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Author Topic: Are you having a laugh?  (Read 1091 times)
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Lurrr

Professor
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« on: 08-06-2003 18:10 »

Sparked off by the news that one of the greatest British comedies ever made, Father Ted, is to have a US remake I've decided to find out once and for all if there truly is a difference between the American and British sense of humour (or any other cultures, if you wish). There's always this idea that American comedies have a broad appeal to all cultures, but that Americans cannot understand a lot of 'distinctive' British humour (the best example being Monty Python's Flying Circus). But, according to Douglas Adams, its more to do with what US TV companies feel will be popular with the TV-viewing public. I've also met a lot of Americans who love shows like Father Ted, Red Dwarf and Monty Python. So what do you think, is humour a cultural thing? Should we remake these TV shows or leave them as they are?
Melllvar

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #1 on: 08-06-2003 18:16 »

Leave them as they are - I cannot think of one remade comedy show which has ever been any good.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong....
mazaite

Bending Unit
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« Reply #2 on: 08-06-2003 18:23 »

They absolutely should not remake them. They are perfect the way they are.
Cube_166

Professor
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« Reply #3 on: 08-06-2003 18:30 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by mazaite:
They absolutely should not remake them. They are perfect the way they are.

Second
BarneyBurnham

Bending Unit
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« Reply #4 on: 08-06-2003 18:34 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Lurrr:
...according to Douglas Adams...

Didn't he die?

And isn't Father Ted Irish comedy? I never really saw the appeal of it myself.  I found both the one that said "feck" and the tea-lady very annoying.

I've seen an episode of Sanford & Son and it wasn't too bad.
M Jackson
Professor
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« Reply #5 on: 08-06-2003 18:47 »

I never liked Father Ted, I think it's the most over-rated show in history! I love British comedy but Father Ted just sucks!
Lurrr

Professor
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« Reply #6 on: 08-06-2003 18:55 »

 
Quote
Didn't he die?

Yes he did, but that didn't stop him from making that comment twenty years beforehand.

Enough badmouthing Father Ted! More discussion!  :p
aslate

Space Pope
****
« Reply #7 on: 08-06-2003 19:01 »

Father Ted is a great comedy, but should be left as it is and not be butchered by American remakes.

When America tried to make their own version of Red Dwarf, it was a total flop.
Zed 85

Space Pope
****
« Reply #8 on: 08-06-2003 19:16 »

Humour is cultural. While Banzai is considered really funny in Britain, it just seems to leave Americans going:
"Dear sir, I find the Chinese sterotyping most offensive, I..."
"They're not Chinese!
"Oh really? Oh I'm sorry, where was I? Oh yes, Dear sir, I find the Korean sterotyping most...etc"

-NB - that's not indicating Americans are dumb and can't spell stereotyping, it's just to say they really don't seem to get what Banzai is at all.

Another example is again with Monty Python (this one actually happened)
US interviewer: So what's it like? I take it you're all gay?
John Cleese: Sorry?
USI: I mean, you dress up as women a lot, I take it you're gay?
John: Er...no?

So yeah, humour is very cultural.
I think actually remaking other country's shows to suit your own is a appalling thing to do. Comedy is often created by writers who reflect from their own surroundings, and US and UK culture is utterly different.
You can't take a program about two middle-class Brits called Charles and Rosemary from Croydon who drink tea and buscuits, re-name then Al and Marianne, plonk them in Virginia, force them to drink coffee and/or beer and expect it to work. You can't just replace names and nationalities, you'd have to end up readjusting the show's core values so much that you might as well just come up with a completely original idea!

Oh BTW, don't bad mouth Father Ted you heathen scum!  :p
dadbot

Bending Unit
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« Reply #9 on: 08-06-2003 19:30 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Zed 85:

Oh BTW, don't bad mouth Father Ted you heathen scum!   :p

here here

Another remake I can think of that has thankfully bitten the dust before ever seeing the light of day is The Royle Family.  The only successful remake I can think of is Three's Company which was the US version of Man about the House and ran for years.


aslate

Space Pope
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« Reply #10 on: 08-06-2003 19:32 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by dadbot:
 here here

Another remake I can think of that has thankfully bitten the dust before ever seeing the light of day is The Royle Family. 

That's crap anyway!
Cube_166

Professor
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« Reply #11 on: 08-06-2003 19:36 »

Hey hey! Lay off The Royle Family! And Father Ted! And Anything Else You Might Be Thinking Of Badmouthing!
aslate

Space Pope
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« Reply #12 on: 08-06-2003 19:40 »

I love Father Ted and Red Dwarf etc, but i just can't stand Royle Family, they sit infront of the TV going "Yea, Yea" and farting and such, it's weak and pathetic!
Cube_166

Professor
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« Reply #13 on: 08-06-2003 19:45 »

I suppose you are entitled to your opinion but its WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

[flexo] Nah, I'm just kidding, you're alright. [/flexo]
Melllvar

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #14 on: 08-06-2003 20:26 »

I hate to say this, but I'm with Aslate, I don't think The Royle Family is that great.  I've watched it, and it frankly didn't blow me away.

Three's Company must've been the one I forgot, I have good memories of Man About The House (plus, Sally Thomsett was in The Railway Children).

Oh, and no-one mention the british remake of Who's The Boss, that was terrible.  Then again, so was Who's The Boss.
Nurdbot

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #15 on: 08-07-2003 01:57 »

Leave it alone. They'd just recycle the joke's anyway or resist on the physical humor.

I liked The Royle Family but The Office if more of a personal favourite. 
BarneyBurnham

Bending Unit
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« Reply #16 on: 08-07-2003 08:54 »

We can't people accept that some people don't like some programmes that you do.

I just watched my first (and last) Monty Python episode, I only tittered (laughed is too strong a word) at one sketch.

Speaking of The Office, it's good but I don't think it deserves all the plaudits it gets. Try anything by Peter Kay for the best British comedy around today.

And speaking of The Office, wasn't that going to be re-made for American TV?
Tweek

UberMod
DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #17 on: 08-07-2003 09:42 »

Ninety nine percent of the time remakes suck, if the original show is any good that should be shown in the other country. The only case I can think where a remake is justified is if it is being imported from a country that speaks a different language.
mikey

Urban Legend
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« Reply #18 on: 08-07-2003 09:48 »

The US dosent click with british humour...barstards.
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