Curb your enthusiasm.......... .again..........

Little story first: part of the wait for an attraction in the Empire State Building is (or used to be) a pause in a room with large TVs on all sides. You'd be funnelled into the room, asked to wait, and then the screens would switch on and start playing snippets of popular and recognisable comedies, all intended to illustrate New York Life And Humo(u)r.

It was bizarre, because you could tell which punters were American and which were European - because we were given ten minutes of what our comedians might call 'smile humour', at which many people smiled, and at which the Yanks fell about laughing.

I'm certain that this wasn't because the Yanks are more easily pleased, or because we're just generally more (or less) clever than they are. In fact I'm certain that just like preferences in popular sports, it's all down to what you're brought up with.

So if anyone actually WAS trying to suggest that we who don't enjoy Curb fail to grasp its hilarity because we're just not bright enough to do so - which is the feeling I got when I read some of the posts below - then may I humbly suggest those people think again, or, to borrow a perfect Yank expression , 'Get over yourselves'.

Anyway, Curb. My mate at work loves it and when he's joyfully told me the plot of a recent episode, I have laughed, because those plots were funny. But whenever I've watched it I've been left cold, apart from massive irritation at Larry's delivery. I really cannot bear to listen to him.

And on Yank comedies in general: there've been a few down the years that have drawn huge admiration from British comedians - Seinfeld being an example, Stewart Lee raved about that. Well, maybe Seinfeld was well-written, or subtly staged, or something that'd appeal to someone whose profession is comedic writing: but Seinfeld also left me completely bored. As did Cheers. As does Frasier, oh God, as does Frasier.

Individual tastes, innit. It certainly doesn't merit an 'Oh dear'.

Posted By: Sugbad The Bad, Jan 5, 19:52:46