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American humour
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I used to like Golden Girls, the early episodes of Roseanne and The Big Bang Theory. I remember my English teacher back in about 1973 telling us that American humour was very sophisticated, I'm not sure it is any longer  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I used to like Golden Girls, the early episodes of Roseanne and The Big Bang Theory. I remember my English teacher back in about 1973 telling us that American humour was very sophisticated, I'm not sure it is any longer "
Oh yes I watched The Bing Bang Theory twice  |
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I've lost my sense of humour with America full stop at the moment.
As far as the comedy on TV I avoid it.
New Girl was the last thing I laughed at 2015. The year not the time.
Friends never caught my eye, Frasier okish. Can't stand the Simpsons.
I'm a miserable bitch. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's very different to British humour but more sarcasm thrown in. When it's done right it's amazing.. Everybody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens and The Office US are three of my favourite programmes. American stand up on the other hand, I rarely get the humour  |
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It's certainly different. There are some American comedies I have really enjoyed, such as Cheers, Frasier, Spin City, Big Bang Theory and Parks & Recreation. They are few and far between. I never found Seinfeld funny, or Friends. Luke |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
Yankee tv comedy series seem like laboured humour to me. But their comedy films are often fresh and hilarious. However you get the odd Brit gem but I can’t say I watch many of ours. My humour is probably at the Sid James level early 70s but my wife loves me. |
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So what your asking is US TV humour not us cultural humour they intermix alot but are different things. American cultural humour from my experience was very denigrating victim based, for example mocking and planking people Americans love a good prank |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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American humour tends more towards the observational. British humour tends more towards innuendo, satire and surreal.
Probably the last American comedy I found funny was Seinfeld. Not a fan of more recent ones (nor of more recent British ones either). |
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I have noticed a lot of 'isms' in American comedy. Especially the big bang theory (but that's because I just have it on in the background.... Its chewing gum TV) .... Lots of humour based on Raj's ethnicity for example.
Also a lot of fat jokes. The butt if the joke being that a guy ends up doing the walk of shame away from a fat chick.
Also quite a lot of ableism as well.
This could be said of British comedy also I know but at the minute we're discussing American shows lol |
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"I'm gonna show my age here.
I used to absolutely piss myself at 'Married with children'. Think the guys name was Al Bundy, omg he was so funny! "
Oh that programme was the best! I still watch snippets of it on YouTube sometimes. Hilarious! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It’s ok. They put canned laughter on so you know when to "
Trivia: the American show M*A*S*H had canned laughter but when shown in Britain it was removed. Watched an episode with it and it was so out of place. |
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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago
Newry Down |
The master US comedian, who was actually from Eltham in London was Bob Hope particularly in the 1950s and 60s. But he had a vast team of writers.
Married with Children was astonishingly well written and is available online; at least the gems are.
The American sitcom that tops them all, is: Sergeant Bilko, aka The Phil Silvers Show, aka You'll Never Get Rich.
The comedy is now dated, but the situations are hilarious.
It would be impossible to overstate the care and precision with which Bilko was developed and executed by Nat Hiken.
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"I'm gonna show my age here.
I used to absolutely piss myself at 'Married with children'. Think the guys name was Al Bundy, omg he was so funny!
Oh that programme was the best! I still watch snippets of it on YouTube sometimes. Hilarious!"
Absolutely brilliant wasn't it!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The master US comedian, who was actually from Eltham in London was Bob Hope particularly in the 1950s and 60s. But he had a vast team of writers.
Married with Children was astonishingly well written and is available online; at least the gems are.
The American sitcom that tops them all, is: Sergeant Bilko, aka The Phil Silvers Show, aka You'll Never Get Rich.
The comedy is now dated, but the situations are hilarious.
It would be impossible to overstate the care and precision with which Bilko was developed and executed by Nat Hiken.
"
Also a difference between American shows and British ones. American shows have a 'writer's room' with a team writing the show whereas British shows just have one or two writers. |
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"Family guy and dead pool ... that’s it, the sit coms like friends etc, in my opinion are about has funny as genital warts 
Is family guy the cartoon one? I don’t find that funny at all. "
Ye it’s the cartoon .... I haven’t come across many women that do find it funny, perhaps that’s a gender thing ? But then again I can’t stand the simpsons or American dad and that is wrote by the same people ... |
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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago
Market Harborough / Kettering |
About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It’s ok. They put canned laughter on so you know when to
Trivia: the American show M*A*S*H had canned laughter but when shown in Britain it was removed. Watched an episode with it and it was so out of place."
It was very popular in my native country |
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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago
Market Harborough / Kettering |
"It’s ok. They put canned laughter on so you know when to
Trivia: the American show M*A*S*H had canned laughter but when shown in Britain it was removed. Watched an episode with it and it was so out of place.
It was very popular in my native country "
I think all of the American "comedy" shows use the same recorded laughter |
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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago
Redhill |
"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks"
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny. |
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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago
Market Harborough / Kettering |
"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny. "
I'm with you on Ricky Gervais! How can someone be so famous for being so crap at his job ? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny. "
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I prefer American sitcoms but prefer British standup and panel shows
Not quite sure why that's the case but it's good to have variety and have an open mind rather than making it and American Vs British thing |
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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago
Redhill |
"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny.
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain."
I’m in good company then! What comedy you *do* get? |
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"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny.
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain."
I wasn’t a fan of Ricky Gervais until I watched the afterlife. |
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By *ean counterMan
over a year ago
Market Harborough / Kettering |
"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny.
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain.
I wasn’t a fan of Ricky Gervais until I watched the afterlife. "
Yes but that little smug face that he pulls about every 30 seconds (which appears to be the basis of his show) ! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny.
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain.
I’m in good company then! What comedy you *do* get? "
Monty Python, Red Dwarf, Black Books, Seinfeld, Cheers, Father Ted, The Young Ones, Fawlty Towers, Frasier, Blackadder off the top of my head ... |
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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago
Redhill |
"
I wasn’t a fan of Ricky Gervais until I watched the afterlife. "
Good acting there, yes... I’ve also enjoyed a few episodes of Extras... but the rest... dear me, it’s all cringe cringe cringe!  there is the speech he gave at the Golden Globes last year... |
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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago
Redhill |
"About 30 years ago I went to a cinema in Los Angeles to watch a film (cant remember the name) but I was laughing when all around was quiet and then they (the americans) were laughing at things and I hadn't got a clue what they were laughing at? Us Brits definitely have a different sense of humour than the Yanks
This happened to me the very first time I came to London in 2001 and went to the movie theater... pardon me, the cinema. I saw that people laughed at things that were not funny to me at all....
It’s taken me absolute ages (nearly 20 years in fact) to “get” British humour. I used to watch Alan Partridge and I just didn’t get it.... now I think I do, haha. I will never be able to stomach Ricky Gervais though.
Little Britain pulled me through the most horrendous postnatal depression I had in 2004, though it was still difficult to find some parts funny.
I'm British and I don't 'get' Alan Partridge, Ricky Gervais or Little Britain.
I’m in good company then! What comedy you *do* get?
Monty Python, Red Dwarf, Black Books, Seinfeld, Cheers, Father Ted, The Young Ones, Fawlty Towers, Frasier, Blackadder off the top of my head ..."
Ah, you see, Blackadder was even more difficult for me to “get”! I do like it though, apart from the last one with the war. Blackadder goes forth...
Fawlty Towers is amazing. And Seinfeld will always have a special place in my heart! |
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"It's certainly different. There are some American comedies I have really enjoyed, such as Cheers, Frasier, Spin City, Big Bang Theory and Parks & Recreation. They are few and far between. I never found Seinfeld funny, or Friends. Luke"
Millions of Americans never found Seinfeld or Friends funny either.  |
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By *AABMan
over a year ago
Not far |
"I'm gonna show my age here.
I used to absolutely piss myself at 'Married with children'. Think the guys name was Al Bundy, omg he was so funny! "
I think this was about the only American TV comedy series I found funny. The rest of it seems so cliché. Laughs have to be signaled by canned laughter. Large groups of writers making comedy by giving the characters funny lines rather than funny situations. I’ve spent some time in America and worked with Americans, not one of them seem to get office banter. |
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Yes some brilliant American comedies.
Brooklyn 99.
New girl ( it's really a grower)
3rd rock from the sun.
Spin city.
And quite a few more.
Yes it's also produced some real dross canned laughter and unfunny over the top punchlines.
But British comedy has also produced some absolutely shocking comedy's.
Mrs brown's boy's being right up there as an example of how unfunny it can be. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Superstore community Brooklyn 99 all superb and better than most English comedies. "
Forgot about Community. I'll throw in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Off the top of my head, all of the below have frequently brightened my day:
The Office US
Parks & Recreation
Modern Family
Life in Pieces
Pen15
The Middle
Big Bang Theory
A.P. Bio
Frasier
Arrested Development
Curb Your Enthusiasm
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Off the top of my head, all of the below have frequently brightened my day:
The Office US
Parks & Recreation
Modern Family
Life in Pieces
Pen15
The Middle
Big Bang Theory
A.P. Bio
Frasier
Arrested Development
Curb Your Enthusiasm
"
I love Life in Pieces !!! |
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"Does it exist ? Watched various usa “comedies “ liked “the middle “ but the rest I just can’t laugh at ,,, the worst is Friends "
As a Yank here in Dublin, I can say no. We take ourselves much too seriously and we are not witty by any standard. That said, I don't get British humour at all. Irish humour makes me piss myself laughing too hard. |
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I don’t suppose you could class it as actual comedy, it wasn’t a joke filled laugh type thing.
It was more the humour within the characters and how they interacted with each other, but I used to really enjoy and found it funny, a programme called Northern Exposure. |
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"The master US comedian, who was actually from Eltham in London was Bob Hope particularly in the 1950s and 60s. But he had a vast team of writers.
Married with Children was astonishingly well written and is available online; at least the gems are.
The American sitcom that tops them all, is: Sergeant Bilko, aka The Phil Silvers Show, aka You'll Never Get Rich.
The comedy is now dated, but the situations are hilarious.
It would be impossible to overstate the care and precision with which Bilko was developed and executed by Nat Hiken.
"
Ah a connoisseur
I'm only going to add Cheers. Great, great cast. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"2 and half men, Charlie sheen episode's. Absolutely hilarious.....
Now THAT is a good joke. Nice one!"
Yeah suppose you have to have a sense of humour to watch it  |
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I’m surprised (or missed) no one mentioning The Simpsons or South Park.
I agree with some previous that Parks and Rec and Curb your Enthusiasm are some of the best from our American cousins.
I loved some of the older stuff
Taxi
Soap
Larry Sanders Show
Cheers
Scrubs
The Good Place
Early Friends and Big Bang Theory (both tailed off)
Not a patch on Father Ted or Fawlty Towers, but still enjoyable with great acting and storylines
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"The golden girls
Seinfeld
Curb your enthusiasm
Arrested development
Broad City
Workaholics
30 rock
Parks and rec
Saturday night live
Etc etc "
Broad city is quality! Surprised someone listed it on here! |
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"Does it exist ? Watched various usa “comedies “ liked “the middle “ but the rest I just can’t laugh at ,,, the worst is Friends
As a Yank here in Dublin, I can say no. We take ourselves much too seriously and we are not witty by any standard. That said, I don't get British humour at all. Irish humour makes me piss myself laughing too hard. "
Ehhh... says who? Black and Jewish Americans have a great culture of humor and wittiness. The y have produced some of the greatest comedians.
And this nonsense about American humor doesn’t translate and vice versa is just that— nonsense. If that weren’t the case, Chris Rock and others wouldn’t be playing to sold out shows in the UK and Eddie Izzard and others wouldn’t in the USA.
Besides, does every single Individual in the US or conversely in the UK have the same humor? No. It’s why half the people I know can’t stand “Friends” and think it’s overrated and unfunny, and the other half (or quarter..or whatever) think it’s funny. |
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