What are the differences between British comedy and American comedy?

Brit comedy is more witty. Indirect. American comedy is brash and in your face. Direct.

The networks in the UK are stricter.  They want something that is totally new and different.  There is a strong dislike for copying another show.  Whereas US networks want something commercial and friendly.  A happy group of friends, a nice apartment, a family home.

The UK shows are often written by only one or two people who have total control of the project, casting and budget.  The US shows are written by teams of 10 or more people.

The UK shows are much darker.  Often abstract and bizarre settings, manic isolated characters with tragic lives.

The US shows are more normal.  they show a normal house, with normal people with a feel good vibe.

The UK shows are sometime extremely anti-establishment, racist or horrifically offensive in nature.  They often go out of their way to make you feel uncomfortable.  For example Borat.

The US shows are shaped to fit in with the American way of life and have a strong Christian image.

The UK shows are often set in poor areas and depict the underclasses.  The sets and locations are filthy and often stained on purpose.  The stories are often a tragedy.

The US shows depict middle class families in very expensive areas.

The UK stories have a strong continuity from start to finish often spanning many seasons.

The US stories often have more shallow plots that start and end in each episode.

British comedy is real and the funniest!!!

ya cant beat British humour really  but then again americian comedy can be funny also just depends on the comedians  .....

British- will often be 'self effacing" ( Not bragging or being all about themselves, making the jokes about their own failures or being modest)

             The use of Irony & SatireOk this sums it up much betterBritish humour carries a strong element of satire aimed at the absurdity of everyday life. Common themes include sarcasm, insults, self-deprecation, taboo subjects, puns, innuendo, wit, and the British class system. These are often accompanied by a deadpan delivery which is present throughout the British sense of humour. It may be used to bury emotions in a way that seems unkind in the eyes of other cultures. Jokes are told about everything and almost no subject is off-limits, though a lack of subtlety when discussing controversial issues is sometimes considered insensitive. Many British comedy series have become internationally popular, serving as a representation of British culture to international audiences.              

British comedy is excellent; American isn't; not even close. 

Even going back 50 years it always seems that characters in British comedies are always poor.

Its not that they dont have jobs but they are always living in share houses and borrowing a few quid to pay the rent or ride the bus.

Whenever they buy something, like a car or tv or washing machine its always used and they have to know a guy who knows a guy that can get them a good deal.

American comedies go the opposite way, they dont worry about money at all, they will have a couple of guys or girls sharing an apartment in NYC that obviously costs more to rent than what they earn. The characters are always eating out at cafes and coffee shops that they couldnt afford with their menial jobs like waitressing.

                 Thinking

British humour (to spell it as they do) tends to be very satirical in nature.  Wit and sarcasm are often cornerstones of the structure of most of their jokes, with considerable self-deprecation and puns/innuendo.  

American humor, meanwhile, tends to emphasize exaggeration and rarely understatement the way that British humour likes to.  Observational humor tends to be the cornerstone of the styles, with a lot more physical comedy and slapstick.  Provocative political commentary is also a lot more common, due in large part to the Constitutional provision for free speech that is not enjoyed in many other parts of the world, the UK included (even if it is more or less tolerated).  

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Brit comedy is more witty. Indirect. American comedy is brash and in your face. Direct.