British Comedy Thread

[BillBrasky]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...&cs=1&nid=2565

Hit British laffer ``The IT Crowd'' will air in the U.S., a year after NBC passed on its remake of the sitcom.
The Independent Film Channel has acquired all three seasons* of ``The IT Crowd,'' produced by U.K. shingle Talkback Thames for Blighty's Channel 4, from distrib FremantleMedia Enterprises.

Skein, about two geeky IT guys working for a large corporation, will launch Sept. 29 on IFC.

In the U.K., the series was one of the highest-rated laffers on Channel 4 last year, peaking with 3.4 million viewers.

A U.S. version, produced by Universal Media Studios and FremantleMedia North America, was set to join NBC's fall sked in September. However, the series was dropped soon after the arrival of entertainment boss Ben Silverman.

FME has also struck deals for two other British comedies: IFC has acquired seasons one and two of Rose d'Or winner ``Modern Toss,'' which combines live-action sketches with animation, while Adult Swim (the adult-skewed channel sharing space with Cartoon Network) has licensed cult BBC2 comedy ``Look Around You.''

Lisa Honig, FME's veep of program distribution for North America, said the company was finding increased demand for British comedy in the U.S. ``as cable channels acknowledge the growing appeal with young American audiences.''

Deals come on the top of other recent comedy sales in the U.S. for FME. BBC3 comedy series ``Pulling'' is due to premiere on the Sundance Channel in October, while BBC2 sketch show ``That Mitchell and Webb Look'' is airing on BBC America.

*I'm assuming this is just a mistake. There is a third series planned but it hasn't even started filming yet.

[littlegirltree]

I guess I'll be trading in my worthless HBO subscription for IFC, then. Brasky's posts always bring such great news!

[Jouster]

*I'm assuming this is just a mistake. There is a third series planned but it hasn't even started filming yet.

I'm pretty sure it's possible to acquire the rights for as-yet-unaired/unfilmed episodes. When A&E bought the syndication rights for The Sopranos a couple of years ago, that deal included what ended up being the two part sixth season, which hadn't started at the time, I don't think. Or it was a mistake.

Anyway, thanks for the tip, BB.

[SteveAgee]

this show is so fucking funny

[uncomfortable]

while Adult Swim (the adult-skewed channel sharing space with Cartoon Network) has licensed cult BBC2 comedy ``Look Around You.''

This is of quite importance.

[Nick C.]

while Adult Swim (the adult-skewed channel sharing space with Cartoon Network) has licensed cult BBC2 comedy ``Look Around You.''

This is the best news I've heard in a while. Look Around You is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen, and getting adult swim involved will only make it better.

[BillBrasky]

"The Peter Serafinowicz Show" is now running on G4, Friday nights at 9 PM, for anyone that hasn't yet seen that.

[Babs]

I don't really think the I.T. Crowd is very good...it's a bit too sitcomy for me especially compared to the other brilliant stuff Richard Ayoade is in, not to mention Noel Fielding. However, Matt Berry's role in the second series, I think, is really good. There were moments of the show I really enjoyed but I was kind of let down with it overall. I don't think that's because I'm not an I.T. nerd either.

I saw one ep of the Peter Serefenowicz show but didn't like it too much...I'll give it another go maybe. Haven't heard of the others, looking forward to them.

[man124]

The show Q.I. is a fantastic british comedy game show. However, the only way I have been able to watch it is via surf the channel and torrents.

[BillBrasky]

One of my favorite things from "The Peter Serafinowicz Show" (and one of the most "Look Around You"-style sketches in it):

[YoungAmerican]

This is the best news I've heard in a while. Look Around You is one of the funniest shows I've ever seen, and getting adult swim involved will only make it better.

Richard Popper (and Sarofinowicz, iirc) are working on new stuff for Adult Swim as well. I'm posting an interview with him this week, keep your eyes peeled for it. His book, The Timewaster Letters, is out in the US and very funny.

[emscob]

Hey everyone. Just saw that you were talking about UK Comedy. I'm an intern at Charm Factory and my job this week is to look online and see what everyone thinks of UK Comedy and Comedian at the moment.

Just so you all know there's a great UK Comedy page up on Myspace now (which you can find at www.myspace.com/comedyuk )... where you'll be able to find stand up vids of loads of hilarious vids from up and coming and established comedians from the UK. There's also animations and loads of other funny stuff!

Emz X

[NFox]

The show Q.I. is a fantastic british comedy game show. However, the only way I have been able to watch it is via surf the channel and torrents.

Among panel shows, QI has got to be one of my favorites. Though the long gaps between each series has left me wanting more than once. I usually fill that downtime with shows like Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Would I Lie to You...did I mention I really like panel shows?

I'm glad they we'll finally be getting some direct imports, instead of networks trying to make each show "more American" by remaking it with an American cast, writers, style, etc. I hope this'll be a trend that will continue, cause I love me some British humor...or should that be humour?

-Nick

[SteveAgee]

Here's something for you Matt Berry fans:

http://www.myspace.com/berryagee

[pollymaepry]

Steve this shit is the best shit and I love it.

[BillBrasky]

Spike TV is peering into "Peep Show," handing out a pilot order to the single-camera comedy adaptation of a British series.

"Peep Show" -- from Pangea, the scripted arm of RDF USA, and British producers Objective -- is a modern-day "Odd Couple" centering on Jeremy (Rob Chester Smith), a slacker with misguided musical ambitions, and Mark (Brad Morris), his uptight, office-drone roommate, who are living together and trying to survive the many unexpected hurdles life throws at them. The stories are told with what is described as a "unique" first-person perspective and voice-over from the characters.

Shooting on the half-hour pilot just wrapped in Chicago.

David Richardson ("The Simpsons") is serving as showrunner/exec producer on Spike's version. Dylan Kidd ("Roger Dodger") directed the pilot from a script by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, writers on the U.K. series. Chris Coelen, Karrie Wolfe, Brian Lenard, John Lynch and the British version's Andrew O'Connor also are exec producing.

"This is a huge audience favorite in the U.K.," said Coelen, CEO of RDF USA. "In adapting the format, we had a lot of funny material to draw from, but we slightly tweaked it to make it more American."

The BAFTA Award-winning British series is entering its sixth season on Channel 4 in the U.K.

Spike TV debuted its first original comedy series, "The Factory," in June. No decision has been made regarding a second season.

[dogsdonttelljokes]

Peep Show, eh? I was wondering when this thread would venture in that direction. The idea of making it "more American" makes me cringe, but I fell in love with the American version of The Office after holding out on it for a few season, so who knows. If anything though, I just really wish they would release the more recent seasons of Peep Show on Region 1 or Region Free DVD...

[the_psychologist]

No great loss with the IT Crowd remake, nor do I love the UK version, but I'm glad it will finally air here.

Peepshow, on the other hand, I love. It couldn't really maintain standards into seasons 4 and 5, but some of those eps are still great. The idea of it being Americanized is disturbing to me, but maybe the UK seasons will also air. I'm pretty sure the guy they originally cast as Jez IS Jez. Ditto Super Hans. It will be hard to replace them with anyone else.

What's next? Jam? Monkey Dust?? Let's see how those dumb down for the USA.

[KeithTalent]

Quite excited about Look Around You coming to the US.

I'd love to see Jam on IFC or somethin'

I've been watching Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe on youtube and I think it's amusing

[computer_jones]

See more funny videos at Funny or Die UK