It’s funny but that situation has been reversed, in the 1970s US comedy shows were sickly, cloying, unfunny, twee rubbish, while British comedy was sharp, witty, intelligent and cutting edge.
I would go as far as to say that you could actually apply that to US TV in general compared to British TV.
Now however that situation has been largely reversed, now US comedy and TV in general is much funnier, better written, more intelligent and more challenging than UK TV, which is now tiresome, flat, PC-obsessed and predictable.
I do realise that given the politics and themes of many US TV series today many here in FR wouldn’t like them but give me Larry Sanders or Breaking Bad any day before any of the pap (Downton Abbey?) produced by the UK.
I don’t fully agree.
I get your point and sort of semi-agree, but the UK still produces some great comedy like Toast of London. As to TV in general, again sort of. In fact, US vs UK tv is a bugbear of mine, esp the sneery UK critics who fawn over everything US.
Yes, US tv has been very good to superb over the last 20-25 yrs, but before was either poor or disposable, with the occasional gem. Britain had the best TV in the world, and we made the US raise its game, just as the US has made us raise ours. Also the sheer quality of European TV has made the UK raise its game, some might argue its been more influential than the US. Personally I think both the US and Europe has done so, add to that some superb Canadian and Aussie series.
Its worth remembering that we see only the best of US tv, whereas we see all the dross and the gems of our own. They have just as much if not more dross than we do. IMO we still overall have a better standard of television in the UK. Across drama, comedy, documentaries and all genres of TV. Also some of the US shows, although most do, don’t catch fire here. House, Seinfeld and others being classic examples.
As to quality, sorry but imo, whilst the quality of UK tv dropped a few years ago, it has raised its game again, esp in drama. And there is a long list of current and ‘recent’ (which can mean anything from last year back to the 90s/00s) British shows that I would put against any American show.
Britain still make some brilliant TV, brilliant drama. I agree the comedy quality has dropped, but I still love Toast of London, Inside No 9 (and anything by the League of Gentlemen group) and Plebs (which is crude but very funny) and one of two others.
That’s the difference between cable TV and broadcast TV in the US. Broadcast is largely unwatchable while cable is breaking new ground.
And you do re3alise Downton Abbey is tailored and aimed at the US market?