NationStates Jolt Archive

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.

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.

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.

You want comedy?

Scrubs.

Find it. Watch it. Enjoy.

Scrubs
It’s a bit too feel-good for me. Every episode has to have some heavy moral attached to it. Bleurrgh.

ATHF does indeed kick ass

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

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:

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Another generic, piece of crap, half baked Friends wannabe is all How I Met Your Mother is.
That’s the show I saw.

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

Ya wanna trip? I'll bring it to ya!

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.

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!

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.

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*

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

And I’m a Taurus
Ahhhh, always wondered what that line was.

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

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. ;)

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

That's a thing of beauty! :D

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.

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

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.

It’s getting disappointing reviews, even from ATHF fans.

Maybe because they've typically got 15-minute attention spans?

Maybe because they’ve typically got 15-minute attention spans?
Or maybe because ATHF isn’t suited to a 1 hour+ format?

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.

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.

Or maybe because ATHF isn’t suited to a 1 hour+ format?

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