View Full Version : i've been watching BBC america a lot lately...
and sometimes i can't tell if i'm watching a comedy or a drama. it's like the comedy is so subtle that i can't tell if it's actually meant to be funny or not. either that, or the drama is so bizarre that i can't tell if it's supposed to be serious or not. does this mean i'm uncultured or something?
Parkey
10-17-2005, 02:50 PM
Not at all. Watching 'The Thick Of It' has me confused sometimes... Although it is bloody funny.
paul jones
10-17-2005, 02:50 PM
and sometimes i can't tell if i'm watching a comedy or a drama. it's like the comedy is so subtle that i can't tell if it's actually meant to be funny or not. either that, or the drama is so bizarre that i can't tell if it's supposed to be serious or not. does this mean i'm uncultured or something?
what dramas and comedies have you been watching Bob?
Monsieur Decuts
10-17-2005, 03:11 PM
trailer park boys
!
ms.peachy
10-17-2005, 03:57 PM
and sometimes i can't tell if i'm watching a comedy or a drama. it's like the comedy is so subtle that i can't tell if it's actually meant to be funny or not. either that, or the drama is so bizarre that i can't tell if it's supposed to be serious or not. does this mean i'm uncultured or something?
I think if you're used to watching American comedies, you're used to the 'laugh track', and all of the deliberate pauses put in so that you know "OK! That was a joke! I am supposed to laugh now!" Whereas in British comedies, it's not pointed out for you - you either get the joke or you don't, you keep up or you don't. And the humour is more subtle, and tends to be more language-based or deadpan than in US comedies.
ms.peachy
10-17-2005, 03:57 PM
trailer park boys
!
I've not seen it, but it's Canadian, isn't it?
I think if you're used to watching American comedies, you're used to the 'laugh track', and all of the deliberate pauses put in so that you know "OK! That was a joke! I am supposed to laugh now!" Whereas in British comedies, it's not pointed out for you - you either get the joke or you don't, you keep up or you don't. And the humour is more subtle, and tends to be more language-based or deadpan than in US comedies.
well i expected that, but it's not what i always found. like i was watching this one show, i think it was called jonathan creek or something, i wasn't really paying attention. on the one hand, there was some wierd murder mystery thing going on, and on the other hand there was a guy who kept apes in his house, and a guy who seemed to be enjoying his prostate exam a little too much, and a guy who wore a heart monitor during sex with his wife. there were things that seemed like they ought to be jokes, but they were so strangely out of place that i wasn't ready to laugh at them yet, not that they were that funny in the first place. i didn't like that show, actually, whatever it was supposed to be.
but then there was this other one that was definitely supposed to be a comedy, i think it was called "the boosh" or "welcome to the boosh" or "there's something about boosh", or i forget, about these guys who i think might have been zookeepers or possibly druggies, i'm not sure. anyway it was totally absurd and i can't remember if there was a laugh track or not, but the actors seemed to be trying to keep from laughing at their own jokes at times...there were dancing wolves in one episode, and dancing sticks of bubblegum in another one, and at one point there was a guy whose head had turned into cheese somehow. it was ok, but it was as far from subtle and deadpan as i've seen a show get...today.
and then there was little britain, which was totally wierd and i didn't like it at first, but then it kind of grew on me, and i'd probably watch it again. that one had a laugh track though.
anyway i suppose it would be foolish of me to try to watch every show made by british people with the mindset of "BRITISH COMEDY IS ALWAYS SUBTLE" because it clearly isn't true, but i was just a little confused. i've only been sort of half-watching, i keep the TV on while i study, so i drifted in and out of it.
i am used to comedies without laugh tracks, though. curb your enthusiasm, the office, uh...other ones too, probably, and then there's always movies, which rarely have laugh tracks, and i get when things are supposed to be funny in those, mostly. i don't know, when i said "i've been watching it alot" i actually meant "all afternoon", maybe i just caught a wierd stretch of shows.
edit: it's also entirely possible that, since it's a network geared towards americans, they might not have been saving their best programming for the 1-4 pm slot. i hadn't considered that until now
Documad
10-17-2005, 08:15 PM
Jonathan Creek isn't a good show, but you happen to have seen the worst episode. :p I think you're supposed to be amused by the banter between the two leads.
I no longer have the channel, but I did enjoy it several years ago -- back when Castaway was on. :( Before it became all about home decorating and gardening.
zorra_chiflada
10-17-2005, 08:20 PM
yeah, i wasn't a huge fan of jonathan creek. everyone i know liked it though
Jonathan Creek isn't a good show, but you happen to have seen the worst episode. :p I think you're supposed to be amused by the banter between the two leads.
I no longer have the channel, but I did enjoy it several years ago -- back when Castaway was on. :( Before it became all about home decorating and gardening.
ah; unlucky, then. i'll give it a better chance i guess. not that show though, it failed me.
and yeah, it seems like half the time when i turn it on, it's about antiques, or flowers, or something. it's very possible i'm just tuning in at unfortunate times, but still.
I wish we got HBO here, i want to see extras, that new ricky gervais show. i've also been dying to see spaced, but it's impossible to find DVDs that will play here, i can never find any episodes to download, and i'm not sure if it's on TV here. i'll keep the faith, though.
there was this one show that i kind of liked called "my family", i think. the dad character looked like paul jones, it was nuts. i didn't know exactly what was going on but it seemed like it should be funny anyway.
zorra_chiflada
10-17-2005, 08:28 PM
there was this one show that i kind of liked called "my family", i think. the dad character looked like paul jones, it was nuts. i didn't know exactly what was going on but it seemed like it should be funny anyway.
i love that show! (y)
jabumbo
10-17-2005, 08:47 PM
everytime i flash by the channels, its always benny hill
does this channel basically reflect what the bbc shows normally? or is it behind in programming or what?
Documad
10-17-2005, 09:03 PM
^^ No. If you watch the credits, a lot of the shows were never even on the BBC. They were on other British channels.
Bob, you're not tuning in at the wrong time. It's all h&g all the time. But it's reruns of the original shows that American TV has copied. :rolleyes: Once in a while, they run a good mystery, but not as good as what PBS sometimes shows.
I used to get the mystery channel and they ran shows that featured a dishy Australian female coroner who solved crimes. I enjoyed that, but I enjoy any crime show.
discopants
10-18-2005, 05:20 AM
I liked Jonathon Creek but yeah, the one with the monkeys wasn't great.
Beckalina
10-18-2005, 05:33 AM
but then there was this other one that was definitely supposed to be a comedy, i think it was called "the boosh" or "welcome to the boosh" or "there's something about boosh", or i forget, about these guys who i think might have been zookeepers or possibly druggies, i'm not sure. anyway it was totally absurd and i can't remember if there was a laugh track or not, but the actors seemed to be trying to keep from laughing at their own jokes at times...there were dancing wolves in one episode, and dancing sticks of bubblegum in another one, and at one point there was a guy whose head had turned into cheese somehow. it was ok, but it was as far from subtle and deadpan as i've seen a show get...today.
The Mighty Boosh
yeah the acting is shit and it is weird, but I love its shitty charm and the songs kick arse. The boosh is my favourite show (at the moment).
but yeah jonathan creek is shit.
paul jones
10-18-2005, 08:51 AM
there was this one show that i kind of liked called "my family", i think. the dad character looked like paul jones, it was nuts. i didn't know exactly what was going on but it seemed like it should be funny anyway.
the bass player from Radiohead.....
Kevin Spacey.....
now HIM!? :eek:
am I a fucking chameleon?
ms.peachy
10-18-2005, 09:03 AM
am I a fucking chameleon?
You're the Everyman of our times, PJ.
paul jones
10-18-2005, 09:06 AM
You're the Everyman of our times, PJ.
thanks !
p.s. Is that the baby in your av? :)
ms.peachy
10-18-2005, 09:25 AM
p.s. Is that the baby in your av? :)
yep :) I know you can't tell from the squidgy little picture, but it's actually lying down facing you and waving. It's feet are kinda up in the air to the left, and it's head is on the lower right, with a little ghost of a hand up next to it. Yeah I know, no one can really see this but me. But trust me on this one.
BangkokB
10-18-2005, 10:16 AM
DRTT
But have you noticed when they say Bush and/or America it's like they need to wash their mounth out with Listerinine? Just wornde4ring
TonsOfFun
10-18-2005, 10:19 AM
Yes, the mighty boosh is funny. I'm in stiches every time it is on. It's so random and great quotes
"You make me sick. Coming in here, doing your funny little rehearsals, playing your instruments right, and songs. It's not about that, being in a band. It's about what you look like"
icy manipulator
10-18-2005, 10:54 AM
i mean no offence to americans but i've found there's thinking factor in american comedies, where as brittish comedies have more clever parts. that's the reason why there is an american and a brittish version of the Office
Monsieur Decuts
10-18-2005, 11:33 AM
I've not seen it, but it's Canadian, isn't it?
i'm pretty sure BBC America picked it up and was running reruns..
but i'm also an expatriate of Canadia so i could be outta the looop
mp-seventythree
10-18-2005, 01:06 PM
the bass player from Radiohead.....
Kevin Spacey.....
now HIM!? :eek:
am I a fucking chameleon?
Paul, you're a cool guy....and Robert Lindsay is married to a hottie (y) Besides, he used to be Wolfie in Citizen Smith :cool:
Parkey
10-18-2005, 02:55 PM
If you go here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/) quick sharp, you can see the 2nd series of Nighty Night... proper warped British comedy.
guerillaGardner
10-18-2005, 03:32 PM
I think if you're used to watching American comedies, you're used to the 'laugh track', and all of the deliberate pauses put in so that you know "OK! That was a joke! I am supposed to laugh now!" Whereas in British comedies, it's not pointed out for you - you either get the joke or you don't, you keep up or you don't. And the humour is more subtle, and tends to be more language-based or deadpan than in US comedies.
Damn! I wish I had said that. There was a similar thread to this and I tried to articulate this but it came out all munged up.
i found one that i like alot; the young ones. it's very strange, and i swear it's not just because it's got a laugh track, i actually think it's funny
Documad
11-10-2005, 11:24 PM
^^ Ha! It played on MTV in my youth. I was talking about it with my work buddy yesterday. He must be watching BBCAmerica too. :)
I've not seen it, but it's Canadian, isn't it?
it's Canadian, and it's most definately in the top ten, if not top five best Canadian shows ever.
discopants
11-11-2005, 03:49 AM
i found one that i like alot; the young ones. it's very strange, and i swear it's not just because it's got a laugh track, i actually think it's funny
"Can you actually kill yourself with laxatives?"
ms.peachy
11-11-2005, 06:08 AM
i found one that i like alot; the young ones. it's very strange, and i swear it's not just because it's got a laugh track, i actually think it's funny
That show is brilliant. Hard to believe, but Ben Elson was actually a good writer once upon a time.
If you like that show, then look out for another called Bottom, which also has Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson and is v similar humour
icy manipulator
11-11-2005, 10:37 AM
i must admit Coupling is def one of the funniesst programs i've seen in a very long time. earlier Coupling that is (y)
ms.peachy
11-13-2005, 05:25 PM
Say Bob, I've just noticed your av... have you seen The Robinsons yet, then?
i haven't, no, i usually just turn the TV on randomly, so it's never on when i'm watching. i want to though, i really like martin freeman from what i've seen of him. i think it's on at like 9:30 or something on fridays, and oddly enough, i seem to have enough of a social life this year to not be watching TV at that hour anymore, which is unfortunate in some ways.
anyway, no, but i want to. is it any good?
ms.peachy
11-14-2005, 03:14 AM
is it any good?
yeah, it's pretty damn funny. I somehow managed to miss it when it was aired, but now it's on my video-on-demand network and mr.p and I watched a few episodes the other day. It's not absolutely genius, but it is pretty damn funny.
discopants
11-14-2005, 03:45 AM
i must admit Coupling is def one of the funniesst programs i've seen in a very long time. earlier Coupling that is (y)
Hilarious. There are far too many quotes to come up with one.
Parkey
11-14-2005, 11:49 AM
the greatest BBC comedy for YEARS is The Thick of It (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/thickofit/). Fuck me it's funny.
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