Anonymous A started this discussion 5 years ago#101,902
We were always told that British humour is so subtle, so intelligent, so high-brow, that it requires a great education to understand the brilliance and genius of it. However, when I watch British humour, it seems like just a bunch of low-brow sex jokes. Am I wrong?
> We were always told that British humour is so subtle, so intelligent, so high-brow, that it requires a great education to understand the brilliance and genius of it. However, when I watch British humour, it seems like just a bunch of low-brow sex jokes. Am I wrong?
Compare The Office UK and The Office US for a decent example of the differences between British and American humour.
In my opinion the best American humour is Jewish (the Coen Brothers, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks) and, probably not coincidentally, that's closest to British humour.
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 5 years ago, 14 hours later, 18 hours after the original post[^][v]#1,151,575
@previous (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
I have made this exact comparison in the past. Our Jew humor is nearly identical to Brit humor.
dw !p9hU6ckyqw joined in and replied with this 5 years ago, 9 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,714
@1,151,380 (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
That's not really a fair comparison. You're comparing some of the best UK TV to some of the worst US TV.
Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U replied with this 5 years ago, 59 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,737
> That's not really a fair comparison. You're comparing some of the best UK TV to some of the worst US TV.
I wasn't comparing them in terms of quality but in terms of how the same idea was approached. For the US version they tried to do an exact copy of the UK version in the first season and it bombed. Audiences hated it. Then from season 2 they switched to the typical American style (more sitcom than mockumentary, romance front and centre, and with far less emphasis on subtlety and psychological insight) and it was a hit.
dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 5 years ago, 30 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,742
@previous (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
Would be better to compare it to Arrested Development
Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U replied with this 5 years ago, 15 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,744
> Would be better to compare it to Arrested Development
Great show, very intelligent and witty...and created by a Jewish American:
@1,151,380 (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U) > In my opinion the best American humour is Jewish (the Coen Brothers, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks) and, probably not coincidentally, that's closest to British humour.
dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 5 years ago, 11 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,746
@previous (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
ah so it doesnt count as an example of good us comedy because a jew was involved
Apocalypse Indy !OLoFH13KSo joined in and replied with this 5 years ago, 12 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,749
I could never get into British TV shows because their language is just too confusing. How the hell is anyone meant to understand things like "washing up liquid" or "pavement"??? I have learned multiple other languages but even I am confused by British "English".
dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 5 years ago, 5 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,752
@previous (Apocalypse Indy !OLoFH13KSo)
but the word pavement is used in US english too
Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U replied with this 5 years ago, 18 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,753
> ah so it doesnt count as an example of good us comedy because a jew was involved
The fuck are you babbling on about now?
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 5 years ago, 3 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,755
British comedy is mostly about failure, which is why American audiences don't find it as funny. Making a joke out of what would otherwise be a miserable situation is central to its themes.
The toilet humour also comes from shared awful experiences at school, in particular all-boys public schools - a world that most Americans could not even begin to comprehend.
Compare Fawlty Towers with Cheers, which the writers say was inspired by it, though it's difficult to see any similarity whatsoever. They wanted to replicate the show but they cut out Basil because he was, when boiled down, such an awful human being. They knew that character would not resonate well with American audiences.
I agree that Jewish humour is closest to British for this same reason - a great deal of Woody Allen's comedy especially is about failure, Annie Hall being a good example.
dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 5 years ago, 2 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,757
@1,151,753 (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
why do you get confused so easily
dw !p9hU6ckyqw double-posted this 5 years ago, 5 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,759
idk im still with becky on this one
Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U replied with this 5 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,762
Seriously, I was using your example to corroborate my point that IN MY OPINION (and it is only that, a subjective opinion), the best American humour is Jewish American humour. How in the fuck you interpreted that to mean "it doesn't count as good US comedy if a Jew is involved" is beyond me.
dw !p9hU6ckyqw replied with this 5 years ago, 1 minute later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,763
@previous (Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U)
that's a terrible opinion.
Father Merrin !u5oFWxmY7U replied with this 5 years ago, 7 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^][v]#1,151,765