Can the Americans really do comedy? Page 6

To answer the original question: yes, I think Americans can really do comedy very well...

I loved the American silent comedy era... my favourites are that old silent stuff and Laurel & Hardy, Sgnt Bilko, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons, South Park, King of the Hill... any Woody Allen...

I did not like Friends very much as I found it just too schmaltzy/geeky... Golden Girls was too aspirational...

I have never seen Curb your enthusiam or Seinfeld so I don't know about them...

America is a funny country... except when they go to war... only country that's ever used a nuclear device in war and on helpless civilians (twice)... not funny... no sirree bob! goddamnit!

Quote: David Chapman @ July 15, 2007, 12:23 AM

Right - I've just watched Episode 1, series 1 of Curb your Enthusiasm on HBO.

There were several very funny parts - but they just dragged the jokes out. Maybe it would have made a good 15 minutes. It seems more like One Foot in the Grave.

And you're supposed to know he's famous. Is he? They said he wrote Seinfeld. So what?

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Yeah he's Larry David but playing a character version of Larry David but he's still suppose to be famous, most comedy fans and especially in LA and the type of people he meets in the programme from within the TV industry know him and would know him in real life. You've got to remember Seinfeld was/is one of the biggest shows in America ever, it became huge, it took a while for the mainstream audience to get it, but once they did it just became massive. I think it still comes out at number 1 if not in the top 3 when the US comprise lists of favourite US comedies etc. So yeah most people would know who Larry David is.

By the way the best Curb in my opinion is Season 2 and 3, they are just pure class. I like all the series but in terms of consistency and every episode been hilarious I'd say Season 2 and 3 are the ones to go for.

The first series was still finding it's feet, after that they changed the way they made it, giving it a better structure and flow.

For laugh out loud funny, the ONLY contender is Frasier. Although I do find other US sitcoms amusing, Frasier is the only one in which makes me actually laugh.

As much as I like Frasier it has never given me a proper belly laugh, as in tears streaming down my face type laugh, it does make me laugh though. But Seinfeld and Arrested Development have made me cry with laughter on many occasions.

It's the other way round for me Martin. Frasier has a higher laugh count but AD and Seinfeld are not far behind.

Arrested Development and The Office are the only shows that have ever made me laugh so hard, I had to pause the DVD and take a break from watching an episode just so I could gather myself.

After some episodes of AD, my sides are in pain. It's incredible.

Quote: Frankie Rage @ July 15, 2007, 3:21 PM

To answer the original question: yes, I think Americans can really do comedy very well...
I loved Laurel & Hardy, Sgnt Bilko, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons, any Woody Allen

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Frankie - you quote so many of my influences.

Consider America produced:
The finest silent stars ever (imo) in Laurel and Hardy
The best animation in Simpsons and Futurama (imo)
The best sitcom set in Seattle (The Brits have never come close to a good series set in Seattle )

With those excellent examples, I think the question is phrased wrong. The real question is "Do the Brits appreciate American comedy?"

Quote: Luke Messimer @ July 15, 2007, 8:29 PM

Arrested Development and The Office are the only shows that have ever made me laugh so hard, I had to pause the DVD and take a break from watching an episode just so I could gather myself.

After some episodes of AD, my sides are in pain. It's incredible.

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I do that all the time with tons of other shows. I listen to the Ricky Gervais podcasts and have to keep pausing them.

Quote: Leevil @ July 15, 2007, 8:43 PM

I do that all the time with tons of other shows. I listen to the Ricky Gervais podcasts and have to keep pausing them.

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I often listen to them on the train. I must look like such a nob sitting there giggling by myself.

Quote: zooo @ July 16, 2007, 6:01 PM

I often listen to them on the train. I must look like such a nob sitting there giggling by myself.

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He thinks he can get away with it just by putting a winking smiley afterwards!

If only Hitler had had winking smileys, think of all the trouble he could have avoided...

There was a big winky smiley on the sheet of paper Hitler gave Chamberlain who then famously waved it shouting "peace in out time".

Quote: zooo @ July 17, 2007, 6:48 PM

If only Hitler had had winking smileys, think of all the trouble he could have avoided...

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Let's gas the Jews!

Conquer Poland!

Steal valuable works of art, gold, and other jewels!