British humor

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One thing I have never enjoyed was the "dry British humor." I simply don't get it. I like Monty Python to a certain degree and I loved Benny Hill and some other funny British sitcoms (The Young Ones, Whose Line Is It Anyway) but I never enjoyed dry humor. Many intelligent people liked those comedies but I simply thought maybe I was stupid and perhaps there were some cultural references that I had to understand before "getting it". I think Fawlty Towers and Ab Fab(?) were some shows with dry humor. They always seemed so lifeless to me and not funny at all. Anyone here like those shows?

...well as there are quite a few of us British Aspies on WP, many of us if not all of us will know those shows. We have many types of humour over here, not only one.

Inevitably there will be differences in cultural appreciation, as there surely is vice versa.

I often prefer American films to ours, but American canned laughter sitcoms make me cringe to my core. Not because I don't get the humour, it's just crass and naff and cheesy a lot of the time. Although I prefer American films to ours a lot of the time, one thing that does annoy me in some (this happens a bit less these days) is that there is always a tidy moral of the tale at the end, it's a bit irritating. I think the budgets are probably bigger on American films and I find them more exciting to watch, effects-wise and they make me feel like I'm having a truly escapist experience. I don't like the over-whitened teeth and plastic-surgery perfection of many of the actors though, it doesn't feel real enough. We tend to do character actors over here more, although some of them probably could do with a bit of a nip & tuck and attention to their teeth .

Yes, I generally prefer British humour, subtle and dry, to the rather more obvious American kind, but there are exceptions to this broad statement. I think I like radio comedy better than TV, but there are some deeply unfunny radio programmes rolled out by the BBC from time to time. I'm sure quite a lot of good British radio comedy is written by Aspies!

Can someone please explain to me the rules about what good dry British humor is comprised of? Is it about cultural references? I would like to understand how to "get" the humor so I can enjoy it.

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

i am british so i have been brought up with british humour but everyone has different tastes, my favourites are: whose line is it anyway but i actually prefer the US version, a bit of fry and laurie, mony python, only fools and horses, faulty towers and my upmost favourite is allo allo, anyone who has not seen allo allo must see it at least once.

To take one example, 'Allo 'Allo is a comedy set in a cafe in wartime France. It pokes fairly affectionate fun at everybody - British (the two airmen being hidden by the resistance), French, Germans, Italians. Key to the humour is the portrayal of mispronounced French: the Gendarme is actually British in disguise, and is in danger of being betrayed by his supposedly bad French - he wishes people 'Good Moaning' at some point in every episode.

Some idiot managed to sell this series to French TV dubbed in French. It was a failure: they were not amused...

Hi there - IMO The french loved Benny Hill - it used to be on tv on rotation in the 80s there - however they never showed a lot of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers etc... type comedy as things don't work out in translation as well.

So that leads me to think --- is there a possibility that maybe the OP is maybe not picking up all the words/ understanding the social context/slang/accents that are involved in UK humour ? Because all you need to find it boring is to not get a few sentences or words on which the gags are based, then it can be a pointless exercise.

I think appreciating different types of humour is a really individual thing, like taste in music, or art - there is no right or wrong - the fact the OP states she loves Benny Hill maybe suggests that the OP enjoys visual gags and slapstick humour ...as opposed to the drier variety..

I like comedy films such as Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman ... etc...

I'm American, but thanks to public TV (and BBC America), I've seen a lot of British comedy.

One thing that strikes me about the difference between British and American comedy is that British comedy will often have lead characters who are unpleasant and their actions more outrageous. The show's creators and writers feel no need felt to give them warmth or redeeming characteristics. Basil Fawlty, Edina Monsoon, Patsy Stone, etc. As an American, I find that very cool. And it's funny to see TV execs here when they tried to adapt a series. They always soften up the main characters and it made the shows weaker. I think the only series that it worked for was All in the Family.

A second thing is I like how British series usually go six episodes. They may go on for years, so episodes can add up. But it's nothing like the way they do here. TV execs here tend to run a funny concept into the ground and shows go on long after they've worn themselves out.

I have always preferred the BBC over the American networks. I enjoy the Dramas as well as the comedies much better then anything we have here in the States. Although I can’t put my finger on just why I do, I imagine it’s because it is so dead pan that I can identify with it better. Me having a flat line personality and at best a very dry humor.

If you have any issues with British humour, then I would appreciate if you would follow these steps:

Please provide (House of Lords):

- Recent photo of yourself (no goofing around).
- Home address (GPS coordinates will be appreciated).
- If locked door, please direct me to hidden key. If not, leave door slightly open so I do not mistake door for locked.
- Make sure that no witnesses are present.
- Pour a cup of Earl Grey when you hear the door opening. Temperature should be 99 °C.
- It is good form to prepare a will and testament before going through the steps above.

Alternative approach (House of Commons):

- Jump in front of a China Railways CRH380A travelling at top speed - Head first.

That is what I am talking about. I could almost hear a dry British accent while reading it.

Incidentally Blackadder is my role model, even though my family and associates would tell you I act more like Bernard Black.

...and surely everyone finds the incomparable Mr Bean hilarious (same actor as Blackadder). He barely talks so there can be no cultural misunderstandings!

I stopped trying to watch those programs a long time ago. Perhaps now, having had more experience and understanding of international affairs, I might get more of the cultural references upon which the humor is based. I will give it another go at some point and see what happens.

I'm the only one of my relatives who "gets" British humor, and while I don't always think it is particularly funny it is mostly entertaining.

For example, in "Keeping Up Appearances", I find the character of Hyacinth to be too contentious and her voice too discordant to be funny, and the burdens she inflicts on her poor husband Richard are more appalling than humorous. It's the interactions of the other characters in Hyacinth's absence that make me smile.

"As Time Goes By" is more poignant than funny (imo), but it still has its moments.

How about an example

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wejNjdPndLI[/youtube]