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Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M
I think what Americans rave about comedically doesn't play well in Britain most of the time.
Probably because much of American comedy plays endlessly on stereotyping rather than character and situation advancement.
Same was true in the UK certainly up until the late 70's -early 80's.
But even then,,,,
Only fools and horses ~ 64 episodes in total
Last of the summer wine ~ 295 episodes in total. Although many retired actors made appearances here which is probably what made it so popular
Blackadder ~ 26 in total
The I.T Crowd ~ 25 episodes
Monty python ~ 45 episodes
Probably because much of American comedy plays endlessly on stereotyping rather than character and situation advancement.
Same was true in the UK certainly up until the late 70's -early 80's.
But even then,,,,
Only fools and horses ~ 64 episodes in total
Last of the summer wine ~ 295 episodes in total. Although many retired actors made appearances here which is probably what made it so popular
Blackadder ~ 26 in total
The I.T Crowd ~ 25 episodes
Monty python ~ 45 episodes
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Picklebobble2 Interesting!
I must admit I would not have thought Last Of The Summer Wine would be very successful in America because it is not only very English but one part of England: it's raaight Yorkshire wi' it.
Monty Python's Flying Circus was perhaps the closest of that list to the repetitiveness you say characterises American TV shows, by having no characters and plots to advance. Its cartoonist was an American, too.
Though I suppose none of those would be appreciated by some of the American respondents on here who display only mere contempt for Britain!
......
What of radio comedies? I wonder if any of those were ever aired in the USA? Some can be now, via the BBC's Internet services, as they are being repeated on R4 Extra.
I think in hindsight the 1960s sit-coms like The Clitheroe Kid*, The Men From The MInistry (presaging TV's Yes, MInister) and The Navy Lark eventually flew the paying-off pennant because they had run their courses with no advancement. Each episode was a different story using the same characters and stock jokes, and naturally ran out of ideas. James Clitheroe never took his GCE O-Levels, the Ministry was never sold off and none of HMS Troutbridge's officers were ever promoted (to harmless posts in "stone frigates"?).
Also their definite national identities may make them harder to sell abroad. Americans think everyone else understands, even lives by, US culture; but do they understand everyone else's? Not all countries have the same sense of humour, and self-mockery of national particularities needs knowing those ways.
On the other hand the 1950s Goon Show and the 1960s I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again were forerunners to Monty Python, and some of the ISIRTA leaders went on to The Goodies and Python.
While Round The Horne was edgy enough for its1960s time, so might export happily; but some of its material, such as the "Jules and Sandy" sketches, may be too edgy for our prim-&-proper nowadays. Especially in the Pilgrim Fathers' land.
....
Yet now much of the BBC's radio output is broadcast internationally, via the Internet; not least helped by the European Broadcasting Union it founded and which aids its annual season of weekly operas broadcast live from New York. (Saturday evenings here, of matinee performances in "The Met".)
Indeed, it has many listeners in the USA, and very likely some Americans do follow the modern R4 comedy shows like The News Quiz, The Now! Show (both satire) and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue the just gorgeously bonkers "antidote to panel games".... but c.f. Round The Horne above, re double-entendres.
...
*(After the show finally ended on the wireless, Jimmy Clitheroe toured the act theatrically; but it was a career mistake. Type-cast and with his natural ageing making playing his 12yo character on stage ludicrous, his career faded away.)
I must admit I would not have thought Last Of The Summer Wine would be very successful in America because it is not only very English but one part of England: it's raaight Yorkshire wi' it.
Monty Python's Flying Circus was perhaps the closest of that list to the repetitiveness you say characterises American TV shows, by having no characters and plots to advance. Its cartoonist was an American, too.
Though I suppose none of those would be appreciated by some of the American respondents on here who display only mere contempt for Britain!
......
What of radio comedies? I wonder if any of those were ever aired in the USA? Some can be now, via the BBC's Internet services, as they are being repeated on R4 Extra.
I think in hindsight the 1960s sit-coms like The Clitheroe Kid*, The Men From The MInistry (presaging TV's Yes, MInister) and The Navy Lark eventually flew the paying-off pennant because they had run their courses with no advancement. Each episode was a different story using the same characters and stock jokes, and naturally ran out of ideas. James Clitheroe never took his GCE O-Levels, the Ministry was never sold off and none of HMS Troutbridge's officers were ever promoted (to harmless posts in "stone frigates"?).
Also their definite national identities may make them harder to sell abroad. Americans think everyone else understands, even lives by, US culture; but do they understand everyone else's? Not all countries have the same sense of humour, and self-mockery of national particularities needs knowing those ways.
On the other hand the 1950s Goon Show and the 1960s I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again were forerunners to Monty Python, and some of the ISIRTA leaders went on to The Goodies and Python.
While Round The Horne was edgy enough for its1960s time, so might export happily; but some of its material, such as the "Jules and Sandy" sketches, may be too edgy for our prim-&-proper nowadays. Especially in the Pilgrim Fathers' land.
....
Yet now much of the BBC's radio output is broadcast internationally, via the Internet; not least helped by the European Broadcasting Union it founded and which aids its annual season of weekly operas broadcast live from New York. (Saturday evenings here, of matinee performances in "The Met".)
Indeed, it has many listeners in the USA, and very likely some Americans do follow the modern R4 comedy shows like The News Quiz, The Now! Show (both satire) and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue the just gorgeously bonkers "antidote to panel games".... but c.f. Round The Horne above, re double-entendres.
...
*(After the show finally ended on the wireless, Jimmy Clitheroe toured the act theatrically; but it was a career mistake. Type-cast and with his natural ageing making playing his 12yo character on stage ludicrous, his career faded away.)