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The Mighty Booooooooooooosh (okay and I guess other British comedies)
Pheezer
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Anyone else into this? I just discovered this and it's pretty completely awesome. Sort of like a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Spinal Tap thing.
Anyhow I'm watching just the first season and I'm up to the episode "Tundra". The one with all the gary numan references. Too fucking funny.
Also what else is funny and British? And don't feed me the obvious ones, I've seen Fawlty Towers (brilliant), Spaced (good) and The Office (the US one is funnier).
Anyhow I'm watching just the first season and I'm up to the episode "Tundra". The one with all the gary numan references. Too fucking funny.
Also what else is funny and British? And don't feed me the obvious ones, I've seen Fawlty Towers (brilliant), Spaced (good) and The Office (the US one is funnier).
IT'S GOT ME REACHING IN MY POCKET IT'S GOT ME FORKING OVER CASH
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
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I want to get the DVDs just so I could see Charlie the Bubblegum Man again.
And Coupling has a lot of really funny dialogue.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Blackaaaaadder
An oldie but a damn well goodie
I love Stephen Fry
NNID: Hakkekage
Shogun Streams Vidya
Edit: Well, I personally think that the relative merits of a series based on P.G. Wodehouse's writings would be self-evident, but I guess I can elaborate. This series lasted about 4 seasons, and star Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as the title characters. Besides Wodehouse's absolutely hilarious stories, Hugh Laurie is one of the sexiest men alive, as well as one of the best actors of all time.
One thing that did annoy me was how they kept changing the actors for the supporting cast from season to season. Even someone as vital as Aunt Dahlia got at least 2 different actors. Some take issue with their somewhat cavalier attitude towards fidelity to the original text, and I have to say that watching those episodes after having read the original stories was less satisfying than the first time I'd ever seen them, before I'd read the stories. But you can't deny that some of Wodehouse's humor does not translate cleanly to live-action, and some of the little departures are really hilarious, like the episode set at Totley Towers, based on "The Code of the Woosters," where Roderick Spode chases Bertie around the house for like 2 minutes as Bertie desperately tries to remember the word "Eulaly."
I can probably find a list on Wikipedia in less time than waiting for all of you to compile one
Perhaps you could all include a brief description of the shows and a reason why I or any other person might care to see them
And possibly we could even discuss the shows as well so that I get some feel for what goes on in them
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
they are funny
Ok, ok:
Blackadder: Funny
Also 4 seasons long, each season taking place in a different time period of British History (i.e Elizabethan, WWI) with the same general character scheme; Blackadder, who is the lone sane man in a sea of unbelievably retarded companions. The usual British comedy formula. Recurring actors: Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder, Hugh Laurie (in the 2nd+3rd seasons), and Stephen Fry (smattered about until the 4th season, where he is fantastic).
Word of advice; do not watch the first season. It is not indicative of the show and also sucks balls.
NNID: Hakkekage
Elkamil has the best taste, listen to this man.
There's not much point trying to explain Black Books, either it'll win you over in the first ten minutes or it's not worth going on with.
The best thing about coupling isn't the dialogue, even though the conversations are fantastic, it's how inventive Stephen Moffat always is with how he frames a story. Jeff's conversation with the big breasted Israeli woman or the split screen in time when Steve gets home drunk after his fight with Susan for example.
The last series mostly sucked though. No one likes a new guy.
Have you ever been challenged to a duel before? You have now! I'll be in front of your house at dawn.
But I couldn't agree more about Blackadder being great. Watch it. Love it.
No sense of decorum. You didn't even utilize a glove. *scorn disdain condescension etc. etc.*
And seriously, all stupid characters are infinitely more boring than Blackadder's hilariously snarky and witty comments when he was actually smart.
NNID: Hakkekage
I'll agree with Blackadder being far better in the later seasons, but to say it sucks balls? That's just too far.
And, another point that makes Blackadder so great is that we get to see House making a complete ass of himself. As the Prince he struck me as a little too retarded, but I thought he was great in Blackadder Goes Forth.
I couldn't see what all the hullabaloo was about when I watched the first season. I was just, "This is Blackadder? it kinda...sucks." Then I watched some Seasons 2, 3, and 4.
Blackadder Goes Forth was gold from start to finish. And then the ending, dear God.
Also Major Star, with Georgina? I was in stitches.
NNID: Hakkekage
EDIT: This should probably be spoiler'd
MORE EDITING: I think my favorite joke from the whole show was in Blackadder II, when he has the drinking party, and one of his friends bursts in and shouts, "Great booze-up!" He went into some magnificent ass-covering there.
I pretty much had this combo of faces when I watched that:
MORE EDITING RE: Oh hell yes. I never knew about the tits party thing in England before watching Blackadder. I really need to find me a pair of rubber party tits to get kicked out of school on Halloween :P
NNID: Hakkekage
Okay, here goes:
Spaced - Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) is a would-be comic artist and general nerd forced to share a flat with a shy, socially awkward girl. The series combines really quiet, sharply observational comedy with these bravura fantasy sequences - like one where Pegg re-enacts Resident Evil after playing the game all night on a speed bender. The show had very high production values and was made like a film rather than a sitcom, which isn't such a big deal these days but was groundbreaking for 199whatever.
Jeeves and Wooster - Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as PG Wodehouse's classic literary odd couple. Bertie Wooster is a rich twit who's always getting himself into trouble: engaged to women he doesn't like, caught in bizarre, frat-like bets at his gentlemens' club - and it's up to his genius butler to set things right, often with some well-placed withering sarcasm.
A Bit of Fry and Laurie - The guys doing sketch comedy. It's very fast-paced, verbal humor - I got a lot more out of it watching with subtitles on, to be honest.
Keeping Up Appearances - It's not at all hip, but I love it. Hyacinth Bucket is a middle-class social climber - she insists that her name is pronounced Bouquet - whose long-suffering husband has to put up with her endless tea parties, bridge socials, and attempts to pretend to be rich. It's a withering portrait of a certain kind of person and if you know anyone remotely like that it's endlessly funny.
FixT.
I've also enjoyed (other than the ones mentioned here, which I loved):
Absolutely Fabulous: Jennifer Saunders masterpiece of totally unredeemable main characters in the world of fashion mags. The special where they went to India and sold Edina's daughter into slavery was about the best. Best line: "Pardon me. I must go see a camel about a hump."
Alas Smith and Jones: Remember the Albino from Princess Bride? That's Mel Smith, half of the duo on this sketch show. Funny stuff.
French & Saunders: Another sketch show, with Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley and incidentally married to Lenny Henry of Chef!). I loved their take on Baywatch.
Little Britain: Twisted comedy with a set of characters in various skits. Think Tracey Ulman Show, but more twisted.
The Office: I do like what NBC has done with it (we won't mention the ABYSMAL American version of Coupling), but Ricky Gervais was awesome in the British original. (He's also great in Extras, on HBO). There's much more just truly uncomfortable humor in the British version.
Do I even need to give a shout out to Monty Python's Flying Circus?
Oo\ Ironsizide
Father Ted is a classic. Its like Priest are a culture onto themselves, able to understand each other regardless of language (like the monkey-priest and the Cuban who spoke dubbed) and through the three main characters could do cynical wit, sweet stupidity and pointless violence and randomness ("I LOV...BRICK!!!")
I saw a random episode of the IT Crowd and though it was kind of tame, but then watched the series from the beginning and loved it. Moss is just sublime.
Going outside of the Sitcom, QI is one of the most, well, interesting shows going. Stephen Fry is perfect for it, Alan Davis works well with him, and a lot of good recurring guests like Billy Bailey, Sean Locke and Phil Jupitus off the top of my head.
Edit: oh, you might like Little Britain, but get really tired of it by series 2. Really just repeated itself, worse than say the Fast Show.
Big Train and Jam are some awesome sketch shows. Both are often weird (Jam being downright disturbing sometimes)
Actually, just anything with Chris Morris. The Day Today, Brasseye (I still watch the DVD frequently) and Jam are all just superb, though I think Jam could have done with more of him on screen (he mostly wrote it). Day Today will certainly be lost on the Americans, but Brasseye might be universal enough.
And recently That Mitchell and Webb Look was a great example of sketch comedy done right. Almost no resorting to catchphrases (I can only think of "And that's a bad miss...", which was more a running gag) Do yourself a favour and YouTube up Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
Black Books is great, Father Ted is fucking amazing, 15 Stories High is pretty great too, Spaced obviously...
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And that's a bad miss. The snooker commentators might be the best part of That Mitchell and Webb look.
A slightly surreal hospital based 1-hour comedy show. I'll repeat that, each episode is one hour long and the frankly frenetic gag-pace does not let up. Time, delivery, mannerisms - impeccable. The cream of new wave Britcom-com actors in a large ensemble cast.
It's worth it just for Michelle Gomez, just for her alone but there are a dozen other top class comics doing their thing. Get it, get it, GET IT.
If you're happy with the rom-com genre then the overlooked mini TV-series Love Soup is very worthwhile. It is a hugely self-indulgent series, one of the two main characters is... a comedy writer who's writing a short rom-com TV series! Never the less it is always charming, often poignant, frequently funny and sometimes hilarious.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Also Garth Merengi's Dark Places.
edit: gah
The Mighty Boosh has failed to rate, personally.
Look Around You. This show is hilarious; the first season is a series of short 'educational' programs, sort of like teaching videos from the 70s you'd watch in a public school. Holy shit, hilarious.
The second series is more like a 70s 'What the future will be like' show, with hilariously backward and/or absurd content. Really deadpan, totally awesome.
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Again with the throwback humour, this is about a fictional sci-fi/horror Stephen King-esque show shot in the early 80s but never screened, showcased today with commentary from the creator and some of the actors. Genuinely awful production values, acting, directing, over-dubbing, special-effects etc is the source of most of the humour. I love that shit, you may too.
Blackadder series 2-4, Blackbooks series 1-3, A Bit Of Fry and Laurie, Absolutely Fabulous, any French and Saunders special (loved the Titanic one in particular because Joanna Lumley was in it), Father Ted, oh gosh it's all so good.
EDIT: Rowan Atkinson Live is also great. His abilities at being something other than a total bastard ala Blackadder is awesome to behold.
Garth Marenghi's Dark Place. Best selling horror writer Garth Marenghi invites you to see his never-before-shown TV series (it was 'too goddamned crazy' to get on TV when it was made twenty years ago) about a hospital under seige from the forces of darkness, starring himself as Rick Dagless, a brilliant doctor and former warlock who also happens to be a Vietnam/Falklands vet. He is also never without his Magnum revolver.
The IT Crowd. From the creators of father Ted and Black Books, this has gone from being 'quite funny' in its first series to 'very funny indeed' in its second. It's just very, very silly.
Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. About twenty years old now, but still brilliant. Apparently disturbingly close to actual political life here in dear old blighty at the time.
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
However, while it will still be funny, for anyone who hasn't seen those programmes it will be slightly less funny.
I've only seen the Brasseye Paedophile episode, but that is pretty spectacular. I love the faux-documentary style and they managed to get a host of semi-famous people to speak seriously about a ridiculous subject.
:^: But then I rarely laugh at British comedies.
Blackadder's been mentioned, as has Father Ted/Black Books, where's all the Red Dwarf love?
The IT crowd has its moments. The first episode of series two was amazing, but it's gone back to average since then. A shame.
Darkplace was good, but I can't stomach more than one episode at a time.
I feel I must reiterate: The Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesar.
Anything and everything with Dave Gorman in it, especially The Dave Gorman Collection/Are You Dave Gorman? A drunken argument turned drunken bet turned drunken trip to Scotland results in writer and comic storyteller Dave Gorman and writer and producer Danny Wallace going on a trip around the world to find a Dave Gorman for every card in the deck (including jokers), shake their hands and take their pictures. The accompanying book is awesome two, being part writen by Gorman and part by Wallace.
If you like that follow up with Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure, which I think was only a show available on DVD rather than being serialised. Danny Wallace has also done some good projects.
Red Dwarf will also hold a special place in my heart. It was just plain silly. And apparently very nearly sued by Stewart Patrick until he realized it was a comedy.
Hyperdrive is pretty good as well - a Red Dwarf-esque sci-fi comedy with Nick Frost (Spaced, Hot Fuzz etc) and Kevin Eldon (Big Train, Green Wing...).
No British comedy thread would be complete without a mention for Alan Partridge...
... A-HAAAAAA!
Also, when I was in Music Theory, we watched a video about Bach hosted by Brian Blessed. Seeing him go from cultured music history video host, to King Richard gorging himself on mutton legs that weekend was awesome.
Anyone watch The Thin Blue Line? More wacky Rowan Atkinson hijinks.
I just started my girlfriend on watching Coupling. She loves it. Jeff is the funniest character, though a bit disturbing at times.
"I didnt know the moon was an alabastor retard"
Smile once or twice? Im in hysterics for most of the episodes. I just appreciate the world and the characters. To an outside observer, it just seems like random crazyness, but theres an inner logic and sort of "theme" the show runs on, plus I just love the dialogue tangents. I can understand people not liking it, but its not just 'zany' for the sake of it, its high quality, well done, and occasionally very clever. I think it just hits a perfect tone with me, love it.
Also The Young Ones fucking best british show ever. Nobody mention it yet?