Laughter capital of the world ?

December 16, 2002 10:10 AM

Laughter capital of the world? "Declining audiences, dull material, complacent comics: a crisis is looming ....London suddenly appears to be in the grip of a recession for the first time since the alternative comedy boom took off at the beginning of the 1980s." From a nation exporting Bill Bailey(live in NYC this week) ,Eddie Izzard, Ali G, can this really be happening? (BTW I always thought Canada tried to lay a claim to this crown?)
posted by Voyageman (15 comments total)

Long regarded as the laughter capital of the world, London...
you mean all this time they though we were laughing with them?
posted by quonsar at 10:18 AM on December 16, 2002

shiznick the Ali G site's a bit NSFW
posted by mhjb at 10:28 AM on December 16, 2002

Nice. "NSFW".. Never heard that acronym used before.

Ali G rules. Definitely laughing with him :)
posted by PWA_BadBoy at 10:39 AM on December 16, 2002

Here here quonsar. The british are about as funny as....as me.

o<
posted by KettleBlack at 10:47 AM on December 16, 2002

Oh no! Something that did really well in the boom-times of the 90s is looking at a slightly bleaker future?! [dials 999]

KB: Maybe, but our spelling is better ;-)
posted by i_cola at 11:32 AM on December 16, 2002

British are very funny, but their humor is specific and doesn't travel as universally around the world as American humor. But I think it is the funniest.
posted by cell divide at 11:40 AM on December 16, 2002

I absolutely don't get the whole "British humor is too specific" line of argument. The Brits are the funniest people in the world, and Eddie Izzard is their king! And I am neither a Brit nor an action transvestite.
posted by scody at 11:43 AM on December 16, 2002

This American (from Texas no less) loves British humour, though it's disheartening to realize Eddie Izzard looks better in a dress than I do.
posted by lychee at 11:46 AM on December 16, 2002

He may look better in the dress but birthday suit appearance is a whole different ball game (pardon the pun)
posted by zeoslap at 1:28 PM on December 16, 2002

doesn't travel as universally around the world as American humor.

Clue: They're laughing at you, not with you. ;p
posted by inpHilltr8r at 2:26 PM on December 16, 2002

Perhaps stand-up is becoming a little tired, but at the very least TV comedy here in the UK is hardly stagnating. Some very funny, exceptionally clever and very, very dark (not to mention, of course, utterly toe-curling) comedy series are currently being made/shown, so I'd say all is far from lost.
posted by zygoticmynci at 2:46 PM on December 16, 2002

eddie izzard stand up is just about as good as it gets.
posted by lotsofno at 2:58 PM on December 16, 2002

Ali G really makes me laugh.


Could be all the in-jokes regarding thugs and pot, but hey. His show was great, I think I've collected every episode.

Almost every Brit I know hates him, however.
posted by shadow45 at 3:03 PM on December 16, 2002

the office rules - we own joo yankees !
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:46 PM on December 16, 2002

Almost every Brit I know hates him, however.

We all loved him till he made that stupid film and tie-in record. Very, very bad move.
posted by Summer at 2:59 AM on December 17, 2002