How on earth can you relate since they are both so American. How can you even understand the accents?
2007-07-30 03:33:39 · 11 answers · asked by ? 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television ➔ Comedy
Because most of what passes for British comedy now in the UK is just not funny. We haven't had a decent sitcom in years and please don't say My Family because its total crap. The Simpsons is unique, it appeals to all because its humour is universal, jokes galore, and very intelligent scripts, don't understand about accents, don't you watch american films?
2007-08-01 05:37:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the most part, people the world over enjoy comedy. In the US British shows are often very popular. They show the older shows on public broadcasting, and most cable and satellite services in the US show BBC or more often BBC America. I love "Friends" and I loved "Seinfeld" and "Frasier" when they were on. Of course I also love watching old repeats of Coupling, I prefer the British The Office to the US show, I even like Little Britain, which shows I have no taste at all.
People from all over the US and UK have regional accents. I am from the US but I have trouble with the New England and some deep southern accents. But also while watching Graham Norton the other night I missed several comments because of the accents by the British actors who were his guest. The other night my daughter (who speaks with a decidedly Texas accent) had some school chums over to spend the weekend. One was from England though her accent was more american midwestern (we had a little trouble keeping up with her Irish mother's accent). One friend had a mexican accent, and the other had no accent at all. We managed to get through the weekend, and though they were all from different areas and backgrounds, they laughed at the same things, and we had no problem understanding anyone (except that teenage girls seem to talk constantly and simultaneously) Maybe we should learn from the kids and realize that people are really just people. Some love Benny Hill some love the Three Stooges. Its is really a matter of personal likes and dislikes. Once Americans figure out what a plonker is or what Bollocks are they can keep up with most British comedies. I recently saw a show where US comedian Kathy Griffin performed in London and the crowd was enthusiastic after the show.
While some things fall on deaf ears it is a matter of trying to keep up with the different cultures. Since the majority of the people in the US are of anglo descent we ought to have a lot in common.
2007-07-30 20:47:44 · answer #2 · answered by US_DR_JD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
American accents are amongst some of the easiest to understand because they are so generic. If you are having trouble understanding them then perhaps you should get your hearing checked.
The reason any shows/films/books etc are relate-able is to do, not with nationality, but with the plot, the character, and all the different aspects that make up the stories.
I think you come across as being, not only ignorant by making statements like this but also quite offensive - it's borderline racism - would you say the same about any other nation's media output?
2007-07-30 03:41:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
they are so popular because unlike some answers would have you believe, the U.S culture, is almost the same culture as the U,K
to the one who says uk programs suck, yeh of course, thats why you had to rip red dwarf, what was a huge failure, had to rip the office, again, no where near as good as original, and our comedies such as red dwarf, black adder, mr bean, fawlty towers, bottom, among some dont last very long and are forgotten so quicky, because they are just awful
not forgetting long running shows such as eastender, what americans rallied together to save in the us when faced with cancelation.
get your facts right, if you dig in deep enough you will realise most us programs are rips of u.k programs,
get your facts before you offend people
accents, yeh i find it hard to understand some accents, but the uk has such a huge variety, scotish, cockney, "farmer", welsh, irish, posh, scouser, geordie, to name the most common, let alone the little accents, and the combination of indian-geordie, french-cockney, bangoli-scotish, its a huge variety.
the u.s accent is a mixture of irish, scotish, english accents mixed, australian the same but over time they form into one
2007-07-30 03:56:31 · answer #4 · answered by jonny h 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they're funny. And it's the Americans who have trouble with our accents, not the other way round.
2007-07-30 03:49:23 · answer #5 · answered by b97st 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they make us LAUGH!
There are some British accents I have trouble understanding!
;o]
2007-07-30 03:46:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because unlike the average American, we are not insular and we also have an inkling that there is life outside our own country. There's France for a start!
2007-07-30 03:39:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
i always notice that american programmes are ten times better than english programmes!
2007-07-30 05:29:31 · answer #8 · answered by Parissa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
cos british programmes suck big time! they actually speak English and are easier to understand that some people in England.
2007-07-30 03:37:13 · answer #9 · answered by Charlene 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Never liked or watched either.
2007-07-30 03:37:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋