Does a British accent make things funnier?

Without question Sweetie, Darling.

I was just imagining Ab Fab with an American accent and it falls as flat as the accent.

Not if the accent belongs to someone from England. I've been to England six times. The last time I was there I was subject to prejudice for the first time in my life. There were various incidents in various situations, but they made sure I was aware I was not wanted.

I possess a vast knowledge of England and its history, and I'm not some airhead tourist asking dumb questions. In fact, I barely ask questions at all. So there was no reason for this, except prejudice. And before anybody suggests otherwise, you weren't there. I found the passive aggressive looking down their nose at me demeanour to be utterly shaming. And again, there was no reason.

If it had been a one or two off, I wouldn've understood it to be a rarity. But it wasn't. I would never make this claim lightly or falsely. What blows me away still is how friendly, at least in Seattle, Americans are towards English tourists about helping them out to understand things. It's too bad it doesn't work both ways.

And although it may happen, anybody can snark away and call me an asshole. In this case, it wasn't me who was behaving abominably.

I watched the US version of Ghosts because I enjoyed the British original. It's not the accent(s) that make the original better, it's the writing, which was not done with a sledgehammer. For instance (minor spoiler alert), in the British version it takes a couple of episodes before you realize the Army captain is closeted; in the US version it's apparent from the get-go, and he's barely closeted at that (I did laugh at him being snitty about Alexander Hamilton's fame). So, yeah, about what I was expecting from a network sitcom.

Coupling was a terrific English comedy.

They then did an American version, even using the same scripts, and it was terrible.

Something about the way the English deliver comedy -- especially comedy written for them -- just works better. It's more subtle in some cases, or in AbFab, over the top but in a way that makes fun of English manners.

Oh, OP, you'll just LOVE "Steptoe and Son."

Dear Americans, there are hundreds of British accents. You only seem to be aware of one.

When is the last time you were there, R2?

R5 I read that it was the predecessor to Sanford and Son which was a bit before my time. It does not seem interesting.

"It’s often dangerous to generalize, but under threat, I would say that Americans are more “down the line.” They don’t hide their hopes and fears. They applaud ambition and openly reward success.

Brits are more comfortable with life’s losers. We embrace the underdog until it’s no longer the underdog. We like to bring authority down a peg or two. Just for the hell of it. Americans say, “have a nice day” whether they mean it or not. Brits are terrified to say this. We tell ourselves it’s because we don’t want to sound insincere but I think it might be for the opposite reason. We don’t want to celebrate anything too soon.

Failure and disappointment lurk around every corner. This is due to our upbringing. Americans are brought up to believe they can be the next president of the United States. Brits are told, “It won’t happen for you.”

I guess the biggest difference between the U.S. version and the U.K. version of The Office reflected this. We had to make Michael Scott a slightly nicer guy, with a rosier outlook to life. He could still be childish, and insecure, and even a bore, but he couldn’t be too mean. The irony is of course that I think David Brent’s dark descension and eventual redemption made him all the more compelling.

But I think that’s a lot more palatable in Britain for the reasons already stated. Brits almost expect doom and gloom so to start off that way but then have a happy ending is an unexpected joy. Network America has to give people a reason to like you not just a reason to watch you."

R9 that makes a lot of sense.

Plus the US can't allow us to perceive anything they have to lay it out, emphasize it, over play it and ultimately bore us with it.

Brits are better actors than Americans. Americans cast looks first with no regard for if the person can act the role.

I have always believed that Madonna developed an "English accent" in self defense while living there. Brits, especially older women, are not shy about condescendingly correcting your American speech.

"We call them chips, dear."

"It's called a lift, dear."

"Did you mean a rubbish bin?"

Things like that

Brits are more comfortable with and understanding of subtlety because their culture is less about openly sharing thoughts and wishes, so they learn how to read into things. Subtlety is better for some styles of comedy.

And yes to R11, the British acting scene has a much larger range of looks, and as a result, higher-quality talent.

I have always believed that Madonna is a pretentious tit.

One doesn't preclude the other R14

I kind of liked GHOSTS the US version. I've never seen the version from across the pond.

The military guy is hilarious - the Indian makes me laugh......I guess I am not very discriminating. I like it a lot better that The Neighborhood and/or Bob HEARTS Abishola.

"I always try to make the men under me happy." "I'm known for riding my men hard."

Not even a smile, OP?

Listen to this and see for yourself.

R17....Great example.

R16 not even half a smile.

r17

Are you saying I'm fat? Are you saying I should be American? Am I a big fat Yank though?

Not funny, now with a British accent (see link)

British TV shows or movies....can't get into them. The accent just emphasizes that they come across a bit melodramatic, convoluted, and throwing away or running up on their actors' lines and characterizations.

I absolutely LOVE British accents. Any Irish / Scottish / British / Welsh, I love them all.

There’s a British porn duo who bareback men that’s been circulated around porn sites recently and it’s hot cause they’re not proper Brits, they’re more Bill and Fagan from Oliver Twist.

R9 Yes! It took years for Americans to understand British humor, which you can find on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Arrested Development”. Characters who are horrible people who get what they deserve and don’t get happy endings, that’s what’s always what I’ve seen as the difference between American and British humor.

That’s why my friends were always shocked when I introduced them to “Absolutely Fabulous”. In the US at the end of comedy shows, there would be a change of heart or resolution that would end happily. My friends would scream and die of laughter at the end of all the episodes cause Eddie and Patsy would always get what they deserve and it was always awful.

I’ve never seen my friends laugh so hard when Patsy wakes up from surgery with her face all fucked up and after the credits, they show the magazine photos published with her looking like shit and she cries. Hahahaha!

The British have become insufferable

No, you haver R25.

I've only seen the UK version and thought it was terrible. Great premise but the ghosts are boring.

R17 & R20 - that IS very funny!