Ahh, shame. Shall we have a pretend fight anyway?
Deterioration of comedy over the years Page 8
A pretend fight about pretend music?
Yeah!
*plows in, arms flailing*
It's not comedy that has declined, it's us. There was a time when we could all laugh out loud, this ability erodes over the years, when the reality of life creeps in, mortgages, gas bills, lousy jobs. As a 20yr old I was once told that I would laugh if my grandmother's arse was on fire and I'll bet that would apply to most of us.
Hmm, that could be quite hilarious. If I were controller of BBC Three I'd give you a ten part series on the back of that one premise.
I suspect that TV nowadays is much more cutthroat and perhaps a few axed comedies after a slow start could have become future classics if given time.
Had Only Fools been made nowadays I can't imagine it getting past two series.
Quote: Juan Kerr @ February 2 2011, 11:41 PM BSTNo I think 70s comedy output is no better or worse overall than today.
'One man's meat is another man's poison' as Dennis Nielson once said.
Now...70s and 80s porn...that was funnier than today's.
When a Scouse tash (like mine) became tangled in a maidens bush - akin to a Velcro© moment - now that was funny - so I've heard.
So you keep repeating.....
Quote: dellas @ June 6 2011, 5:20 AM BST
In times of recession and political disarray , there has always been,[ a well documented], return to 'nostalgia' a drumming down of satire anger etc, in favour of family cosy situation comedy to make us 'feel better', it does not convince me at all. Quite a political posturing from me, I guess.
We do need to regain fresh anger and anarchistic humour, don't know if godot was referring to this?
Quote: dennispennis123 @ June 6 2011, 3:58 AM BSTI suspect that TV nowadays is much more cutthroat and perhaps a few axed comedies after a slow start could have become future classics if given time.
Had Only Fools been made nowadays I can't imagine it getting past two series.
Very true. And indeed, much more than that: John Sullivan wouldn't even get his writing chance nowadays.
Hmm, that's not a good thought, that. Hope that wouldn't be the case but looking at the new sitcoms they make, it's possibly right. I certainly don't think Citizen Smith would be commissioned if sent to them now, and that's how he got his big break.
I would love to know just what turns their heads when reading new sitcom scripts now. I can only think the family sitcoms are read by a different team, because they are so different to the rest they make now. It's like the famcoms are contracted out to preferred writing teams who've been drilled by the BBC on what they want. They are that bad these days.
Quote: chipolata @ May 29 2011, 4:43 PM BST
You're just randomly naming shows!
I admire your moxy, though. Even if your arguments don't hold up to scrutiny.
Sorry Bloater... I am with the Chip on this! 
Quote: Jerf Roberwitz @ June 5 2011, 4:35 PM BSTAs a 20yr old I was once told that I would laugh if my grandmother's arse was on fire and I'll bet that would apply to most of us.
But you didn't even have colour television then.
Quote: Marc P @ June 6 2011, 11:41 AM BSTSorry Bloater... I am with the Chip on this!
When I get a mo later I will give brief examples of why I was right.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ June 6 2011, 11:50 AM BSTWhen I get a mo later I will give brief examples of why I was right.
Hurry up!...
Yes we are in a golden age of comedy on television, because we have so much more than 30-40 years ago. I remember alot of rubbish then, but the quality always shone through if you look for it (The Goodies, Steptoe, Q series, M*A*S*H, Soap). O.k., the last two were American. People would stay in for Fawlty Towers but not for Terry and June. The sitcom writers of today were brought up on the 70s and 80s stuff so they have thought of new ways to adapt the formula to our benefit.
I don't think there is any deterioration of comedy over the years. But I do think that there is now a plethora of too many stand up comedians who are average to poor. Don't get me wrong, I could not do what they are doing, I just feel that there are too many.
Quote: Jerf Roberwitz @ June 5 2011, 4:35 PM BSTIt's not comedy that has declined, it's us. There was a time when we could all laugh out loud, this ability erodes over the years, when the reality of life creeps in, mortgages, gas bills, lousy jobs. As a 20yr old I was once told that I would laugh if my grandmother's arse was on fire and I'll bet that would apply to most of us.
There's a lot of truth in that. I certainly laugh a lot less than I used to as a younger guy. In fact just this very evening I doused my buttocks in petrol and set them alight...not even a titter. 