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Yes. Because TV comedy is important to life. It lifts our spirits when we've had a rubbish day, and helps to reflect on life's wider nonsenses.
Me, I like my British sitcoms - stuff like Spaced, Black Books etc. There's something about them that seriously resonates with me, and I'm typically impressed at how they can weave in surrealist twaddle amongst otherwise ordinary or pedestrian plots.
I mean, it's not universal. Anything Bill Bailey is likely to turn up in will get a watch from me, but I can't stand 'prime time' Sitcoms - too schmaltzy, I feel that the writers just aren't allowed to properly cut loose, which in turn restrains the actors from any improv whilst filming etc.
US Comedy? Eh. Generally, it's a 'no' from me, though to be fair here in the UK we tend to be exposed to mostly mainstream stuff, so this definitely isn't an 'America, y you no funneh' type thing.
Favourite shows at the moment?
The Young Ones (stone cold classic)
Red Dwarf (not the Kochanski seasons. Everything before and after though)
Toast of London (absolutely sublime stuff)
Spaced (it brought us Simon Pegg. 'Nuff said right there, yo)
Black Books (If I ran a shop, I'd be Bernard)
House of Fools (defo a marmite show, but far as I'm concerned you can't whack a bit of Vic and Bob)
IT Crowd (just brilliant stuff)
Hopefully that's enough to get tongues wagging
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Current comedy:
*Superstore.
*Series of Unfortunate Events
*Stand up on Netflix.
-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
SoUE is awesome.
Parks and Recreation.
Santa Clarita Diet has amused me greatly.
The US version of The Office is not funny. I've laughed like...twice?
Arrested Development was pretty funny. Until the "return" season.
Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.
Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.
Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.
IT Crowd (hey, I basically was Roy and Moss)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (I've got it on DVD)
Scrubs (US comedy, surprisingly accurate portrayals)
Other than that, I think for awhile I enjoyed Brooklyn 99, but I haven't watched it in a while, and I used to enjoy a lot of the Late Night stuff, particularly The Daily Show, Colbert Report (and The Tonight Show with SC), but with no DVR anymore, I can't record them and watch at a more decent hour.
I'm all about the best of British sitcoms. Dad's Army, Blackadder and Fawlty Towers probably top the list, but Only Fools, Red Dwarf and Yes Minister/Prime Minister are very close behind.
Love a good sketch show too. Mitchell and Webb, Armstrong and Miller, Python, Fry and Laurie.
While this thread is about TV comedy, I simply have to mention the excellence that is Radio 4's Cabin Pressure. If you're at all a fan of sitcoms, go and listen to some of this show. Pre-Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch is actually exceptionally good at character comedy, and the writing is top notch.
Paradigm wrote: I'm all about the best of British sitcoms. Dad's Army, Blackadder and Fawlty Towers probably top the list, but Only Fools, Red Dwarf and Yes Minister/Prime Minister are very close behind.
Love a good sketch show too. Mitchell and Webb, Armstrong and Miller, Python, Fry and Laurie.
We are kindred spirits, you and I.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/02/23 17:14:26
Futurama is the best show on television. It's consistently great, no 'weak link' characters, just top notch.
Other great shows already mentioned; Arrested Development, (pre Netflix), Blackadder, The Office (UK), Fawlty Towers.
Not a sitcom but very funny and actually quite interesting is QI, formerly hosted by the great Stephen Fry but recently and very ably taken over by Sandi Toskvig. It's certainly worth your time, especially if (like me) you like useless factoids and minutiae.
We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
Somebody ought to be locked up for this. It's nothing less than a crime that 'Allo 'Allo hasn't been mentioned yet.
Other than that I don't really have much to add, except that Blackadder is probably the funniest show I've ever seen, I never liked Mr Bean, Monty Python is also hilarious, and Futurama is probably the only American comedy I really like.
IT Crowd (hey, I basically was Roy and Moss)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (I've got it on DVD)
Scrubs (US comedy, surprisingly accurate portrayals)
Other than that, I think for awhile I enjoyed Brooklyn 99, but I haven't watched it in a while, and I used to enjoy a lot of the Late Night stuff, particularly The Daily Show, Colbert Report (and The Tonight Show with SC), but with no DVR anymore, I can't record them and watch at a more decent hour.
You can watch the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on youtube for free starting the next day. We've been watching him, The Daily Show, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and sometimes Samantha Bee, Conan or Jimmy. (We never watch the guest segments, though.) We watched The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt while my wife was recovering, and it is a weird show.
feeder wrote: Futurama is the best show on television. It's consistently great, no 'weak link' characters, just top notch.
Other great shows already mentioned; Arrested Development, (pre Netflix), Blackadder, The Office (UK), Fawlty Towers.
Not a sitcom but very funny and actually quite interesting is QI, formerly hosted by the great Stephen Fry but recently and very ably taken over by Sandi Toskvig. It's certainly worth your time, especially if (like me) you like useless factoids and minutiae.
Been to see QI live twice :p 2015 Chrimbo special, and the one with Slipknot bloke.
Top notch entertainment!
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feeder wrote: Futurama is the best show on television. It's consistently great, no 'weak link' characters, just top notch.
Other great shows already mentioned; Arrested Development, (pre Netflix), Blackadder, The Office (UK), Fawlty Towers.
Not a sitcom but very funny and actually quite interesting is QI, formerly hosted by the great Stephen Fry but recently and very ably taken over by Sandi Toskvig. It's certainly worth your time, especially if (like me) you like useless factoids and minutiae.
Been to see QI live twice :p 2015 Chrimbo special, and the one with Slipknot bloke.
Top notch entertainment!
I was actually quite impressed by Corey Taylor (Slipknot bloke). At first I thought maybe he got lost on the way to Buzzcocks, but he did just fine.
We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
If you're a fan of Airplane, then check out Angie Tribeca. It's a peculiar mix of dry humor, and a huge commitment to visual puns.
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
Spinner wrote: I was actually just about to post about how much I like Crazy Ex.
That should teach me to assume! It is a really stand out show though, and it's a shame that basically no one seems to watch it.
Oh, it's absolutely up there, one of my favorite shows. They've got some real talent behind it, and everyone I've convinced to watch it has come away really loving the series. Really excited to see where the next season goes.
Beyond that...once the new season of Archer is up on Netflix, I can put it back on my list of current comedies to obsessively watch. Brooklyn 99's good, I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next season of Rick and Morty, and of course Blackadder is a classic.
I think most of the classic UK sit-coms are based around the concept of 'losers' trapped in a place or circumstance, this idea doesn't seem to travel well as very few US sit-coms appear to be able to cope with the 'loser' idea
Also adding Porridge and Father Ted to Doc's excellent list, prime examples of the loser concept
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/02/27 16:23:35
"AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED."
In most UK sitcoms I enjoy the main character or characters are all vile, loathsome, unsuccessful or at the very least unpleasant, which makes whatever happens to them all the more enjoyable.
BrookM wrote: In most UK sitcoms I enjoy the main character or characters are all vile, loathsome, unsuccessful or at the very least unpleasant, which makes whatever happens to them all the more enjoyable.
Oh definitely. And that's a very British trait.
The best comedies also get us to like at least one of them.
Let's consider Richard Richard, and Edward Elizabeth Hitler. They're both foul, degenerate perverts. The scum that floats on top of the scum.
Yet....we often route for Eddie - simply because he seems to accept his lot in life, and has dedicated his efforts to annoying/winding up/deflating/horrifically injuring the pompous, delusional Richie.
I could read all sorts of clever, witty subtext into the show, but it's funny because it's slapstick and patently ridiculous.
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Bottom is genius. I recently found it again on Netflix, and thought it would be puerile tripe that I only enjoyed because I was about 14 when it came out.
I was wrong. It is puerile tripe, but it's still hilarious. Or maybe I still have the brain of a 14 year old.
Blackadder is genius. Mr Bean is terrible.
Spaced is about as close to perfect as TV comedy can get.
Porridge. Especially the episode with David Jason.
Some of Only Fools and Horses.
Open all hours.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh, and as mentioned, Red Dwarf except when Chloe Annett's in it. It's possible they could have saved those series if they'd managed to persuade Clare Grogan to come back.
And how the hell can I forget Father Ted?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/02/28 13:20:20
I think there's a certain purity to Bottom. You know what to expect, and you get it in spades. There's no pretence at being highbrow etc.
But I still feel there's an entirely unintentional 'post imperial' social commentary.
The boys both live in the same squalid flat, leading lives devoid of meaning or purpose. Ritchie represents the pompous 1950's Britain - all stiff upper lip, despite the growing national impotence, maintaining standards well beyond him.
Then there's Eddie - a vile caricature of the Working Class Everyman - violent, drunken, workshy, with a penchant for sticking one on Ritchie - his alleged 'better'.
There is something about that squalor which is just genius!
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The three seasons of Bottom were good, but the live shows were fething excellent. If there was one thing my bestie and I always regretted, it's that we never had a chance to see them live.
Not just to see them beat the gak out of one another, but also to see them go out of character and bicker about forgetting lines.
