Can the Americans really do comedy? Page 22

Quote: bob4apples @ December 1 2011, 11:22 PM GMT

US networks will also pull something if its not getting the ratings, no matter who makes it. Imagine the Beeb taking 'Life's Too Short' off the air cos of low ratings (which incidentally have halved since episode 1). Never gonna happen.

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That's got as much to do with how long a season of a UK show is and when they're made than anything to do with commissioning. Obviously they won't pull Life's Too Short regardless of how few people watch as there's six episodes and they're already complete. If it was running for 25 eps and being shot week to week then I'd argue it wouldn't be making it to the end of its run with the current viewing figures.

Quote: bob4apples @ December 1 2011, 11:22 PM GMT

US networks will also pull something if its not getting the ratings, no matter who makes it. Imagine the Beeb taking 'Life's Too Short' off the air cos of low ratings (which incidentally have halved since episode 1). Never gonna happen. And the US has more networks, more channels and a bigger audience so more competition between them.

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Oh geez, yeah. Because it's not like British television has ever cancelled a programme unfairly.

well unless you include prigrammes like 15 Storeys High, Whites, Attention Scum, Nathan Barley, Ideal, Psycoville, Shooting Stars, I'm Sorry I've Got No Head.

At least in America there are channels like HBO that give comedians artistic freedom and the ability to end shows when they want. There's nothing like that here! The only programmes that continue are banal, apathetic shows like Miranda and Mrs. Brown's Boys that are neither edgy or original.

Apart from the odd exception, British TV comedy is nearly dead. Go to America. that's where the intelligent, creative programmes are being made.

Quote: Monster Scum Bag @ December 13 2011, 9:00 PM GMT

Oh geez, yeah. Because it's not like British television has ever cancelled a programme unfairly.

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I think they were talking about pulling it mid series, and only ever showing the first 2 or 3 episodes.

Quote: zooo @ December 13 2011, 9:04 PM GMT

I think they were talking about pulling it mid series, and only ever showing the first 2 or 3 episodes.

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I guess. Your very polite considering I'm quite an arrogant, opinionated c**t.

Quote: Monster Scum Bag @ December 13 2011, 9:00 PM GMT

Oh geez, yeah. Because it's not like British television has ever cancelled a programme unfairly.

well unless you include prigrammes like 15 Storeys High, Whites, Attention Scum, Nathan Barley, Ideal, Psycoville, Shooting Stars, I'm Sorry I've Got No Head.

At least in America there are channels like HBO that give comedians artistic freedom and the ability to end shows when they want. There's nothing like that here! The only programmes that continue are banal, apathetic shows like Miranda and Mrs. Brown's Boys that are neither edgy or original.

Apart from the odd exception, British TV comedy is nearly dead. Go to America. that's where the intelligent, creative programmes are being made.

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Nail on the head for me, absolutely spot on.

I think The Big Bang Theory is currently hammering all other comedies into a poor second. If like Scrubs it's put together by a team of writers then I see this transfering across the water. Having said that Blackadder was written in a similar way with Curtis and Elton writing the episode and the cast changing things in a sort of committee meeting-esque type way.

Can the Americans do comedy? Not only can they do it, but they're doing it better than we do. There's just no competition--Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Modern Family. And there are more I haven't had the chance to see yet. The Americans are kicking our arses, or asses, rather. And fair play to them.

Mind you, just as their TV seems to be in a golden age, their film-making has gone right down the plug-hole. Can't have it all, I suppose.

Quote: evan rubivellian @ December 15 2011, 12:19 PM GMT

Can the Americans do comedy? Not only can they do it, but they're doing it better than we do.

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It's probably an unfair comparison, though. Their entertainment industry is a humungous beast, with vast amounts invested in writing and the like. By contrast we're more of a cottage industry, without the massive resources of the Americans. We'd be better off comparing our comedy output with France or Germany. And in that competition, we're doing pretty well.

Quote: chipolata @ December 15 2011, 12:23 PM GMT

It's probably an unfair comparison, though. Their entertainment industry is a humungous beast, with vast amounts invested in writing and the like. By contrast we're more of a cottage industry, without the massive resources of the Americans. We'd be better off comparing our comedy output with France or Germany. And in that competition, we're doing pretty well.

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Whether or not it's a fair comparison the fact is that the US is our main competitor and unless we're willing to be snowed under by US sitcom's and the like whilst our acting and writing talent is pushed to one side then we had better start investing in our comedy.

Quote: chipolata @ December 15 2011, 12:23 PM GMT

It's probably an unfair comparison, though. Their entertainment industry is a humungous beast, with vast amounts invested in writing and the like. By contrast we're more of a cottage industry, without the massive resources of the Americans. We'd be better off comparing our comedy output with France or Germany. And in that competition, we're doing pretty well.

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I'd rather we compared ourselves with the Americans who are doing better than us at Comedy--this forces us to up the ante. If we compare ourselves with Germany or France, well, we can just sit back and say everything's all right. But it isn't.

Yes, the Yanks may have more money to invest, but Britain has made wonderful sitcoms that can easily sit beside the best of the USA's offering, so it's not just a question of money. Look at Fawlty Towers--even in the 70s it didn't look like a lot had been splashed out on it. (No offence, Mr Cleese.) But it's one of the best ever sitcoms.

Look At Losta Luck . That Was crap Spin-off On the buses

Quote: Monster Scum Bag @ December 13 2011, 9:00 PM GMT

Oh geez, yeah. Because it's not like British television has ever cancelled a programme unfairly.

well unless you include prigrammes like 15 Storeys High, Whites, Attention Scum, Nathan Barley, Ideal, Psycoville, Shooting Stars, I'm Sorry I've Got No Head.

At least in America there are channels like HBO that give comedians artistic freedom and the ability to end shows when they want. There's nothing like that here! The only programmes that continue are banal, apathetic shows like Miranda and Mrs. Brown's Boys that are neither edgy or original.

Apart from the odd exception, British TV comedy is nearly dead. Go to America. that's where the intelligent, creative programmes are being made.

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No, I did mean pulled in mid-season. Lots of series don't get renewed (unfairly). And some do when they really shouldn't. Apologies for stating the bleedin' obvious, but I don't think US networks are so much about giving comedians artistic freedom, they're more concerned about ratings. Here the Beeb don't have the same pressure on them.

Quote: bob4apples @ December 15 2011, 11:09 PM GMT

No, I did mean pulled in mid-season. Lots of series don't get renewed (unfairly). And some do when they really shouldn't. Apologies for stating the bleedin' obvious, but I don't think US networks are so much about giving comedians artistic freedom, they're more concerned about ratings. Here the Beeb don't have the same pressure on them.

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Admittedly yes, from what I've heard the big three networks are horrendous and likely to cancel your show mid-season if doesn't get the right ratings in about 5 minutes.

But at least there you have alternatives like HBO, Showtime and Comedy Central! What do we have! Perhaps Sky is getting close but other than that nothing!

Basically, we suck. We're shit.

So what's the solution? Do we hope team writing becomes more prevalent over here?

Quote: Vince Ives @ December 18 2011, 4:57 PM GMT

So what's the solution? Do we hope team writing becomes more prevalent over here?

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Opportunities. Production companies and the beeb are looking for racing certainties and therefore will only go with established writers even if what they turn out is sub-standard. Life's Too Short being a prime example.
Knee jerk reactions. Give comedies an opportunity to grow (no pun intended). Series One of Blackadder I suspect would have been binned and the Beeb would never have taken on 'Men Behaving Badly' from ITV as both were pretty poor first time around.

I suspect the beeb and prod companies would argue that times are hard, which they are. However they didn't have licence to print money back then either.

Ironically as a personal aside I believe 'Life's Too Short' may be a bit of a slow burner. Mainly through the fact that I think Warwick Davies is excellent throughout and if Merchant and Gervais can start listening to constructive criticism then it might be a goer. They can start by writing themselves out. Pointless scene's that add little to the piece.