British v American TV - Page 8

**theequestrian** · July 19th, 2016, 12:08 AM

If given the either/or I'd go with Brit Coms, which I find more to my taste. American Sit Coms are, on the whole, lame & predictable.
BUT,
I don't have the internet or cable/satelite TV hookups in my home. Almost all of what I watch are things I download from the internet at work. (T1 connection) The primary site that I use has its majority of content uploaded by Brits. However, the site also has a large amount of content uploaded by Aussies, Kiwis & Taz's.
From what I've downloaded over the last year or so, I'd say that Aussie Sit Coms are better. Miles better. Look around on the net and find either (or both) of these. It'll be well worth your while.

Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane
The Wizard of Aus

**Welderman** · July 20th, 2016, 06:22 PM

As an Englishman, I find many of todays so called Brit sitcoms pretty bland, and many make me cringe..

I do like this American show..

**Almero** · July 21st, 2016, 03:39 PM

Only Fools and Horses is my favorite. Married with Children is also classy. British sitcoms humour seems more sophisticated to me.

**trailmaster** · July 22nd, 2016, 11:19 PM

I can't vote in the poll because there were so many great American and British sitcoms that I watched in my past.

**Historian** · July 23rd, 2016, 08:11 AM

Tricky one, because both nations have produced plenty of utter dross, but at their best have turned out some real classics. The one option I suspect you really don't want are US remakes of classic Brit sitcoms. Has it ever worked?

**tsunamiSD** · July 23rd, 2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Historian

Tricky one, because both nations have produced plenty of utter dross, but at their best have turned out some real classics. The one option I suspect you really don't want are US remakes of classic Brit sitcoms. Has it ever worked?

What about 'Sanford and Son'?

skullorchard · February 22nd, 2017, 12:22 AM

British sitcoms, hands down. America's "Hit 'em hard and hit 'em often" approach to comedy never worked for me. I was raised on The Goon Show, The Carry-On Gang and The Two Ronnies, not to mention Monty Python and a whole plethora of British comedians. I love the subtlety and the double-entendres. I'd watch a show like Up Pompeii and be laughing so hard that my sides hurt and my friends would look as me, completely dead-pan as if to say"We don't get it." And they didn't.
As well, many top American sitcoms were just rip-offs of original British shows.

**bloke57** · February 22nd, 2017, 09:35 AM

These days I'd have to go for British - Red Dwarf, Blackadder, Yes Minister, Fawlty Towers, The Office, Porridge....etc. I suppose that is inevitable. I'm not American so American jokes and cultural references are bound to pass me by to some extent.

But it wasn't always so - back in my childhood there was Get Smart, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Beverley Hill Billies...etc. and I think that, back then, US sitcoms ruled.

localboy · February 22nd, 2017, 01:47 PM

American sitcoms every day of the week. The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Friends, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Two and a Half Men, The Middle - just to name a few.

I think it's easy to forget that these shows go lame (and they do always go lame, Modern Family has been crap this season) because they produce so many episodes. Fawlty Towers was great, but 12 episodes? Come on!

Other people mentioning Monty Python and the Two Ronnies - great stuff, no doubt, but not sitcoms.

**Sir Honkers** · February 22nd, 2017, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by localboy

American sitcoms every day of the week. The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Friends, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Two and a Half Men, The Middle - just to name a few.

I never got Friends. A bunch of twentysomething hipsters. The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family are past their useby, stopped being funny several seasons back. Two And A Half men should have ended before the kid grew up and Charlie left.
3rd Rock From The Sun. Classic. At least the early seasons. Unfortunately like a lot of American sitcoms it got too preachy and earnest., but I'd watch John Lithgow in anything and Kristen Johnston was priceless.

View Poll Results: wfw
British Sitcoms	20	71.43%
American Sitcoms	8	28.57%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

July 19th, 2016, 12:08 AM	#71
theequestrian Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: A hop, skip & a jump from Daytona Beach, Florida Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 4,807 Thanked 11,707 Times in 1,156 Posts	If given the either/or I'd go with Brit Coms, which I find more to my taste. American Sit Coms are, on the whole, lame & predictable. BUT, I don't have the internet or cable/satelite TV hookups in my home. Almost all of what I watch are things I download from the internet at work. (T1 connection) The primary site that I use has its majority of content uploaded by Brits. However, the site also has a large amount of content uploaded by Aussies, Kiwis & Taz's. From what I've downloaded over the last year or so, I'd say that Aussie Sit Coms are better. Miles better. Look around on the net and find either (or both) of these. It'll be well worth your while. Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane The Wizard of Aus __________________ 'If we could read each others minds, we'd all sleep with loaded guns' -theequestrian

July 20th, 2016, 06:22 PM	#72
Welderman Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: County of Champions Posts: 3,707 Thanks: 55,074 Thanked 64,245 Times in 3,729 Posts	As an Englishman, I find many of todays so called Brit sitcoms pretty bland, and many make me cringe.. I do like this American show.. __________________ ''Elga, 5mm cast iron welding rods''.. Nice.. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

July 21st, 2016, 03:39 PM	#73
Almero Vintage Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: From Russia with love Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 13,926 Thanked 25,344 Times in 1,425 Posts	Only Fools and Horses is my favorite. Married with Children is also classy. British sitcoms humour seems more sophisticated to me.

July 22nd, 2016, 11:19 PM	#74
trailmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 59,888 Thanks: 1,328,972 Thanked 707,162 Times in 60,062 Posts	I can't vote in the poll because there were so many great American and British sitcoms that I watched in my past.

July 23rd, 2016, 08:11 AM	#75
Historian Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 4,029 Thanks: 102,514 Thanked 93,972 Times in 4,024 Posts	Tricky one, because both nations have produced plenty of utter dross, but at their best have turned out some real classics. The one option I suspect you really don't want are US remakes of classic Brit sitcoms. Has it ever worked?

February 22nd, 2017, 12:22 AM	#77
skullorchard Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 179 Thanks: 7,071 Thanked 3,904 Times in 173 Posts	British sitcoms, hands down. America's "Hit 'em hard and hit 'em often" approach to comedy never worked for me. I was raised on The Goon Show, The Carry-On Gang and The Two Ronnies, not to mention Monty Python and a whole plethora of British comedians. I love the subtlety and the double-entendres. I'd watch a show like Up Pompeii and be laughing so hard that my sides hurt and my friends would look as me, completely dead-pan as if to say"We don't get it." And they didn't. As well, many top American sitcoms were just rip-offs of original British shows.

February 22nd, 2017, 09:35 AM	#78
bloke57 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Unaffordable housing Posts: 4,923 Thanks: 31,646 Thanked 68,928 Times in 4,921 Posts	These days I'd have to go for British - Red Dwarf, Blackadder, Yes Minister, Fawlty Towers, The Office, Porridge....etc. I suppose that is inevitable. I'm not American so American jokes and cultural references are bound to pass me by to some extent. But it wasn't always so - back in my childhood there was Get Smart, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Beverley Hill Billies...etc. and I think that, back then, US sitcoms ruled.

February 22nd, 2017, 01:47 PM	#79
localboy Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 88 Thanks: 173 Thanked 1,332 Times in 87 Posts	American sitcoms every day of the week. The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, Friends, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Two and a Half Men, The Middle - just to name a few. I think it's easy to forget that these shows go lame (and they do always go lame, Modern Family has been crap this season) because they produce so many episodes. Fawlty Towers was great, but 12 episodes? Come on! Other people mentioning Monty Python and the Two Ronnies - great stuff, no doubt, but not sitcoms.