Is British comedy really “the best in the world?”

Pretty girl on the hood of a Cadillac, yeah....

She's broken down on freeway nine?

The best part of that song is:

Brent:  ain't going home cos' my baby's gone, She's gone....
Gareth (singing backup): She's dead....
Brent (to Gareth): She's not dead!

Seemed to me that most of the UK sitcoms on PBS are dealing with older persons (e.g. Keeping Up ..., Last of the summer wine, As time goes by, even Are you being ...  Is that just the PBS audience or is UK more aware of OAPs existence?

The best part of that song is:

Brent:  ain't going home cos' my baby's gone, She's gone....
Gareth (singing backup): She's dead....
Brent (to Gareth): She's not dead!

That part still cracks me up. I mean all of it does, really, but that's classic.

Seemed to me that most of the UK sitcoms on PBS are dealing with older persons (e.g. Keeping Up ..., Last of the summer wine, As time goes by, even Are you being ...  Is that just the PBS audience or is UK more aware of OAPs existence?

They've had newer shows on, as well.  My dad and I loved My Hero and were gutted when they stopped showing it.

The best part of that song is:

Brent:  ain't going home cos' my baby's gone, She's gone....
Gareth (singing backup): She's dead....
Brent (to Gareth): She's not dead!

Wholeheartedly agree! That is the classic part! 

Seemed to me that most of the UK sitcoms on PBS are dealing with older persons (e.g. Keeping Up ..., Last of the summer wine, As time goes by, even Are you being ...  Is that just the PBS audience or is UK more aware of OAPs existence?

I would say the UK is a little bit more aware of OAPs existence and that's why there are so many sitcoms dealing with that situation. I'm not quite an OAP yet but I always enjoyed them as a kid. I was ten years old watching 'Last of the Summer Wine' and my dad used to think it was odd! haha but out of all the OAP centric sitcoms, One Foot In The Grave is still my all time favourite. Victor Meldrew is my hero!

They've had newer shows on, as well.  My dad and I loved My Hero and were gutted when they stopped showing it.

I watched My Hero too! And Red Dwarf... and what was that one that took place in the Leisure Center?

I watched My Hero too! And Red Dwarf... and what was that one that took place in the Leisure Center?

The Brittas Empire? Chris Barrie! I haven't seen that one in years!

The Brittas Empire? Chris Barrie! I haven't seen that one in years!

Right! I didn't really get the humour when I watched it... but it was entertaining. I think I was 13 and all the jokes were REALLY British.

Right! I didn't really get the humour when I watched it... but it was entertaining. I think I was 13 and all the jokes were REALLY British.

Yeah that show I only remember a few episodes of it but it was one of the longest running shows. It had an element of complete and total crazy to it that appealed to me as a kid. You've just inspired me to go back and re-watch it as I think I remember the character of Gordon Brittas being an influence on Alan Partridge and I absolutely LOVE Alan Partridge! haha

Now that you're in the UK do you find more of the shows funny now that the jokes are all "in context" so to speak? haha

Ah, PBS, what would we do without you?  Late-night British comedy was always our favorite. 

Ah, PBS, what would we do without you? 

And Bob Ross!

And Bob Ross!

Bob Ross. I loved watching him. My mom loved that we would fall asleep as his voice was so soothing :-)

I think American comedy is catching up, but it depends on what you like, really. I love shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, (parts of) How I Met Your Mother, and a lot of the output of Adult Swim. But I really love dark, awkward and/or surreal comedies, like It's always sunnyin Philadelphia, Veep (though, does this count really considering who made it) or Portlandia.

I think there is just more of this sort of recent(ish) output in the UK to appeal to me- Black Books, Nathan Barley, Brass Eye, The Thick of it, Fresh Meat, Mighty Boosh, IT Crowd, Inbetweeners, Psychoville, League of Gentlemen, Father Ted, Extras... I think the fact that there is less censoring on British tv allow creators to go a lot further for a gag (see League of Gentlemen), whereas some comedies in the US are limited in what they can do (way more that American dramas, which are superb). In terms of really mainstream shows, I think Big Bang Theory, Two Broke Girls and that ilk are just as bad as similar shows here. But Britain does great cult comedy, and it does it better than most.

Yeah that show I only remember a few episodes of it but it was one of the longest running shows. It had an element of complete and total crazy to it that appealed to me as a kid. You've just inspired me to go back and re-watch it as I think I remember the character of Gordon Brittas being an influence on Alan Partridge and I absolutely LOVE Alan Partridge! haha

Now that you're in the UK do you find more of the shows funny now that the jokes are all "in context" so to speak? haha

I think I remember hearing that. It was interesting that's for sure! haha. I was entertained by it. *grins*

Yes, I lot of British shows are actually funny now that I have more of a "background" in normal life over here.