Is it a comedy? Page 2

Quote: zooo @ April 2 2012, 1:02 PM BST

Ah right, I think I know the one you mean. I think you have to find the characters inherently funny to like Seinfeld (as not that much really happens) so if you don't, you don't!

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Yea. For me it's just one of those things that I really don't understand why people would find it funny or amusing. Other shows I might not find funny or even amusing but I can see why other people would. As I said it's subjective though, I find shows like The Mighty Boosh or Spaced funny but know people who don't "get" them or understand why I think they're funny.

Quote: zooo @ April 2 2012, 1:02 PM BST

Ah right, I think I know the one you mean. I think you have to find the characters inherently funny to like Seinfeld (as not that much really happens) so if you don't, you don't!

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Not that much happens? They'll often have three or four different (brilliant) story lines in one twenty two minute episode!

You know what I meean. It's famous for being a sitcom about 'nothing'.

Quote: JackDaniels2 @ April 1 2012, 11:40 PM BST

I don't think there's a defining line that seperates either, I think it's just one spectrum from Silly/Broad/Slapsticky/Old Time comedy all the way through to Dark/Satirical/questionable taste comedy through to where 'comedy' is sub-tacked onto another genre, comedy-drama, comedy-horror.

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But those are particular types of comedy, no? Sooty's original question was attempting to ascertain what makes something comedy - as opposed to, say, drama - in the first place.

The original thread on porn comedies got me thinking. I mean those film were comedy and pornography simultaneously. Fulfilling 2 filmic genres simultaneously.

Well, some of them were ... which was the point of the thread: trying to define where the comedy was a by-product of the films not being just hardcore pornogrpahy, but some kind of semi-realistic semblance of life. And life, of course, has humour in. And then we go back to the soaps, and whatnot else.

Anyway. Yeah. The thing with those films is intention, I think. Do they offer perky 70s titties alongside cracking farce, do they offer humour as a by-product of the situations the people get in, or do they mix both with equal gusto?

Similarly the later episodes of Only Fools; seemed to be equally focussed on comedy as being a bitter sweet appreciation of family life.

Yep. Not all that surprising really. Sullivan's non-OFAH output in the 1990s was overwhelmingly comedy drama, and what did OFAH turn into at the same point? Far more of a comedy drama. Admittedly far, far heavier on the comedy than most comedy dramas now, and probably then too, but the sitcom characteristics of the show (running time not being one I include) did take a back seat.

It's a tough and subtle question, don't think there's a right answer, only theory. A Musical is definitely a musical, a horror is definitely a horror but because 'comedy' transcends film/tv genre I reckon it's something that maybe, when you see or hear it, it amuses you, and that's comedy. People's sense of humour define what is recieved as comedy and the intent of those who make it, just ----

---- Y'know what, I'm gonna stop there. There should be a prize for the correct answer because I have no idea except to get philisophical and sound like a gcse media-studies student.

ps, Curb Your Enthusiasm is funny.

Don't forget about "Black" comedies, the ones which have a humourous angle but has a serious point to be made, and just where would something like Misfits fall? it's hilariously funny (first 2 series) but it's a drama, Corrie's a drama as well with well placed jokes...

Try The Undateables, funny for all the wrong reasons and I dare challenge anyone with a sense of humour to watch all 3 episodes and not burst out laughing at those poor people... it's not funny but somehow manages to be.

I didn't laugh at them.

Misfits is classed as comedy drama.