I would say most of the REALLY good sitcoms of the last few years have come from the States. IMO.
Can the Americans really do comedy? Page 15
Watched an episode of My Name Is Earl last night. Superb.
We should remake it for the UK with Justin Lee Collins in the title role.
Quote: Mike Greybloke @ January 11 2009, 12:31 PM GMTWatched an episode of My Name Is Earl last night. Superb.
We should remake it for the UK with Justin Lee Collins in the title role.
Missed the first episode of the new series - what are those chumps at Channel 4 doing putting it out on E4?!
Quote: Mike Greybloke @ January 11 2009, 12:31 PM GMTWatched an episode of My Name Is Earl last night. Superb.
We should remake it for the UK with Justin Lee Collins in the title role.
Love My Name Is Earl, was that the latest US episode? Go Mr Turtle!
We don't need a remake, we have the US version, which is great. I like JLC, although I like him less than I did originally, but I can't see him acting well.
I think what I saw was from season 2. He was married to a woman called Billie.
I wasn't serious about remaking it. It's flawless.
Do you remember when they tried to remake Married With Children, with Russ Abbott in the Al Bundy role?
Quote: Mike Greybloke @ January 11 2009, 3:56 PM GMTI think what I saw was from season 2. He was married to a woman called Billie.
I wasn't serious about remaking it. It's flawless.
Do you remember when they tried to remake Married With Children, with Russ Abbott in the Al Bundy role?
Maybe Season 3.
Oh, good.
I was never keen on Married With Children myself.
Quote: Dave @ January 11 2009, 2:28 AM GMTI think American sitcoms are a lot sillier than their British counterparts. Not many are grounded in reality.
Considering a few current examples:
The Mighty Boosh is popular and 'cool' - how grounded in reality is that show?
How grounded in reality is The IT Crowd? Of course the flipside is quality comedy like Outnumbered, The Inbetweeners, The Thick Of It, Peep Show etc. but I think it's a bit of a sweeping statement to say American sitcoms are sillier.
30 Rock is one of my current faves and that's really smart and subtle. The US Office is a worthy imitator of the British original (more so than Lead Balloon and Curb, IMO).
This is a good thread.
Smart, yes, perhaps. But 30 Rock 'subtle'? You must have been watching a different show to me.
Big Bang theory and Two and a Half men are funny.
Now this is fun to watch Little Mosque on the Prairie
Quote: Gregor Shamsa @ January 11 2009, 5:02 PM GMTConsidering a few current examples:
The Mighty Boosh is popular and 'cool' - how grounded in reality is that show?
How grounded in reality is The IT Crowd? Of course the flipside is quality comedy like Outnumbered, The Inbetweeners, The Thick Of It, Peep Show etc. but I think it's a bit of a sweeping statement to say American sitcoms are sillier.
Which is why I don't watch those programmes.
Quote: Aaron @ January 11 2009, 5:06 PM GMTSmart, yes, perhaps. But 30 Rock 'subtle'? You must have been watching a different show to me.
He looks like a camel with that make up on.
Ha!
Quote: Griff @ January 11 2009, 12:32 PM GMTMy Name Is Earl is superb.
Justin Lee Collins is not.
That is all.
That is all?
- American comedy? Griff is even TYPING in an American accent, (well American navy 'accent'), as in:
Now hear this, now hear this . . . that is all.
Quote: Timbo @ January 11 2009, 12:54 PM GMTMissed the first episode of the new series - what are those chumps at Channel 4 doing putting it out on E4?!
Purely on the basis of viewing figures, I'd imagine. If it gets the numbers, they keep it on 4, if not, they bounce it to E4.
Quote: Dr Mato @ January 11 2009, 8:36 PM GMTBig Bang theory and Two and a Half men are funny.
Now this is fun to watch Little Mosque on the Prairie
Two And A Half Men is absolutely atrocious... the worst sort of American trash.
The only really good American sitcom that can compare to the best British ones is Seinfeld.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is great as well, but not a sitcom I suppose.
And FYI, Little Mosque On The Prairie is Canadian. Now Canadians, we REALLY can't do comedy... It's all the sort of stuff that would only appeal to sweet old ladies. I think it's just a case of the only shows Canadians have the opportunity to do are on CBC (national broadcasting) which goes out of its way to promote ridiculously clichéd "canadian content", rather than quality comedy. All the other channels just show American shows BTW.
Edited by Aaron.