The Office 2 - 0 Crap American Sitcoms

[Collie]

Get in there my son. The Office and Ricky Gervais won at the Golden Globes - and I only just found out.

It's the first time a British show has won the award for Best Comedy/Musical series (why can't they just make another one for musicals... they're not exactly the same thing) and it's the first time a Briton, or Englishman has won the award for best comedy/musical actor (there's that musical nonsense again). That stunned the American audience and shut them up - another first.

When you look at what The Office was up against, only a braindead head louse could possibly have chosen rivals such as 'Will and Grace' (one half-funny squealing lady moment every episode) and Monk (utter crap) over the humour filled splendour of The Office.

Here's to the fat man and his friends.

story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040126/en_afp/lifestyle_us_film_globes_040126165059

[doctorvee]

Yess! Good speeches aswell.

[wedge69]

"I'm from that little place called England. We used to rule the world before you"

Chortle chortle.

[gargoyle]

I really like Monk.Its a good show and he's an odd little man. Will & Grace is good too. The Office won because it was something different for americans.

[Collie]

'Different'. It's genius. That's the thing about American shows, or the ones they churn out and show over here (which is a lot), they're so similar. Especially sitcoms. And they go on for so long, that you can easily miss a load and still miss nothing in particular. Shows like Friends start out being funny, then die and become atrociously samey. And why do Americans laugh every 5 seconds - when nothing happens?

TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF AN AMERICAN SITCOM AND THEIR STRANGE EASILY AMUSED AUDIENCE:


Character A comes onto the set, looks oddly at Character B - *LAUGH*

Character B looks back at A - *LAUGH*

Then B says, 'Yea, what?' *LAUGH*

Character A looks innocent and says, 'Nothing' *LAUGH*

Character B gives them the daggers, *LAUGH*,

Character A shrugs shoulders, says in exasperation, 'Ok, ok, I give in.... ' *MINI LAUGH*

Character B firmly places hands on hips and glares, 'Yea... what?' *LAUGH*

'I just wasn't expecting to walk into your house and see a Gorilla giving you one from behind' *LAAAAAAAAUGHH*

Character B looks oddly nonchalant, as if the Gorilla giving her one from behind wasn't there, or it was perfectly acceptable behaviour, 'What, if you had a pet Gorilla you wouldn't let it do the same?' *LAAAAUGH*

Character A's eyes popping out, hands waving about, *PREMATURE LAUGH* (Floor manager removes guilty audience members and has them shot with free gun supplied at every studio) - 'Yes, and that's my point..... IT'S MY SHAG-BUDDY GORILLA. You're SO not my friend anymore' *LAUGH*

Character B, 'Fine'. *LAUGH*

Character A, 'Fine' *LAUGH*

Character A, 'I'm going now. And I won't be back'. *LAUGH*

Character A, walks off set, slamming door. *LAUGH*

Character B wraps hand around Gorilla, 'She's sooo over the top, that one'. *LAUGH*

Door opens, Character A pokes head out.... 'So when you've finished with that slut, are you coming home to give me one Mr. Gorilla-poo? I've baked a special banana pie.....' *LAUGHHHHH*

Gorilla throws Character B across the room and runs out the door with Character A. *MINOR LAUGH FOR SOME REASON, DESPITE THAT BEING THE BEST COMEDY MOMENT*.

Character A, 'That's my Gorilla bitch, and don't you go forgetting it.' Shuts door. Character B looks up from the floor, holds head and curses. *LAUGH*

Fade scene *LAUGH*

Still fading scene *LAUGH*

Director says cut *LAUGH*

Director threatens to kill everyone if they don't stop laughing. *LAUGH*

Director gasses the entire audience. *CHOKE, LAUGH, SPLUTTER, .......*

End of Example.

That show never made it past the pilot by the way. The zoo wanted their gorilla back. And the production company were sent to death row for killing 200 audience members. Still, the audience had a laugh, or a 100 first.

[gargoyle]

The show never made it past the pilot because it was too good for tv. It should be on the big screen. The gorilla is huge box office draw. F*cking brilliant!

[Stupid American]

Hey, not all of us Americans like "Friends". I thought it was stupid, boring, and not at all funny. We just have find different things funny, I guess. I'm not hating on England at all. I happen to like England, and if I ever get a chance, I'd definately like to visit there. One thing that I'm absolutely sick and tired of, though, is "Reality TV".

I did, however, see a show on BBC America (it's basically our only chance to enjoy English tv in this country) that was a reality TV show, and it really cought my attention. I can't remember its name, but it takes a group of people and they judge eachother based on appearance and so on. I haven't had a chance to see more than one episode, but it looks to be a really great show, and it's the only "reality tv show" that I've actually enjoyed.

I hate most of our country's tv programs. I like Southpark, and Family Guy, and a few others, but I mostly just stick to the movie channels. Comedy Central is definately a fave of mine, though. They used to play Ab. Fab. too, but they got rid of it I guess.

Oh well. Just thought I'd toss in an American's opinion on American television. Most of it sucks lol. I also hate the lack of freedom we have to show violence/sex/speech and so on. It's unfair and rediculous.

We also have some good shows on the movie channels, like "Oz" and "The Sopranos". Very good shows. Check them out if you haven't yet. They're more drama orientated, but a good watch, nonetheless. "The Shield" is also good.

Well, thank you for reading.

[Collie]

I like The Sopranos, top stuff, although I missed the first two series (or seasons as you call them) through ignorance. The better American programs usually get shown on mainstream TV : X-files, Sopranos, ER, 24 etc... and shows like CSI, The Shield, Alias et al typically get an airing on digital tv channels. Sometimes on several channels even. And late at night the schedules are filled with Amerfican dramas and 'sitcoms'. Which is where I get tired of them. Samey, cheap and tacky. However, some of the American stuff is good.

[doctorvee]

Just about the only American programme I liked was Six Feet Under, and I couldn't be arsed watching the third series of that..

[pinksheep]

six feet under was so funny, every other programme seems top be pretty much the same though and it gets tiring