British Comedy Brief

From Paperclips:

What is it that we all love about Keira Knightley? Some may say her pouty face. Others may argue for her need of a three-meal-a-day fast food diet. Still, some may suggest her sexy accent. On the contrary, I offer that her sense of humor, British humour if you will, is what does it for me. We may admire the Britons for Chaucer, Shakespeare, countless other poets and writers; for preceding us in world domination; for the gin and tonic; for giving us David Beckham, or better yet Posh Spice, but the best gift bestowed on us thus far by our former rulers is British comedy. Monty Python is not the only example. This is a close a look at two highly esteemed British shows that should be added to the list and may increase your appreciation for the land of the Angles.

The Office
The basis for NBC’s hit comedy about the droll occurrences of a forgettable office filled with average white-collar citizens. There are two main differences between the two versions. Whether Americans have earned this reputation or not, programmers will not credit them with a attention span suitable to track a storyline that involves development of characters and their situations as the season progresses. Instead, the characters' actual lives are disposable and worth can only be found in their superficial personalities and accompanying jokes. Two of the prominent characters, the boss (David on the BBC, Michael on NBC) and his weaselly sidekick (Gareth on the BBC, Dwight on NBC) share common traits of arrogance and offensiveness on both sides of the Atlantic. The difference is on the British side where you laugh at their absurdity, yet also feel sorry for them. You sympathize with them for trying so hard to fit in but ending up disliked by their coworkers. Although there is much merit to the Steve Carrel version, the original provides much longer lasting rewards upon second and third viewings. The writing is good, the jokes funny, but the actors execute the script in a memorable way.

Extras
Another production from the creators of The Office, this Larry Sanders Show-inspired program ran for two series (six episodes each) on HBO. At points the jokes carry over from their first show, but co-creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant expand the scope of their comedy by writing in a guest celebrity for each show. Whether it be Kate Winslet instructing on how to talk dirty, Orlando Bloom’s egocentric chauvinism, or Daniel Radcliffe hitting on women twice his age and tossing around cuss words, each celebrity’s portrayal as a caricature of him or herself adds a winning element to the show. Ranging from Ben Stiller to Samuel L. Jackson to Sir Ian McKellen, each guest star self-ridicules without overstaying his or her welcome. Again, the comedy is complemented by the audience’s involvement in the characters’ lives, as is the case with the friendship between the main characters Andy and Maggie. They are actors who can only find work as extras in films while their pipe dreams slowly materialize. Some clips are available on YouTube for those who would be interested in a preview. The only drawback of most British shows is the extreme dryness of the humor. While at times honestly difficult to endure, if you appreciate wit and do not mind making a small amount of effort to follow the continuous jokes and plot, it is quite rewarding. Sadly, shows like these don’t last very long in America; just ask those involved in the tragic downfall of Arrested Development.