British people are finally honest in a poll

[kentonio]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development also...there seem to be quite a large number of "exceptions"...

Not really. Both Always Sunny and Arrested Development are prone to a certain level of obviousness, although I love both of them. Arrested Development is probably the closest.

[Hauldren Collider]

I don't think you can accuse me of lacking familiarity with British humor, seeing as I am quite fond of Monty Python, Terry Pratchett, and others. I think a lot of the stereotyping about the difference between American and British comedians boils down to American comedy programs being aimed at a broader (often international) audience and consequently focusing on the lowest common denominator. In Britain, you get both British programs and American programs, and the British programs naturally fill a niche that isn't already taken by American ones since they would have difficulty competing given the huge budgets that American programs tend to get. I could be way off base here, but that's my theory.

American comedy movies often have a lot of slapstick, cringe humor, and so on, because it translates well across cultures and appeals to a broad audience. Dark humor, subtlety and irony are a lot harder to sell to a wide demographic.

[Dauphin]

The Carry On series of movies were choc full of slapstick and cringe, and there are plenty of modern day equivalents. I would posit your theory could work in reverse just as easily. You only know of British 'niche humour' as you call it because the American market is saturated with crass in your face humour that you don't need more of it. The American made stuff is perhaps better known simply due to volume/'noise'.

[ricketyclik]

I haven't watched much British humour recently, but I used to find that it had a pretty high quotient of toilet humour.

[regexcellent]

Seinfeld is actually pretty ****ing hilarious. At least the episodes I've seen are.

Underneath the toilet jokes, South Park has a ton of political commentary, which thanks to its very fast production schedule is usually quite on point.

[kentonio]

I don't think you can accuse me of lacking familiarity with British humor, seeing as I am quite fond of Monty Python, Terry Pratchett, and others. I think a lot of the stereotyping about the difference between American and British comedians boils down to American comedy programs being aimed at a broader (often international) audience and consequently focusing on the lowest common denominator. In Britain, you get both British programs and American programs, and the British programs naturally fill a niche that isn't already taken by American ones since they would have difficulty competing given the huge budgets that American programs tend to get. I could be way off base here, but that's my theory.

Monty Python was strongly influential to the whimsical nature of British comedy (although it was far from the start of it), but it was also 40 years ago (which seems insane now ). I don't know if you can say British comedy is largely aimed at a niche, or rather whether it's just aimed at a British audience. With a few huge exceptions (like Friends ) a lot of the US stuff that does best over here is the stuff that follows at least a similar style to British humour (I think that's true, I can't think of many exceptions), so the likes of South Park, Family Guy, Arrested Development, Archer etc. I think it's definitely true though that as those kind of shows have impacted on the UK market, British humour has also evolved as people here become more accustomed to them. I disagree with your point about US shows filling the market though, because a lot of US shows still just wouldn't work here. There's usually an expectation of some darkness and sarcasm in our humour, and a lot of US stuff still makes people here roll their eyes. Again that's not a dig, its just the difference in cultures.

I don't know why I keep saying here, considering I'm not even in the UK any more..

American comedy movies often have a lot of slapstick, cringe humor, and so on, because it translates well across cultures and appeals to a broad audience. Dark humor, subtlety and irony are a lot harder to sell to a wide demographic.

Very true, although as Dauphin says slapstick is hardly a US invention. It's a shame too, because there's a big US audience for the dark stuff but because its still fairly niche in the context of the vast US market, some awesome British comedies have never really crossed over. It also doesn't help that you ****ers keep trying to remake things instead of just enjoying the originals.

If you haven't already btw, check out Spaced & Black Books. Other good suggestions would be Green Wing, IT Crowd and if you like super whimsical stuff then Mighty Boosh is well done (although I'm not a big fan to be honest). I'm assuming you've already watched Father Ted, if not that definitely deserves a place on the list too.

[kentonio]

The Carry On series of movies were choc full of slapstick and cringe, and there are plenty of modern day equivalents. I would posit your theory could work in reverse just as easily..

I'm so grateful that mainstream slapstick ****ed off. If I'd had to grow up with an endless diet of Benny Hill and Carry on up the Kyber I think I'd have had to kill myself..

Although I still love Sid James for reasons I can't really describe even to myself.

I haven't watched much British humour recently, but I used to find that it had a pretty high quotient of toilet humour.

It used to once upon a time, thankfully far less nowadays. That stuff largely died down in the 80/90's.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I know some Americans have gotten their hackles up, but I don't think its necessarily objectionable to say that US comedy is more earnest. For instance look at The Office in the UK and the US. Now I vastly prefer the US version (well until Michael leaves), but its much more earnest and the lead is more likable (which makes it far more realistic, IMO). Shows like Archer, Always Sunny, etc are around, true, but they are more niche over here. The big popular comedies aren't like those.

[Hauldren Collider]

If you haven't already btw, check out Spaced & Black Books. Other good suggestions would be Green Wing, IT Crowd and if you like super whimsical stuff then Mighty Boosh is well done (although I'm not a big fan to be honest). I'm assuming you've already watched Father Ted, if not that definitely deserves a place on the list too.

I tried, but I couldn't enjoy the IT crowd. I'm not sure if it's because it hit too close to home or not close enough.

[Lorizael]

I found the IT Crowd to be excruciatingly unfunny. It came across to me as a series of transparent and overly extended gags rather than an actual sitcom.

[Hauldren Collider]

Yeah, I think that's how it felt to me. I tried watching it a while ago so I don't remember it that well.

[ricketyclik]

I tried, but I couldn't enjoy the IT crowd. I'm not sure if it's because it hit too close to home or not close enough.

Did you try turning it off and then on again?

[Dr Strangelove]

You can't get more slapstick-ish than Benny Hill. Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean and Johnny English are in the same vein.

[kentonio]

You can't get more slapstick-ish than Benny Hill. Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean and Johnny English are in the same vein.

Mr Bean was very much a homage back to the old slapstick traditions of British comedy. I didn't enjoy it at all personally, but I know a lot of people did.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Unlike the world renowned Balkans humour..

Balkan humour is great, Brits would love it, except you need to know the language, for Americans it would be too intellectual.