Caption The Cartoon

Considering the likes of Benny Hill, Python, music-hall performers, et al., you must be joking when you say that American humor is less sophisicated. The Brit humor is much more simplistic.

I didn't say, nor imply, that American humour is less sophisticated. It is its sophistication which I find boring. It's almost as if the audience laughs at the idea that it is clever enough to get the jokes. Or at some public figure being put down.

What was funny about Letterman's joke about Mrs Palin's daughter? Is the expression "knocked up" funny?

What I'm meaning is that American comics flatter their audience and English comics take the piss out of it. We laugh at ourselves as a result. One isn't supposed to laugh at Americans. Except aunt sallies.

You didn't but I think it is...broader brush strokes...less subtle...more to the point...etc. Different, but I enjoy it as much as I do English humour.


There was nothing funny about it, as was explained in countless posts. The days of comedians hosting late night shows are long gone. The new breed titillate and act like boors.


A generalization that is untrue in countless cases on both sides of the pond...you're just not familiar with American comics like: Andrew Dice Clay, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Dennis Leary, Lisa Lampanelli and Bill Hicks.

We laugh at ourselves too


The British are distinctly uncomfortable when Amurricans laugh at them.

It's the same the world over.

I think American humor, in general of course, is much more subtle. That may be the problem for the Brits who, I think, have a hard time with subtlelty. The thought that Americans somehow laugh because they are supposed to is ridiculous.

I will say that the Brits are wonderful, maybe unsurpassed, actors. It almost seems that this ability is in their genes.

jack benny aside, i would say that the marx brothers and the goons were very much kindred spirits

That's an amazing comment to me.

But I suppose, since I loathed Benny Hill type humour, I don't take such stuff into account.

It obviously also depends on what one is exposed to, I suppose,

Clearly Americans see a whole range of American humour that we overseas do not see...ditto with Brit humour.

But, in general, I'd have said American humour , is way less subtle.

I suspect it is what one happens to see, I guess.

I am also stunned to see the Pythons lumped in with Benny Hill

Perhaps their subtlety and wit doesn't make it over the Atlantic?


I know fish dances don't LOOK subtle!

Steven Wright is really funny.

I've crawled a long way for some water. I hope you can spare some!

This skit to me is the essence of British humour

He's a treasure

I'll have to wait until I am unthrottled to view it.

But...do you consider Cook unsubtle?


Generally?


(Trying to get an operational definition of your understanding of subtle.)

Aha! I am right...re the "what gets over to one country from the other" thing.

Never heard of Steven Wright.

here's a taste

Lol! Still can't see videos...at least for the next few days.

I think I MAY have seen him....is he really manic and angry all the time?

nah...very...deadpan, no emotion....monotone voice

Aaah....I went and did other stuff waiting for the video to load.

I have seen him...he comes over and does gigs here occasionally.

I like him.

So...that'd be subtle by your definition?

Just look back through the cartoons we have been asked to caption.

The nearest one to any real life situation is the guy in the hammock. It's as if we daren't go near real life for our humour. Millions of men have come home from the pub like Benny Hill did. Or slid up the sofa when some battleaxe started making advances. Or made watering the roses look like he had a big dick.



Nobody can actually identify with these cartoons. Which results in a forcing of the caption.

Peter Cook wasn't in the same league as Charlie Drake or Jimmy Edwards.

Good grief.

It's just a different type of humour from the one you like.

I love it.

Shrugs.

That's why they have different types of humour...because people's senses of humour are different.

I can't see anything funny in situations outside of real life. I suppose it's different if you can't see the absurdity of real life and think of yourself as a big deal.