British Weirdness or just Dull Shtick Comedy

[Cassander]

also the large part of the time when we were without internet was spent drinking about 5 americanos apiece in an internet cafe downloading Brit comedy.  this all started when nacho turned me on to Green Wing and A Bit of Fry and Laurie.  as soon as we moved to new orleans a friend of mine lent me a DVD set of Little Britain, which, while funny, only opened the doors to greatness and a search for more.  Hence:

The Mighty Boosh, which is about as big as Friends times Cheers times Sesame Street in England, as far as i understand.  Unfortunately, this was the next big comedy I found, and it laid all others to waste, but also kept me searching for more.  Basically two guys with weirded out senses of humor who keep almost all adultness out of their writing.  Think Tim and Eric Awesome show except without the gross-out humor and bad acid trip asthetic and PBS style puppets.  But...not really.  someone else needs to explain this show.  Just all out brilliant.  Classic quote: ""yes, perhaps, but I am the mayor of stationery village, and the pencil tray goes here."

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W5u6Ryf582I


The IT Crowd.  Basically just 12 episodes exist, but we watch them constantly.  2 IT dorks and a semi-hot girl work in a big British company and tackle issues from cannibalism to misshapen bras.  If I had to pick a show that had Fawlty Towers' perfect pitch and timing in the 21st century, this would be it, though that sentence makes no sense.  Classic quote.  "It'll blow my cock off!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mbfba70lf4U

Snuff Box: one american, one wild Brit.  Basically a sketch show hidden inside a 30 minute monty python sketch.  does that make sense? of course not.  neither does this show and their love for their theme song.  but the snuff box delivers great one-liners (always playing with your expectations through basically repeat sketches each episode) and the occasional way-over-the-line-but-not-gross gag.  also hard to explain.  Classic quote: "I'm from the future, but i still like boobies!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8BjalRkLdXQ

That Mitchell and Webb Look: Imagine if chevy chase and bill murray spun off from SNL and had a sketch show.  that would kind of be A bit of Fry and Laurie.  Now imagine Steve Carrell and Jimmy Fallon had a sketch show.  That would kind of be a rip off.  But also kind of good.  Just like That Mitchell and Webb look.  Lots of great characters, and a lot more range than the Little Britain folks.  Classic quote: "you lot open up the Ark of the covenant, and it burns your face off!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

laura, ben, and him: three way sketch show.  one semi-funny dude, one really ugly funny dude, and one righteously cute chick who makes horse noises.  not the greatest, but you're not paying for it, so bloody download an episode or two.  classic quote:  eh. 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9X_OqHoMKyU

enjoy and tell us about your own britcom loves!

[nacho]

Nice...because I'm way behind.  We've talked extensively about Mighty Boosh somewhere deep in the forums during your absence.  I have IT crowds sitting on my harddrive, but have never gotten around to them...

What are your thoughts on Peep Show?  I hate it whilst everyone raves about it.

[Cassander]

haven't watched that one

[nacho]

It's the current in import.  Though they're trying hard to get Spaced out there in time for what will be a hideous American version.

[Cassander]

don't worry, they're making an American IT crowd.  but the Irish guy will be in that one too. so maybe it'll be good? 

[nacho]

Yeah, they tried that with Red Dwarf and bringing over the same Kryten.  It just doesn't work.

The only reason the Office works is that they quickly broke away from the UK format, and we're a service culture who all work in the same sort of environment.

[Tatertots]

Have you tried plugging it in?

[Cassander]

are you stressed, Jen? Are you stressed? Are you stressed now, Jen? Are you? Are you stressed?  Stress?  STRESSED?  ARE YOU STRESSED JEN?!

[Nubbins]

The Young Ones!!  Hilarious comedy... awesome music.

[nacho]

Snuff Box: one american, one wild Brit.  Basically a sketch show hidden inside a 30 minute monty python sketch.  does that make sense? of course not.  neither does this show and their love for their theme song.  but the snuff box delivers great one-liners (always playing with your expectations through basically repeat sketches each episode) and the occasional way-over-the-line-but-not-gross gag.  also hard to explain.  Classic quote: "I'm from the future, but i still like boobies!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8BjalRkLdXQ

And here's a full episode:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/u7v31d

[Cassander]

"One more second and my arm and your brown asshole are gonna get married!"

[nacho]

Okay.  I have watched.  And watched and watched again.  I have compared and reviewed.  I've made friends from small town Montana to Denmark watch and review.  I've discussed, argued, and carefully considered the history, the culture, and the facts.

I am now prepared to say:

Snuffbox is the greatest British Comedy ever.  Period.  Better than everything else.  Immortal, and beautiful.

[nacho]

Here with Reggie McGraw right now.

He is a wild Snuffbox convert.  He's calling his wife now to clear the rest of the night for the last two eps of Snuff Box, IT Crowd, and AD/BC.

[Cassander]

sweetness.  We are getting Alan Partridge now.  Something else new: Man to Man featuring Richard Ayoadede (whatever) (Moss from IT crowd, cameos on Mighty boosh) returning as Dean Learner from Garth Marenghi's darkplace who hosts a "Night at the Playboy Mansion" 70s type late night interview show.  Every show he interviews a different celebrity, all played by the guy who was Garth Marenghi all the while spouting sexist and demeaning jokes with a lot of on-purposely bad British Puns.  Terrific!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_to_Man_with_Dean_Learner

[Cassander]

One of my favorite snuff box sketches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXgDgrWI3wE