jerry Lewis movie on TV.

[Guest]

Maybe they meant Jerry Lee Lewis

[extropalopakettle]

Google on Jerry + Lewis + France brings up a Straight Dope page: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a991001.html

[extropalopakettle]

More on what the French find entertaining: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_394

[Veg]

What are some distinguishing differences in british comedic plays and american comedi plays? (the sort of play with a stage n' stuff)

What are some good british comedies? (again, the sort with the stage)

[groza528]

Ooh, I wish I had seen this sooner. My senior English project was about British comedy.
British comedy often centres around a character in an awful situation. Take for example The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; from the very beginning Dent's house is being demolished and he soon finds out the same is to happen to the planet. You might also look at P.G. Wodehouse and his "Jeeves and Wosster" stories; in The Code of the Woosters for example, Bertie Wooster is being blackmailed by two people to steal the same thing, while simultaneously being told by someone that knows his plans of theft that the moment said item disappears, he will be beaten "to a jelly,"
Not only a bad situation, but the characters themselves are often awkward. Wooster is a know-it-all who really has no clue. Basil Fawlty is a hotelier with a temper. Mr. Bean is an utter klutz. The bottom line is, the British like to see their protagonists struggle.
British comedy includes immense situational jokes rather than simple one-liners. Again I refer to Jeeves and Wooster, which I consider to be among the best of the best because of its extremely elaborate plots. In one of his stories, Wooster has been advising people that to solve their love troubles, they ought to stop eating temporarily. He gives this advice to three people individually of each other. The expected result is that their loved ones will see how much pain they're in, being unable to eat, and repair their differences immediately. The actual result is that the temperamental and incredible French chef, upon seeing half his meal come back, tenders his resignation. Many variables make an incredible whole rather than just single jokes and slapstick one right after another.
Of course, the British do break this rule, particularly in the case of wordplay. They have a wonderful grasp of the English language (they ought to; it was their language first) and they use it very well. An example from Hitchhiker's Guide: Before going into hyperspace for the first time, Dent is warned that it will be unpleasant, rather like being drunk. "What's so unpleasant about being drunk?" he asks. The response? "Why don't you ask a glass of water?"
Another feature of British Comedy is the absurd. There are often times when the situation is just so ridiculous that you have no choice but to laugh and say "There's no way that would ever happen." Consider Monty Python. In one sketch, a fellow is looking for government money from the Ministry of Silly Walks in order to further dvelop his own silly method of walking. If you get to see this one, sieze the chance... The physical humour is also fantastic... I don't know how John Cleese does it. Even from a more realistic standpoint you find yourself wondering how on earth such a situation could arise. Back to Jeeves and Wooster, at one point Anatole (the French Chef) is very distressed by the presence of Gussie Fink-Nottle sitting atop his skylight.

I'm not terribly familiar with British theatre, but Noises Off is absolutely fantastic.

[Blighty Chap]

~sits back amused at all the non-Blighty folk talking about Blighty humour~

[groza528]

What's the matter? Did I do a poor job of it? My English teacher seemed to like it.

[mathgrant]

And I seemed to like it!
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[Agamemnon]

[Kd]

British comedy is great. Especially if it's mine.

(I have a GL Xmas special in the works... nowhere better to let you all know than here...)
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[Antrax]

[Dragon Phoenix]

[Blighty Chap]

~Goes off on a tangent~

Why does everyone always use 'Monty Python' as the be all back bone benchmark of British comedy? You know, there were other British comedies and comediens long beofre Monty Python ever exsisted.
Even at the time that Monty Python came out, there were others doing much the same stuff who never get the recognition that MP do.
Sorry, but it just seesm that whenever Blighty comedy gets mentioned, someone has to use Monty Python as the measuring rod of funnyness. Don't forget, Blighty comedy goes back many years to old Bill Shakey, and more recent through Chaz Chaplin, Max Miller, the old war performers and so forth. Monty Python is not the be all and end all of British comedy y'know.

~Get's back on tangent~

[Fried Egg]

Another facet of British comedy, which is a relatively recent development, is the oh so subtle piss take. The sort of shows that could be mistaken for being serious unless you pay close attention.

Shows like "The Day Today", "Knowing me, knowing you" (Alan Partridge), "The Office", "Ali G" and many others besides.

[Blighty Chap]

I've known many folk dismiss 'the Office' simply because they just don't understand it.
On your list Egg, this is the one that's probably the most subtle, and imho, one of the funniest. Surprised me Ricky took off so well in Yankeeland after it, especially when the Yanks would not know subtle humour if it jumped up and gave them a dose of the clap.

[Antrax]

Aga, I actually used Monty Python as a negative example. The Flying Circus is far from being my favourite British show. As a matter of fact, I believe it's rather dumb, and quite outdated.
DP, sorry I misunderstood, the episode count after the name of each show threw me off. And I'm shocked you don't find the Simpsons brilliant, I was sure it's your kind of humour.
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[Fried Egg]

If find American cartoon comedy better than most of their sitcoms.

I did enjoy "the Wonder Years" and "Malcom in the Middle" however...