British or American humor?

[Wing Nut]

You know, talking about a certain book got me thinking.  I can't think of one bit of American humor I find funnier than Monty Python, Bean, or the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and I am an American.  Actually, yes I can.  Young Frankenstien is still the funniest movie ever.  The early days of Saturday Night Live rocked too.  Which is better?  British or American humor?  British humor seems to be a bit more slapstick, while American humor takes it's time setting up a joke and whammies you with the punchline

[Felix/FFDS]

One feeds on the other. ...

If we go to the beginnings of American cinema humor, recall that Charlie Chaplin was English.

Scholarly satire (A Modest Proposal) has always been a hallmark of English humor, in my opinion.

American humor has evolved over the decades, and you can't really pinpoint a characteristic.  You have the classic Abbot and Costello "Who's on First" - a mastery of word play and timing.

The American series, "All in the Family" is an americanized British series (whose name escapes me), and there are others.

American "sitcoms" have been, in my opinion, more slapstick and "crude".  At least Benny Hill's comedy was straight bawdy vaudeville - pull no punches.

Admittedly, my greatest exposure to British comedy was Benny Hill reruns.  The facial expressions told the story.

Bill Cosby, interviewing little kids - his facial expressions speak volumes.  Robin Williams, Jonathan Winters are others that need not speak to make one laugh....

Comedy is a matter of personal preference - unfortunately, in the English speaking world, we may not know of other excellent comedians, except in passing - Cantinflas and "El Chapulin Colorado" from Mexico are two.

[Wing Nut]

The original British series from which 'All in the Family' came from was called 'Til Death do Us Part"

The more I think about it...

Gallagher, Sam Kinnison and Robin Williams have all caused me to literally fall on the floor laughing and they're Americans.

Benny Hill  :)

[ozzy72]

Its a tough call, they are rather different.
British humour tends to be more word play and subtlety these days, whereas American humour is very much in-your-face. I mean lets be honest, American Pie movies are about as subtle as a kick in the testicles
That said, some of the best comedy movies are American, there are several I can watch anytime The Blues Brothers, Young Frankenstein, Cool Runnings to name but a few (In fact I've watch Blues Brothers well over a 100 times and I still laugh, and Young Frankenstein is an old favourite, and the first film I saw at a drive-in-movie in California ). And of course John Hughes is a great director of family funnies. I was watching Uncle Buck and Ferris Buellers Day Off the other week.
I think English TV humour is better, I've yet to laugh at an episode of Friends. But Mr. Bean has me crying in no time at all.
I hope America gets the BBC series My Hero soon, that is incredibly funny
But at the end of the day, I'm a Python man......

Ozzy

Ps. I really liked Johnny English though, some British movies are good

[OTTOL]

As a child in America, I grew up on Benny Hill(PTV), later Monty Python(PTV) and lastly The Young Ones(MTV). If you look at American TV, you see a lot of "bombs", BUT, I'm sure the three shows I just mentioned were "skimmed" from a larger group from the BBC, before they were brought to us.  That's a really tough question for me to answer. I can honestly say, that I can't decide. What I DO think is that the American public is gratified much more easily. I  can't think of any British stand-up comedians. Maybe it's more of a phenomenon here, or perhaps they don't get the coverage.
.................now that I think about it, last night I watched Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels..........yeah, I think I'm going with British.   .............but then again, Brad Pitt as a Pikey in Snatch..................

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote]I

[denishc]

 American humor....The Three Stooges of course, what else can be said!!

[ozzy72]

OTTOL I'm disappointed. Nobody has introduced you to Jasper Carrott, Mike Harding, or the stand-up king Billy Connelly (mind you, it helps if you speak Glaswegian, but he IS funny!).

Ozzy

Ps. Which is your favourite Young Ones episode? Mine would be either Bambi or Flood.

[Hagar]

I think humour is a very personal thing. My brother & I have similar tastes in most things, even share a sense of the ridiculous. However there are some things that have me rolling on the floor while he sits there straightfaced. We both enjoyed the Stooges TV channel while on holiday in the US. Watching those idiots brought back so many fond memories & had tears running down our faces.

We were brought up on the old Hollywood slapstick humour at the Saturday Morning flicks. Great fun. Never really liked Chaplin but some of the others were excellent. Laurel & Hardy were my favourites. I still find them funny today. I believe Stan Laurel was English. Norman Wisdom was another favourite, Lee Evans is often compared to him.

The Goon Show on radio in the '50s has a lot to anwer for. My sense of humour hasn't recovered to this day.
I also like the typical old-fashioned British subtle humour. I'm not sure many Americans would understand it or find it funny. Not convinced a current British audience would either.
Despite Ozzy's comments I don't see a lot of that stuff around today. Most modern stand-up comics seem to think it necessary to use foul language & be offensive to raise a laugh. This doesn't suit me & I switch off at that point. Billy Connolly is one exception - foul mouthed but extremely clever & amusing. I never understood what all the fuss was about with Monty Python. I know many find it hilarious but it never did anything for me. I do like Mr Bean & Fawlty Towers. The Young Ones was one that made immediately reach for the off switch. Maybe it's my age or something.

The strange thing to me is that popular British TV shows are often changed for an American audience. Some are completely rewritten, including the plot & new characters. I'm almost certain the average British audience would not recognise 'All in the Family' as having any relationship to the classic 'Till Death do Us Part" or even find it amusing. This does not seem to be necessary the other way round. Many excellent American sitcoms are shown unchanged on British TV.

PS. Felix. Bob Hope was not a typical British stand-up comic. Although he often employed British scriptwriters, his humour was strictly American. To tell the truth, I never found him particularly funny.

[Scottler]

British humor is most definitely funnier, and I too am an American.  All of our stuff is just copied from England anyway.

Case in point....NBC will be running an Americanized version of Coupling this fall.  Looks terrible compared to the English show.

Case #2...Whoopi, starring Whoopi Goldberg (coincidence?) is basically Fawlty Towers minus the funny.

I'll always say British humor is better, but why isn't this a political topic?

[Travis]

British humor has wit and charisma.  American humor beats you over the head with the jokes.

[Hagar]

I'll always say British humor is better, but why isn't this a political topic?

Hyperion. You're an extremely intelligent guy. I don't see how a discussion on comedy can possibly cause offence to anyone.

PS. I admire your taste in humour.

[ozzy72]

If you want good political comedy, how about Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, heck they even made Maggies bedside table!!!!
I have to admit two American TV comedies I do enjoy are Third Rock From The Sun, and Spin City, they are funny
Hagar, I was raised on a healthy diet of The Goons, Round The Horne, and Kenny Everett. 'Nuff said

Ozzy

[Hagar]

Hagar, I was raised on a healthy diet of The Goons, Round The Horne, and Kenny Everett. 'Nuff said

Ozzy

Now you're talking. All favourites of mine too.

I must check out Spin City. Not sure I've seen it.

[Wing Nut]

I'll always say British humor is better, but why isn't this a political topic?

It isn't a political topic because the subject is comedy, not politics.