NationStates Jolt Archive


Congratulations US Comedy, My Faith Is Restored!

Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 15:29
Now, I’ve always been a massive fan of US drama, especially in the last few years; it’s been, frankly, exceptional. Hell, if a program starts with the letters H, B and O, chances are I’m already a fan. Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire, X-Files, Grey’s Anatomy, Six Foot Under, ER, Oz, wow... just... wow.

But comedy? Not nearly as good. With a few exceptions (Frasier, Cheers, Seinfeld and obviously The Simpsons come to mind), my main response to comedy such as Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Two & A Half Men, and the plethora of copycat shows that are churned out is to cringe.

Until now.

In the past years, Curb Your Enthusiasm enforced what I knew all along, that Larry David was a funny, funny man. A lone comedian, fighting through all the shit to deliver a genuinely funny show. But I have seen the light.

And the light is The Office.

You’ve managed to turn a pretty decent UK comedy into a laugh riot. I haven’t laughed so hard at a US comedy since the demise of Frasier. It’s fantastic, well written, and massively improves on the UK version.

*applauds*

Just thought I’d let you guys know.
The Nazz
24-01-2007, 15:38
Personally, I think the best television comedy the US is turning out right now is animated. Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Boondocks, Family Guy--that's the good stuff, along with parody shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

And then there's the unintentionally funny stuff, like any time Sean Hannity opens his mouth.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 15:43
Personally, I think the best television comedy the US is turning out right now is animated. Robot Chicken, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Boondocks, Family Guy—that’s the good stuff, along with parody shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

And then there’s the unintentionally funny stuff, like any time Sean Hannity opens his mouth.
Yeah, apart from The Simpson’s, which is a force unto itself, I separated the animated and live-action comedy shows. ATHF does indeed kick ass, as does Samurai Jack.

I just wanted to indicate how many times a little bit of pee has escaped from laughing too hard at Dwight Shroot and, possibly my favourite character, Toby.
Forumwalker
24-01-2007, 15:47
You want comedy?

Scrubs.

Find it. Watch it. Enjoy.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 15:55
Scrubs
It’s a bit too feel-good for me. Every episode has to have some heavy moral attached to it. Bleurrgh.
The Potato Factory
24-01-2007, 15:56
ATHF does indeed kick ass

My name is Shake Zula, the mic rulah, the old schoolah!
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 15:58
You want comedy?

Scrubs.

Find it. Watch it. Enjoy.

You suck at taste in comedies. The best one on in the US right now is How I Met Your Mother.

My name is Shake Zula, the mic rulah, the old schoolah!

That's my ringtone. :cool:
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 16:03
You suck at taste in comedies. The best one on in the US right now is How I Met Your Mother.
That seemed just like all the other canned-laughter, schmaltzy comedies that plague early afternoon UK television.

Can you tell I'm a student yet?
Cannot think of a name
24-01-2007, 16:07
I actually like that whole Thursday night on NBC...kinda takes me back a little to the heyday of Cheers, Cosby Show, Night Court and Family Ties. Though now that I think about it, I never really liked Family Ties...aaaaanyway...

All of those shows are well written and pretty damn funny. My Name is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock. Good times. If only Arrested Development was still on, I'd be having some sort of TVgasm...it's been a while since there have been this many shows I actually want to watch, especially on one of the traditional networks.
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 16:11
That seemed just like all the other canned-laughter, schmaltzy comedies that plague early afternoon UK television.

Can you tell I'm a student yet?

Ugh...not even close. It's hysterical, and it has the added bonus of Alyson Hannigan. http://209.85.48.8/9854/48/emo/drool.gif

All of those shows are well written and pretty damn funny. My Name is Earl...

Now that is a funny fuckin' show! I'm actually surprised that the guy who plays Randy hasn't gotten an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 16:21
Ugh...not even close. It’s hysterical, and it has the added bonus of Alyson Hannigan.
Really? Was she in it from the start? I saw the first couple of episodes, and saw hide nor hair of the wee redheaded minx. Nor any decent gags.
Luporum
24-01-2007, 16:29
You suck at taste in comedies. The best one on in the US right now is How I Met Your Mother.

Talk about the pot calling the white kettle black.

One white guy: "I'm gonna teach you how to live."
Second white guy: "YES!"
Other white guy: "Oh god."
insert canned laughter

I'm sorry was there a joke in there that I missed, or is this show's entire definition of funny is a string of conversations with a single excliamtion?

White guy: "I'm never going to talk to you again!"
-sometime later-
White guy chuckling: "I should call her."
Other white guy: "totally."
insert canned laughter

Another generic, piece of crap, half baked Friends wannabe is all How I Met Your Mother is.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 16:34
Another generic, piece of crap, half baked Friends wannabe is all How I Met Your Mother is.
That’s the show I saw.
Cannot think of a name
24-01-2007, 16:36
My name is Shake Zula, the mic rulah, the old schoolah!

Ya wanna trip? I'll bring it to ya!
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 16:44
Really? Was she in it from the start? I saw the first couple of episodes, and saw hide nor hair of the wee redheaded minx. Nor any decent gags.

Yeah, she was gone for a couple of episodes, cuz her character ran out on an impending wedding.

Talk about the pot calling the white kettle black.

One white guy: "I'm gonna teach you how to live."
Second white guy: "YES!"
Other white guy: "Oh god."
insert canned laughter

I'm sorry was there a joke in there that I missed, or is this show's entire definition of funny is a string of conversations with a single excliamtion?

White guy: "I'm never going to talk to you again!"
-sometime later-
White guy chuckling: "I should call her."
Other white guy: "totally."
insert canned laughter

Another generic, piece of crap, half baked Friends wannabe is all How I Met Your Mother is.

The problem is that the characters are white? Sweet fuckin' jeebus... :rolleyes:

Oh, and Friends sucked.
The Potato Factory
24-01-2007, 16:50
Ya wanna trip? I'll bring it to ya!

Frylock and I'm on top, rock you like a cop, Meatwad you're up next with your knock-knock!
The Nazz
24-01-2007, 16:50
Ya wanna trip? I'll bring it to ya!
Frylock and I'm on top Rock it like a cop Meatwad up next with the knock knock.


I have no idea what that means. Side note: for Christmas, my daughter got me a t-shirt of the Plutonians saying "We do not eat our own farts!" It's a thing of beauty.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 16:52
Side note: for Christmas, my daughter got me a t-shirt of the Plutonians saying “We do not eat our own farts!” It’s a thing of beauty.
Awww.

*tear is brought to mine eye*
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 16:53
Frylock and I'm on top, rock you like a cop, Meatwad you're up next with your knock-knock!

Meatwad make the money, see
Meatwad get the honies, G
Drivin' in my car, livin' like a star
Ice on my fingers and my toes
And I'm a Taurus

http://burtcom.com/kwantem/athf/meatwad.gif
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 16:55
And I’m a Taurus
Ahhhh, always wondered what that line was.

Obviously not enough to spend a second on a web search....
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 16:58
Ahhhh, always wondered what that line was.

Obviously not enough to spend a second on a web search....

Only web search involved was for the pic. I know the theme. Like I said earlier, it's the ringtone on my mobile. ;)
The Potato Factory
24-01-2007, 17:00
Meatwad make the money, see
Meatwad get the honies, G
Drivin' in my car, livin' like a star
Ice on my fingers and my toes
And I'm a Taurus

http://burtcom.com/kwantem/athf/meatwad.gif

http://stupidstupidratcreatures.com/athf-movie.jpg
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 17:02
That's a thing of beauty! :D
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 17:05
That’s a thing of beauty! :D
You ATHF fiend, you.

Anyone seen the movie? I don’t know if it’s out in the US yet.
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 17:10
You ATHF fiend, you.

Anyone seen the movie? I don’t know if it’s out in the US yet.

I haven't seen anything about it being in theaters here. Oh, but when it is, I am there! :D
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 17:14
I haven’t seen anything about it being in theaters here. Oh, but when it is, I am there! :D
It’s getting disappointing reviews, even from ATHF fans.
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 17:17
It’s getting disappointing reviews, even from ATHF fans.

Maybe because they've typically got 15-minute attention spans?
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 17:20
Maybe because they’ve typically got 15-minute attention spans?
Or maybe because ATHF isn’t suited to a 1 hour+ format?
SirMomo
24-01-2007, 17:32
The best comedy around is clearly The Thick of It even if Chris Langham is a dirty dirty paedo. Scrubs is solid but suffers from apalling character and story arcs.
Chumblywumbly
24-01-2007, 17:38
The best comedy around is clearly The Thick of It even if Chris Langham is a dirty dirty paedo.
Innocent before proven guilty, remember?

Anything by Armando Iannucci, a personal favourite of mine, is fantastic. The Thick Of It: Opposition Special was fantastic.

If anyone hasn’t seen or heard Iannucci’s stuff – On The Hour, The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You, I’m Alan Partridge, The Friday/Saturday Night Armistace to name a few – then I highly recommend you go out and beg., borrow or steal some.

Luckily, he’s become quite popular of late.
Cluichstan
24-01-2007, 17:41
Or maybe because ATHF isn’t suited to a 1 hour+ format?

Probably not, but it could be made to work if done right.