Americans and Humour

**brendand** · 17th January 2011, 03:33 PM

I thought Ricky Gervais did a great job, really really funny. Last year's Golden Globes (also hosted by him) seemed to have better jokes though. My dad's an Irish immigrant, but my mom is North American so who knows what influence regional humour has had on me...

Note: I honestly find award shows painful to watch, so I just watched his monologues/introductions on youtube to see what the fuss was about.

**grandpa** · 17th January 2011, 03:38 PM

Quote by: brendand

I thought Ricky Gervais did a great job, really really
funny.
Last year's Golden Globes (also hosted by him) seemed to
have better jokes though.

I can imagine anyone losing a short-attention-span-having American audience. Some of it could be due to that problem. I didn't wtach it, though, so I don't know if it could have been handled better or not. I've never been to big on award shows and the like.

Grandpa h.

**Maryjane** · 17th January 2011, 03:43 PM

Quote by: Cruella

Agreed, Mr Bean and Benny Hill are dreadful, they're largely unseen in the UK these days though.

Because of cable, we are experiencing the expansion of British programming beyond BH and Mr.Bean. There's one brit situation comedy about male youth and the trials and tribulations of sexual awareness that I find amusing because of the character actors. I suppose it could be compared to our That 70's Show, abet a bit more raunchy, which I never found funny. I don't recall the 70's the way they portray it...might have to do with I grew up in the south and the program is set in Wisconsin and the actors are Meh..

I guess it's the characters that make the show funny for me. A lot of people can't stand Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, but loved Seinfeld.

**Jack** · 17th January 2011, 05:15 PM

As much as I enjoy Ricky Gervais, I don't enjoy awards shows, so even though he was on the Golden Globes, I didn't see his performance. Yet I'm sure he was fabulous and I'm also sure many of his bits went right over the heads of the American audience.

**Trojan_Ripper** · 17th January 2011, 05:59 PM

He “Roasted” quite a few. Not that it went over their heads as much as “they’re stuck on themselves” and can’t be made a fool of. Thought he did a great job.

YouTube - Ricky Gervais' funniest Golden Globes jokes

Take a “Joke” ya "Actor".

Ricky Gervais: Golden Globes Host 'Doesn't Care' If Anyone Was Offended By Jokes

He should care less....

**Dodds** · 17th January 2011, 06:29 PM

Quote by: Libhater

Of course I know of the ongoing battle between the two peoples. Perhaps that's the reason I have this constant battle going on inside my head.

Slightly off topic.

Ulster was colonized by Scotland, not England. England has very little to do with the ongoing battle, thats more a religious thing. But of course you knew that.

Back on topic.

America has a great sense of humour, if you can look past the 10 a penny sit coms and poor versions of UK TV shows.

**Chris the Chees** · 17th January 2011, 07:40 PM

Quote by: Maryjane

Because of cable, we are experiencing the expansion of British programming beyond BH and Mr.Bean. There's one brit situation comedy about male youth and the trials and tribulations of sexual awareness that I find amusing because of the character actors.

Which series is it? The Inbetweeners?

**ChimneySweep** · 17th January 2011, 08:19 PM

There's nothing new in Ricky Gervais's humour and it's not a uniquely English genre. Roasting was a common form of light-hearted baiting, especially in Bob Hope's time.

Don Rickles Roasts Bob Hope | Comedy.com

Some of their jokes probably couldn't even be repeated now. Maybe it's the difference between being roasted by someone of your own nationality and by someone from another country. We tend to be more forgiving of the former.

Personally I generally find Ricky Gervais funny, although occasionally he misses the mark. Quite often satire is funny because it exaggerates or highlights a home truth or at least what people believe is a home truth. A lot of what he said at the Golden Globes came into that category (otherwise how would you know which scientologist he was referring to?). It's funny unless you're the brunt of it or you disagree with it.