I understand what you mean and do agree with you, though I still find America humour funny as the unintelligent humour can be funny if used in the right way, such as Whose Line Is It Anyway?.Dr Red said:
American Humour is Terrible
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Hooray for blatant stereotyping.Dr Red said:
You dont, like these shows, and really, I dont either. But its rather callous to say that all American Humor is crap because of the small amount youve seen. It does suck that Two and A Half Men is the highest viewed show in America. But in the same vein it also sucks that Transformers grossed so much, or that Black Ops is the best selling game of all time, or that tween pop is the biggest thing in music right now. But this is hardly news, and its hardly limited to America.
Bit of a generalisation there.
I'm of the opinion that "traditional" American sitcoms (Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, etc) aren't all that funny, but there certainly are funny non-sitcomish programs and movies that have come out of America.
I'm of the opinion that "traditional" American sitcoms (Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, etc) aren't all that funny, but there certainly are funny non-sitcomish programs and movies that have come out of America.
Humor is highly subjective. I wouldn't say that "american humor" is terrible however. I happen to be American for instance, and I'm hilarious. There is certainly some crappy television, but there are people with crappy taste in every country. You need look no further than the fact that somebody is watching these shows in your country, making their export possible. For what it's worth I hate two and a half men myself and television ratings have been in decline here in the states for a decade.Dr Red said:
No. You aren't inherently funny because you're born British. Also, Matt and Trey are from Texas and Colorado respectively, so I don't know where you got the idea that it was Canadian.
Trolling OP must love crappy British humor. You're telling me Benny Hill is highbrow? What about the majority of the Monty Python sketches no one remembers because they AREN'T FUNNY?
Not to say all British humor is crappy... But the Office (either version, doesn't matter) is horribly boring and dry, and the American version only gave Ricky Gervais a platform to ***** about and have a slight bit of success.
Oh, and btw OP, Matt Stone was born in Texas and Trey Parker was born in Colorado. Both of those places are states in the union, therefore making them 100% All American. If you don't know those two names, don't post inane and inaccurate claims about them.
EDIT: NINJA'D!
Not to say all British humor is crappy... But the Office (either version, doesn't matter) is horribly boring and dry, and the American version only gave Ricky Gervais a platform to ***** about and have a slight bit of success.
Oh, and btw OP, Matt Stone was born in Texas and Trey Parker was born in Colorado. Both of those places are states in the union, therefore making them 100% All American. If you don't know those two names, don't post inane and inaccurate claims about them.
EDIT: NINJA'D!
SurrealFactory said:
Interesting example, given that its based off a British show, but the American version's better, so I guess it counts.Titan Buttons said:
OT: Come on. You can't make blanket statements like. Humor is far too subjective to say one type is better than another (besides maybe Tyler Perry humor, that's just crap).
Oh, and you spelled humor wrong[footnote]Sorry, couldn't help myself.[/footnote].
Let me teach you a small secret: Intelligence doesn't make a joke. I tell a story about poking an ex-girlfriend's kid in the back of the head asking him "Remember this?" because I did his mom when she was three months pregnant and thought she wasn't, that's not intelligent but it's still going to catch a laugh. I'm pretty sure someone just laughed at it.Dr Red said:
If a joke isn't intelligent or 'refined' or whathaveyou it doesn't mean it's bad. Family Guy gets laughs. When you make humor, you don't try to make sure "it's smart humor" or if it's bad humor. A good example of this is the recent AMERICAN show Spongebob Squarepants. It doesn't follow currently 'intelligent' or 'witty' twists on humor fads, it just does what it feels like would make the creators laugh and doesn't care about you. That makes it a catchy show with pleasurable jokes. Just because it doesn't go "Well at least we're not American, good chap!" or go into Argument Booths that end in visits from the Yard doesn't mean it's bad.
Your statements in the opening post were uninformed of what humor actually is. A joke is something that is going to make the people laugh. Intelligence is irrelevant, unless you know your audience is going to get it. You make jokes, and if you think it's funny then fine-dandy. If the crowd doesn't, well then they don't like your humor. Doesn't mean it's bad, or that you're terrible, or whatever. And donning the popular "American things are shit" dunce cap is still donning a dunce cap, popular or not. Get over yourself, then come back.
Ok, let me qualify this for you. I'm American, and I agree with this statement whole-heartedly.
But we do have some good witty comedy, but it's usually not wildly popular.
For example Futurama, it doesn't beat you over the head with a frying pan of obvious visual pun.
Or modern Family is a slightly more intelligent sitcom style comedy that has a tendency of punishing the viewers who can't pay attention longer than it takes to pop a fistful of Adderal.
But to conclude, you don't go to the Sahara desert for it's coastal beaches, you don't go to England to sample it's delectable native cuisine, you don't go to Canada for it's tropical climate, and you don't generally go to America to laugh......except at the fat people.
But we do have some good witty comedy, but it's usually not wildly popular.
For example Futurama, it doesn't beat you over the head with a frying pan of obvious visual pun.
Or modern Family is a slightly more intelligent sitcom style comedy that has a tendency of punishing the viewers who can't pay attention longer than it takes to pop a fistful of Adderal.
But to conclude, you don't go to the Sahara desert for it's coastal beaches, you don't go to England to sample it's delectable native cuisine, you don't go to Canada for it's tropical climate, and you don't generally go to America to laugh......except at the fat people.
I really don't think the Sitcom is the pinnacle of the human being's potential for humor.
I'm sorry, with the caliber of American stand-up comedians, I don't think you've done enough research, TC. I've been listening to stand-up comedy since I was very little (probably where I get my dirty mouth from)
I mean we have
Dave Attell, Dave Chapelle, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Bill Hicks, Tracy Morgan, Paul Mooney, Tony Roberts(!), Patrico O'neal, Steven Wright, ummm Nick Swardson, Dane Cook, Daniel effing Tosh, Brian Regan, Mitch Hedberg, Kevin Hart, David Cross, uhhhh, Greg Giraldo, uhh my memory bucket is running low, maybe someone can help me with some more...
I can't accept that "American Humor" is terrible. All of those cats up there are some funny mofos! I can however accept the fact that maybe you don't get the joke, or it's not to your taste.
I'm sorry, with the caliber of American stand-up comedians, I don't think you've done enough research, TC. I've been listening to stand-up comedy since I was very little (probably where I get my dirty mouth from)
I mean we have
Dave Attell, Dave Chapelle, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, Lewis Black, George Lopez, Bill Hicks, Tracy Morgan, Paul Mooney, Tony Roberts(!), Patrico O'neal, Steven Wright, ummm Nick Swardson, Dane Cook, Daniel effing Tosh, Brian Regan, Mitch Hedberg, Kevin Hart, David Cross, uhhhh, Greg Giraldo, uhh my memory bucket is running low, maybe someone can help me with some more...
I can't accept that "American Humor" is terrible. All of those cats up there are some funny mofos! I can however accept the fact that maybe you don't get the joke, or it's not to your taste.
So, you don't like American tv. Fair enough, lots of Americans feel the same way about British tv.Dr Red said:
My question is why you bother complaining about it. entertainment is possibly the most subjective type of content one can have, and your opinion of what's good carries no more weight than anyone else's.
For example, I think rap is terrible and paleolithic, so i don't listen to it or follow its "artists", but i don't begrudge it to other people either.
ALSO: according to wikipedia and IMDB, south park is American.
In Britain, where Shameless (excellent show) originated, they are now airing Shameless USA. Why would they make a different version for America, then air the American version where the show originated, WE ALREADY HAVE SHAMELESS!Dr Red said:
Anywhoo, just saying
Eh, I actually enjoy Big Bang Theory, And I don't know anyone IRL myself who doesn't actually... And comedy doesn't have to be clever to be funny. A good witty joke can be really funny, but a really simple one can be funny too. The thing that has gotten me the most laughs this week was the sound "Naaangg". Say it with an ever so slight sheep-noise when you want to call someone, and the results are hilarious! Not.Clever. But funny!
There was a point in there somewhere, but it got lost to the Naang...
Oh, yay, over three thousand posts. I can't wait to say that after my 9000th post (not clever either).
There was a point in there somewhere, but it got lost to the Naang...
Oh, yay, over three thousand posts. I can't wait to say that after my 9000th post (not clever either).
This is just an awful blanket statement.
The Daily Show, Always Sunny, Zim the Invader, Futurama, Zoolander, ect.
It's not so much the comedy lacks value, more like you want it too, but those shows and movies make me laugh that's all comedy needs to do to be good. It can be cheap, raunchy, and low brow but at the end of the day if it makes people have a good time its a complete success.
The Daily Show, Always Sunny, Zim the Invader, Futurama, Zoolander, ect.
It's not so much the comedy lacks value, more like you want it too, but those shows and movies make me laugh that's all comedy needs to do to be good. It can be cheap, raunchy, and low brow but at the end of the day if it makes people have a good time its a complete success.
You should acquaint yourself with Google. South Park is homegrown American. Parker and Stone grew up in Colorado. In my opinion, South Park jumped the shark about 2 years in.Dr Red said:
I have enjoyed what I've seen of the British Office, but I love the American version. Though we do have a nasty habit of importing just about everything from the UK and, usually, ruining it (see: Coupling).
Your assertion that our humor is insipid is unfounded and, respectfully, makes you sound ignorant. Instead of insulting you in response and starting a flame war, I'll offer some shows, and some comedians, who prove otherwise. Take a trip to youtube/whatever you have over there instead of Hulu and check these guys/shows out.
David Cross, Bill Hicks, Patton Oswalt, George Carlin.
Community, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, Arrested Development.
There's no cultural disparity strong enough to prevent enjoyment of these comics, or these shows. They aren't funny in a purely American way; they're just damned good.
I've seen a few episodes of the Big Bang Theory and, although they do have a few traditional sitcom (read: unfunny) jokes and the laugh track is a lot to stomach (two issues that also are present in How I Met Your Mother), I still think it's great. But what's up with the guy who looks like one of the Monkeys?
South Park is made in the U.S.A. in Colorado. Also I don't believe you should have to have comedy be intelligent, the 'dumber' you make it the more audience members can understand the jokes, I'm not a big fan of British comedy I'm really not sure why, but I do like the humor of the guys on Top Gear.