I always thought my life was an American tragedy, but today I learned it is a British comedy.

@redwarf8118

3 жыл бұрын

good one ;)

@anneworks

3 жыл бұрын

lol

@jenorite80

3 жыл бұрын

Gold

@petermanias7149

3 жыл бұрын

amazing

@theobolt250

3 жыл бұрын

And you're SOOOO happy now? Or more depressed than before? Please do tell. 😔😁

Stephen fry could lecture about the history and invention of the door and I'd still be fascinated

@spodybanjack8800

6 жыл бұрын

Charlotte D He did a documentary about the invention of the printing press

@DoubleBread

5 жыл бұрын

Charlotte D I knoooow, right? Always talks so nicely, I really love listening to him whatever he's talking about.

@seanhoward1939

5 жыл бұрын

How very true

@LeonidasLost480

5 жыл бұрын

That is so true and sooo funny

@Farweasel

5 жыл бұрын

Fascinating, plausible ......... and frequently wrong (with the exception of language use, which to be fair he's quite adroid at).

I think the act of cheering when someone drops a glass in a pub sums up British comedy pretty well

@nickmiller76

3 жыл бұрын

And don't forget to say "Sack the juggler".

@babboon5764

3 жыл бұрын

@@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 ...............

@H4NDCRAFTED

3 жыл бұрын

@@babboon5764 you just listed some of the worst comedians in the country , lee Mac ffs?

@mollymcdade4031

3 жыл бұрын

@@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

@ashempire527

3 жыл бұрын

Happens in schools all the time as well

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.

@kitty6720

3 жыл бұрын

Stephen Fry has a way with words. That he does :-)).

@pablozumaran3997

3 жыл бұрын

It’s funny, though, how he breathes in when he’s looking for a word.

@Marshmellowfroggable

3 жыл бұрын

Hes brilliant on the radio game show Just A Minute. Almost too good.

@peterenola2265

2 жыл бұрын

Few people exhibit the same eloquence. One that comes to mind is Jordan Peterson, but he's of course active in a totally different field than Fry ;-)

@MW-tk5nf

2 жыл бұрын

That's because he's an educated Englishman.

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.

@antmunro6407

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂

@dinsel9691

4 жыл бұрын

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!

@sneaky5141

4 жыл бұрын

@@dinsel9691 thsnks for sharing.

@Jacky-ib4gn

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

@antmunro6407

4 жыл бұрын

@@dinsel9691 I think our sense of humour is juvenile rather than subtle, I think that's why most don't get it!

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".

@tertommy

4 жыл бұрын

What's a bookstore?

@juliarman

3 жыл бұрын

brilliant

@MCphattyStoolz

2 жыл бұрын

This is the comment! Spot On!

@Vasharan

2 жыл бұрын

@@tertommy Words, usually.

@TonyEnglandUK

2 жыл бұрын

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.

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.

@glennhoddle10

2 жыл бұрын

FACT.

@47imagine

2 жыл бұрын

Well I'm pretty sure it's something he's thought about/talked about before

@stevecarter8810

10 ай бұрын

I thought it was somewhat rambling. Several false starts

@miroslavhoudek7085

10 ай бұрын

I think he was in fact an American who learned british accent and well-structured questions from a self-help book.

@maynardburger

9 ай бұрын

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.

Al Murray explained it the best way. "The Americans have a dream...the American dream" ..."we don't ...we're awake"

@CurtisGabrielMusic

2 жыл бұрын

We THINK we are, but tragically we are not. Which is what lends itself so well to the comedy.

@Tht1Gy

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, bite rocks.

@mikefraser4513

2 жыл бұрын

@@CurtisGabrielMusic The only dream we have is to win either the World- or EUFA Cup. Better both.

@admthrawnuru

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikefraser4513 in this case, we Americans are more awake. We know it ain't happening for us, so we ditched the whole sport and made our own, lol.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

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."

"On whom life craps from a terrible height."

@daisydottie9252

3 жыл бұрын

I wish I could speak words that

@samcheeseman9329

3 жыл бұрын

I find it really annoying when people just quote a line from the video. But it seems like I'm the only one.

@redwarf8118

3 жыл бұрын

@@samcheeseman9329 I hear you. Maybe avoid youtube comments. 90% ist quoting bits or saying this is underrated or who is here in *(insert this year)

@ab8jeh

3 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@jimbo1066

3 жыл бұрын

@@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 KZread 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

3 жыл бұрын

He's quite a bright bloke - He knows what will get him repeat work in the USA and what will ensure it vanishes.

@NateSean

3 жыл бұрын

@@babboon5764 You think he's pandering to Americans?

@babboon5764

3 жыл бұрын

@@NateSean Hell, does anyone seriously think he *isn't* ?

@GodzillasaurusJr

3 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@babboon5764

3 жыл бұрын

@@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.

"They aren't characters, they are brilliant repositories of killer one lines"

@hetedeleambacht6608

3 жыл бұрын

hem for me that doesn`t quite translate as a compliment but maybe it`s just me ... :p

@vpeake88

3 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@elrikard7909

3 жыл бұрын

@@vpeake88 And not quite on target. American comic figures are underdogs who won't give up and never say die.

@matteoj226

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@gonnahavemesomefun

3 жыл бұрын

@@hetedeleambacht6608 lol it's not a compliment. You must be from the USA?

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

2 жыл бұрын

I'm guessing you've never seen a Norman Wisdom film then?

@Zerbey

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@dylantrinder1571

Жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

@glenbo68

Жыл бұрын

Spot on

@subhasisjoshi8135

Жыл бұрын

😂😂 2nd one is the best

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.

@hameed

10 жыл бұрын

lol. wrong wrong wrong

@fasteddyuk

10 жыл бұрын

Very true. Having spent considerable time in both the UK and thee USA, Americans are generally much more sensitive and defensive.

@deme9873

10 жыл бұрын

Then, by your reckoning, UK audiences are very easily amused. One would suppose that they're not quite the sophisticated lot after all.

@fasteddyuk

10 жыл бұрын

deme9873 Brits are not particularly sophisticated, really, but pretty demanding when it comes to stand up. It's just a matter of sensibility.

@snakelemon

10 жыл бұрын

***** 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.

British humor - self-depreciating American humor - self-aggrandizing

@warnpassion

8 жыл бұрын

American humour is showing exuberance, over confidence and cockiness and passing personal insults. British humour is portraying oneself as clumsy.

@Auron710

5 жыл бұрын

the trumps the funniest american to live? nobody self aggrandizes like he does lol and hes not even scripted!

@fingersTitan

5 жыл бұрын

"aggrandises" You're welcome. ;)

@rickh3714

5 жыл бұрын

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.

@ossyable

5 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@bugsiins3407

3 жыл бұрын

interesting point

@TheElfiestElf

Жыл бұрын

Hol up. There was an American Red Dwarf? D:

@therocketboost

Жыл бұрын

Failed pilot(s)

@TheElfiestElf

Жыл бұрын

@@therocketboost in the meantime I have found and watched one of them. It was painful.

@efc4693

Жыл бұрын

@@TheElfiestElf yes absolutely shocking aswell

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"

@chuckolator1859

3 жыл бұрын

Could have cast me at a point in time.

@babboon5764

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@nuttysquirrel8967

3 жыл бұрын

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

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

...and none of them tried "acting?"

@cecil123

2 жыл бұрын

So, they wanted Arnold Rimmer, but got Ace Rimmer?

I think I'm a British sitcom character.

@phinny5608

8 жыл бұрын

+AndroidDoctorr Honestly, who didn't feel that way after hearing Fry's description?

@jschmidt1460

8 жыл бұрын

I was thinking thus too lol

@ricarleite

8 жыл бұрын

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.

@Nemozoli

7 жыл бұрын

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...

@LearnerChess

7 жыл бұрын

*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

I think he hits the nail right on the head.

@themitraya8132

9 жыл бұрын

Not in the least ... Quite the opposite actually.

@themitraya8132

9 жыл бұрын

dito ...

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.

@dcmastermindfirst9418

2 жыл бұрын

Actually he was. British comedy is without a shadow of a doubt superior to American comedy.

@longshotradio4395

2 жыл бұрын

@@dcmastermindfirst9418 No, there's some shadows there...It's culturally different

@shaunhunterit342

Жыл бұрын

@@dcmastermindfirst9418 US stand up is better than UK, but sitcoms the other way round.

@dcmastermindfirst9418

Жыл бұрын

@shaunhunterit342 lol US stand up is rubbish.

@shaunhunterit342

Жыл бұрын

@@dcmastermindfirst9418 Dave Chappelle? Bill Burr? Rubbish? Who are the great British standsups then?

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.

@Donna-cc1kt

Жыл бұрын

That was a good interpretation

@nealjroberts4050

10 ай бұрын

Good point. You can usually spot shows with the same writers too - Friends and The Big Bang Theory for example

@nicktecky55

9 ай бұрын

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.

@themitraya8132

9 жыл бұрын

I've found Mr. Bean to be hilarious, When I was nine ...

@gamerdareswins2825

9 жыл бұрын

Osama Bin Marx do a few vodkas and you'll laugh like your nine all over again. And thanks for missing my point.

@boobengarden666

8 жыл бұрын

+GamerDares Wins Blackadder and Not The Nine 'O' Clock News will always be my personal Atkinson favorites.

@SexyStarlets35

8 жыл бұрын

+GamerDares Wins too true

@blaster88778

8 жыл бұрын

Yeah and like smashing mclaren f1s up aswel lol

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"

@lefinlay

7 жыл бұрын

The Big Bang Theory in a nut shell

@lefinlay

7 жыл бұрын

Or in fact the complete opposite. We are such a successful nation, we can afford to make fun of ourselves. The US is just overcompensating.

@whnook

7 жыл бұрын

Yes, we are very much a failed nation. It's funny, even from our point of view.

@slothfromthegoonies8201

7 жыл бұрын

Neither is a failed nation, both have their strengths and weaknesses.

@cheekyboy5000

7 жыл бұрын

All nations fail in the end. America will just be another country that had its moment in the limelight - tomorrow it will be china and India.

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."

@pitmatix1457

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

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

2 жыл бұрын

@@captainmaim Gracie would have made it sweeter with her feigned innocent but sharp interruptions.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@rbrooks2007

2 жыл бұрын

@@captainmaim I downloaded from KZread 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.

I absolutely adore Stephen Fry. He is a treasure

@bitcoinisfreedommoney.fckt2663

10 ай бұрын

If you knew about his (dis gust ing) private life you would change your opinion instantly

@Colgan1

10 ай бұрын

@bitcoinisfreedommoney.fckt2663 so enlighten me. Oh. You deleted that comment now huh? Also bitcoin is just another con. Who gives a fuck

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!!

@nickfarmer2452

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@Zerbey

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@woodsville76

Жыл бұрын

I’ve met a few Brents in my time but never recognised them until I saw the office. Exasperation then became amusement. 😂

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.

@FabledFrame

9 жыл бұрын

Bill hicks and Michael McIntyre should maybe swap nationalities then. Obviously if bill was alive. ;)

@jdm0029

9 жыл бұрын

Dom Hicks is good example, as he was a rock star in Britain and slightly under appreciated in the US.

My mother used to say an American would laugh if a pea fell off a plate but we would just call it an escapea.

@phutureproof

3 жыл бұрын

I just pead on the table :(

@Gyrbae

3 жыл бұрын

Peas off.

@staceykeeley4219

3 жыл бұрын

All we are saying is give peas a chance

@aredub1847

2 жыл бұрын

get out

@keiranj5149

2 жыл бұрын

Pea you later.

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.

I think, in general, Brits can laugh at themselves. Then we laugh at Americans ;)

@BadWebDiver

5 жыл бұрын

ROTFLMAO!!!

@Ryattt81

5 жыл бұрын

We Americans laugh at Brits, then pout about those foreigners who laugh at us and say our words weird.

@erads2185

5 жыл бұрын

@@Ryattt81 You can't say a word weirdly, it's just the accent

@ivxx792

5 жыл бұрын

@@Ryattt81 you Americans are British anyway, war of independence was brits vs overseas brits

@KryssLaBryn

5 жыл бұрын

@@ivxx792 Do you really want to claim them back right now though?

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?"

@dulcietorrans

3 жыл бұрын

ye whereas in the uk when people tell stories it's like 'omg you'll never believe what a tit i made of myself last night'

@drewbrown3082

3 жыл бұрын

Stories of what a Victor you were are boring in the UK. We like to laugh and stupid stories are always the best

@babboon5764

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@timkingsemail

3 жыл бұрын

I see you've heard one of my speeches.

@user-ln2go4xp6d

2 жыл бұрын

ah, karens

Brilliantly explained. Love how he mentioned the Black Adder for one of the examples of the timeless tragic heroes of British culture

@awsomedude12345678

9 ай бұрын

He was in in

@declancampbell1277

9 ай бұрын

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.

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’

@MW-tk5nf

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting. Thought-provoking. Cheers.

@smartmagis

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@leojudkins2040

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@mehere8038

Жыл бұрын

@@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

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.

@TwatMcGee

9 жыл бұрын

***** i must say, that was a bit much

@StereOasis93

9 жыл бұрын

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.

@perman07

9 жыл бұрын

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.

@StereOasis93

9 жыл бұрын

***** 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.

@perman07

9 жыл бұрын

***** 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..

The difference between British humour and American humour, is that British humour is funnier.

@johnrambo6861

8 жыл бұрын

+Gary Shaw depends on the person... My dad won't laugh once at brits... Now Threes company with John Ritter, he will be in stitches.

@smooooth_

8 жыл бұрын

How do you measure funniness

@thegee001ify

8 жыл бұрын

Smooooth By how much you laugh. How long it amuses you for and if it sticks in your mind for weeks or years. If you recite it to people and if it influences how you deliver your own humour.

@smooooth_

8 жыл бұрын

Gary Shaw So unless you sample every human being there is no definitive way to say that, considering its subjective

@thegee001ify

8 жыл бұрын

+Smooooth You can measure it based on personal funny experiences within the compass of your own life. Doesn't have to be based on having met everyone on the planet.

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.

@hailfellowwellmetTV

8 ай бұрын

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.

@Anon54387

8 ай бұрын

@@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.

This man is brilliant. He's a bit of a Stephen Fry.

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.

@thomaswhittaker4137

5 жыл бұрын

A Brit wouldn't say subway

@3qui1i6riM

5 жыл бұрын

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.

@anodyne57

4 жыл бұрын

That would mean Louis C. K. is actually not American? Wait, I'm so confused.

@MyMags8

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@DarkCyberElf

4 жыл бұрын

@@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.

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.

@BadWebDiver

5 жыл бұрын

Great comment! :)

@arunsalwan8558

4 жыл бұрын

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

@AndrewBlucher

4 жыл бұрын

@@arunsalwan8558 I think you have just proved the point made by Mr Fry

@arunsalwan8558

4 жыл бұрын

Andrew Blucher perhaps i have . Its just that i find most people like to put people and cultures in a box and in the process lose nuance

@LG-cz6ls

3 жыл бұрын

@@arunsalwan8558 And the people of the US excel at that, hence African Americans.

"Fortune vomits on my eiderdown once more" - BlackAdder

The eloquence of that man is simply remarkable.

I'm an American that has grown up with American and British humor fairly equally and found that I come to rest in the middle. I love them both.

It never ceases to astonish me how well Stephen can get to the heart of / nail something and explain it. His video on Brexit is worth a watch.

I love the clarity that comes from the long term reflection, within the field, by someone as insightful and articulate as Fry.

This is the reason aussies and poms get along so well when they first meet. And opposite with Americans LMAO

I personally just love the green socks, what a great COLOUR

American humour is alot more loud and obvious and in your face, whereas British comedy is more subtle and awkward

@rhysellis4280

8 жыл бұрын

+Great Britant exactly

@rhysellis4280

8 жыл бұрын

+Sharon Newman what?

@10INTM

8 жыл бұрын

Yes, the British comedy you're intimately familiar with will always outperform the caricature of American comedy as you know it.

@10INTM

7 жыл бұрын

***** 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.

@keeperofthecheese

7 жыл бұрын

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.

I used to not understand British comedy, but now I can't get enough of it

Suddenly remembered the Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel were both British. ~~ Thank you Stephen. This the kind of insight that I can chew on for ages.

@patrickmanion9646

2 жыл бұрын

Except that Oliver Hardy was usually the one trying to maintain his dignity, after Stan Laurel does something wacky.

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.

@MW-tk5nf

2 жыл бұрын

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.

In a more modern context I think IT Crowd and Peep Show perfectly exemplify the British side

@louisgardner5580

8 жыл бұрын

+George M I think richard ayoade is a good example

@Anniebelle-mr4wx

8 жыл бұрын

+George M I think the inbetweeners is a very good example too.

@louisgardner5580

8 жыл бұрын

Anniebelle 1414 No...

@EmyrDerfel

4 жыл бұрын

Black Books (written by Graham Linehan as was IT Crowd) is even more "un-American".

@gowdsake7103

3 жыл бұрын

Shudders ! NO WAY

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 wish I could just ask Stephen Fry endless questions about anything and everything.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

I wish he was the voice on my driving directions app... When I make a wrong turn, he'd mutter "Oh bugger, now you've done it."

"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.

@AndrewBlucher

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@AndrewBlucher

2 жыл бұрын

@@captainmaim Well said, my point exactly. Although putting Robyn Williams with the others you mention is a travesty.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

@@AndrewBlucher because cocaine or because silly is not as good as clever or because he couldn't write a book to save his life?

@AndrewBlucher

2 жыл бұрын

@@captainmaim I think I'm somewhere else. Can't be sure.

Brilliant. Never thought of it like that before

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.

Love his explanation! Love British comedy of their time, it was decent, full of intelligence and wholesome. Timeless.

Stephen Fry is a treasure: a talented actor and a great humanitarian. I hope he lives a long, long time.

@Kelly-nm4kw

2 жыл бұрын

Hello Carol, How are you doing?

@dcmastermindfirst9418

2 жыл бұрын

Lol. No he's a pseudo intellectual who failed to pass an arts degree.

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

@bingola45

5 жыл бұрын

American Jew 'humor', (Phil Silvers) and British Jew humour (Sid James) are very similar.

@herrfriberger5

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@oscarwildeghost

4 жыл бұрын

Most of Hollywood and the entertainment industry as a whole in America is Jewish.

@savvyroca

4 жыл бұрын

so true!!

@klamdo

4 жыл бұрын

I think this is true. Like in Seinfeld where the characters (especially George) fuck up for them self all the time.

A notable exception is George Constanza played by Jason Alexander in Seinfeld.

@joeduffy2154

3 жыл бұрын

Or Larry Sanders

@moonie1825

3 жыл бұрын

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.

Dr. House versus literally any of Hugh Laurie’s British characters

@darwin6883

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@jacksobrooks

3 жыл бұрын

@@darwin6883 house is great but I think that the focus here is humor. House is the source of humor as opposed to the victim.

@Thorndyk3

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@PrinceBarin77

3 жыл бұрын

Spot on 👏

@cptmaj

3 жыл бұрын

I guess you have never commissioned a dictionary.

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.

@TheMauritianBabeey

9 жыл бұрын

Best thing I've read all day.

@v-town1980

4 жыл бұрын

They have to invite other countries in; otherwise it'd be a bore.

@EmyrDerfel

4 жыл бұрын

@championchap The "World Series" was named after a periodical, it was never intended to be international.

@0wls2k

4 жыл бұрын

HAHAHAHA

@michkr144

4 жыл бұрын

@@EmyrDerfel Everybody knows that but naming a national championship the "World Series" means it is impossible for non-Americans not to deliberately misinterpret it.

The British Fry speaks the truth whereas the American Fry is put into Cryosleep for a milennium.

@madnessbydesign1415

5 жыл бұрын

Points for a Futurama reference! :)

@HAL-zl1lg

5 жыл бұрын

What about Spanish Fry?

@googlesucks7840

4 жыл бұрын

Turkish Fry is a delight.

@weckar

4 жыл бұрын

I'm shaken, not Stir Fry.

@matthewparker9276

4 жыл бұрын

And the french fry is mass produced and sold at a ridiculously low price.

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 :)

@johnzackarias11

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@leojudkins2040

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@johnzackarias11

2 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@johnzackarias11

2 жыл бұрын

@@lemonjuicelime No, but that was only because the merger didn't go through. It was *decided* that he was going to be let go.

@DarkWandererAU

2 жыл бұрын

Some of the best scenes in the US Office was when Michael would stop being a clown and suddenly be a killer salesman

"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.

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.

@wolverineiscool7161

5 жыл бұрын

i would rather read harry potter myself with my own mind voice than hear it from someone else like a dingus

@mahna_mahna

4 жыл бұрын

I started HP with Jim Dale and it's not the same without him. And yet, I love Stephen Fry to bits. I think a lot of it is about what you're used to.

@JoRiver11

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@martavdz4972

4 жыл бұрын

@@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.

@rabbid-runner8626

3 жыл бұрын

As a Brit I think Jim Dale is incredible and better than Fry’s reading of the books, but each to their own

he articulated this perfectly.

@Kajenko

8 жыл бұрын

The power of the fry

@r0bw00d

4 жыл бұрын

Not really; he stumbled a bit before finding his footing. _Then_ he articulated perfectly.

"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 think that’s why, as a British person, that I’ve always found American Jewish comedians really funny. Mel Brooks, Larry David, Rodney Dangerfield, Gene Wilder. They’re much more like British comedians than American ones. Self deprecating, ironic, subtle, surreal, silly, generally much more sophisticated than other American comic actors.

@misteral1083

3 жыл бұрын

That's an excellent point! Of course, they are English speaking representatives of the Jewish comedy tradition which, again, pokes fun at themselves far more than it does others.

@gregm4549

2 жыл бұрын

Rodney Dangerfield was absolutely brilliant. Stephen is not quite correct I think.

@weez246

2 жыл бұрын

What a great observation - it hadn’t occurred to me before

@johngladwaller2436

2 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing. To be honest, Stephen's point works much better in the realm of movies than it does in stand-up. If a movie's going to be successful, it has to be in a sense optimistic. There are lots of pessimistic, self-deprecating US stand-up comedians. Stephen Wright, Larry David, Ray Romano, even Louis CK.

@jeffdsilva5031

2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting observation! For me, I actually thought about the Simpsons - but perhaps this was one of the (many) reasons it was considered to be 'subversive' and opened the door to other comedies where the tired trope of Father Knows Best was replaced by one that featured more of an anti-hero. But of course Mel Brooks, Rodney Dangerfield and Gene Wilder predated Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa and the Springfield denizens by a couple of decades!

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.

@BadWebDiver

5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant comment! :)

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.

@D3athlyV1sag3

8 жыл бұрын

+Gerald L It's because they're obese.

@geraldl5221

8 жыл бұрын

+D3athlyV1sag3 The arms are WAY to short, it's like they're sitting on uncomfortable looking stools.

@cbar0x

8 жыл бұрын

+Gerald L They're all lovable failures

@holbs

8 жыл бұрын

+Gerald L Fry is 6 foot 4"

@readmails3033

6 жыл бұрын

Those aren't chairs, they are stools masquerading as chairs.

Never thought of it in this way and its so obvisous... great way to put it.

His answer was better than any essay I’ve ever written in my life…😂😂😂

I love this. It has to be the most insightful explanation of the difference between American and British comedy.

"Self Help? There is no such thing as self-help, if you do it yourself, you don't need help" - George Carlin

@krzysztofsobkowicz500

3 жыл бұрын

You might have multiple personalities

American humour: Laugh with me British humour: Laugh at me

@user-jo3go8fe3g

3 жыл бұрын

Not really, Americans: laugh at others

@Nina5144

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t think there’s much difference - our course British is far superior but both are great. Just watch Murder Mystery, a ‘comedy’. Not

@tommyfred6180

2 жыл бұрын

no mate americans humour: laugh at others britsh humour: laugh at us and with us

@RO8s

2 жыл бұрын

American humour is : laugh at him/them with me. British humour is: laugh at me, with me.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

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."

This guy is the man, a genius in a league of his own. Stephen you know what's going on 👍🏻👍🏻

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.

@pickles7734

8 жыл бұрын

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.

@YourPalHDee

8 жыл бұрын

+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.

@NetherlandsFirst

8 жыл бұрын

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?

@Paraphis

8 жыл бұрын

+Kevin Kibble Another notable exception is It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Terrific show.

@emz2969

8 жыл бұрын

+YourPalHDee you're right about friends both Ross and Chandler seem to be the more awkward style of British comedy. perhaps why its so successful.

this is brilliantly put

Stephen Fry is so intelligent and fun to listen to. He also wears very cool socks. :)

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.

@nebularain3338

3 жыл бұрын

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.

@illegalhunter7

3 жыл бұрын

yeah that was kinda rude tbh

@yottaforce

3 жыл бұрын

@@nebularain3338 I'm not american.

@bruce-e-bonus

3 жыл бұрын

@@yottaforce Ha! Yeah, your name gives that away! But your English is perfect and has an American spelling in it.

@yottaforce

3 жыл бұрын

@@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.

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.

This was beautifully expressed by Steven Fry. His intelligence and eloquence is quite impressive.

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.

This channel must have the greatest disparity between views and subscribers of any location on KZread. Thank you very much for posting this. It was informative as well as humorous.

An American comedian is a 'repository of killer one-liners' sums it up nicely.

The movie that's a perfect mix of both comedies "A Fish Called Wanda"

@LordSandwichII

4 жыл бұрын

Now THAT was a funny movie!

@effyleven

3 жыл бұрын

@@LordSandwichII I didn't like "A Fish called Wanda." It upset me. Too many Yorkies perished in its making.

@LG-cz6ls

3 жыл бұрын

@@effyleven Bloody Truckers!

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.

@captainmaim

2 жыл бұрын

I could listen to him describe paint drying... and enjoy every minute of it.

@dcmastermindfirst9418

Жыл бұрын

Lol. No. He's a pseudo intellectual.

@dcmastermindfirst9418

Жыл бұрын

Ps it's HUMOUR not humor.

@EctoMorpheus

10 ай бұрын

​@@dcmastermindfirst9418the irony...

Such a great analysis

Fry's articulation and style is beautiful

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.

@TheChugg11

8 жыл бұрын

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.

@beachboss7320

8 жыл бұрын

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

@tekobari

7 жыл бұрын

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.

@nevanderson1164

6 жыл бұрын

+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

@nevanderson1164

6 жыл бұрын

+I agree with everything you say Hicks? He is what they cloned to get Brand. An obnoxious arse, devoid of humour or any filter

I could listen to Stephen Fry any time. He's a living encyclopedia.

"he's a bit of a chandler"

Brilliantly put.

An inspiring Easter message. Thank you.

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 🤦🏻‍♂️

God... Brilliantly insightful. He did forget to say British Comedy is better though....

@chuckie102883

9 жыл бұрын

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!

@chuckie102883

9 жыл бұрын

MrTubestubestubes exactly and they were the only shows that crossed over successfully, everything else produced by Brits FLOPPED internationally.

@Kevo216666

9 жыл бұрын

***** 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.

@Kevo216666

9 жыл бұрын

***** I'll add Parks And Recreation was pretty good too...

@MsCatamaran40

9 жыл бұрын

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.

"All the great British comic heroes are people who want life to be better and on whom life craps from a terrible height."

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.

Stephen fry could recite the instructions to my washing machine and I'd be fascinated and hanging on his every word. A true genius, icon and living legend for us brits.

Nailed it. This is a flawless analysis.