Humor.

[Roger Kettle]

Despite the dubious spelling, I've always loved American humor. For almost 60 years, TV shows from Bilko to The Big Bang Theory have been both a joy and an inspiration for me. The list is pretty long and includes Taxi, Cheers, M*A*S*H* Frasier, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Scrubs and more than a few others. In the cartoon world, I've stated often in the past how much Peanuts and Mad magazine influenced my desire to get into that business.
I have a New Yorker cartoon calendar on my desk---a truly welcome, annual Christmas gift from my niece, Eilidh. Today's offering shows a typical business office with the boss sitting at his large desk, facing his employee. With a perfect, deadpan expression he says...
"Sorry, Ted, I probably should have said "spoiler alert" before I fired you."
I love this and it has the kind of dryness that we seldom see in British humour. (note the "u" is back in).
Anyway, that's all I have to say about transatlantic humo(u)r. Carry on.

[Diane CBPFC]

My favourite American comedy currently running is the GOP debate series. 

[Mince]

I've always loved American humor.

British humour is just as good, if not better. There's The Office, Black Adder, Only Fools and Horses, and Dundee United.

[The Peepmaster]

I find most American humour anything but funny, and often feel that they're trying too hard. However, there are exceptions like the Simpsons, and maybe Peanuts.

[Sandy Buttcheeks]

I find most American humour anything but funny, and often feel that they're trying too hard. However, there are exceptions like the Simpsons, and maybe Peanuts.

May I chip in with Roseanne, Taxi and Cheers...

That's about it, I guess.

[The Peepmaster]

And Bob Newhart. I forgot Bob Newhart. I follow him on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Newhart-147547279204/?fref=ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5TTA4f7Q3E

[Roger Kettle]

Bob Newhart---one of my TRUE comedy heroes. He even stole the show in a couple of episodes of The Big Bang Theory recently----at the age of 84!

[Diane CBPFC]

I loved watching Newheart with my Dad. 

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Me, too.

I mean, not with your Dad, Diane, but mine was also a big fan.

Can I give a mention to 'The Golden Girls' here - absolutely outrageous in its day at times. I agree with pretty much all of the above, although there are a couple mentioned that I missed out on, and may have to seek out boxed sets to enjoy.

I also think Peepsie makes a fair point (although I'm not sure the best of British would beat the best of American in my eyes - difficult one) in terms of the cream of the crop. However, we've had some absolute drivel from British TV over the decades to go with the good stuff, and it does tend to taint the overall picture. Whereas I suppose we don't import US drivel on the same scale, and comparisons may be unfair as a result.

But I remember enjoying even the US B-List sitcoms (subjective, I realise), such as Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Wonder Years, Mork and Mindy, Married, With Children, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda... the list is practically endless and rolls off the memory.


And then you dig a little deeper to childhood, and up pops Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, F-Troop, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Bewitched, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy... I'm beginning to realise how I came to be doing what I'm doing now! 

Ooh, and cartoons... Flintstones, Top Cat, Deputy Dawg, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home..... [and fade]

[Mince]

And then you could list The Office, Only Fools And Horses, Blackadder, The Vicar Of Dibley, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Yes Prime Minister, Porridge, Open All Hours, The Good Life, One Foot In The Grave, Father Ted, Keeping Up Appearances, 'Allo 'Allo!, Last Of The Summer Wine, Steptoe And Son, Men Behaving Badly, Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf, The Royle Family, Are You Being Served?, To The Manor Born, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Likely Lads, My Family, Drop The Dead Donkey, Rising Damp, Dinnerladies, As Time Goes By, Hancock's Half Hour, The Young Ones, Till Death Us Do Part, Butterflies, The Thin Blue Line, The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, Phoenix Nights, Waiting For God, Birds Of A Feather, Bread, Hi-De-Hi!, The League Of Gentlemen, I'm Alan Partridge, Just Good Friends, 2point4 Children, Bottom, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, The Brittas Empire.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Dinnerladies was brilliant!

[Roger Kettle]

And then you could list The Office, Only Fools And Horses, Blackadder, The Vicar Of Dibley, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Yes Prime Minister, Porridge, Open All Hours, The Good Life, One Foot In The Grave, Father Ted, Keeping Up Appearances, 'Allo 'Allo!, Last Of The Summer Wine, Steptoe And Son, Men Behaving Badly, Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf, The Royle Family, Are You Being Served?, To The Manor Born, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Likely Lads, My Family, Drop The Dead Donkey, Rising Damp, Dinnerladies, As Time Goes By, Hancock's Half Hour, The Young Ones, Till Death Us Do Part, Butterflies, The Thin Blue Line, The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, Phoenix Nights, Waiting For God, Birds Of A Feather, Bread, Hi-De-Hi!, The League Of Gentlemen, I'm Alan Partridge, Just Good Friends, 2point4 Children, Bottom, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, The Brittas Empire.

I see you've simply listed these, Mince, without making any comment on the quality involved. In my opinion, at least half of them were beyond dire.

[Mince]

But we would disagree on which half. I did not see the point in listing just my favourites, so I listed a top 50.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

Loved Dinnerladies!

[Roger Kettle]

But we would disagree on which half. I did not see the point in listing just my favourites, so I listed a top 50.

Well, I thought the WHOLE point was to talk about our personal favourites! We're just having a nostalgic look at what made us laugh over the years. By the way, what exactly is the "top 50"? Is it based on viewing figures?