Whore
I'm sorry, Blogger, I've been cheating on you, once again. But I'm back, and will give you the attention you deserve.
I posted this on Facebook and thought it only right I let you read it as well. I'm sorry, it won't happen again.
"Funny's Funny, No Laugh Track Necessary"
I'm sure we're all in agreement that a lot of television shows airing in the States didn't originally begin here. "Hole in the Wall" is based on a Japanese game show, "The Weakest Link" started in England, as well as gems like "The Office" and the sorely missed "Whose Line is it Anyway." We're not the most creative, but I love TV, so networks get a pass.
What I will NOT tolerate, however, is being told when I'm supposed to laugh. Last night, I was watching the Disney short series "Brian O'Brian," a complete RIP off the AMAZING BBC bit "Mr. Bean" starring the incomparable Rowan Atkinson. The basic premise of the show is a simpleton getting in all sorts of shenanigans...silently. Comedic genius. I believe that had a laugh track, but it was awesome. "Brian O'Brian" is NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Yet, it still has a laugh track. It is of Disney caliber, but still not that good.
On to "Little Britain." USA. It began on the BBC as 'Little Britain' and has now been adapted for American viewers by HBO. The show is funny as hell, mainly because the founders of the British version star and write the American version (let's admit it: "The Office" didn't reach its true potential until Ricky Gervais, the original star and writer of the BBC version, took over...ADMIT IT). But the show has a laugh track.
And I am insulted. Granted, I enjoy British humor, it's dry and witty all ways around. So why does the American version of the SAME SHOW have to dumb it down with a luagh track? It's basically saying, "Hey, you dumb American savage, THIS is where you laugh."
My issue is, who do I get mad at? Is it the writers of the show, thinking we're not smart enough to get the jokes without a little help? Or is it HBO for not having faith enough in the viewer to know that we too get humor that's not slapstick or degenerate?
I get it, we threw their damn tea in Boston Harbor, but look, we don't have kick ass accents as a result. Can we call it a draw already?
Like I said, funny's funny, no laugh track necessary.
I posted this on Facebook and thought it only right I let you read it as well. I'm sorry, it won't happen again.
"Funny's Funny, No Laugh Track Necessary"
I'm sure we're all in agreement that a lot of television shows airing in the States didn't originally begin here. "Hole in the Wall" is based on a Japanese game show, "The Weakest Link" started in England, as well as gems like "The Office" and the sorely missed "Whose Line is it Anyway." We're not the most creative, but I love TV, so networks get a pass.
What I will NOT tolerate, however, is being told when I'm supposed to laugh. Last night, I was watching the Disney short series "Brian O'Brian," a complete RIP off the AMAZING BBC bit "Mr. Bean" starring the incomparable Rowan Atkinson. The basic premise of the show is a simpleton getting in all sorts of shenanigans...silently. Comedic genius. I believe that had a laugh track, but it was awesome. "Brian O'Brian" is NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Yet, it still has a laugh track. It is of Disney caliber, but still not that good.
On to "Little Britain." USA. It began on the BBC as 'Little Britain' and has now been adapted for American viewers by HBO. The show is funny as hell, mainly because the founders of the British version star and write the American version (let's admit it: "The Office" didn't reach its true potential until Ricky Gervais, the original star and writer of the BBC version, took over...ADMIT IT). But the show has a laugh track.
And I am insulted. Granted, I enjoy British humor, it's dry and witty all ways around. So why does the American version of the SAME SHOW have to dumb it down with a luagh track? It's basically saying, "Hey, you dumb American savage, THIS is where you laugh."
My issue is, who do I get mad at? Is it the writers of the show, thinking we're not smart enough to get the jokes without a little help? Or is it HBO for not having faith enough in the viewer to know that we too get humor that's not slapstick or degenerate?
I get it, we threw their damn tea in Boston Harbor, but look, we don't have kick ass accents as a result. Can we call it a draw already?
Like I said, funny's funny, no laugh track necessary.
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