# Are there any US comedians or comedy shows that are successful in the UK? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302 "2003-11-09T23:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/21 "2003-11-12T02:18:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by edwino \* > \*\*We get The Office in the US. Comes on on Sunday on BBC America, which is not a widely available cable channel. I watch it faithfully – last night was the one about Comic Relief day, where David Brent does that awesome dance (Flash dance fused with MC Hammer shit) and Keith dresses up as Ali G. \*\* OH MY GOD As I have said in other threads, the Office is the funniest show ever. And this episode (which I saw for the first time this past Sunday) is the funniest episode ever. Ok, maybe it’s tied with training day. That dance that David “Brentmeister General” did was so \*&%@ funny I almost wet myself. Even funnier was the awkward silence as everyone looked on in shock. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/22 "2003-11-12T02:31:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by differant thinker \* > \*\*There are some shows in the UK that I don’t believe you’ve had in the US, so I clalenge you to dig them out and have a look at some great comedy: > > Black Books (yes it is a comedy and not what you may expect) > Have I got news for you > QI > Never mind the buzzcocks > The Office > Spaced > Red Dwarf > \*\* > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Miller_ > **Black Books shows up on Comedy Central every now and then, but it’s an extremely short run, if I’m not mistaken: only six shows or so, no? At least, they only show the same six or so shows over here before they pull it off rotation again. The Office is on cable, and has generated a lot of critical buzz, although not many households get BBC America, so there aren’t a lot of viewers. And Red Dwarf has a respectable cult following thanks to its semi-regular stints on PBS. (The same channel that introduced us yanks to Monty Python and Benny Hill)** I know **Never Mind the Buzzcocks** comes on late at night on VH1, but I’ve never seen it before. I had assumed it was about punk, but then I heard it’s some sort of panel show or something. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/23 "2003-11-12T03:48:17Z")
I got the impression that the _Never Mind the Buzzcocks_ that aired on VH-1 was an American remake attempt, but I may be wrong. I tried watching but never quite got the gist of it, and dismissed it as dull, like lots of VH-1 shows. It was during a phase when they were airing lots of rock music themed gameshows. I loved _Black Books_ when it ran on CC because Bernard was so unlikeable and grouchy without a heart of gold underneath. Although the episode where Bernard tried to fool the girl he wanted into thinking he was a tortured genius piano virtuoso while the other guy hid under the piano was so lame it reminded me of so many of our sitcom plots.If a US version were ever attempted we would ruin it by trying to soften the character’s rough edges; and an alcoholic main character would be a hard sell on a regular sitcom these days. Just look at the bungled attempts to do American adaptions of _Faulty Towers_ and _AbFab_. BTW, add me to the list of people glad Rich Hall has carried on in the UK. I was a fan of his stanup appearances as well as the “sniglets” books in Jr. High, and still use the word “charp” for the mutant green potato chip in every bag. ---
**Author:** ![dejahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dejahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dejahma)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/24 "2003-11-12T16:15:15Z")
Kind of a highjack here, but since we’re talking about comedies in us vs uk…What’s the name of the show with the Indian guy doing a talk show in his parents house with all of his relatives butting in asking inane questions?? Saw it in Australia and got tears in my eyes it was so damn funny. Does anybody know if it’s available in the US. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/25 "2003-11-12T16:58:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dejahma \* > \*\*Kind of a highjack here, but since we’re talking about comedies in us vs uk…What’s the name of the show with the Indian guy doing a talk show in his parents house with all of his relatives butting in asking inane questions?? Saw it in Australia and got tears in my eyes it was so damn funny. Does anybody know if it’s available in the US. \*\* [The Kumars at No. 42](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/previews/index_kumars.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![dejahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dejahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dejahma)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/26 "2003-11-12T18:02:37Z")
Thanks jjimm, unfortunately it looks like we will never get to see this in the states. If and when they do bring it over here they they plan on changing the family to mexican-american (huh?). I wish bbc america would just send over the original. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/27 "2003-11-12T23:40:32Z")
[hijack] I’ve actually been to a taping of the Kumars. In case you had any doubts, it’s not actually taped in a house but rather a (small) television studio. OTOH, the studio really is in Wembley. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302/28 "2003-11-12T23:54:59Z")
Ali G has gone past saturation point - Ricky Gervais apparently knows when to stop. Rich Hall always does well here as does Greg Proops, and others mentioned above from the ‘Whose Line’ show. I grew up with one of the writers of ‘Alan Partridge’ and am fond of it as a result - but this connects to Chris Morris - ‘The Day Today’, ‘Brass Eye’ ‘Jam’ and wonder -given the opprpbium at some of this stuff in the UK - how it is seen in the US - if at all [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-us-comedians-or-comedy-shows-that-are-successful-in-the-uk/212302.md?page=1)