@@gr-s2143 Sadly an awful lot of what's being said here is pure bollocks but because its Stephen Fry - Who in fairness is a very talented comic in his own way - folk tend to nod sagely and think 'Oh yes it is so'. Well, its not. His list of American comdians has a flaw - Most of the time they're just not that funny. only sneeringly arrogant. And if they want a pissing contest on that score Britain can field Prince Andre and that'll be them well f*****d won't it? Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Carr, Lee Mack - None of them fit his typography. Les Dawson ripped it out of others not himself a lot of the time too .......... Although one of his most memorably funny quips which he suckered Michael Parkinson with actually did what Stephen Fry says ~ Polite BBC interview and Michale mentions homosexuality in the Arts. Les burts out 'I don't hold with all that sort of funny stuff myself'. Michael, slightly taken aback, says you can't *say* that! What, Why? To Which Les replies ...............
@@babboon5764 You aren’t listing characters though, you’re listing standup comedians. British vs American stand ups is a completely different conversation. But it’s true that most American shows want you to relate to the main character in a positive way, so you’re happy when they succeed and grow. For a lot of iconic British shows you relate to the characters failures and laughing not really for schadenfreude (well a bit) but because it takes the assumption of ‘life isn’t fair’ and turns it into a farce that makes it cathartic It’s not often the intention of he writers to ‘oh let’s make this pathetic guy for people to laugh at’ it’s just how a National sense of humour works
I’m always astounded at Stephen’s way with words. He hardly has to search for the right word and hardly ever stammers. He arrives at his point succinctly and charmingly. I love this clip.
There's every type of self-help book in US bookstores. If you ask where self-help books in British bookstore are the guy's going to say "It defeats the point if I tell you".
I think British humour is much more cruel. If you get a bad haircut in the US, they'll politely tell you why it's bad. If you walk around Britain with a bad haircut you'll have every fluid ounce of urine taken from your entire being.
While on holiday (vacation) in the US l was talking to a very pretty lady about my stay. I told her about when l was bullied by a cop for speeding, she asked me what state l was in? Bloody furious l replied. She looked at me as if l was mad.
It is the British that love to feel superior moreso than Americans... especially when they think they can tell a "really clever joke" that is out of reach of common plebs grasp!
just consider the amazing fact, that he was answering a question from the crowd, and it came out so well structured and brilliant, as if he's been writing it for days.
I honestly dont really agree with it, though. It's true Brits have a bit more tendency towards self deprecation, but that's not absent in American comedy whatsoever. He brings up Ben Stiller, but one of his biggest comedy successes was Meet the Parents, where he's the hapless schmuck who cant ever do anything right. He also brings up Jim Belushi who also regularly played schmuck characters. I'm gonna be harsh and say it's not anything like this really, and it's more that Americans simply aren't typically witty. They are straight up slower minded. Granted yes, go to local comedy clubs and whatnot and you'll still see plenty of great improv and witty American comedians, but the bigger ones tend to be well written 'acts' rather than truly sharp people. Also, I say this as a dual American/British citizen that grew up in the US and now lives in the UK. British people are just smarter on average, and standards for comedy are higher as a result.
@@hetedeleambacht6608 it’s not a compliment, he’s saying they’re pretty one dimensional roles who only job is to look good but are not characters with any character development. It’s a backhanded compliment.
Friends was a terrible example. Chandler for example is an extremely complicated character, and every bit as tragic as the British examples he cited, with his divorced, transsexual father and his insecurities and anxiety. Overall though, Stephen Fry is a genius and he could convince me that black is white.
@@samcheeseman9329 Probably. It's done through wanting to share an individual experience with someone else... anyone... even a random stranger in the comments section. I find it quite nice personally.
@@samcheeseman9329 I don’t find it especially annoying. People are just picking out the bits of the monologue that really resonate with them. Compared to a lot of the arguing going on on RU-vid comments this seems quite pleasant in comparison
I love how Fry never has to put down America/Americans when asked to compare European and American cultures. He always gives clear, honest, intelligent answers to these kinds of questions.
@@babboon5764 I don't think so. I think he genuinely appreciates American culture, but he isn't above putting it down either, or parts of it. Like Miami he's said some pretty unflattering things about.
@@GodzillasaurusJr There is a well researched & confirmed trick if you wish to create a good image for someone you are providing a reference for, and it may well be Stephen's adapted it. You give someone a 'kingdom of God' reference (ie, every last little thing is wonderful) and no recruiter will believe it. Say a couple of rather negative things and the ten glowing statements you made will be accepted uncritically.
40k joke- Elves and tau sit down with orcs to discuss warfare, elder races: "So what's this superweapon you guys use, how's it work?" Orcs, "Well, it's called the Orcish Waugh and it's awesome. We all go 'WAAAAAAAUUUUUGH!!!' and go crazy and then we win." Eves and Tau, blinking in disbelief... "That's not how warfare works..." Orcs, shrugging, "It works when we do it."
Puts me in mind of Doug Naylor being interviewed about the second Red Dwarf USA pilot and saying something to the effect of "We couldn't find an American actor with a low enough opinion of himself to play Rimmer"
You haven't actually met Chris Barry obviously if you took that to be the real reason. The bloke has huge confidence - And that was vital. However ........... You are on a right track to the extent they did have to alter quite a lot of the style for the American market. As a good parallel - Think of the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy in the irreverent & hugely funny BBC TV version and the limping sanitised US movie version.
I saw a scene on who would you rather have Betty Rubble or Wilma Flintstone, Cat and Lister I think, the American version was almost line for line, just not delivered anywhere as funny, inbetweeners another example, America portrait perfectly English self deprication in married with children, the UK version with Russ abot was poor
The point he makes is not that there isn't failure or success in either America or Britain. The point is how they want to see themselves. American films seldom have a sad ending, because the social norm is to never accept defeat or see badly into the future, while British see it more realistic.
To badly go where no-one has gone before... (pun intended) but all in all, the world-view differs in American and British movies (and most of European ones as well). That thing in the brackets is why I don't like any American remake of any successful European movie... they just ruin it with happy endings, character-simplification and hitherto nonexistent plot twists. A whole lot of good French comedy has gone down the drain because of American remakes...
*Nemozoli* Well, you sure made me laugh my head off with that first sentence. (The only thumbs up in a month). Maybe I'm the only American reading the comment section. lol
In the UK, a comedian could walk onto any stage in the country and open with "this place is a shithole" and he would get a cheer. He would get an even bigger cheer if he followed it up with "but not as shit as *the next town along*". If the same comedian tried that in America, he would be greeting with a chorus of boos and chants of "you suck!". For me, that sums up the difference, the fact that the British have a sense of self-deprecation and the Americans are much more sensitive.
***** Oh Americans are much more sensitive than Germans. :D Germany has become resistant against big mocking out of obvious reasons. I mean. Imagine you are being mocked for decades. You are gonna get resistant against it too ;-) I think you really have to be careful with Americans that you don't offend them in any way which can be petty tiring for comedians I can imagine.
What I love about this is that Steven doesn't wax lyrical about how British comedy is better, just how it's different. There are clearly brilliant examples from both types of comedy.
As an American who loves British comedy, I always explained the difference as this: in an American comedy film, a man slips on a roller-skate, falls down the stairs, breaks his leg and goes to the hospital, but then falls in love with his nurse and lives happily ever after. In the same scenario, the British comic slips on a skate, falls down the stairs and dies.
@@RUSH2112RUSH In Norman Wisdom's case he would end up falling in love with the nurse but cause her to lose her job in some improbable catastrophe after trying to help her out, but she'd love him for trying anyway. Then it would fall on Mr Grimsdale (in this scenario the much put upon head of the hospital) to clean up the mess.
I think what Stephen Fry is saying is completely true, British humour is definitely more dry and cutting and about making fun of yourself, whereas American humour is more about feeling positive and laughing at funny things people experience. They're two different types of humour and one isn't better than the other, they're comparable not rateable it's all a matter of culture and opinion.
British humour is catching. The travel writer and some-time Anglophile Bill Bryson when on a flight to the States was at customs and when asked who he travelled with he replied with a straight face "I don't know. We weren't introduced."
Bryson is absolutely one of the best people to read on the differences between the U.S. & U.K. he's lived in both, loved both and has a wonderful way of describing things. Proper belly-laugh funny writing at times too.
George Burns would have nailed that line, paused thoughtfully, seemed about to say something, then took a puff on his cigar instead. Zero Brits in his inspiration.
@@rbrooks2007 I read George Burn's book "Gracie: a love story" to my daughter Grace at bedtime, over and over again. It's interesting, it's funny, and it's so personal about a world I've never seen. Blew my little girl's mind when I told her that George Burns grew up in a time without radio and lived long enough to see the internet... smoking cigars the whole time.
@@captainmaim I downloaded from RU-vid all the old shows. I hope you're still playing Kleebob. I much preferred their comedy to decades later the comedy which was the result of boardrooms of comedy writers who honed something down for the on-screen actor/comedians so that it lacked edge, became fluffy and safe.
So well explained. I have often thought American situation comedy was the result of a team of writers stringing together one liners and having them delivered every three minutes by actors. Whereas British situation comedy is about the characters behaving in comedic situations.
One thing Fry and everyone else leaves out about TV comedy in the US v UK. Canned laughter was not allowed in the UK. The giveaway every time is if you hear a show from two rooms away, the rhythm of the gags stands out on US shows. Like waves on a beach. M*A*S*H, for example, was a different show in the UK, shown without the laugh track.
Like Rowan Atkinson. The man as Mr Bean acts like a bafoon yet in the actor himself has a masters degree in Engineering. He chooses to be a lovable failure.
Fingers Titan Self - deprecating also. Not sure Blackadder quite qualifies tho as the self-deprecating type British comic. He IS capable of putdowns especially to Baldrick. I think the wit of Groucho provided the template for many US comics- Alda's Hawkeye in MASH etc. One sometimes slightly self deprecating and very good US comic is Bob Newhart. Also the low key and downbeat humour of Barney Miller . I miss the ( for me) much realer and more sympathetic US comedy of the 70's etc) Recent forms of comedy often tend to the self-defecating variety- both sides of the Atlantic.
@@rickh3714 May I add losers like Laurel and Hardy, and Homer Simpson. Even Friends is more self depreciating than self aggrandising. Fry may have a point but once you start digging there are plenty of exceptions
Fry's point was demonstrated in the difference of a single line delivered in the UK and U.S versions of the sitcom, "Red Dwarf" In the original British version, when a character has been told they've been asleep for millions of years (and everyone they know and love is long dead) they exclaim "I've still got that library book!" They jump to the horrible conclusion they aren't just alone in the universe but would probably owe a lot of money in fines to someone if everyone wasn't already dead. i.e A horrendous situation is doubled down on with mundane woes. Meanwhile, in the American version of this episode, the same character responds with "My baseball cards must be worth a fortune!" i.e The horrendous situation is slightly countered by an unexpected shard of positivity.
I don't think you can summarize humor so succinctly like that, but I appreciate Fry's effort and analysis. There's plenty of American comedy that stars failures. Seinfeld, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Married with Children, etc. etc. Stand up comedians are even harder, there's a big slew of them ranging in style.
Seinfeld is a mix, as Jerry says, he's "Even Steven", one friend is down (George) one friend is up (Kramer). Things always work out Jerry, and at least one of the others, normally Kramer.
@@hailfellowwellmetTV Friends, Frasier and Seinfeld are all on late at night in my area. I like Friends and Frasier, some episodes are hilarious. Seinfeld is too cynical for my taste.
British humor is so relatable and such an organic day-by-day thing in Britain. I moved here around 5 years ago, and I found out that The Office is more a documentary than a mockumentary. The characters of British comedy are out there, the fact that they exist and are real makes it so true... my first boss in England out Brent David Brent at least ten fold!!
That sounds like it complements what Fry says toward the end here. Those comic characters in American comedy don't exist in real life (they're "brilliant repositories of one-liners"); British comic characters are very much people you could encounter. I had Captain Mainwaring as a teacher in high school.
@@nickfarmer2452 The US version of The Office is actually more true to US companies than many other comedies, I've worked with managers who behave like Michael Scott before, I've had coworkers who bicker like Jim and Dwight. Not quite as larger than life, but of course they're supposed to be an over the top parody.
British comedy= "Just because you want something doesn't mean you're going to get it" American comedy= "If you try hard enough you'll get there in the end"
What a brain this man has. Such articulation and so many examples to come up with in but an instant. Well organized thoughts. Something to learn from and aspire to for me.
All the things he described that are characteristic of British humor can be found in the good shows in America like Seinfeld, Arrested Development and more extreme shows like It's always sunny in Philadelphia, self-depricating comedians like Louis CK, Woody Allen and Conan O' Brian and so on. I personally think a lot of the bad comedy from America are more from American corparism appealing to the lowest common denominator than it is from American humor being simpler. Good comedy is good comedy, no matter where it comes from, and it can originate everywhere. Not saying there aren't differences, but I'd rather focus on the good/bad divide than nation divide, cause there are way bigger differences between the good and the bad than there are between countries.
Thoese show you pointed too I think have been influenced by British comedies and are an American way of doing a more British style humour. I love American and British shows but nothing makes me belly laugh like Only fools and horses, The Office or Blackadder.
Nicky Jones While possibly so, I don't think Great Britain can claim ownership for good humor just because US's good humor shares certain characteristics with Britain's good humor, which was really my point all along. Good comedy is universal, funny is funny. I personally see little that's British in any of the shows I mentioned, then again, I see little that's American too. They're all unique works made by funny people who happen to be American.
***** I realise that funny is funny but different cultures approach things differently just like British rock n roll which is probably the best in the world wouldnt have ever come around without the American blues musicians and the likes of Elvis, Dylan etc.
***** A bit too pedantic for what? Either I have a point or I don't, no need to bring pointless personal characteristics in. All the things I said are factually accurate and you are debating against a straw-man you put up. As I explicitly said, I'm not disputing the existence of differences, but IMO the good/bad divide is a more important divide than the nation divide. Particularly in this online day and age where you can search out the good comedy wherever it comes from. When he described things that are characteristic of bad American comedy, I think it's a non-sequitur really, cause why even discuss them or give them attention at all..
I, living in the US of A, have noticed that people when telling stories of things happening in their lives, always portray themselves as the only sensible one, or the victor, or the like. I would get quite bored of "Did I tell you about the time when everyone was an idiot aside from me?"
In Britain we have a lot of those too and once they have a bit of status no shortage of simperers hanging on every word about how wonderful they say they are. Still, the rest of us just hate them with a thinly veiled contempt - And its refeshingly apparent from your comment so do some folk in the USA. The problem is the trend of 'celebrity' seems to be gaining ground here too.
There was an interesting situation with the American The Office, where they realised that Michael Scott could not really be an American David Brent because DB was hopeless, and part of the joke was how mediocre British people can hide away in crappy jobs unnoticed. They did not think that could happen in the US because, if you're not getting results, you are sacked. So Michael ended up being a leading salesman and, of course, an unhinged lunatic :)
To be fair, *SPOILERS* David Brent did end up being fired. Michael, too, was let go, of course, but he definitely was a far more capable boss than David. Or at least less insufferable.
The biggest difference between the US & Brit Office was the atmosphere. Everyone in the US office is in a reasonably good mood, and there's an air of camaraderie that feels like it's reliving school-was-the-best-days-of-your-lives or something. The British office is full of people who would rather be anywhere else, and most preferably the pub, and don't feel obliged to put on a show of professional cheer and enthusiasm with each other or their superiors.
@@lemonjuicelime There is an episode in season 3 where it's decided that Stamford will absorb the Scranton branch, meaning that several Scranton employees will have to be let go. Michael is one of them.
What an incredibly astute observation. I wondered where he was going with that Animal House reference, but the moment he said "The British comic would want to be the folk singer" it all clicked. It was absolutely spot on and perfectly highlighted the topic. I became a fan of British comedies without realizing it as a kid watching Red Dwarf and Black Adder late night on PBS. I rediscovered my love for British humor in college and cranked through Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Vicar of Dibley, Thin Blue Line, Brittas Empire, etc., etc. and loved every minute of it. I think the two senses of humor are getting more similar as the world gets smaller, but there are still definite differences and both sides of the pond have a lot to offer. Kudos, Mr. Fry, and thank you for your insight.
Shrigis it’s really generalized though isn’t it American humor is very vast U have African American humor as well as Jewish American plus mainstream and underground
especially tragic when you get to the end of "goes forth". I laughed the entire way through, but when they were about to go over the trenches i found myself almost brought to tears.
"If you travel to the States... they have a lot of different words than like what we use. For instance: they say 'elevator', we say 'lift'; they say 'drapes', we say 'curtains'; they say 'president', we say 'seriously deranged git.' one of the funniest British comedians Alexei Sayle said this quote in the 1990s,it hasn't aged anyway whats on in Stoke Newington
I heard it put best this way: American: I saw this totally embarrassing thing happen on the subway today. Brit: So this totally embarrassing thing happened to me on the subway today.
Oh I'm so sorry, I have never heard a British person mention the Tube before. Thank you for taking the time to clarify this major point that completely detracts from the point of the comment and didn't serve the purposes of streamlining in anyway. My bad.
I think it’s the other way around. I’m a Brit currently living in America & my observation is Americans make everything about themselves & also claimed to have invented everything.
@@MyMags8 Your observation is very limited in scope considering there is no one right microcosm that actually exists in the US that accurately describes the entire country. This urban myth that exists in other countries and even here in the states about the overwhelming stupidity of Americans (only describing those that live within the boundaries of the 50 states as opposed to the whole of North and South America) is surely a sign that other countries and cultures do just as poor a job of looking in the mirror as so-called "Americans" do.
"Well, the British comedian would want to play the folk singer." There's several ways of reading that, all of which are still an apt description of British humour.
And that's the point. The English humour gets funnier as you think about it. What's funny about smashing a guitar? It's 3 year old slapstick. And that's a good summary of American humour.
@@AndrewBlucher Robin Williams, Bill Cosby, George Burns... comedy is not joke-writing, it's performance. Stephen Fry could smash the guitar in that scene, but he'd have to pretend he just wanted to admire the guitar and then hand it back as though it was still playable.
I would have to agree with Stephen Fry here. After sadly spending years of my life watching stand up and sitcoms from both America and UK I'd also say American humor tends to be louder and physical such as slapstick as well as using a lot of 'shock-jock' humor towards the audience or fellow comedians (e.g comedy central roasts, responses to hecklers and white house correspondence dinners) while British humor does tend to be more self-depreciating, satirical (tends to mock class), surreal, cynical and can also be quite dark. That being said though you still get US and UK comedies that differ, especially with late-night and satirical comedy shows in the US like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. Another thing I've noticed, in contrast with Stephen Fry's words, is that British comedians tend to be more witty with quick one liners especially on panel shows (Lee Mack is a good example) while American comedians tend to be better with physical improv e.g. Wayne Brady, Robin Williams, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie.
Awesome analysis. As a Norwegian married to an American with a lifelong fascination for America, I have often tried to reflect upon the American mindset. I think us Europeans are often endlessly fascinated by Americans as they are just so utterly alien to us. Mind you Brits are hard to decipher for Norwegians as well, but there is still that European commonality you can relate to. Nobody in Europe is really beaming with the kind of optimism you find in America. I think all Northern Europeans have some style of self-depricating humor, which is often about the embarrassment of the comedian. Just look at the Danish Klown comedy e.g. It is one painful embarrassment after the other. Danish humor can be extremely dark. Like the Green Butchers you end up getting the misconception that their butcher shop can only be successful by selling human meat. The punchline is when they realize it was never the fact that it was human meat which made it sell so well but the new marinade they had developed. They realize this rather late after having killed quite a lot of people. Or in the Danish comedy where the main character accidentally guns down a whole rock band with his Uzi. His friend tries to comfort him by saying that it was okay, because they were that great of a band anyway. American humor never seems to get quite as dark, although I think you can see losers and dark humor in America too in shows like the Simpsons, South Park, Disenchantment etc.
I'm English and a lot of my friends really love Curb Your Enthusiasm. I think American Jewish humour has parallels with British humour. I'm generalising massively but yeah
Probably because american jews stems from Europe (especially from Germany and Estern Europe) and have kept much of their culture intact. More so than (other) Germans, French, English, Swedes, etc.
American sitcom characters = underdogs who succeed, for the audience to relate to and cheer for British sitcom characters = underdogs who always fail but keep trying. For the audience to relate to their failures because sometimes life ISN’T fair. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, it’s just a difference in mindset. Probably something about the ‘American dream’ vs ‘post-colonial humility’
Hard to fully generalize (and indeed Fry himself said not to push his theory to their limits). Just off the top of my head some long running american counterpoints: Homer Simpson constantly failing at everything and being a total idiot (longest running show on air?). Everybody Loves Raymond, they all just sorta crap on Ray (it's been a long while since I've seen that). In Frasier, the total "overdogs" of Frasier and Niles who believe themselves to be superior to everyone else are repeatedly humbled by the "normals" around them (a completely wonderful treasure of a show that also won a ton of awards). Other more "premium" examples: Larry David as the cringe-worthy jerk. EVERYONE in VEEP being a total piece of work somehow failing upwards. I think his initial point about American attitudes towards self-improvement and striving and the "protestant ethic", coupled with an ingrained belief in social mobility/flatness (at least prior to these past few years), are more convincing. One thing he doesn't mention directly but you can infer from his examples is the British focus on class/caste as a source of tension and meaning and comedy and satire. In the US, an "underdog" might be one because of something that can be improved (intelligence, money, a way with women/people, etc), while in the UK he cites "heroes" who aspire to social stature (the "school tie that doesn't fit" or Blackadder always being an underling or servant of sorts and never king or general) -- that old catholic "submission" and seeming permanence of ones station that he mentions in the beginning.
@@smartmagis (the majority of) Homer's failures aren't truly funny because he's too stupid to be aware of the tragedy. It's a real shame as the first season Homer was a relatable father struggling to do the right thing by his family... and they kept dumbing him down and down and down.
@@smartmagis Homer's there to be the guitar player in Animal House & allow those around him to shine though, he's not the character viewers see themselves as being is he! He's the base to allow the characters that fit what Stephen Fry said to exist. I haven't watched the simpsons since I was a kid/teen, but I certainly don't recall anyone ever wanting to be like Homer! They wanted to be like Bart or Lisa, who are the character in Animal House that break that guitar, while the "some mothers do avem" lead character is as dumb as Homer & the other characters are there to support his lead role. They don't use him to make their characters look good, their smart characters are there for the dumb one to use to lead
Have you watched House? Sure he's a genius, but he's also a self-destructive sardonic, pathetic, drug-addled, friendless narcissist. He certainly doesn't come across as the hero in most episodes. I'd say, he's more on the spectrum of a typically British, rather than American, character.
Interesting point. Characters where usually he believes he's great but not versus a character where he is actually immensely superior, but in life, not.
I love listening to Stephen Fry discuss cultural differences between the US and the UK. It offers such fascinating insight into how and why things are done.
Interesting, I agree; but he only mentioned one American culture. The one comedian's name I recognized is not one I think is funny. The one-liners he mentioned are not all that exists in American humor, and IMO have ruined American sit"coms" which really aren't funny nowadays. As another poster mentioned above, American Jewish humor can be different from American Gentile humor, and different American cultures have different types of comedy. I have heard there is a difference in southern English humor and northern English humor, but not being English, I don't get the subtleties.
Actually in a way George Costanza proves stephens point. In a british sitcom George would be the main character that the audience should have identified behind but in seinfeld he isn't, he's the loony side character that is supposed to be ridiculed by the much more successful and sharp witted lead jerry seinfeld.
Amazing. I could listen to Stephen all day long. That's why I love his Harry Potter audio books. I tried to listen to Jim Dale's Harry Potter's and it's just not the same.
I listened to Stephen Fry's version first, and it's definitely the one that I prefer. He reads Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as well, which is also wonderful.
@@mahna_mahna I used to think so, too :-) But for some reason, I listened to the Jim Dale version for a long time - and then switched to Stephen Fry. I don't know why, I don't even particularly like the sound of his voice. I guess Jim Dale does justice to the minor characters (I like his Dobby voice), while Fry's version has more character acting. I remember his reading helped me understand Ron better.
"They stumble who run fast", from Romeo and Juliet. In the American version Romeo takes a massive tumble and knocks some stuff over, to which the priest delivers this wonderful advice. In the British version, as the priest delivers the line he stubs his toe and literally stumbles - and then looks awkwardly at Romeo.
I have always been a fan of Stephen Fry, and I love his take here. I have always had a soft spot for British comedies, and the culture in general. I think it's indicative of us to have our spats, but we're brothers across the Atlantic. Cheers and God Bless.
Those chairs seem too small for the people filling them, seriously is it really that hard to find nice chairs for these people? They look incredibly uncomfortable.
During the Clinton administration Jay Leno or Letterman asked John Clease what he felt were the main differenced between the US and the UK. John Clease replied that the English actually speak English, The English involve people from other countries when they have a world championship and when the English meet their head of state they only go down on one knee.
@@EmyrDerfel Everybody knows that but naming a national championship the "World Series" means it is impossible for non-Americans not to deliberately misinterpret it.
Wow, as a Brit, he’s absolutely spot on with that cultural difference, never heard it put across like that but the style are different and he’s right - we love to sh;t on ourselves 🤦🏻♂️
This pretty much nails it. We laugh at the characters in British comedy, whereas we only laugh with the characters in American comedy. Plus the gags in British comedy are more subtle. American comedy throws in way too many sex, farting and weed jokes. It's like most of them are aimed at 15 year olds. Although Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the greatest shows I've ever watched, so I'll give them that.
I think you were looking through a microscope. I've come across awful British shows and bits and then found ones I've laughed aloud to. I think it's the same in the US.
+Kevin Kibble Okay even with the most pandering lowest common denominator show "Friends" you aren't just laughing WITH the characters, Chandler is a self loathing coward who the audience laugh at.
A lot of characters in American comedy series are laughed at rather than with. Phoebe Buffay or Joey from Friends, Woody Boyd from Cheers, and I think a lot of characters from Parks and Recreation and The Office and such. Hell, even Frasier has characters that usually get into more stupid situations than anything else. I do get the sense that many of the stupid characters find their way in the end, often becoming happy just being who they are but usually getting more than they started out with. Haven't watched many British comedies the past few years - somehow I don't find them interesting anymore - so I don't really remember how it is for British characters. Do they simply keep failing and are they okay with that, or what?
George Burns was brilliant and rich and successful, and he made that all relatable by having the same frustrations as everyone else... but it never stopped him. His advice was especially brilliant because it was always on the nose and utterly useless. Interviewer asked Burns and Allen, "What's the secret to a long happy marriage?" George Burns replied, "That's easy, marry Gracie." After a long applause (because you couldn't help but love Grace Allen) Gracie chimed in with, "Well, I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I was courted by the handsomest, most talented, most successful man in showbiz.." George interrupted with "Thank you." She continued, "...but I married George instead because I love him."
That's what I love about Fry. Although I was thinking his exact answer, his elegance in language expresses it much better than me or the majority could ever.
The first time I visited Italy, i was chatting with the cab driver as he drove me through Rome. I told him "Now I understand why Rome is so big. They never tear down any of that old crap". It seems we don't share the same humor.
There's the difference right there. The rest of the world makes fun of itself. Americans make fun of everyone else, and then wonder why people don't like them.
@@bruce-e-bonus Thanks! I'm Danish to be more precise. As s non native speaker you don't always get all the differences. BTW, someone else mentioned it: I wouldn't say it's exclusively an American thing to make fun of someone _else_. It's part of our culture too. Quiet harsh fun actually. Once I told the CEO of the company I was working for that I was posted by the government in their part of the country to help them on their "professional poverty". It was a customer. They later hired me for at a very good price.
Having watched both British and American comedies and being neither British nor American I think Stephen Fry's comment about American characters as repositories for killer one liners is really apposite way of theorizing American comedy. I remember watching shows like The Big Bang Theory and there any character is able to say anything as long as it gets a laugh, even if the line is totally out of keeping with that character's personality. One could argue that it makes the character multi-dimensional but it just ends up looking contrived.
There's a reason it's called *"cheap pop"* when you praise the town you are in when doing a show in America. Mick Foley had a show literally titled same :P
George Costanza should be a British sitcom character then. I love George. Fletcher in Porridge was a wise cracking one liner, although he was in jail. Delboy wasn't ok with the status quo. Most of the time they were eating beans on toast in the flat. But every now they were living it large.
Stephen Fry is an amazing sponge of knowledge, and has a talent for putting in words the reality of "simple" things like humor into something understandable and relatable. Bless the man.
I think he left that out purposely because he knows American comedy far surpasses the boring version of comedy from the UK. Hence why all of our shows our internationally known and the only British comedies I know of are Mr Bean and Benny Hill! yeah i'd be a pissed off Brit too if my country produced "humor" like a root canal!
***** You've got Curb Your Enthusiasm That's it. We've got Partridge and The Office - those 2 alone destroy anything you guys have done in the last 20 years. So for us to also have Fawlty Towers, Monty Python just rubs your nose in it to be honest. Benny Hill and Mr. Bloody Bean are really not respected over here TBH. Bean is for kids and Hill never stood the test of time. It says a lot about the US sense of humour that you guys love the stuff we've rejected.
K Russell Ever heard of Robin Williams? Obviously you haven't. An American comedian who was extremely popular around the World, and one of the most gifted , intelligent comedians of all time. Stephen Fry even admitted Robin Williams was gifted. In answer to your original comment , maybe Stephen Fry didn't say he thought British comedy was better because he doesn't believe this. What he's saying (if you were listening) is that American and British comedy are two entirely DIFFERENT TYPES of comedy. You can't compare them. It would be like comparing apples to oranges. Plus it would be very arrogant (as is your original comment) to say this to a live audience on television, making the speaker seem stuck up and full of himself. I've lived in both nations , am American with an English mother , American dad. I have heard some very BAD British comedians and also awful American comedians. After all, what makes you an expert on what the world finds amusing? Because everyone has there own idea of what amusing IS. As I said, Robin Williams was a brilliant American comedian. If you've never heard of him, you really should do some research.
These are only generalizations, of course. I mean, Bill Hicks went down an absolute storm in the UK. As far as I know, George Carlin is also well loved along with Woody Allen and Louis CK. There are a lot of United Statesians who just 'get' that sort of comedy too. Monty Python was adored in the States, for example. I think these stereotypes are useful guidelines but I'd not hold anyone to them- the US and the UK have both given us a treasure trove of funny shit to watch. : ]
@@Omnislash2000 it's honestly astonishing as to how you manage to believe that sarcasm is just this "secret invention" that those neanderthal yanks would never be able to comprehend.
As a Brit living in the USA I appreciate Stephens insight he has acquired over many years. It is pretty spot on on many levels. I would say however its as with all things American a sweeping generalization as America is huge (20% in pop, 3000% in land) but some threads trend throughput. I would say in my experience Boston/New England is more similar.
There's a risk with American stand-up comedy (as much as I respect the fact that modern stand up was an American invention) that it basically involves the most confident and narcissistic person in the room getting up on stage and demonstrating their egotism, not actually showing they're any funnier than anyone else would be in conversation. British stand up tends to be much more character-driven, with someone playing a role with irony and idiosyncrasy. This ties in to what Fry is saying. Most British stand up comedians don't just seem like guys who are in love themselves. Except Russell Brand.
Gotta love Bill Hicks, though: I know people cringe because he's become a 'cult' comedian. Then again, he said that the British audiences seemed to appreciate his style of humour/observation more than the US did. I love the clip of him losing the plot at an audience member and yelling at her to 'go to a fucking Madonna concert, you fucking cunt!' before laughing at himself about it.
I think when it comes to the mainstream, British comedy certainly has the edge, we tend to have much more diverse, contextual and story progressive programs, stand ups and characters. Where as a lot of mainstream american comedy is, like fry said, based on one liners. And a lot of their TV now is just catching up with the UK ever since the office was exported and they took on the whole "british awkwardness" and mockumentary vibe. But when it comes to weird offbeat humour (which i love probably the most) America is certainly pushing the boundaries nowa days much more than us brits. Stuff like all the adult swim videos and comedians like reggie watts are just amazing. So i can't say ones better than the other at the moment... But i don't think it's fair to judge america on their mainstream comedy cause i think thats the worst of what they've got to offer... in my opinion
beachboss, you're right about judging by so-called mainstream comedy. It's interesting that as Fry talked, I thought immediately of Basil Fawlty, one of the great comedic characters of all time. But one show that ran here forever was Benny Hill's. I thought he was the worst comedian on earth, and it was the only Brit comedy show carried in every market. British comedy in films and TV shows were terrific, so I used to be baffled by the discrepancy, as well as how he ever had a career to begin with. I agree with Fry in general, but I watch a lot of stand-up shows, and see a lot more variety among our mainstream comics than we're being given credit for in this comment section. Dave Chappelle, Lewis Black, and Chris Rock are astute and pointed, aiming their arrows at dumb Americans and our stupid beliefs. They epitomize what most people think of as American-style comedians. (George Carlin is the prototype for that.) But Robin Williams was by turns the loser and the winner; Jack Benny was always the schlemiel; Rodney Dangerfield's entire act was that he was a loser who got no respect; Kat Williams often uses himself as the object of laughter or even derision, and Steven Wright portrays himself as a befuddled, spaced-out soul lost in a world that he can't ever quite grasp. (It's impossible for me to actually classify Wright.) They're mainstream, too, but don't fit the stereotype.
+Thom Brand is the unfortunate exception that proves the rule. He is a loud, unmitigated arse, as funny as the drunk outside your window at 3.23 am Monday morning
To be fair American humour is starting to embrace the embarrassment more and more He mentioned Ben Stiller which I thought was a bit odd, he's not representative of Jewish humour I think? Which is more in line with British.. focussed on social faux pas
I think Seinfeld did a great job at that many years before. But Then a again the Jewish always had a different style of humor, like Mel brooks or Jim Abrahams
***** You have to understand that as people who actually live here we're familiar with how profoundly useless of a generalization that is (at least amongst ourselves) since we experience "exceptions" on a regular basis.
You see some of Johnny Depps British influence when he does his tiny subtle comedy lines, like in Rango when he awkwardly converses with other characters, or Pirates of the caribbean when considers small subject matters constantly.
This channel must have the greatest disparity between views and subscribers of any location on RU-vid. Thank you very much for posting this. It was informative as well as humorous.
Alan Partridge fits in there as well. Especially the older (and better) series. Also Basil Fawlty. And Harry Steptoe. But Fletcher from Porridge...not so much.
