Did Monty Pythons, Steptoe & Son, the Goodies and the Goon Show completely fail on the other side of the pond?
It appears so from some of the replies. Some jokes Americans are too arrogant to get!?
Americans do not have any funny programmes of their own!
2006-11-09 12:04:00 · 18 answers · asked by Perseus 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I beg your pardon! I was brought up on British humour. I used to see all the British movies when they appeared on the American movie houses. There was some American humour I liked, but my personal taste was for the subtle British wit. Some of my favorites were: Allister Sim, Alex Guiness, James Robertson Justice, George Cole, Robie Coltrane and countless others I can't remember. I still watch the BBC on TV after 72 years. Of course I can't forget Monty Python.
2006-11-09 12:17:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Americans do not fail completely, but the irreverent culture & sense of humour in Britain is completely different. You don't see many British shows on US TV, and the ones that are popular are surprising Benny Hill, Keeping Up Appearances, As Time Goes By etc.
You are not right about the lack of American comedy. There are some good slow-burn comedies that don't seem to be big in England either - like Everybody Loves Raymond, on top of Friends, Cheers and the Simpsons etc.
I'm interested to see what happens with the new "Borat" movie - starring the guy who does Ali G (Sacha Cohen). It should be #1 in the box offices by now. UK hit?
By the way -the US version of the office is not funny as far as I'm concerned, but my American colleagues all think it is sharp and witty.
2006-11-09 21:08:16 · answer #2 · answered by Ste 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use to watch Absolutely Fabulous and the Graham Norton show. I thought they were funny. I also know quite a lot of people who love Monty Python. I've never heard of the other shows you listed.
American's do have funny shows though. I mean obviously you can't experience all of our shows unless you live here. I have one BBC channel and that, for the most part, is the only way for us to see British shows. That channel is only on cable or satellite. So one channel can't even begin to show us the amount of shows you might watch. So if it's the same for you then how can you truly experience what we watch? I don't doubt that the shows that get played are probably ones from normal channels and only those deemed most popular. The best shows are not even on normal TV but cable channels.
I do think there are certain things that American's wouldn't get just as the same as the British may not get some jokes in America. Some jokes are based off the culture in those countries ya know?
So don't judge American's so harshly, we do have a sense of humor. Well most of us.
2006-11-09 20:28:10 · answer #3 · answered by Gypsy Cat 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Monty Python was a massive success in the US, not sure about the others...not sure if the yanks do get our humour, as I dated one and jokes were occassionally lost on each other, but to say the US dont have any funny programmes is in itself arrogant, Familly Guy for starters....Man, Stewie rules!
2006-11-10 04:51:09 · answer #4 · answered by michael s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never seen the other shows, but I love Monty Python. I first watched Holy Grail when I was 10 or 12 and later began watching Flying Circus on PBS.
2006-11-09 22:32:33 · answer #5 · answered by Empy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monty Python was a huge hit here, probably still is selling tons of DVD. Right now we are loving Ali G.
All that wet weather must somehow give you guys a good sense of humor along with making you stay indoors and practice your music.
2006-11-09 20:10:11 · answer #6 · answered by hankthecowdog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I usually get British humor but most of it isn't funny to me. When I watch the British version of "Whose Line?" on BBC America the jokes the British comedians make aren't very funny to me. I suppose that, like the language, things are different on both sides of the pond.
2006-11-09 20:17:16 · answer #7 · answered by just a girl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Scot and don't like any of the shows you mention, English humour at best can be described as childish, and Americans don't get humour at all.
2006-11-09 20:20:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant was heavily involved in the re-writing of the office.
and it's spelt Britain. BRITAIN. B R I T A I N.
2006-11-09 20:14:40 · answer #9 · answered by Mclaren 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what i want to know is what you all think of Chewing The Fat and Still Game. Do you get it? I don't just mean in America but the rest of the world, especially England. Can you even understand it? Cause it's pure f**kin' amazin pal!
2006-11-09 20:54:17 · answer #10 · answered by merihell75 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋