American Reacts to British vs American Comedy Analysis!
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
- These are the fascinating differences between American and British comedy, specifically the concept of "laughing at" vs "laughing with." Let's explore the unique styles, humor nuances, and cultural contexts that define comedy on both sides of the Atlantic!
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In addition to the critical theories, part of the equation is simply budget. American sitcoms have more money per episode than most UK shows get all series/ season. They can't afford to reshoot a scene ten times or do call backs for reshoots. They film, they edit, they air it as it is. This leaves a lot more room for clever improv, requiring actors with more theatrical experience. Knowing the difference between improv that adds to the scene or fills a hole rather than just being grandstanding is a skill of its own, separate from normal comedy or acting.
So my takeaway from this is that American comedy lies to you about how the world really is (work hard and you can achieve anything) and British comedy tells the truth (no matter how hard you work most of you will still fail in life.)
Did you think the caustic wit was because of thw weather? 😂
Two of the best characters in British Comedy are, Staff Liaison Officer, *Sue White* and Radiologist *Dr Alan Statham* in the Comedy series *Green Wing* Every episode is on UA-cam. A real hidden gem.
I think we in the UK sometimes laugh with and at in the same show. We laugh *at* Hyacinth Bucket, Basil Fawlty, Captain Mainwaring but laugh *with* the rest of the cast.
We can also laugh with and at the same character, depending on the situation, like Arkwright, Blackadder, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Jim Hacker.
I think we're more self deprecating over here. We feel that things are likely to go wrong and can laugh at a character we can identify with, and be grateful that things aren't going tits up for us at the moment.
There was a uk show called Coupling that came out in 2000. Probably the closest equivelent to friends. The situations were more unfortunate, the characters more flawed, banter bit more brutal, the chats were much more explicit and was overall a bit less chirpy and a bit more real. I think thats a pretty good comparison. Was also a really funny show.
A lot of that was non linear too...great show.
There is also a huge amount of situational "soap opera" type comedy in the UK. That mostly gets ignored by sniffy critics.
usually made years ago, except for a couple.
Writers rooms and the lack thereof in British comedy is another key reason they can feel so different - British comedy is the product of 1 or 2 writers (usually no more than ~4 with something like the Thick of It) who are also the creators of the show (and also often appear in it). So you get much less of a focus on one-liners (as Stephen Fry describes it) and instead there’s a focus on situation and in particular characters. And of course that allows for that dialogue as you only have a small number of writers, not everybody chipping in a line here or there
American comedy is often production line, British comedy is artisanal 😂 there are exceptions to these as always and there are American comedies that I love
My absolute joy that you enjoyed the Peep Show clip in this 🙌 I swear you would love that show.
It’s an amazing comedy. ❤
I love british humor, their panel shows are great
A simple way of thinking about it, is that the UK is a jaded old man, who has been around a long time and seen a lot. Whereas the USA is more like an optimistic teenager who thinks that they are indestructible. So, because of these two totally different outlooks on the world, the comedy from each country reflects that.
For the famous political satire show ‘The thick of it,’ Peter capaldi AD-LIBS his entire content! He’s a genius!
The two youngest children in Outnumbered are hilarious. Looking forward to the Xmas special they are doing this year, with the children now much older.
The U.S were the creators and masters of the situational comedy genre. The UK had some early versions of this. But it developed differently. I think that the writing methods angle still applies. (UK, individuals, US Teams). But I think also the way content gets pushed through the "executive" level towards broadcast is massively different. The US is still at that level very conservative. The Brits have pushed so many "taboo" elements forward in all types of media. Music included. Maybe in the UK it is easier for individual unique talent to get through. I feel that in the US it still has to go through certain filters.
British humour based on irony and pragmatism.
Channel 4 here in the UK made 3 series of a sitcom called 'Phoneshop' that I find hilarious. I think you'd find it so too.
Peep Show is hilarious and very English. As an actor, you might also enjoy "Extras" or if you want to go a bit darker, "After Life" (Ricky Gervais, Diane Morgan [Philomena Cunk])
I tend to favour comedy that pulls no punches, which tends to be British TV comedy like The In betweenners and the Peep Show (vs something like Friends or Big Bang Theory).
But I also love American animated shows like Family Guy and Rick & Morty. The US is second to none with animated comedies.
I also like parody and spoofs like Airplane and Scary Movie, which both do well at.
Anglo/irish comedy - Fr. Ted, Derry Girls and Moone Boy are special.
Don’t anyone mention Mrs bs boys - turgid shit on a par with love thy neighbour - awful.
You should react to the thick of it and peep show. Two of my favourites
I mainly prefer British comedy, but still love lots of American stuff .. Always sunny being my fave!
Love your videos! Suggestion for a video, with Bridgerton being so popular, I would LOVE for you to react to a video of dating during the Regency era and the London season. ❤
David brent’s dance is perfect illustration…it is slapstick/physical but what we are laughing at is still the character and how socially inept he is…
I like both countries comedy depending on my mood. I would summarise as UK = Cerebral comedy, US = spoon-fed jokes.
Both have a place for me
Heavy stuff actually. Thanks for posting and commenting. Would have been better if the original video had had more examples for us to watch.
Im more into shows where the house renters has to fight with their clothes to get it into the launderette. 😊 Or one student had to use dynamite to try and get rid of their headache. Or a village that's dangerous for people to visit as the shopkeeper might make you disappear. Or a hotel owner that thinks hes running a classy hotel when hes not really making the effort to get it above a badly run hotel. 😅
Brilliant really enjoyed this video and you're own insight ! ❤ 🤘 British comedy in essence for me is the ability turn the mirror upon society and ones self and being able to laugh about how absurd our actions and behavior is due to environments created out of our control. It's why we connect to the labeled, the down trodden, Even if they don't have their day. We laugh at them but do so because we know they are trying to win in a situation, That won't ever give them anything. It's also that age old trait of never giving in, We as a nation have been know for.
I've always had the impression that US comedies seem to have to signpost "joke incoming" before delivering the lines. Whether this is a TV executive decision or the writing style i couldn't tell you, it's almost as if they don't think the US viewing public are incapable of discerning humo(u)r for themselves.
The JJLA unified theory of entertainment?
Especially between UK and the US….he’s right though guys regarding the Uk do talk more and have more substantial topics, you’ll watch Friends, Fraiser or everyone hates Raymond (just what I grew upon) and it’s all about facial pullings and timings for jokes still loved them though…but could tell the difference, it depended on the mood you was in at time to what you wanted to watch. JJ do one on comedians UK vs US, I love the British but love love love Key and Peeles outtake on comedy ❤😂
American comedy is, in general, briefer in dialogue as there's a pause to insert a laughter track. Not always of course
So where does us animated comedy fit into this? Things like south park and rick and morty?
I’m not sure I agree 100 percent with this. Stephen Fry’s commentary on British v American comedy is far more succinct.
You should definitely check out peep show, it's a perfect example of dark , socially awkward, cringey British comedy. And there are plenty of seasons to enjoy. Also the British Inbetweeners absolutely trounces the American one. 😂
If you want comedy watch would I lie to you or Mr Bean, Lee evens oh and Peter Kay
Has anyone told you you look a bit like Hayden Christensen?
Unfortunately, this argument is a bit cherry picky. The vid only picks shows that support the argument, but never shows stuff that either is completely different: character growth does occur in UK comedy (e.g in two pints of lager and a packet of crisps), and not just US comedy is slapsticky (Mr Bean,anyone?). And then there are programmes like Two and a Half Men or Big Bang Theory that we in Europe are subjected to for no discernible reason. It sure isn't because these programmes are funny.
Agree. My mind immediately went to the UK Ghosts which, despite being a sitcom like most shows he mentioned, definitely features character growth, has reedeemable and even positive characters, laughs with not at, and has a very hopeful outlook on life despite everyone literally being dead. The idea that British comedy is inherently more depressing and dark is a bit outdated and jejune, I think. Newer comedies are definitely becoming more 'American' in style, but it's never been so simplistic.
The laughing at Vs laughing with suggestion holds up far more, but there will always be shows that go against that too. Maybe for the US something like Curb your enthusiasm
Your videos haven't been showing up on my feed, I keep accidentally missing uploads! Is anybody else experiencing this issue or is it just my feed?
Everyday at 4 o'clock JJ's video for that day shows up at the top of my page.
@@nicw5574 Omg really? It's amazing that it's so reliable. I have to search for his channel, otherwise I'd never know that he's uploaded
I am British and a joke and a loser just ask my wife.
Seinfeld can only be American. A wisecracking hero. We don't identify with that in the UK. We prefer losers who we can laugh at but not with. Im biased but UK sitcoms are generally superior. America has the best stand'ups though.
Based on this analysis Seinfeld is an outlier as it refuses to learn from mistakes which the commentator says is a feature of U.S comedy.
Seinfeld was weird. It wasn't like other US comedy. Seinfeld may have been the name but the other three characters were often the main stories. George was very much like a UK sitcom protagonist.
I would also claim Frasier as a very British style comedy where the main character is always striving for what he believes it's his right but failing to ever get it, or at least keep it.
the Brits have much better humour, more realism
I think there is a lot of confirmation bias and convenient examples here. Generalisations are dangerous. But you have had a genuine epiphany there! However. How is Fawlty towers and bean not slapstick?
I do like friends it's very funny however my girlfriend was watching it the other day while I was in a different room and just listening it wasn't funny at all .
Yank comedy has characters that believe in themselves, but often fail. (Al Bunde and Roseanne don’t fit).
British comedy has losers, who know they are losers and aren’t that surprised by inevitable failure.
This even translates into UK Wilty and US Wilty.
Try - Wilty - I lost my teeth at Glastonbury.
Love your soft spoken fascination with our islands.
I would say Al was a very British style character. I don't think that all American comedy fits a particular mould. There are some that are less optimistic and make use of more insults.
Stopped watching 'American Comedy' years ago due to overacting, crass laughter tracks and outright stupidity by so-called comedians. Unfortunately we don't have comedians nowadays like the late & great 'Dave Allan' Morecombe & Wise and of course 'The Two Ronnie's'. As stated none of today's comedians both UK & USA can't and don't match up to the above named comedic geniuses.
His name was 'Dave Allen', not much of a fan then!
You’re missing out, there’s some fantastic American comedy out there too.
I'll take british humour anytime over the shallow american form
i could not stand 'The office' or it's USA version both bored me to tears and both to me were cringy and extremely unfunny.
I disagree with him completely so far. British comedy is not about futility, but resilience. Our favourite characters never give up, even when the odds are against them. American comedy is just so fake, full of a refusal to look at life as anything but a party.
Friends, like most American comedy is misogynistic, racist, homophobic and depressing. The women are exploited and objectified and the men are profoundly stupid and unpleasant. The infinitely better British series Coupling has far more likeable characters.
Anyone who thinks Ricky Gervais is a comic genius has no clue.
Not sure which friends you were watching. If you had said big bang theory I might have agreed with some of what you said.
Not just dialogue. Mr Bean is one of the biggest British comedy exports ever. Just slapstick. Maybe Brits are just inherently funny.