British comedy is no longer funny Page 11

Quote: Aaron @ January 27 2012, 2:17 PM GMT

(Life's Too Short was actually 7 episodes. And a documentary. And there's The Ricky Gervais Show. And An Idiot Abroad. But other than that...)

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Fair point. And in the main, highly entertaining shows.

Quote: Phoenix Lazarus @ January 27 2012, 3:17 PM GMT

In that interview, relation to the subject of disability in comedy, he said he now regarded the use of 'spaz/spasmo' in The Young Ones, as a mistake.

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Well, he would say that, wouldn't he? Shame he doesn't feel equally embarrassed over We Will Rock You.

But I think a lot of people are getting the wrong end of the stick. It's not about individual words, it's about the lack of truly innovative comedy on offer and the constant parade of useless crap farmed out as product to the undemanding plebs that I'm really angry about.

Quote: Phoenix Lazarus @ January 27 2012, 3:17 PM GMT

AActually, three-and-a-half years-autumn 1982 and spring 1986 being the respective dates.

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Ooops! Thought TYO started in 1984, for some reason.

Anyway, a slightly faulty timeline doesn't really change my argument. The cast soon stopped being 'alternative' when they had a sniff of fame.

Quote: ToddB @ January 27 2012, 1:02 AM GMT

British Comedy, actually, has the maturity to handle the difference between 'bad-taste-as-edgy-comedy and 'bad-taste-shock-value'. American Comedy, yes, has done some great stuff over the last few years - but the really great writing has been in shows like "Arrested Development" and "Community" - rather than (often animated) sitcoms that handle their subject matter with all the subtety of a battering-ram and usually just wheel out something uncomfortable for the quick cheap thrill of hearing it mentioned on television - rather than exploring it on any intellectual level that could truly be called subversive.

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If by American animated sitcoms you have South Park in mind, you could not be more wrong; it has been the most consistently though provoking show of the past decade. As for the maturity of British Comedy to handle sensitive issues, for more than shock value you pretty much have to go back to Till Death Do Us Part to find a show that even made the attempt.

Absolutely on SOuth Park an utterly fearless comedy show. Not to mention the Simpsons who managed to get a dis from the president of the US. Or for that matter Fraser who took on some heavy duty psychological issues.

And Roseanne is often viewed as defining Bush's failing economic policies.

And that's before even getting onto COlbert or Daily Show. Both of whom out performed British programmes on British topical issues.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 27 2012, 3:30 PM GMT

But I think a lot of people are getting the wrong end of the stick. It's not about individual words, it's about the lack of truly innovative comedy

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F**k innovation (although I obviously wouldn't say no to a spot of it), I'd settle for just a funny comedy. It doesn't have to push boundaries, or challenge me, or make me question my beliefs, I just want a show that makes me laugh. I want a modern mainstream comedy as good as Only Fools and Horses, The Good Life, Porridge or any of the other acknowledged classics.

Quote: chipolata @ January 27 2012, 4:15 PM GMT

F**k innovation (although I obviously wouldn't say no to a spot of it), I'd settle for just a funny comedy. It doesn't have to push boundaries, or challenge me, or make me question my beliefs, I just want a show that makes me laugh. I want a modern mainstream comedy as good as Only Fools and Horses, The Good Life, Porridge or any of the other acknowledged classics.

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Have to disagree with you about The Good Life. For me it was up there with Butterflies and in a more modern context Outnumbered. Enjoyable? Yes. Safe middle class tosh? Certainly. Hilariously funny? No.

As for the changing face of British Comedy, anyone here remember when Comic Relief actually had jokes and sketches on it and not celebrities climbing a mountain or riding a bike?

How is watching Gary Barlow lacing up hiking boots funny?

It always had boring clips and films though, inbetween the funny stuff.
Usually of bloody starving kids... tut!

I seem to remember the very first episode of comic relief disapointing.

Except when Lenny Henry invaded Clive James show on BBC 2, because that was I dunno anarchic.

That and when Vic and Bob turned up drunk and had a kebab fight.

Comedy should be daring and innovative, but also thorough and planned out. We forget what's truly brave. Dad's Army was controversial as all hell in it's day and Steptoe and Son. Well 2 mutually loathing chracters trapped in grimy, poverty that's quite heavy stuff.

Sticking in gays, shagging, swearing or what ever. That's not controversial just desperate.

Quote: zooo @ January 27 2012, 4:23 PM GMT

It always had boring clips and films though, inbetween the funny stuff.

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Now it's nothing but boring clips and films in between millionairre celebrities telling the 99% to give more money to the poor. Nice.

Quote: chipolata @ January 27 2012, 4:15 PM GMT

F**k innovation (although I obviously wouldn't say no to a spot of it), I'd settle for just a funny comedy. It doesn't have to push boundaries, or challenge me, or make me question my beliefs, I just want a show that makes me laugh. I want a modern mainstream comedy as good as Only Fools and Horses, The Good Life, Porridge or any of the other acknowledged classics.

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This. 100%.

Quote: sootyj @ January 27 2012, 4:26 PM GMT

Comedy should be daring and innovative, but also thorough and planned out. We forget what's truly brave. Dad's Army was controversial as all hell in it's day and Steptoe and Son.

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Maybe James Cary's upcoming pilot, IED, will give a small taste of that again? https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/ied/

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 27 2012, 4:21 PM GMT

Have to disagree with you about The Good Life. For me it was up there with Butterflies and in a more modern context Outnumbered. Enjoyable? Yes. Safe middle class tosh?

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Actually in the context of today, The Good Life is weirdly subversive, because it shows us a people embracing a greener lifestyle and ultimately failing.

Quote: Aaron @ January 27 2012, 4:34 PM GMT

Maybe James Cary's upcoming pilot, IED, will give a small taste of that again? https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/ied/

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I like the idea, some thing that brave could go all the way.

Quote: Aaron @ January 27 2012, 4:34 PM GMT

Maybe James Cary's upcoming pilot, IED, will give a small taste of that again? https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/ied/

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This does sound good. Maybe there is some hope in 2012 - but obviously not the show Twenty Twelve, which is pants.

Quote: chipolata @ January 27 2012, 4:15 PM GMT

F**k innovation (although I obviously wouldn't say no to a spot of it), I'd settle for just a funny comedy. It doesn't have to push boundaries, or challenge me, or make me question my beliefs, I just want a show that makes me laugh. I want a modern mainstream comedy as good as Only Fools and Horses, The Good Life, Porridge or any of the other acknowledged classics.

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Very true. Much as I love shows like It's Always Sunny I don't think I'd enjoy them anywhere near as much if there weren't comedies like Parks & Rec and Modern Family to wash the taste out of my mouth. Not every comedy has to re-invent the wheel, just so long as they make me laugh.

Quote: David Bussell @ January 27 2012, 5:36 PM GMT

Not every comedy has to re-invent the wheel, just so long as they make me laugh.

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I think it's read that a comedy that makes you laugh is a good comedy.

But look at the anarchic, rebellious and darkly funny Comic Strip Presents... made in the early days compared with the last one about Tony Blair and I think you'll get an inkling as to what I'm referring too.