What's going on with British comedy?

[karma67]

bill hicks,enough said!

[Barry]

Can't stand Stewart Lee. He's nothing like as clever as he thinks he is.

Who is Stewart Lee. Have to confess I don't watch TV comedy - I much prefer radio comedy.

[Macca]

He was on the radio years ago. You're not missing anything so don't worry.

[rdpx]

https://youtu.be/4n-UGQcG3Jw

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[Lawrence001]

You've seen the briefing too, then?

Post Brexit watching these shows will be compulsory. And all applicants for residency must take a 2 hour test on the 'Carry On' films, an 80% score will be required to pass.

Male applicants will have to demonstrate that they can do a reasonable facsimile of Sid James' dirty laugh and females will have to squeak like Barbara Windsor when her bra flies off.

I would genuinely vote for a party that had such a policy in its manifesto.

I suspect dividing lines in comedy are broadly the same as those that came out in the Brexit thread. I think another poll/ban may be round the corner

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[Pigmy Pony]

Not really. On one side are the people who like Stewart Lee and on the other we have Macca. If that doesn't bring out the Stewart Lee haters I don't know what will.

Comedy is like most other things in life: not worth getting your knickers in a twist over.

[Oddball]

Comedy is like food . Not all of it appeals to everyone !!
I am guilty of not reading all the thread (as I have to make my own mind up before its made up for me ) but I do think comedy has 2 sides to it

The hear it first and laugh yourself silly , or not and the sort that matures with age .

Thats me anyway , Dads Army and Porridge , as a teenager I was a bit wary of it and didnt find it that funny , but now I am an old fart , its like fine wine !!
I love a lot of League of Gentlemen ,as I did with Monty Python ,although bits of it ,I dont get or like .
Its a strange indidvidual thing . (I think)

[Minstrel SE]

Yes Stewart Lee takes it to another level but I dont want to sound like a comedy snob. Gerorge Carlin was a genius in my eyes as was Bill Hicks.

I do think there is higher level that only the best can get to. Monty Python and The league Of gentlemen got there as did Brass Eye.

If you like it low brow there is always the carry on films and Mrs Browns Boys Lets be controversial here in that I feel the best comedy takes the sharpest of wits and intelligence. Are there dividing lines in comedy or is anything that makes people laugh just a good thing?

[Oddball]

Yes Stewart Lee takes it to another level but I dont want to sound like a comedy snob. Gerorge Carlin was a genius in my eyes as was Bill Hicks.

I do think there is higher level that only the best can get to. Monty Python and The league Of gentlemen got there as did Brass Eye.

If you like it low brow there is always the carry on films and Mrs Browns Boys Lets be controversial here in that I feel the best comedy takes the sharpest of wits and intelligence. Are there dividing lines in comedy or is anything that makes people laugh just a good thing?

I think so Martin. Laughter is the best medicine !!
Not British Comedy but Porky's always makes me laugh so much !! I suppose laughing at close to the edge things is also what some do ,or dont , depends on your company too !!

[Marco]

For me, comedy generally has to be zany and 'alternative' (a little 'out there') before I'll find it funny. Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and mainstream stuff like that has never done it for me, plus for my tastes, the humour is rather too 'English'.

The only mainstream British comedies/sitcoms I've enjoyed, which I can remember are, in no particular order:

1) Only Fools and Horses, which in particular I thought was pure genius.
2) Rising Damp
3) Fawlty Towers
4) The Young Ones/Bottom
5) Blackadder (to a degree, but at times it can also be a bit too predictable, and overtly 'English')
6) Father Ted
7) The original series of Red Dwarf
8) The Office
9) Porridge
10) Little Britain.

Some of the other nonsense, associated with 'British Comedy', for me, is mind-numbingly inane and instantly forgettable.

Marco.