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Geek Culture / question for you UK people

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Phaelax
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Posted: 2nd Dec 2008 21:17
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I was watching Top Gear last week (the 750 mile race on 1 tank of fuel) and had a question. What's with the flipping of the light switch?


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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 2nd Dec 2008 22:34
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I didn't notice that. Was Clarkson flipping his light on and off to use up as much power as possible?

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Kohaku
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Posted: 2nd Dec 2008 23:23
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Can't say I noticed anything to do with lights either.

Splain!


You are not alone.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 2nd Dec 2008 23:41
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Light switch? Didn't notice it either. Personally I have no light switch in me car (automatic lights). Just got it, and it's the dogs at the minute (M3). Almost love the heated seats (nice and hot) as much as the engine (343bhp I believe) at the minute though. Now must remember to get 98 petrol (designed for it) and use sport mode when the weather isn't quite so rubbish

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
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El Goorf
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 00:34 Edited at: 3rd Dec 2008 00:35
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i didnt notice any flipping of light switches? oh.. maybe you mean the black pool tower lighting.. yeh, as they said, its every run up to x-mas, they have some celebrity turn on the blackpool lights. blackpool's kinda like britain's wannabe las-vegas. theres the pleasure beach (roller coaster rides and stuff on the sea front), and theres been several plans to build casinos there..

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

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Phaelax
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 00:46
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not the lights in the car, the switch that the entire race was based on. Thanks el goorf.


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Matt Rock
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 02:08
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Did you watch that on BBC America Phaelax? My DVR is set to record new episodes, we must not have gotten it in New York. Stupid Time Warner Cable

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Phaelax
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 08:42
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nah, BBC America always brings things way late and cuts out the news section. I get the turrents from finalgear, the have the new Aussie top gear too


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kaedroho
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 20:26 Edited at: 3rd Dec 2008 20:27
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Clarkson lives about 10 miles from where I live, I could go over to his house and ask him!

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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 20:27
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Ah - the light switch was to switch on the extensive Christmas Lights system in... Blackpool, was it?

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Matt Rock
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 20:31
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We're getting an American version of Top Gear here as well. I don't know if it's true, but I read somewhere that Jimmy Kimmel is going to host it . Just what we need: "And now, Ferrari F430's jumping on trampolines!"

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kaedroho
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 20:34
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Quote: "We're getting an American version of Top Gear here as well."


You guys have done the exact same thing to alot of our other programs, usually the UK versions are better.

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Oolite
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 20:41
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They were racing to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations, stuff like this happens all over the country, just so happens to be that the Blackpool ones are pretty famous (although pretty crap). In penryn where i live they had something like this but its a small village and that was crap too, they are usually left on over the christmas period as a celebration type thing.

At first i also thought you were on about him flashing his headlights as if he was letting someone go at a junction


<yes, the link doesn't work, deal with it.>
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El Goorf
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 21:14
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Quote: "Just what we need: "And now, Ferrari F430's jumping on trampolines!""


sounds just like british top gear

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Pus In Boots
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 21:47
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Quote: "We're getting an American version of Top Gear here as well. I don't know if it's true, but I read somewhere that Jimmy Kimmel is going to host it . Just what we need: "And now, Ferrari F430's jumping on trampolines!""


No, no, no! Top Gear without Clarkson cannot work. Why don't you americans just man up and accept our shows in their original form!? It's like the office: british humour with great cast and the US remakes it, using the british-style script in an american context with american cast. We don't remake scrubs, simpsons and friends, why can't you lot do the same thing? Anyway, Top Gear is nothing without Jeremy Clarkson. I say get it on DVD or something if you wanna watch it. The US version will be crap.

This is a signature.

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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 21:52
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Quote: "We don't remake scrubs, simpsons and friends"

That wouldn't make anybody happy! Thank God we don't...

Secretary of Unknowable Knowledge for the Rock/Dink administration '08
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Matt Rock
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 23:22
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Quote: "We don't remake scrubs, simpsons and friends"

What about Coupling? It used the Friends formula practically to the letter . Or was Coupling before Friends? I'm not sure when that show started airing. I assume Coupling must be older because we get everything so late here in the US.

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Deathead
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Posted: 3rd Dec 2008 23:26
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Quote: "What about Coupling? "

Actually comparing Friends to Coupling, the only similarity is that they are all friends.. Coupling however is the usual british comedy at heart.



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Matt Rock
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 00:26
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I think there are more similarities than that though. looking at the casts, you'll draw a lot of comparisons I think. The nerdy guy dating a hot girl whose well out of his league, the ditzy nutter girl, the serious girl who tries to seem more classy than she sometimes is, the daft handsome guy, the weird guy... shy of a few differences the casted roles are largely the same. Plus, both groups hang out in standard locales, the pub/ club in Coupling and the coffee shop in Friends. The biggest difference of course is that Coupling actually makes me laugh, whereas Friends I didn't find as entertaining (though the "smelly cat" thing was classic).

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Satchmo
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 01:04
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Quote: "No, no, no! Top Gear without Clarkson cannot work. Why don't you americans just man up and accept our shows in their original form!? It's like the office: british humour with great cast and the US remakes it, using the british-style script in an american context with american cast. We don't remake scrubs, simpsons and friends, why can't you lot do the same thing? Anyway, Top Gear is nothing without Jeremy Clarkson. I say get it on DVD or something if you wanna watch it. The US version will be crap."


Because America and Canada are better, and the US office is better.

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Jeku
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 08:45
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Quote: "Because America and Canada are better, and the US office is better."


Disagreed with both statements. Try better next time


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ionstream
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 08:53
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I greatly enjoy the US office much more than the UK one, mainly because the Dwight character isn't a pansy in the US version. I do like Ricky Gervais though.

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General Reed
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 13:24
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Lol most american comedies are crap, full stop, with the exception of Freinds and How I Met Your Mother.

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Satchmo
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 14:16
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Quote: "greatly enjoy the US office much more than the UK one, mainly because the Dwight character isn't a pansy in the US version. I do like Ricky Gervais though."


Yes I agree.

Quote: "Lol most american comedies are crap, full stop, with the exception of Freinds and How I Met Your Mother.
"


Like what? They've already remade a couple of your shows, and done a hell of a lot better job at that, what straight American comedies don't you like?

Anyways, here in Canada there's not that many shows made from us, with the exception of a few Discovery channel shows, Dragons den and Kenny vs. spenny, that's excluding news and other junk.

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General Reed
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 15:00
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Hmm....
Fresh prince bellair
The american pie series (Worst set of films ever imo)
Jeff Dunham
Jackass
Family guy (Absolute crap)
South park
Sabrina the teenage which
And anything with Jimmy or Ben Stiller in.

The main problem with american humor, is that its just the same joke over and over and over and over. Its gets old too quickly. Also what the hell is with the fake laughting in american comedies. Like are the audience told to laugh there? Another problem is that most of american's jokes, are just making fun of other people. How is that funny? Its just immature and pathetic.

Lol so you seriously beleive the american version of "Office" is better? How bland your humour is. You must have heard of classics like Fawlty Towers, Alan Partridge, Monty python, Top Gear? Have you even watched any american comedy?

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Grandma
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 15:10
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My dad can beat up your dad.

Grow up, people.

There's no such thing as "crap" humour. It all depends on taste, unless of course the humour at hand is toilet humour, in that case crap fits nicely. It seems comedy is "love it or hate it". But respect other people's sense of humour even though you don't find it funny yourself, because one day you might realize how petty such a perspective on humour is considering everything else in the world you could be upset about.

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Tom J
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 15:12
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I can see where this is going

Quote: "Canada are better
"

Quote: "Anyways, here in Canada there's not that many shows made from us"


Contradiction?
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Alucard94
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 15:41
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Quote: "My dad can beat up your dad."

Well my country can have a mature conversation with your country! TAKE THAT!


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Grandma
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 15:52
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Quote: "Well my country can have a mature conversation with your country! TAKE THAT!"

Oh yeah!? Sweden is so backwards. Trees grows on apples, and apples don't grow at all, they just *poof* into existence much like your recent cat disaster of '05.

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dark coder
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 16:05
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Quote: "Fresh prince bellair"


Clearly you just listed the wrong show here, if you didn't know this features Will Smith, and thus is an amazing show.

But I'd agree, UK humour is far better. One observation I have however is that often US shows pick up after UK shows end and thus have a more solid base to work on and know what doesn't work well(though still manage to completely ruin it 99% of the time). One good example is Whose Line Is It Anyway? The UK version started off a bit crap but eventually they perfected the show until its end, the US version then just stole the main guests and ideas and thus couldn't be bad.

But then you get stuff like Little Britain US(yeah they must have spent ages coming up with the name for it)...

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Alucard94
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 16:22
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Quote: "Oh yeah!? Sweden is so backwards. Trees grows on apples, and apples don't grow at all, they just *poof* into existence much like your recent cat disaster of '05.
"

You were supposed to keep the apple thing a secret! Now no one will want to eat my home poofed apples!


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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 17:06
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Quote: "Hmm....
Fresh prince bellair
The american pie series (Worst set of films ever imo)
Jeff Dunham
Jackass
Family guy (Absolute crap)
South park
Sabrina the teenage which
And anything with Jimmy or Ben Stiller in."


All a matter of opinion.


Quote: "The main problem with american humor, is that its just the same joke over and over and over and over. Its gets old too quickly. Also what the hell is with the fake laughting in american comedies. Like are the audience told to laugh there? Another problem is that most of american's jokes, are just making fun of other people. How is that funny? Its just immature and pathetic."


Repetitive like Little Britain, the Catherine Tate show, League of Gentleman etc. heck even Monty Python's Flying Circus redid jokes over. Fake laughter, again, Little Britain, Catherine Tate, Monty Python's flying circus, Fawlty Towers, Black Books.

Making fun of other people? It's called satire, a comedy form, I think the ability to laugh at people is a good thing, as long as it is not hateful, because it shows something quite relaxed in attitudes. South Park jokes about Jews a lot, despite its creators being Jewish, so they laugh at themselves as well as others.

Oh and Little Britain, Catherine Tate, Top Gear, Monty Python, Have I Got News for You, Nevermind the Buzzcocks, Mock of the Week, QI, stand-up comedians like Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran, Dara O'Briain, Eddie Izzard, Jack Dee etc. and the list is quite long in British humour for comedy at the expense of others. Humour at the expense of others is quite big in humour.


I really don't think you can judge American humour on those things, I mean just to be fair and all. As I just shown those traits are common in British humour.

Oh and fake laughter doesn't exist in South Park, Family Guy, Jackass etc. nor are jokes repeated too heavily - or at least no where near as bad as UK sketch shows.

I love British humour, but there's also American humour I love too. South Park I think can be quite genius and even quite moral, yet displaying a lot of immorality. (They stuck up for Britney Spears and Michael Jackson)

You sir have the moral ambivalence of a mutated shrimp!
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Deathead
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 17:23 Edited at: 4th Dec 2008 17:23
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To be honest, there is not many differences to American and British comedy, I like alot of American comedy shows, but I also like alot of the good old british comedy. But saying that I've got quite a real bad sense of humor.. I'm not joking.. I must have the sickest sense of humor anywhere.. This advert came on last night showing a girl first mugging someone, then she is in jail, then her dad slaps her on the back of the head, then she is in school not having a clue on what to do, then she is jacking up with heroin, then it gets faster.. And faster... And faster.. I cracked up and nearly wet myself with laughter.



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Alucard94
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 17:26
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How did this:
Quote: "I was watching Top Gear last week (the 750 mile race on 1 tank of fuel) and had a question. What's with the flipping of the light switch?
"


Turn into this?
Quote: "The main problem with american humor, is that its just the same joke over and over and over and over. Its gets old too quickly. Also what the hell is with the fake laughting in american comedies. Like are the audience told to laugh there? Another problem is that most of american's jokes, are just making fun of other people. How is that funny? Its just immature and pathetic.

Lol so you seriously beleive the american version of "Office" is better? How bland your humour is. You must have heard of classics like Fawlty Towers, Alan Partridge, Monty python, Top Gear? Have you even watched any american comedy?
"



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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 17:36
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Read the rest of the thread and you'll see that gradual process - that's usually the best way to answer such questions.

You sir have the moral ambivalence of a mutated shrimp!
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Alucard94
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 17:39
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Quote: "Read the rest of the thread and you'll see that gradual process - that's usually the best way to answer such questions.
"

True.

In my opinion I like both American and English humor. Nothing wrong with either. I just don't like Swedish humor at all.


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Matt Rock
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 18:03
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I think both have their qualities. Britain will never produce a Family Guy, South Park, or Dave Chappelle. America will never produce a Mitchell & Webb, Black Books, or Spaced. I wish that American TV networks would throw out the traditional formula of sitcoms, though. They come up with twenty new sitcoms each season and 99% of them are terrible. British TV tries to raise the bar while American TV swings on it, and I think that's why we see so many British shows being converted into American shows. American TV executives spend too much time worrying about their ad revenues and not enough time thinking about what's going to entertain their audiences, without realizing that the two of them go hand-in-hand.

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Yodaman Jer
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 18:27
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Quote: "British TV tries to raise the bar while American TV swings on it, and I think that's why we see so many British shows being converted into American shows. American TV executives spend too much time worrying about their ad revenues and not enough time thinking about what's going to entertain their audiences, without realizing that the two of them go hand-in-hand."



I agree completely. I love Dr.Who, and I'm in America. Not that that's a sitcom (or is it?), but it's widely entertaining. American shows such as 'The Big Bang Theory' seem to just...be lacking. I don't know what it is, but there's just not good quality humor anymore like in old shows such as Home Improvement.


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zenassem
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 19:12 Edited at: 4th Dec 2008 19:27
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I can enjoy both comedic styles. But can anyone tell me why british comedy finds guys in drag to be so funny? I imagine it goes back to when most plays were performed by all male casts...

Well Canadians too... Kids In The Hall anyone?!?!

====
Quote: "Home Improvement."

I never liked the humor in that show. And I never found Tim Allen to be funny, ever!

now...
Malcolm in the Middle I find funny! (created by a Canadian)
And Flight of the Conchords is absolutely Hillarious! So New Zealand has everyone beat!


~Zenassem
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Pus In Boots
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 19:23
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Quote: "
The main problem with american humor, is that its just the same joke over and over and over and over. Its gets old too quickly. Also what the hell is with the fake laughting in american comedies. Like are the audience told to laugh there? Another problem is that most of american's jokes, are just making fun of other people. How is that funny? Its just immature and pathetic."


The only american shows I can't stand are all the sitcom-type shows that offer nothing new and rely far too much on sex-related jokes and awful acting. They seem to think that every conversation needs a punchline and must be said with as much sass as possible. British humour has a much finer grasp of the little nuances that squeeze the comedy out of characters. (Apart from Little Britain, although that's good too.) Peep show is a great example. Mark's social awkwardness is hilarious when he's talking to any women or being forced to "get out there". The great thing is that these shows can go a whole episode without a cahracter saying something with the direct intent of being funny. (The Office is the best example of this.) Our stand-up comedians are also superior, because they actually use wit and deliver lines with that satirical perfection.

On the other hand, most TV shows I watch are American. Family Guy, Malcolm in the Middle, CSI, The Simpsons, Scrubs- the list is endless. These are all terrific shows that are genuinely funny without stooping to the lowest common denominator, which is why I avoid the likes of Two And A Half Men and anything where studio lights are cast down on a living room with canned laughter.

This is a signature.

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Dazzag
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 20:06
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Monkey dust and Jam. I can watch that stuff till the cows come home. Mixed in with a bit of Mitchell and Web (Fingerwang!!!!).

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Current fave quote : "She was like a candle in the wind.... unreliable...."
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General Reed
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 20:51
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I guess it is personal prefrence. But at the same time, Comedy is to UK, what Hollywood action movies is to America.
I personaly can laugh and laugh about for example, the expression in jezz's face when mark does something socialy awkward, like tell a nerdy joke to a woman, and muck it up. I simply cant get this type of laughter from many american comedies.

As for the repetativeness, this is what im on about, in freinds for example, joey's jokes are 9/10 something to do with how slow he is. Its funny the first few times, but after a few episodes, you can actualy predict what the basis of the joke will be. I find this promenent in american shows.

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ionstream
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 21:23 Edited at: 4th Dec 2008 22:14
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Quote: "Lol so you seriously beleive the american version of "Office" is better? How bland your humour is. "


My jackass sense is tingling! I'm willing to bet that either you've never watched a whole lot of the US Office or that you have a predisposition against it because it's American and a remake.

Quote: "Fresh prince bellair"


If you're referring to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, your opinion is now void.

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Matt Rock
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 21:46
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@ Yodaman: A sitcom is a situation comedy. Basically that translates as a show that has a story and recurring themes with one or more (but few) static sets, with an overall comedic quality but with hints of drama. Sitcoms include Friends, The Cosby Show, Family Matters, etc. A sitcom is different from a show like, say, CSI, because it isn't a comedy and doesn't use more than one set. Likewise, you wouldn't call Ricky Gervais' "Extras" a sitcom, even though it was a comedy show, because that show took place on a wide variety of sets/ shooting locations.

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BatVink
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You can't compare British and US comedies, they are made for completely different audiences.

For me The Office = very funny. The American Office = horrendous. But it will be the other way around across the pond - David Brent made it what it is, and in America they replaced him.

Fawlty Towers = Great, American versions (yes, versions) are dire. Here it all hinged on Basil Fawlty, who once again was replaced for a different audience.

Without trying to be contenious, the British sense of humour is more refined. We like to look for the humour in a situation, and then fall off our chairs when we find it. American humour is just in your face, "here it is!" humour.

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Pus In Boots
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Exactly.

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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 23:20
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I think there's great comedies on either side of the pond - of course I wouldn't want the UK to try and replicate any of the US's comedy or humour, because it's the Americans (or Canadians) that make that sort of thing funny. And Vice versa - despite some adaptations, with the Office thing, well I can't stand Ricky Gervais, so I didn't get past one episode of the UK version and didn't even give the US one a chance.

Also, with the creator of Black Books there's another great series we have here, which a friend just got me sat down and watching recently and that's The IT Crowd, like Black Books, flipping Hilarious, yes it's missing two of my most favourite comedians, but great none-the-less. I love Moss, because he reminds me of my friends King Dave and before now I've never understand why people made the joke to him. Well our friend isn't as obvious as moss or as nerdy, but in the personality there is a lot of likeness. Plus the hair and face in some ways.

You sir have the moral ambivalence of a mutated shrimp!
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zenassem
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 23:35 Edited at: 4th Dec 2008 23:36
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I am trying to find the name of (I think a british sitcom), that aired in the U.S. in the late 80's through 90's. It was basically older husband and wife, the main star being the wife, who was always trying to portray being regal or wealthy in front of the neighbors and friends. Every episode things would backfire on her. All I can remeber she was also embarassed by some of her relatives etc...

I would really like to find this show. It's a bit of an older shoe. I honestly coudn't stop laughing when I would catch it. To me it was situational comedy at it's best.


~Zenassem
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Grandma
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 23:42
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@ zenassem

This? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyacinth_Bucket

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zenassem
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Posted: 4th Dec 2008 23:52
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@Grandma

TY. That's it. "keeping up appearances". Excellent show.


~Zenassem
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