British vs American Comedy - A Comparative Analysis 

Thanks yt for bringing me here

praise the youtube gods

It's an interesting topic. Great video

Very interesting topic, but would love to see a video that includes female comedy characters as well - virtually all of the characters you highlighted were men, so I wonder how your analysis would differ when we include female comics from both sides of the pond. Thank you and great video!

"no, i dont think i will"

That's the Monty Python formula

This comment is imho more accurate than the entire video

I couldn't have said it better

i kinda disagree for example the uk office is taking a normal situation and showing how absurd it is, were almost not laughing the people but the situation, i mean does anyone feel good that David Brent is such a fuck up, no you want him to do well but you know hes to ignorant.

Honestly

Nah, I disagree on the UK part entirely

@@xgullafter9590 How do you disagree?

Sort of, I think it's more we see the fallible parts of ourselves and laugh. As much of a dick David Brent is we still see ourselves in his need to be liked etc. which is why you never actually hate him.

@@timk6181 I agree, from an outsider's point of view, British comedy always portrays a sense of relatability. You laugh at the comedian meanwhile thinking you might be like that or know of someone who's like that.

@@kcpopoo I think, as an American, the idea of laughing at one’s self is viscerally terrifying.

What are you talking about I want to flaunt my intelligence because I prefer to only watch the clearly superior and smarter british comedy and anyone who likes american comedy is big stupid dumb dumb cock brain and has just never seen british office

@@asongeveryday Can't tell of this is sarcastic because I've seen comments like this lol

@@nobody-tj1mv dont worry its sarcasm

The fact that people on this website are so stupid that y’all had to verify this with one another makes me feel better about ignoring the loser hypocrite from the last comment thread lol

Nope

That's interesting. I find that watching Brit comedy (I'm British) makes me feel better about myself - I think we take pleasure in watching people make fools of themselves because at least we're not as hopeless as them. But through US eyes watching people fail evokes feelings of sympathy and compassion. Basically we're a nasty, misanthropic bunch across the pond, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

@@Tmuk2 yeahas a Brit I believe that we feel better about ourselves when we see people who are worse and more screwed than we are.

This is why britain is the way it is. We're basically that meme of the Dog saying this is fine, whilst everything around him burns

i’m the exact same, except i’m australian. i love british comedy, black books, blackadder, the it crowd, all of it. but when i’m sad, brooklyn nine nine, the office US and how i met your mother are always gonna make me feel better.

@@AnderEvermore yup, it's the feeling of "guess it could be worse" that makes it all a little more bearable lol

I agree, the styles definetly blend and always sunny is a good example of that!

I feel like Arrested Development was like that too

Also, bad lighting

@@youtubewasoncebetter Different, not necessarily bad. To us, US shows look overexposed and oversaturated.

I think the narcissism of the characters make it much more American humour as yes they have the British failure and horrible lives but in their head they are winning. If it was British the gang would be more depressed and insecure. Furthermore the comedy would be based more on the failure of their schemes than the schemes themselves

Agreed, maybe it's there to help stop you falling to sleep.

Lol but those are only in sitcoms. And kid’s shows. It drives me crazy and as soon as I hear a laugh track the humor is INSTANTLY killed for me

Yeah all the best US comedies are just the ones without laugh tracks

I love the IT Crowd but the laugh tracks put me off. Tragic really.

Happens in some UK comedy too but I absolutely agree there is no need for canned laughter.

2011

The UK is an experiment to see how miserable people can get before they riot - I think this is the finest sentence I will read today.

Yet somehow we riot less than the USA

@@scottking8189 You should look into *WHO* riots in the US.

@@o0julek0o oh I know WHO riots😉😉

America also has a culture of "bigger brighter better" which makes the gap between British and American colour palettes even wider

I think in the uk the budget is more important! Shows like the office have low budget because it’s for the bbc. They typically only have one or two writers and the lighting isn’t purposefully dreary, it’s just poor. A lot of American shows are over produced in my opinion - they have big writing teams and just as big budgets.

@@jaxsjpg3225 I don't think the budget is a limit on the colourfulness of the set. I've seen plenty of shows with cheap colourful stuff in them. It's both cultural and an intentional artistic choice.

@@jaxsjpg3225 lighting isnt poor it's just a whole different tone

I think that a dull colour pallette is just an universal Europe thing.

@@elis1716 I have to take y'all's word on that! I'm not British haha

Whether it's a potato or a nut, it's a foodage

Manmoth

@@spinny003 LOL! Half Man Half Biscuit.

he used to be a beacon of hope but now even karl has fallen to the traps of celebrityhood, he's vain now

Excellent observations

@@blahblahblah2699 Thank you!

I think a lot of it has to do with us (the British) being a fallen empire. We had the world and now we don't. America is a current imperial power, they're the Greatest Country In The world™ so they can't be seen as anything other than the best.

I agree with this. I still enjoy the more optimistic American humor more- but I agree about them being more serious and more sensitive about certain jokes.

I am an American that loves dark humour. We are so sensitive it hurts me.

I’d argue we don’t really do that too much anymore. Honestly look at even the Simpsons. It’s set in a generic American city that’s supposed to represent any where in the US and it’s a fucking hellhole. Everyone’s dumb, half the people are fat, they take pride in their worst behavior and at the end of the day they learn nothing from their mistakes. That’s the US to a tee and that is the one of the most influential comedies in US history.

One us comedy that might not be relatable but is at least quasi-brotish is curb your enthusiasm. It has some terrible people as main character, with racist and homophobic tendencies, and we just watch their naiivity as they say awful stuff in public.

That may apply to sitcoms, but American stand-up comedy is full of self-deprecation, e.g. Louie CK. Also, in terms of word-play over slapstick I got two words for you: Benny Hill.

But also, there is great and terrible comedy on both sides of the Atlantic!

@@cortez1211 if you think america is a hellhole then you haven’t been to many countries (I’m not American in case you’re wondering)

Oh and American sitcoms are constantly having to point out that they made a joke! Best sitcom ever was Fawlty Towers and they never had to do that because the jokes were actually funny. Funny material doesn't need to be lampshaded as such.

@@kukalakana it’s always sunny has an episode where they make fun of laugh tracks

If you like American comedies with less perfect characters I recommend checking out Arrested Development as well, I'm on my 2nd watch right now and damn almost every main character is just a bad person. Bojack Horseman as well but thats more than just a comedy

@@kukalakana not all US comedies have a laugh track, those that do are awful but all the ones I've watched (Community, Arrested Development, Parks And Rec) don't

@@greentaigo2552 am currently on season 2 of bojack and it’s really good, but I’ll check out arrested development

Oddly, I was discussing this very topic with a friend yesterday. I was wondering about the idea you could say that the quality of a series is inversely proportional to the number of people who write it. This is more of a general hypothesis, so it may way well fall at the first hurdle, but I'd be interested to hear people's views.

@@mandead I think there's probably something in it. I've always kind of believed that "too many cooks spoil the broth". I suppose at the end of the day it depends on your personal preference. Some people perhaps prefer a fun, knockabout comedy based on rapid gags - which is perhaps more easily produced in the US style and less dependent on realistic characters. Others a deeper character study, which is best produced in the UK style where the writers have more creative say. The quality of either style probably comes down to the talent of the teams and attitude of the network. However, I would say the side effect of the US system is that it allows shows to go on much longer. Too long if you ask me. Naturally, storylines become stale or outlandish as writers seek new ideas, the original creators leave to pursue new projects, and cheap cameos become staples just to provide some kind of new interesting element. Take The Simpsons for example. It is perhaps the archetype of the US system, with dozens of writers and different 'eras' under different showrunners. In its prime it was probably the best comedy series ever made, but it has plummeted in quality into the so-called 'zombie Simpsons era'. it's just shambling on with no real vision or direction. The method of production hasn't changed, but its just gone on far too long.

God damn you reminded me of sitting in front the cable tv 10 hours a day watching tbs.

The Office has gone on far too long. It jumped the shark after season one

Well that's what friends was. But Seinfeld was exactly NOT THAT, strictly - it was the writing procedure that only one or on a rare occasion- maximum- a team of two (which was always an established duo) and that was a very strict rule. No one but Larry or Jerry could edit - if it all- the scripts - but that was also rare as the team of writers was so carefully chosen by them and they all understood the show and characters and comedy so well. That's why it was so seamless but each episode was actually always written by a totally different writer- never the same one in unison. That's what skilled writing and quality is... .. 🙏🙌 and I am just going off memory from what I learnt via every commentary and DVD special over 15 years I listened to, each one I watched over and over and over and over. I've always had mad respect for the show. It's organic n not pushed together by a team of suits n stats ..... Which is what friends was ... And it makes sense why I never ever ever liked it as a kid in the early 2000s .. , let alone today! I always saw it as a bunch of dull caricatures who were too obsessed with looks than actually BEING . FUNNY. None of those women hold a candle to Elaine Benes. and none of the (beta) men on friends hold a candle to Kramer or Georges acting , nor Jerry's dynamic with them.. also, Seinfeld's secondary cast (like the Costanzas, uncle LEO,. Elaine Benes bosses or even coworkers! , Newman , Jerry's parents, Elaine boyfriends like puddy 🤣, or her crazy roommate from the early seasons ... Georges girlfriends 🤣, Kenny Bania "that's gold Jerry, GOLD!":D, alll the characters who appeared often.. it was so organic n so brilliant. .. oh and remember Kathy Griffin being Jerry's most hated person /acquaintance- she was perfect fo the role! So funny!) CRAZY Joe DAVOLA who was a clown and was obsessed and stalking' Elaine!!! , ... Susan Ross Parents were HILARIOUS...and Tim Watley, and Elaine boss Mr Peterman- he was so funny is was just insane... And I'm missing sooo many more !!! 😮😮😮🌟🌟🌟🌟🙏🙏. Absolutely genius. Original . Just brilliant... Low IQ people like friends- there's no complex stories or even other characters like there are in Seinfeld- where there's always a bunch of new characters and new storylines etc to play off - and all the actors who guest starred were just incredible - and they ALL had their big breaks there, Courtney Cox was one of them- a minor one at that.. go look for yourself the enormous list of breakout stars and a Listers who made it from being cast on Seinfeld in just a few scenes !!! Charlotte from sexcity, Lead Law n order actors, Lead will and grace actors, Lead Fraiser actors, Bryan Cranston,. The villian Jigsaw from the SAW horror films, David ouddy who is very very famous now - not just from his voice acting as JOE from family guy.. and if course Frank and Estelle Costanza, Oh and Deuce Bigalow , ROB SCHNEIDER made his breakthrough too! And there's soooooo many others but I'll be here all night!! 🔥🔥😵🤓🤓⭐💫... Just brilliant cast, writing , acting, editing, energy and incredible people all around. Seinfeld is the best ( and it is exactly the similar format to British humour.. it's perfect.) Peep show is also genius. COMMUNITY, is also brilliant (NBC too , coincidentally.. it was Seinfeld but without trying to be, and was so different but similar humour style .. you need to watch it to understand it .. genius show by Dan Harmon ) ... Nathan for you is good too but totallyyyy different again.. No one comes close to the originals..Seinfeld and PEEP SHOW.. (and community as it's so unique) ... They will live forever n never get old. I said it decades and I'm still right. Quality!

Yeah but don't you get tired of watching people be the same? Sometimes you want to see the character development at some stage. I'm not saying every show needs to have character development but it's nice to mix things up.

@@dinkin_flicka14 that's what the situation is for.

@@dinkin_flicka14 That's kind of the reason these UK shows only run for 6 episodes and so few series. It's why the snapshot of the characters can be and are considered more realistic. The biggest thing missing from this "analysis" is how the format and importance of syndication in the US dictates the writing. It's why so many have story and character arc tropes (eg "Will they won't they") built in. Because that syndication is where the money is and obviously is a big motivator for execs.

Dont change in what way?

As a brit I could argue curb does the same

It's the best comedy series I've ever watched. It feels almost relatable, it's more realistic, the characters are always themselves and never change. And it's obviously stupidly funny 😂😂

The inbetweeners is what would happen if you took an average british 6th form and turned up the depressing. It relatable, but exaggerated. Basically that's what all british comedy is. Take a relatable situation, and exaggerate the depressing factors untill it's funny. And it works.

@@bethanybrookes8479 Every group of friends has had things happen to them which could easily be turned into an Inbetweeners or Peep Show episode (the latter to a lesser extent, as I liken Peep Show to: A series of events which on their own are plausible, but they stack up to the point of absurdity. At any given point in isolation it’s believable and that’s why it works

@@justdavelewis that's what I ment by exaggerate. Words aren't my strong suit...

@@bethanybrookes8479 yeah I get you man dw 🤣 I was having this conversation about peep show with my friends as we were watching it. Namely the episode where Jez ends up eating the dog. It’s like they consistently roll snake eyes on dice for every single thing that happens to them. Sure, individually in each instance it’s a 1/36 chance but it quickly multiplies into something ridiculous, yet some how still believable because you say to yourself: well, if I was in that position, I don’t know if I’d do it much differently

I believe 'Whose line is it anyway' was a British show before ABC did their own version of it so that for sure backs your point even more

@@judebritton6999 oh yeah definitely, but it didn't peak until America. The lines are even more blurred when you take into account that a lot of the og American Who's Line people appeared on the British version multiple times

Who's Line isn't really funny though

@@krissee6961 bro (gender neutral),,,, that's just your opinion. You don't have to implicitly shame everyone that does like the show just because it doesn't line up with your own humor

@@furbybuddy how to be hypersensitive! I meant the US version. The Brit version is funny.

There is both great and terrible comedy on both sides of the Atlantic. Lots of variations w/in and between the two. Mr. Show and Monty Python vs Hee-Haw and Benny Hill.

This is so true

What else can you expect from someone named Zak.

@@rentalsnake6542 Not entirely sure if I'm being dissed or not XD

@@MrVisualHigh Well you admitted you didn't get into Always Sunny, so yes you're most likely getting dissed.

@@bums009 OK, not sure what my name has to do with anything though?

we try over here but most people are just too stubborn or dont care enough about other peoples opinions to change.

Pretty sure it used to be bullied out of Americans too. Used to.

What behavior?

@@SidheKnight ridiculous behaviour

@@SidheKnight that special kind of arrogance, narcissism, self importance, lack of self awareness, entitlement, and vanity that americans do best and which tiktok produces in mass quantities

Yeh but it’s sort of more over the top and it plays into the absolute insanity and idiosyncrasies of all the characters whereas uk comedies like the office feel more grounded in reality. That’s not to say there are not people somewhat similar to the gang in always sunny in the real world they just play up the awfulness of the characters to make statements on the modern world.

Bojack can have an optimistic takeaway though. It gives us so many examples of how we might be standing in our own way and how we can break out of harmful patterns so that we can grow. The characters who were able to face themselves and learn to be honest with themselves, did end up achieving what they wanted to in the end, even if it wasn't exactly how they pictured it in their head.

Hold my depression 😂

Yes, just like Rick & Morty

@@thatman6916 Rick and morty is trash

@@jamesmallard8815 it's your opinion

I'm glad it made the cut as well, Capaldi really outdid himself with Malcolm

Agreed

America in a nutshell then 😂

It used to be played on abc me (abc3 at the time), an australian government channel for kids. It surprised me it was allowed with it's underage drinking and a violent kid. They sometimes have shows with "mature" themes (degrase) but it's always in a way that shows how bad it is, trying to deter you. Outnumbered just uses it as a joke

@@shadowkyber2510 That's where I first saw it actually. Made it even funnier.

I watched it when it first released and loved it. The cringe is so hard to get through lol you feel so bad for Brent at times.

When I watched British version I just didn't enjoy as I did with u.s version Brit version is funny but cringy and sad

minnime That’s kind of the point with it though. British comedy treads a bit of a knife edge of tragicomedy. The characters are borderline pathetic, sometimes to the point that you feel bad at laughing at them, even if they’re complete assholes. David Brent is absolutely awful. And yet when he really hits rock bottom, it’s super uncomfortable to watch.

The UK office (the original office) in my opinion is a genre defining masterpiece. I mean it basically single handedly invented the mockumentary format. It makes me laugh out loud less than the US version, but that doesn't mean it's not as good. Its far more nuanced and complex in terms of characters, and in my opinion it goes beyond comedy into just legitimately brilliant and heartbreaking drama status

I would not like to be any character from Curb your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, or Arrested Development. And how close was Benny Hill to reality? Just saying.

Eh, I live in the Hill Section near Nay Aug, and I think the city is charming in it's own run down, backwards sort of way.

Ocrilat Well Nay Aug’s pretty in the summer and when it’s not cloudy Scranton’s skies look better than most of the world.

@@piyodsbl1900 Lol I love that the city has 10x more trees than people, and really dig the old buildings.

the only good thing about Scranton is Joe Biden and he’s not even that good 😆

This is only fools and horses perfectly summed up

OmG - you forgot BOTTOM

I agree. It’s interesting that all those examples are relatively old. I think that maybe a lot of the divergence in the comedic styles happened in the late 20th, early 21st century. Could be wrong though.

@@threefoldland I think maybe in terms of slapstickness, sure, that divergence is more recent (with slapstickness maybe having become less common in british humour over the last couple of decades). I think part of that is that slapstick british comedy is disproportionately for children (or atleast available for children), and so I think that over the last couple of decades british humour may have become more sophisticated or clever than it was in the past, and so slapstick comedy may have become less common.

@@franticranter Yeah I agree. I mean, still really enjoy slapstick if its done right.

Old British slapstick has morphed into the "physical comedy" of characters like Frank Spencer, Hyacinth Bucket and the mad villagers of the _Vicar of Dibley._ None of these comedies has a particularly clever script, but it is the physical delivery of their lines which is genius.

Alan partridge is so overrated imo. Why do older people love him so much??

@@bums009 just shut the fuck up

@@sethbatsonxx5967 I second this. A character 27 years in development that is so broadly explored as to have released autobiographies....overrated🤫

@@bums009 Because he's funny. Not exactly rocket science.

And any of the Alan Partridge series.

Wow that's a blast from the past 👍 Upstart Crow starring David Mitchell (as Shakespeare) is my recommendation. Very British comedy, Blackadderesque.

I get what your saying but it's also refreshing, think about embarrassing things that happened during School then watch inbetweeners and see actually we were all that dumb and embarrassing. It kind of unites us in our flaws instead of tries to gloss over them.

I like it as we have this attitude of "don't think you're better than anyone else, we're all losers". Nobody takes themselves seriously here, whereas in america they take everything way too seriously and just come across arrogant and entitled a lot of the time

I get your point, but at the end of the day these aren't real people were laughing at, and the situations they get themselves into and how they handle stuff can be quite cathartic and allow you to laugh at those qualities you recognize in yourself, and take yourself a little less seriously.

I’m someone who can’t stand secondhand embarrassment so I don’t really like the UK type humor. I was always the type of person who got laughed AT, so it’s really hard for me to watch that type of humor and see others get put down for things I can understand.

@@citruscirrus5607 same! That’s exactly why I hate it too

well-written in-depth analysis. would have loved to see more content & further explanation regarding the effects of America capitalism. 88/100

Idk about the always sunny part. I feel like if they’re ever content at the end of an episode it’s for comedic value for the audience to see how completely selfish and unaware the gang are of their bad decisions lol

Exactly! But there were also some raw, hard-hitting moments in HIMYM. The ending, itself, is so divisive

I wish I could enjoy HIMYM but Ted is just such a whiny brat, completely unlikable

Tbf a middle aged man having friends is unrealistic to begin with

HIMYM is so mediocre it's tragic it went on as long as it did

@@tzauron cringe HIMYM is goated

As soon as he mentioned that the Peep Show scene was about wedding doubts, I thought of Seinfeld. The whole arc with George not wanting to get married to Susan but being too cowardly to call it off, then being happy when she died - that's pretty dark!

@@tiddlypom2097 And don't forget that she died from toxic envelope glue because George bought the cheapest wedding invitations he could get.

But even then, every single character is generally satisfied and most viewers would trade their lives for theirs. Jerry, Larry, George, Elaine, Kramer. The only loser is Newman and he's not a main character.

The algorithms started being kind, let's hope it continues

Those are good examples which don't fit the story, but a large proportion of British sitcoms revolve around the recurring failure of their main characters. Don't know if you're familiar with all of these but off the top of my head some examples from 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's: Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe & Son, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Some Mothers do Ave Em, Porridge, Rising Damp, Only Fools & Horses, Blackadder, Bottom, Alan Partridge. Every episode is about people trying to better themselves financially or socially, and every time they fail and end up back where they started. I don't watch much American stuff but British and Irish sitcoms seem to laugh at failure more often than anything else.

@@StupStups yeah that's true, we do love a loser in the UK, but I don't think that necessarily makes the comedy bleak or dark?? There's a lot that's admirable and uplifting about the British comic hero getting knocked down but keeping on trying. It depends a lot on the writer's tone - the character's life might be one long stream of indignities, but if it's taken very lightly it's not painful. I agree that American comedy is generally more aspirational and British comedy is more grotty though! :) Edit: forgot to give examples, but feel like Dad's Army, Jeeves and Wooster, The Good Life, Love Nina, and The Durrells are all good ones! Also Edgar Wright's cornetto films (iconic! 🙌)

Well miranda and the vicar of dibley in my opinion are classically british comedy characters as they're both losers who fail constantly. Utterly loveable, and not a bad people at all, but very different to american comedy characters still. In america they'd make them more attractive, less weird and less frumpy. And bridget jones doesn't really count as its a movie made for american audiences as well as british ones

@@hi-ve1cw yeah, that's true, I just mean that British comedy isn't always dark and bleak tbh! It can have a positive outlook and a happy ending and still be typically British

@@dulcierobertson7828 Yeah I agree. There's loads of british comedies that aren't very bleak, I'd actually say most of them have a generally light-hearted tone like the inbetweeners, or fawlty towers, or blackadder, but overall the key similarity is still that the characters are all losers

I 100% agree

The high satire of Benny Hill must have went over my head.

I completely agree

What? I actually completely disagree. If we follow what was said in the video, US comedy laughs *with* its characters whereas UK comedy laughs *at* its characters. This is the *exact opposite* of what you took from this video. Also, I don't think any of them is cruel or anything like that. It's just different comedy.

@@cogitoergosum9069 it is the opposite of the video thesis but I really don’t think the take in this video is correct, in US comedy the punchline is always getting one over on someone else. You may be rooting for a figure to succeed, but the jokes tend to be them succeeding by getting in a great retort or put down at someone. In UK comedy, the protagonists are losers, but the comedy is in their reactions to things, their beleaguered sigh when things go wrong again, the relatable feeling of losing yet again. The punchline is a look of defeat or a sigh from the protagonist. The US figure is aspirational and we laugh with them maybe but we are actually laughing AT whoever they are laughing at, when Chandler or Barney gets in a good jab at someone in friends or HIMYM for example. In the UK, the protagonist is an object of pity but relatably so and you laugh with them in their predicaments because we all know what it feels like to suck at something.

I'd say Scrubs has some very Emotional moments, amazing show but I do find it hard to watch the entirety of a US comedy series, jokes and characters get played out so get out when it's good no need for 8-20 seasons!

Fleabag is another great example of this.

The ending of Blackadder Goes Forth, when they all go over the top to meet their doom, is probably one of the most heartbreaking scenes in all of television, probably made me cry the most too. And all that for a comedy! The Brits just do it best

@@missmillienettleton and Ghosts!

You know what I actually agree with that you've made the best comparison in my opinion.

Well at least UK comedy is supposed to be cringy, so they've succeeded in their goal whereas I doubt american comedies are trying to seem forced. Cringe comedy isn't everyone's favourite, it's just personal preference but I love it

What is the comedy from your own country like?

@@omp199Honestly in my country I think we have some funny comedies but the problem here is the overacting and some times they try too hard to make you laugh but hey at least we don't put a laugh track in every phrase

@@iliaslef Well, that's something. :) Maybe you could start a campaign to get a comedy made with some more subtle acting!

and that's the truth

The depression is just reality.

What do you recommend? I've tried watching asian comedies, mainly korean, but personally I find them completely unfunny and almost unwatchable as they seem so over-acted and over the top and slapstick. Maybe that's just me missing jokes because of a culture divide though

Hey! A big shout out to Canadian comedy TV. Trailer Park Boys is brilliant, also FUBAR: Age of computer.

Completely agree with you there, in general I think always sunny - especially the early seasons - has a lot of the qualities of a more British than American version of comedy (while perhaps becoming more Americanized in seasons 13 and 14 e.g. better lit, character development of Mac, locations looking more like sets etc.)

My fave US comedy as a Brit is Frasier also - probably because it is close to UK style. Yes Frasier is a quick witted high achiever sometimes surrounded by people of dubious character but you do often laugh at him because as you say he has flaws due to his superiority complex which leads to him regularly misreading situations and often ending up with egg on his face which is what makes him continuously relatable. Also the set up is not a necessarily conventional US or romanticised scenario either. The first episode I thought was so well written with Frasier and Martin struggling to understand each other and accept what was best for the father. Along with Steptoe and Son - I love it!

@@moominmayI love how Frasier balances comedy and difficult family relationships. They make it seem so heartfelt and real while still getting into hilariously absurd situations.

@@TheWinterWarlock yes exactly - it’s a perfectly balanced comedy!

Hear hear! Comedic surrealism cannot be overlooked as something quintessentially british. We've The Goon Show and Monty Python to thank for that grand tradition.

Both dont exist

@@jenm1 exactly

The only dream you have is having free healthcare

@@angelic1311 LOL now that's comedy

@@angelic1311 What dreams do you have though?

Pretty high. It’s called RU-vid algorithm.

I was thinking the same. I really like the character of Jeff because of the way the show plays with the main character archetype. He starts off as this hot shot lawyer and thinks he above everyone but spends the later series stuck in a dead end job at greendale. Almost everyone else gets their "achieving their dream" moment except for him, Jeff is the only one not in an American comedy