Brit-Coms anyone?

[jimmymagick]

I think probably the funniest show now on TV is BBCAmerica's Top Gear.

Not really a Britcom but it has that dry Brit humor (or "humour").

For Britcoms, it has to be Brilliant, That Mitchell And Webb Look and, of course, Black Adder.

[prisoners]

I think the BBC version of The Office is FAR superior to ours, and Extras (also with Ricky Gervais) is very funny as well.

[RobShaz]

Originally Posted by prisoners

I think the BBC version of The Office is FAR superior to ours, and Extras (also with Ricky Gervais) is very funny as well.

I have to disagree. The UK Office doesn't come close to the US version. The UK one is too dark and depressing, limiting the appeal of the characters.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by RobShaz

I have to disagree. The UK Office doesn't come close to the US version. The UK one is too dark and depressing, limiting the appeal of the characters.

Wrong. The US version bites. Lacks the original subtleties in the David Brent character as well as any GOOD humour whatsoever. How could you even compare!!!!!!! Thread closed?

Kidding. But I prefer the UK one. I hate bad American rip-off versions.

[RobShaz]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

Wrong. The US version bites. Lacks the original subtleties in the David Brent character as well as any GOOD humour whatsoever. How could you even compare!!!!!!! Thread closed?

Kidding. But I prefer the UK one. I hate bad American rip-off versions.

Interesting how opinion on this is divided. I'm British and tend to, without thinking or trying, be anti-American in many ways. And I'm pretty well versed on the history of UK comedy, the actors and writers involved and the general quality of each [1]. Yet, I just found the US Office to be so much more engaging/involving. Brent is not a likeable character on any level (especially his intentions), which limits the appeal of the show since he is the central character. Scott is likeable, because he has a childlike innocence. You find yourself /siding/ with him which makes all the schemes even more hilarious and in many cases, touching in a comitragedy kind of way. It's an anomaly because usually a US version of a UK show can only reproduce one level, usually the one liners. There are many degrees of subtlety, hidden in the rich regional culture, in the best British comedies. The UK Office is pretty one-dimensional. You dislike "these guys" and you like "these guys". The US one, you pretty much like everyone on varying levels for various reasons[2], no matter how insane or stupid they are (many women all love Kelly and I, personally, think Dwight is quite brilliant). The plot is so much richer as a result. The US Office went on to run much longer and for at least three (long) seasons, just got better and better. The UK one was very short yet you couldn't even sustain it beyond where it went.

[1] Are You Being Served? is pretty famous for being utterly terrible. Keeping Up Appearances likewise isn't actually that good at all (even though I did watch it all originally when I was about 7 years old). And Last Of The Summer Wine has amazing scenery, but I can't see the appeal to anyone under the age of 70. It's 30 years of programming about three old guys wandering around doing stupid things with bikes and falling into bushes.

[2] Dark and depressing may appear to be what makes many British comedies, but it's always based on character-driven humour, and the characters themselves are always people you get behind, regardless of how insane they are. There are obvious examples.

[Crunch]

Originally Posted by prisoners

..... Extras (also with Ricky Gervais) is very funny as well.

Agreed, Extras is funny. I've been renting that one from netflix lately.

[Andyman]

What?? 25 posts and no mention of Monty Python or Benny Hill???

[prisoners]

Hell I LIKE dark and depressing! It is about a workplace after all...!

[dew042]

Love Black Adder, Red Dwarf, Allo Allo, Flawty Towers.

I agree with the comment that Little Britain is pretty unfunny. I tried like three episodes before I gave up.

dew.

[AnalogDigit]

Monty Python I grew up watching, along with Are You Being Served? I also really liked Faulty Towers, the funnest sitcom ever made and Black Adder. Does anyone remember Dave Allen at Large?

[eteller]

Grew up on Benny Hill, love Coupling and Top Gear!! On a different note anyone watch "Wire in the Blood", best crime drama ever. BTW netflix is great for this stuff, get the entire seasons of what you want.

[Jon_Logan]

I have to +1 on The Office, although I disagree that the American version sucks. I usuall worry about an Americanised version, but the American version stands on it's own.

Ab Fab was great. I was especially worried about an American version of this one. I heard that Roseane Barr bought the rights and was going to develop an American version. Glad that didn't happen... .......so far.

Falwty Towers? ......God, that could never be duplicated. It's too Cleesey.

[grumpy]

Are you being served
Graham Norton
Young ones
Benny hill
Top gear

And my all time fav Absolutely fabulous.

I watch more brit TV then US.

[Brian]

The Brit sit-coms and mysteries are about the only reason we've not disconnected the cable. Oh, and Murder She Wrote. The satellite systems I'm not sure get them. None of the over the air channels do. I could live without them and red a good book but wifely loves the mysteries and we both enjoy the sit-coms though we each like differing menus.

The house identifies wifey with a certain character on Keeping Up Appearances and recently when wifey took off for 4 days to see a friend I did a little house reno and changed the door bell with the new one emulating the famous tone of Mrs. Bucket's. The neighbors loved it but, she who must be obeyed (Rumpole of the Baily) had other thoughts and sentiments.

[dr*audio]

Has anyone seen "The IT Crowd?" It is hysterical. You can watch some of the episodes on YouTube if you can't get it on cable.