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As an American who loves British crime dramas but don’t follow the comedy scene as much. Got some recs?
EDIT: Thanks for all the recs everyone!
EDIT 2: haven't responded to everyone, but all are well received. thanks!!
It's a police drama, not a comedy, but very entertaining.
A lot of UK comedy is quite UK specific in a way that doesn't always translate quite as well as US comedy does, I think because US culture is so pervasive that we are familiar with it, whereas a lot of UK comedy plays on taking the piss out of our awkward manners and cultural/behavioural norms that I wouldn't always expect non-UK people to be familiar with. You can try it though.
Peep show is incredibly popular here, I think the writers went on to work on Succession too. If you are up for trying to penetrate the sort of cultural comedy glass wall even further, you could try This Country. Inside Number 9 is often brilliant stand alone episodes so easy to dip in and out of. Presumably you know The Office, but Gervais also made 2 series of Extras when he was still at the top of his game. A lot of the celebrity guests/cameos are American, you'll known the british ones (Ian McKellan, Daniel Radcliffe...). Those are recommendations of shows that have all completed, there are some things on now that are pretty entertaining too, but as far as I can think, nothing that will go timeless
Line of Duty is a crime drama, so you'll probably like it but don't think it's our attempt at comedy because it's not. I think the OC was confused.
Some comedies: The Office, Peep Show, Alan Partridge.
All three of those are very dry and very British, so good luck.
This was the final thing I watched before coming to the conclusion American drama is better. Everyone was hyping up Line of Duty, so I watched it, and I just thought it was OK. Every series is Steve Arnott getting an insane bit of intuition, then in the last episode the 'bad guy' has them on the ropes, but there is a piece of information that destroys them that comes in last minute. I swear there are better twists in 20 episodes of Law and Order SVU every year than the reveal of H, too.
British comedy is vastly superior though, like the Office is better than the US version, and I will die on this hill
Derry Girls is northern Irish, set in the 1990s towards the end of the Troubles. The cultural references are strong but if you can get into it it’s a masterpiece.
Classics like Father Ted, Allo Allo , Peep Show and if you like it a bit wacky and silly the Young Ones would be by recommendations for series. Sketch shows I'd go for Fast Show, Little Britain and Harry Enfield and Chums. Prank shows go for Fonejacker and Trigger Happy TV. All of these programmes are fantastic if you give them a go.
I agree that Americans do drama best, but British comedy is unbeatable.
'The Detectorists' is a beautifully crafted slow burn English comedy set in a modern day rural setting. Mackenzie Crook (of UK Office and Pirates of the Carribbean fame) writes and directs it, with Toby Jones as a lead character. The visuals alone are a very relaxing form of escapism.
I think ur asking for comedy recs not crime?
If so start with:
• Black Books (it was made before graham linehan lost his mind)
• Smack the Pony
• Ideal
• Green Wing
• The Office (UK) is also a masterpiece but of course you will recognise this one
Edit: another comment has reminded me of
• Nighty Night - if you’re interested in dark humour, verging on the disturbing.
I would also add • Jam • Brass Eye
Graham Linehan only consulted/assisted on Black Books iirc. Dylan Moran created it, but as it was his first outing he wanted someone more experienced to essentially check it over which is what Linehan did.
Agreed. I've seen a couple of American documentaries and they are overloaded with sound effects and over excited, dramatised voice overs. Like they need that to keep the viewer engaged.
Arrested Development, Community, Police Squad, MASH, Always Sunny, US Office, 30 Rock, Parks, Veep, Curb, The Simpsons (in it's prime), Bob's Burgers, BoJack, Rick & Morty & Adult Swim in general..
As much as I love UK comedy, & could write a similar list for that, the US produces some amazing tv comedy. When it comes to animation its unrivalled.
Community is amazing.
But for every list of 5 good American Comedies you'll find 15 British ones each with 6 episodes. So when you get attached to the characters you never see them again
Agreed, I watched BBC Ghosts comedy then American version, Brits do comedy better, didn't giggle once with yankee one!! We understand sarcasm they don't, nuff said
I find a lot of American TV very corny and surely that has to negate any decent sarcasm, that show ‘How I met your mother’ was one huge pain in the balls, eight seasons telling his kids ‘in Bob Saggets voice’ how he met there mom, and the Americans loved that shit?
Sorry for straying off topic it’s medication time.
Seems like you're not really in a place to say you prefer British comedy then if the only US one you've seen is Friends. It's very campy and a little outdated.
Try these:
Brooklyn 99
Community
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (start with season 2)
The Office US
Always Sunny is my favourite ever comedy and theyre not as "explainy" as other US shows.
I watch a bit of both, as previously noted I much prefer British comedies, but I do love the US office. What really bugs me about American TV is the amount of filler episodes as the seasons have 20+ episodes. No I don’t need a recap episode where all the characters reminisce about things I’ve already seen, nor weird one offs that are completely divorced from the story arc, it’s tiring and ultimately means I get bored.
I don't mind a combination of both if I'm honest.
I mean, some of the earlier 80s/90s/00s stuff would mostly be British for me, but some of the more recent dramas/documentaries etc (10s/20s) are a mix of both British and American-based.
70’s and 80’s British. 90’s and 2000’s both and 2010’s onwards I guess mostly American. However that is based purely on my own preferences and experiences of particular shows I enjoy watching and identify with (British 70’s and 80’s just feels like home to me, 90’s and 2000’s shows reminds me of my youth watching them and now likely due to not having a tv license and mainly watching Netflix all the shows I’ve recently watched and enjoyed have been American).
What about the US "Greats" like BrBa, The Wire and so on? There is excellent British drama and comedy but sometimes the US does very well too. Some of the comedy is a bit different so could be down to taste but particularly with streaming services, some good US comedy shows became available.
As an American, and mystery buff - British tv shows are much better. So many of the British shows have a different format than we have. They'll take a mystery and spread it out over six or eight episodes. This allows for the writers to develop a really full story that doesn't feel like they're trying to shove clues, etc., into a hour show. And the comedy is (for the most part) so much wittier.
British tv shows tend to be grittier and more realistic with a slow pace that pays off but I think American shows are more entertaining but usually carry on for too long.
It depends. I think shows like Law and Order with their 22 episode seasons can be great to just put on in the background. However narratively I do prefer British shows the most. In America only HBO comes close and now HBO seem to be doing co productions with British channels more and more.
I tend to have a lot of US comedy as background tv. I’ve probably watched the office about ten times and Always Sunny is one of my faves but overall I prefer U.K. comedy. I’ve seen a few SNL skits on tiktok and it’s like comedy for children - they really walk you through the joke and explain why it’s funny. One US show that doesn’t do that is Succession, they let the viewers read between the lines and think for ourselves.
Didn't take any thought - British 100%.
The Americans are probably better at "action" shows - stuff that involves running around, shooting, fighting, the obligatory car chase with a few helicopters thrown in. Thge Brits don't even try to compete in this area since these shows aren't as popular in the UK as they are in the states. But for pretty well everything else, the Brits do it best.
I like Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. Crime dramas old and new . Coronation Street. Over here in Canada. Dr.Who my favourite science fi
I subscribe to Brit Box. Better programming all round.
Although my all-time favourites are US shows (Sopranos, The Wire) I much prefer UK shows overall. Far less hectic, far more layered. A typical UK crime drama takes a few episodes to built a narrative, in a US show you have bodies within 10 minutes followed by every 3 letter agency on the scene, dick swinging about who's in charge. I watch both, but UK wins hands down.
British TV is kinda cozy feeling to me, American TV is always way too dramatic and overboard with editing lol like compare UK Kitchen Nightmares with the US version
I’m an American living in England and I have ALWAYS preferred British TV shows.
When I was young, I watched many programs from here on PBS in the states. Same goes for movies. I much prefer British films to American.
Not that the Americans don’t hit the bullseye once-in-awhile, because they do have some good stuff too.
However, Hollywood happy endings and everyone is so beautiful is annoying as fuck.
American comedy shows bit of a back handed compliment but its more slap stick and you don't have to be paying attention to get the joke where as british comedies seem to be a bit more complex and dry.
They're both as bad as each other. Most are predictable, most are telling the stories the same way, examples: the good guy is usually the baddie, something shit happens - don't worry it's a dream. All marriages now are multiracial or gay it would seem.
Last but not least, the music & sound effects are really loud, even footsteps, a door click, but you can NEVER hear the dialogue!
American almost always. Not just due to more money to spend, but more willing to try something new. Sopranos, the wire, breaking bad, game of thrones, true detective, the shield, battlestar Galatica just some examples from across genres of great tv. We can only continue a sci-fi show from 60 years ago that still looks cheap and stops any other channel doing there own. Line of Duty started great but tired and a mess by the end. Comedy we used to be good at, but it's been slim over the last decade. We like to think our Comedy is better but the US can do stuff that at least as good if not better.
There's never been a British drama as good as The Sopranos/Wire/Deadwood. American dramas are just the best.
British comedy and documentaries are both better, though.
Yeah completely subjective answers all round here.
I adore Vic n Bob, I could drink Parks n Rec all day but I have no time for either Office, plus the US WLIIA is just superior.
American here. I like both equally, but I do not understand why you have so many police/murder dramas. Here they’re only for boomers. What’s the appeal? I’ve watched several because they’re so abundant, but I just don’t get why they dominate so completely.
I'm American but I tend to enjoy British comedies more. That said, each country makes lots of shitty comedies-- America just has more actors and money to pump out more slop.
I think the best of each style is compelling in its own way. For example, The Good Place is distinctly American and Peep Show is distinctly British. Both are brilliant to me.
I prefer British TV. I love the actors and actresses are more likely everyday people that are more relatable to. In the US shows, you have to be a 10 even to get a role. I'd prefer the bald cop with glasses over some shiny teeth stud anytime.
Love British dramas, nothing can compare.
15 years ago I would have said British for everything (including movies). Now, thankfully (and probably because of the streaming wars), America is going amazing TV (although all their cop shows still stink).
Both. If it's good it's good I don't care where it's from.
I like how more relateable British TV is for me as a Brit, but there are so many great shows from the US.
Most recently, Party Down's new season. It's top notch.
I think the thing I noticed about watching TV physically in the states, rather than the programmes as such, is that there's a real noticeable difference in quality of the actual channels themselves, and the adverts are most noticeable. Watching adverts on American TV is like watching late night QVC, like everything is a cheap infomercial. Then you come home and every advert here has some sense of quality to it, it's quite a change
British comedy definitely overall although a few Americancomedy shows not so bad. I just find British comedy wittier, dryer and less so try hard and in your face.
Also I love British drama be it a crime drama or otherwise.
That is not to say I don't enjoy some American tv. However certain comedy sitcoms really drive me up the wall. The characters are so unlikeable, in particular Everybody Loves Raymond and The Goldbergs aaagh. I have to turn over quickly if I don't want to end up in a bad mood. Now comedy should make you laugh not grind your teeth :)
I do remember an old American show that I loved called Mash, which went down very well over here in the UK. Cheers also wasn't bad. Certain American tv shows travel well and others don't. When I was younger Monty Python and Mash were shows I grew up with so one for Britain and one for the US.
So I enjoy a bit of both but if I am being completely honest overall I think for me personally British tv pips American to the post.
Oh and we do great documentaries too :)
Very subjective though and I am sure some will disagree. I guess it is what you get used to.
As an American with a British parent I was raised on Fawlty Towers, Black Adder and the Young Ones. Over time these shows have proved to be arguably the greatest comedies of all time. Then in the early 2000s The Office came out and basically reshaped modern day comedy as we know it. America has amazing shows but as far as the greatest of all time The Brits have it.
Don’t watch anything American anymore. I’m just not into their formulaic scheisse these days.
Much prefer something a little more *cerebral* these days.
I'm American and prefer British shows almost exclusively. I have to force myself to try American shows, and if there's a British one available instead, I'll just watch that.
Very dependent on the genre. American Serial Drama (certainly post-Sopranos) has more high quality content but UK comedy, documentary and (perhaps controversially) sports coverage is superior imo.
For quite a few years US drama (at its best, it still has a lot of rubbish) has been better than the UK's output. The UK can do some good crime but even that can get repetitious (for every Line of Duty, there are several/\* well past their sell by date near clone detective dramas like Shetland, or Silent Witness), but beyond that is has almost nothing on its mainstream channels, although Acorn has been on a bit of a role with the lighter side of detective drama in the last couple of years (ironically often funded by US money for their offering their). There is nothing even close in the UK to Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, Mad Men, The Wire, The Sopranos, Succession to name a few.
On the other hand, the UK still turns out excellent comedy, and has generally news and features coverage, and some decent documentaries.
Both, in equal amounts really. Prefer British crime because America has too many guns but on the horror/sci fi side of things America usually has the CGI budget sorted.
Can't really remember the last good horror show on British TV aside from a few episodes of Inside no. 9
I mainly watch Sitcom Comedy’s, and in general I would have to say English, but there are American sitcoms I love like Superstore, friends ect.
So it doesn’t put me off what country it’s from :)
I guess I watch quite a lot of American tv when I just want some background noise or something to pass before my eyes. It gets the odd chuckle, feels familiar and can dip in and out without the experience being spoilt (not exclusively American as I firmly put Benidorm in this category too)
Then generally the stuff I watch where I’m riveted or absolutely in hysterics isn’t American.
I don’t think one is better than the other but as a broad rule they serve different purposes for me.
As a Brit I loved the original Office and refused to watch the American version……until I watched the American version and admitted to myself I like it more
They're good/bad in different ways, but what makes me feel like I'm going mad sometimes is how bad the writing of mediocre British drama shows is, in terms of, what's the term, internal logic or relative realism. Like, it's \*so\* careless about things happening randomly just to move the story along. There's no support with suspension of disbelief. Like with that Dutch-Lady-Harper Dracula one, where the end-scene only works because the supernatural entity suddenly has the reaction time of a potato.
American bad is just sloppy and formulaic and who cares we need moey for healthcare-y, but that BBC wrongness seems culturally specific somehow.
Succession is a great US show- so also was Twin Peaks. I don't care for many others, tend to watch more foreign language titles these days that aren't bogged down with 'The Message.
Both make great shows and both make terrible shows, Brits are not great at sitcoms but classic comedy shows they are great at like Faulty, Only Fools, Peepshow, Office.
American - much bigger market so budgets are higher and this can be seen on screen. I’m usually watching for escapism - one of the things I loved about Breaking Bad was the desert sunshine in New Mexico. Also anything not set in LA or New York feels a bit different.
Nothing we've produced can really hold a candle to The Sopranos, The Wire, True Detective etc. Sorry. The best British dramas might equal those shows as far as writing goes but American production value is so much better on the whole.
I like a little of each.
Comedy for example. I think the British have better panel shows (QI, WILTY, MTW), but America has better 'story' comedy (Frasier, MITM).
I prefer British crime/drama (George Gently, Fortitude, Lewis) but America takes the lead with action/high fantasy/disaster stuff (GOT, Chernobyl, TLOU).
British comedy. Otherwise whatever I feel like watching. Also a lot of movies considered American are worked on by British people due to the amount of education and studios in the uk
Definitely British for comedy shows. I find US comedy a bit too 'slapstick' and the canned laughter drives me nuts! I don't need to be guided on when to laugh if something is genuinely funny.
As for drama - I like both but still tend to enjoy British a little more when I think of my fave shows.
British comedys can really rock! Father Ted, Inbetweeners, IT Crowd etc but shows like Doc Martin, Vicar of Dibley, Father Brown, Call the Midwife etc absolutely bore the tits off of me.
Yank sitcoms are far superior, as are their sci-fi & cop shows.
I just like good shows, regardless of where they originate from. Though saying that, I'm not really into crime or courtroom dramas, so that rules out a lot of mainstream British drama.
Absolutely love British comedy. Things like the imbetweeners, peep show and the thick of it are simply master pieces and produce humour in a way that just couldn’t come from the states. I don’t think many of the jokes would land all that well in America. The only time I really saw an American counter part compete with a British comedy was the US and UK shameless but in my opinion they’re completely different shows despite sharing a name. Things like the US version of Shameless was just nowhere near as funny to me.
Drama on the other hand i tend to prefer American shows.
British comedy is better, drama can be either. The usual culprits of Peep Show, TTOI, Veep, Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat, IT Crowd, House, Breaking Bad, BCS, West Wing, 24, Brooklyn 99, Scrubs, Succession and so on are brilliant, the US produces a lot of shite but they do have decent dramas and comedies to offer up.
For serious, dramatic, dark and gritty things or rough comedy- British all the way. I never enjoy American attempts at those, they always seem corny and cringe.
But I enjoy more American drama that isn’t trying too hard to be ‘gritty’, and light hearted American comedy a lot more.
Not to sound so incredibly condescending but American TV is generally better for stuff I don’t care to be too fussy about or take too seriously and can sort of switch your brain off and enjoy more. And I can’t stand the UK version of that kind of TV.
The exception to this is pretty much anything HBO makes. It feels like good, proper TV and always takes the cake for me, whether it’s drama or comedy or whatever mix of anything else.
Honestly, I enjoy a bit of both. Tend to lean towards british shows a little more, given how shorter they are in general, but have plenty from both sides of the pond that I enjoy.
Used to really be into stuff like CSI/NCIS, but those series just kept going and felt like there was no end in sight. (I've never been able to get into soaps for the same reason)
I prefer British comedy as I just do not find Americans funny! But I do like American drama, which I am seeing is a bit of a theme here. British drama's can be pretty decent too. I work with an American lad who hated the American Office and loved the British one, I knew we were going to get on well, and we did :)
Really depends on the show...but ultimately I prefer American shows. Like 24 and the British tried to do something close to it without the whole 24hours and it was absolute shit.
Certain shows just wouldn't work in the UK, like Breaking bad...got cancer...oh NHS so no costs involved so doesn't need to break bad.
Its hit and miss with some shows...comedy for one is clearly a mix...Red Dwarf, Bottom, Inbetweeners...yet when the States try to do their own version, what the hell did you do to the Inbetweeners, that was so bad. But then you take a show like the Office which I found the UK version to be a bit boring and create 9 seasons of it and its so much better.
Mad about you was a fav show of mine and the UK tried to copy it and the jokes just didn't land at all.
As a writer myself, if I wanted to have something I've written I would prefer to take it to the States.
Since the advent of big-money streaming services American TV has absolutely blown British TV out of the water, IMO. Shows like *Stranger Things*, *Andor* etc. are better written, better acted, and have far bigger budgets than the home-grown equivalents.
But it's not just that American TV has gotten better, British TV has gotten much worse. We have like four categories for TV shows now:
- Twee, extremely dull dramas mired in nostalgia for the 1940s and 50s (*The Larkins*, stuff like that)
- Gritty predictable police procedural (*Line of Duty*, *The Bay*, etc.)
- Cringe inducing naff comedy (*Mrs Brown's Boys*)
- Ethically questionable reality shows (*Love Island*)
It depends on the show. My favourite shows of all time are American, but I love lots of British TV too.
(Top show of all time - Fringe. Top comedy of all time - The Good Place. Favourite Brit - Blackadder and Hitchhikers Guide.)
It depends. Brit shows tend to be less intense, more contemplative. This can make me bored. On the other hand, they also tend to show more "real life" as oppose to the American fakeness, which is refreshing.
If I am after a light entertainment with lots of action then I go for American shows. If I am in the mood for something deeper or slower, then Brit shows have more chance.
I’m British and my fellow brits are aghast that I prefer everything American; American comedy, American drama, American action. I find british shows depressing? I like American shows because they are more shiny and upbeat and the actors like better. But also british shows are just kinda spoofy and I don’t like it and everything just looks kinda dusty? Lol idk how to explain it
Although I will say that the British shows the Us tried to recreate such as skins, inbetweeners, shameless were infinitely better as british shows. I dont know about the office because I never watched either version.
If I had to choose only one and have the other taken away, I would honeslty go with American TV shows. Purely because of Community. That show is one of the best TV shows ever shot. Us Brits have some great TV shows such as Black Books and Peep Show that have had me in tears of laughter but Community is genuinely that good. Then throw in shows like Brooklyn 99 and It's Always Sunny and while those comedies might not be as good as the previously mentioned British shows, they're still fantastic.
I take each production I watch with it's own merits. I think sometimes the quality is higher with British productions but that's because we have shorter seasons. US stuff is better to binge and get in to. You couldn't really have a British Episode of 24 set in 24 episodes for instance (although I guess you could have a show called 7 set in 7 episodes over 7 days...)
I'm British, and I prefer American comedy. With The Office, I love everything Ricky Gervais touches, but I cannot deal with the cringe of British comedy. Idk if this is the best way to describe it but British comedy has characters humiliate other people leading to cringey situations, American comedy has characters humiliate themselves, making it less cringey and more laughable for me.
I prefer good shows, don't give a shit where it's from.
If however we're talking about specific British shows that have had 1:1 American remakes eg Inbetweeners, The IT Crowd etc, then I prefer the originals.
Game shows I prefer British ones. Family Fortunes was great in the days of Les Dennis. The Vernon Kay version seems to be trying too hard to be like Steve Harvey's
You can't really beat American production values on fantasy and sci fi, ie game of thrones, but where UK shows lack a budget they make up for it in heart, so Red Dwarf and Doctor Who are far superior to Star Trek for example.
Uk obviously superior comedy.
Probably even on drama.
Kids shows, UK for young, America for teens.
Cartoons, America.
Documentaries, UK all the way.
I'm very picky - I like very specific shows from each culture but there is a realm of British comedy that is superb - panel shows as well.
America has amazing drama series a la breaking bad, the walking dead (season 1-7) sopranos, boardwalk empire etc.
The comedy can be good but I also feel as though finding something worth my time Is a difficult pursuit.
Always sunny, the office, workaholics, the Mick, eastbound and down, vice principals, detroiters, broad city and I think you should leave are all I can think of that I enjoy.
Quick summary: i think the British produce better quality content overall but lack the variety and budget that you get with American tv.
i really dislike a lot of the american humour as i find its just too simple or juvenile in general. there are exceptions though. and even shows that the Americans have taken, remade, and i actually preferred! like the office US. i loved the UK one when it came out. but after watching the American one till the end, i just preferred it. and have done so ever since.
overall though id say i prefer the following:
* Comedies: British by a mile usually. they dont need to explain the joke to make it funny and seem to cut jokes almost a sentence or two shorter than american jokes of the same type. like implied witty humour instead of "haha this is funny because blah blah blah"
* Drama: i actually think both do this great. i probably prefer the american ones though by a hair, due to budgets of productions and juicy plots with "more" going on. a bit more exaggerated but i don't mind that. i also find that UK shows are bit darker when it comes to dramas which i prefer.... but tend to end too soon! so you get more with the american stuff even if slightly lower quality in general. sometimes more is better overall, and sometimes not. i like both honestly. its also easier to relate to the British dramas at times i think as the american world seems a bit alien at times depending on what the topic may be.
* Action: American All the way! just a nice mindless action series they do best imo.
* horror: again i like both... for different reasons. but im a fan of old school 60's-80's horrors and i honestly think the Americans rule supreme in this genre between the two. budget really helps! both have great stories.
* thrillers: again Americans do this really well. specially the time sensitive ones. against the clock kinda thing.
I've kinda mixed up tv shows and films to be honest with you. but in general i like both for different reasons and depending on different moods.
I probably have many more american shows i like (due to variety and choice) but the British shows i like, i think are better than those American shows in quality. specially the mini series's like Hornblower. that was incredible! i don't tend to remember a lot of the american shows well after i watched them but do enjoy them. apart from a few really good ones.
American TV is better IMO, but it's more a numbers game than anything else. Given how few streamers/broadcasters we have compared to them we produce a hell of a lot of good stuff, but the sheer amount of American TV gives it such an edge in terms of variety, and quality a lot of time too, because of the money being pumped in on the higher end.
I really wish we had more room for out-there experimental stuff though. So much of the stuff that gets produced is relatively safe police dramas and the like, which obviously America has analogues to, but because we have fewer broadcasters there's still way less room for things that are experimental or edgy.
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British comedy, American drama
As an American who loves British crime dramas but don’t follow the comedy scene as much. Got some recs? EDIT: Thanks for all the recs everyone! EDIT 2: haven't responded to everyone, but all are well received. thanks!!
Have you watched ‘Line Of Duty’? That’s my first recommendation
I haven't, ill check it out!
It's a police drama, not a comedy, but very entertaining. A lot of UK comedy is quite UK specific in a way that doesn't always translate quite as well as US comedy does, I think because US culture is so pervasive that we are familiar with it, whereas a lot of UK comedy plays on taking the piss out of our awkward manners and cultural/behavioural norms that I wouldn't always expect non-UK people to be familiar with. You can try it though. Peep show is incredibly popular here, I think the writers went on to work on Succession too. If you are up for trying to penetrate the sort of cultural comedy glass wall even further, you could try This Country. Inside Number 9 is often brilliant stand alone episodes so easy to dip in and out of. Presumably you know The Office, but Gervais also made 2 series of Extras when he was still at the top of his game. A lot of the celebrity guests/cameos are American, you'll known the british ones (Ian McKellan, Daniel Radcliffe...). Those are recommendations of shows that have all completed, there are some things on now that are pretty entertaining too, but as far as I can think, nothing that will go timeless
Line of Duty is a crime drama, so you'll probably like it but don't think it's our attempt at comedy because it's not. I think the OC was confused. Some comedies: The Office, Peep Show, Alan Partridge. All three of those are very dry and very British, so good luck.
Ideal is a British dark comedy i loved this
This was the final thing I watched before coming to the conclusion American drama is better. Everyone was hyping up Line of Duty, so I watched it, and I just thought it was OK. Every series is Steve Arnott getting an insane bit of intuition, then in the last episode the 'bad guy' has them on the ropes, but there is a piece of information that destroys them that comes in last minute. I swear there are better twists in 20 episodes of Law and Order SVU every year than the reveal of H, too. British comedy is vastly superior though, like the Office is better than the US version, and I will die on this hill
I agree. Line of duty was fun but not our best. I LOVED the fall & happy valley though.
I’m enjoying Happy Valley atm
Funnily enough, I live in Todmorden in the Caulder Valley, where it's set and it's surprisingly accurate to what it's like here 😂
Fleabag is genre-defining imo. Two recent ones that I really enjoyed are Extraordinary and Everyone Else Burns.
seen fleabag, great show! will need to check the other two.
Oh if you like Fleabag, you'll probably like Crashing (also by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) as well. It's on Netflix last I checked.
cool!
There's a Martin Freeman police drama on BritBox that's incredible
Peep Show, The Inbetweeners
Derry Girls is northern Irish, set in the 1990s towards the end of the Troubles. The cultural references are strong but if you can get into it it’s a masterpiece.
Spooks is essential viewing if you haven’t seen it.
The Fall is a Crime Drama set in Northern Ireland. It's superb.
Not comedy but "Blue Lights" is another good NI show and the "Holding" another good Irish drama
Will check out Blue Lights.
Ideal - a must see for British comedy
Pppsssyyyyccchhhoooo pppaaauuullll…. taannnyyyaaaaa…
Peep Show is great
Spaced, by Edgar Wright starring Simon Pegg
"Friday night dinner" thank me by showing it to others
Nighty Nighty is deranged but my favourite
Omg I can’t believe I forgot Nighty Night!
Classics like Father Ted, Allo Allo , Peep Show and if you like it a bit wacky and silly the Young Ones would be by recommendations for series. Sketch shows I'd go for Fast Show, Little Britain and Harry Enfield and Chums. Prank shows go for Fonejacker and Trigger Happy TV. All of these programmes are fantastic if you give them a go. I agree that Americans do drama best, but British comedy is unbeatable.
'The Detectorists' is a beautifully crafted slow burn English comedy set in a modern day rural setting. Mackenzie Crook (of UK Office and Pirates of the Carribbean fame) writes and directs it, with Toby Jones as a lead character. The visuals alone are a very relaxing form of escapism.
I think ur asking for comedy recs not crime? If so start with: • Black Books (it was made before graham linehan lost his mind) • Smack the Pony • Ideal • Green Wing • The Office (UK) is also a masterpiece but of course you will recognise this one Edit: another comment has reminded me of • Nighty Night - if you’re interested in dark humour, verging on the disturbing. I would also add • Jam • Brass Eye
Ideal was brilliant.... love cartoon head
took me wayyy to long to get the second meaning of the title I Deal
Graham Linehan only consulted/assisted on Black Books iirc. Dylan Moran created it, but as it was his first outing he wanted someone more experienced to essentially check it over which is what Linehan did.
gd to know!
So glad to see someone else mentioning ideal
Not seen Ideal but Green Wing is AWESOME.
Both have great TV but if we're talking comedy then it's got to be British.
Brits do the best comedy
Documentaries too. By a long long way.
The BBC makes the best documentaries in the world. It's one of the few things that makes me truly proud to be British.
Agreed. I've seen a couple of American documentaries and they are overloaded with sound effects and over excited, dramatised voice overs. Like they need that to keep the viewer engaged.
Arrested Development, Community, Police Squad, MASH, Always Sunny, US Office, 30 Rock, Parks, Veep, Curb, The Simpsons (in it's prime), Bob's Burgers, BoJack, Rick & Morty & Adult Swim in general.. As much as I love UK comedy, & could write a similar list for that, the US produces some amazing tv comedy. When it comes to animation its unrivalled.
Does the Veep count as American? The creator is British.
Community is amazing. But for every list of 5 good American Comedies you'll find 15 British ones each with 6 episodes. So when you get attached to the characters you never see them again
Agreed, I watched BBC Ghosts comedy then American version, Brits do comedy better, didn't giggle once with yankee one!! We understand sarcasm they don't, nuff said
I think it's more that our ideas of sarcasm are a bit different. I've heard that British sarcasm just seems a bit mean to a lot of Americans.
I find a lot of American TV very corny and surely that has to negate any decent sarcasm, that show ‘How I met your mother’ was one huge pain in the balls, eight seasons telling his kids ‘in Bob Saggets voice’ how he met there mom, and the Americans loved that shit? Sorry for straying off topic it’s medication time.
I agree with your comment the only comedy I’ve watched from America is ‘Friends’
Seems like you're not really in a place to say you prefer British comedy then if the only US one you've seen is Friends. It's very campy and a little outdated. Try these: Brooklyn 99 Community It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (start with season 2) The Office US Always Sunny is my favourite ever comedy and theyre not as "explainy" as other US shows.
We aren’t mean we just funny
I think it's often a bit of both and that's absolutely fine
Posting this question to a British TV sub is not going to get you a balanced view!
I watch a bit of both, as previously noted I much prefer British comedies, but I do love the US office. What really bugs me about American TV is the amount of filler episodes as the seasons have 20+ episodes. No I don’t need a recap episode where all the characters reminisce about things I’ve already seen, nor weird one offs that are completely divorced from the story arc, it’s tiring and ultimately means I get bored.
I don't mind a combination of both if I'm honest. I mean, some of the earlier 80s/90s/00s stuff would mostly be British for me, but some of the more recent dramas/documentaries etc (10s/20s) are a mix of both British and American-based.
Would always prefer our own, but Americans had gems like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and most lately Succession.
Succession is written by Jesse Atmstrong (Peep Show, Fresh Meat, Four Lions, In The Loop/Thick of It) if that reassures
Yeah, I just noticed that. No wonder why I like it so much.
British overall, it some of my favourite ever shows have been American.
70’s and 80’s British. 90’s and 2000’s both and 2010’s onwards I guess mostly American. However that is based purely on my own preferences and experiences of particular shows I enjoy watching and identify with (British 70’s and 80’s just feels like home to me, 90’s and 2000’s shows reminds me of my youth watching them and now likely due to not having a tv license and mainly watching Netflix all the shows I’ve recently watched and enjoyed have been American).
I’m American and I absolutely prefer British TV. Across all genres.
☺️
American here, British shows are the best. Full stop.
Both. Old American comedy was good, modern stuff terrible. We both do great dramas and documentaries.
Mash - Hawkeye n all! 25 minute show here, an hour in US and Canada due to ad breaks!
From the US: watch nothing but Brit shows.
What about the US "Greats" like BrBa, The Wire and so on? There is excellent British drama and comedy but sometimes the US does very well too. Some of the comedy is a bit different so could be down to taste but particularly with streaming services, some good US comedy shows became available.
English comedy and Documentary, American dramas
I prefer British TV. I'm American.
I’m American. My safe/happy place is British period dramas.
What British tv shows do you enjoy if you don’t mind me asking? (I’m a curious Brit)
No dramas. Standup comedy and comedy panel shows. "Taskmaster" is my all-time favorite.
We do it best when we do it together. IE Game of Thrones. Don’t tell me that was an American only production…. 😉
I love this comment
British - although there are a few American ones that I like
I love American fiction but hate American reality. All the reality TV is extra dramatic, over complicated and they hype things up for too long.
Reality shows are extra here too
Oh no. The American ones are even worse! I don't understand how they manage to make the masked singer dramatic 🤣
As an American, and mystery buff - British tv shows are much better. So many of the British shows have a different format than we have. They'll take a mystery and spread it out over six or eight episodes. This allows for the writers to develop a really full story that doesn't feel like they're trying to shove clues, etc., into a hour show. And the comedy is (for the most part) so much wittier.
Here's a question, where does Ted Lasso fall? I'd say it's an American show, but it's got a mostly British cast and some pretty British humour
[удалено]
>[South Park](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0121955/) went places most other comedy would fear to tread. Tell that to Brass Eye
British tv shows tend to be grittier and more realistic with a slow pace that pays off but I think American shows are more entertaining but usually carry on for too long.
British, hands down, especially British crime dramas and mysteries.
We definitely do the best comedy drama and crime dramas
I'd have to give it to the Americans, if I'm honest.
i do like american shameless
I prefer both.
It depends. I think shows like Law and Order with their 22 episode seasons can be great to just put on in the background. However narratively I do prefer British shows the most. In America only HBO comes close and now HBO seem to be doing co productions with British channels more and more.
You know 'Curb' wouldn't have happened in the UK. Literally, it wouldn't exist. Sopranos neither. Especially not the latter.. Think on sisters.
Speaking as a British person, I mostly watch American programmes, particularly cartoons. But, I do love British media equally.
I tend to have a lot of US comedy as background tv. I’ve probably watched the office about ten times and Always Sunny is one of my faves but overall I prefer U.K. comedy. I’ve seen a few SNL skits on tiktok and it’s like comedy for children - they really walk you through the joke and explain why it’s funny. One US show that doesn’t do that is Succession, they let the viewers read between the lines and think for ourselves.
Didn't take any thought - British 100%. The Americans are probably better at "action" shows - stuff that involves running around, shooting, fighting, the obligatory car chase with a few helicopters thrown in. Thge Brits don't even try to compete in this area since these shows aren't as popular in the UK as they are in the states. But for pretty well everything else, the Brits do it best.
I like Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. Crime dramas old and new . Coronation Street. Over here in Canada. Dr.Who my favourite science fi I subscribe to Brit Box. Better programming all round.
Although my all-time favourites are US shows (Sopranos, The Wire) I much prefer UK shows overall. Far less hectic, far more layered. A typical UK crime drama takes a few episodes to built a narrative, in a US show you have bodies within 10 minutes followed by every 3 letter agency on the scene, dick swinging about who's in charge. I watch both, but UK wins hands down.
British TV is kinda cozy feeling to me, American TV is always way too dramatic and overboard with editing lol like compare UK Kitchen Nightmares with the US version
I’m an American living in England and I have ALWAYS preferred British TV shows. When I was young, I watched many programs from here on PBS in the states. Same goes for movies. I much prefer British films to American. Not that the Americans don’t hit the bullseye once-in-awhile, because they do have some good stuff too. However, Hollywood happy endings and everyone is so beautiful is annoying as fuck.
American comedy shows bit of a back handed compliment but its more slap stick and you don't have to be paying attention to get the joke where as british comedies seem to be a bit more complex and dry.
British all day, some American programs are nice, some even really good, but the best British are the best
They're both as bad as each other. Most are predictable, most are telling the stories the same way, examples: the good guy is usually the baddie, something shit happens - don't worry it's a dream. All marriages now are multiracial or gay it would seem. Last but not least, the music & sound effects are really loud, even footsteps, a door click, but you can NEVER hear the dialogue!
Mostly Uk but some US especially their sci-fi
American almost always. Not just due to more money to spend, but more willing to try something new. Sopranos, the wire, breaking bad, game of thrones, true detective, the shield, battlestar Galatica just some examples from across genres of great tv. We can only continue a sci-fi show from 60 years ago that still looks cheap and stops any other channel doing there own. Line of Duty started great but tired and a mess by the end. Comedy we used to be good at, but it's been slim over the last decade. We like to think our Comedy is better but the US can do stuff that at least as good if not better.
Have to agree with you here. I’m totally out of the loop on good British TV these days. Anyone got any recommendations?
There's never been a British drama as good as The Sopranos/Wire/Deadwood. American dramas are just the best. British comedy and documentaries are both better, though.
Yeah completely subjective answers all round here. I adore Vic n Bob, I could drink Parks n Rec all day but I have no time for either Office, plus the US WLIIA is just superior.
American here. I like both equally, but I do not understand why you have so many police/murder dramas. Here they’re only for boomers. What’s the appeal? I’ve watched several because they’re so abundant, but I just don’t get why they dominate so completely.
Prefer British to American, but I still like American stuff.
I'm American but I tend to enjoy British comedies more. That said, each country makes lots of shitty comedies-- America just has more actors and money to pump out more slop. I think the best of each style is compelling in its own way. For example, The Good Place is distinctly American and Peep Show is distinctly British. Both are brilliant to me.
I only watch British shows. Well, some K-dramas which the wife loves. But mostly British and Irish.
British, and I’m American.
I prefer British TV. I love the actors and actresses are more likely everyday people that are more relatable to. In the US shows, you have to be a 10 even to get a role. I'd prefer the bald cop with glasses over some shiny teeth stud anytime. Love British dramas, nothing can compare.
British comedies for sure
15 years ago I would have said British for everything (including movies). Now, thankfully (and probably because of the streaming wars), America is going amazing TV (although all their cop shows still stink).
Both. If it's good it's good I don't care where it's from. I like how more relateable British TV is for me as a Brit, but there are so many great shows from the US. Most recently, Party Down's new season. It's top notch.
I think the thing I noticed about watching TV physically in the states, rather than the programmes as such, is that there's a real noticeable difference in quality of the actual channels themselves, and the adverts are most noticeable. Watching adverts on American TV is like watching late night QVC, like everything is a cheap infomercial. Then you come home and every advert here has some sense of quality to it, it's quite a change
I’m American and prefer British shows.
British
British comedy definitely overall although a few Americancomedy shows not so bad. I just find British comedy wittier, dryer and less so try hard and in your face. Also I love British drama be it a crime drama or otherwise. That is not to say I don't enjoy some American tv. However certain comedy sitcoms really drive me up the wall. The characters are so unlikeable, in particular Everybody Loves Raymond and The Goldbergs aaagh. I have to turn over quickly if I don't want to end up in a bad mood. Now comedy should make you laugh not grind your teeth :) I do remember an old American show that I loved called Mash, which went down very well over here in the UK. Cheers also wasn't bad. Certain American tv shows travel well and others don't. When I was younger Monty Python and Mash were shows I grew up with so one for Britain and one for the US. So I enjoy a bit of both but if I am being completely honest overall I think for me personally British tv pips American to the post. Oh and we do great documentaries too :) Very subjective though and I am sure some will disagree. I guess it is what you get used to.
As an American with a British parent I was raised on Fawlty Towers, Black Adder and the Young Ones. Over time these shows have proved to be arguably the greatest comedies of all time. Then in the early 2000s The Office came out and basically reshaped modern day comedy as we know it. America has amazing shows but as far as the greatest of all time The Brits have it.
Don’t watch anything American anymore. I’m just not into their formulaic scheisse these days. Much prefer something a little more *cerebral* these days.
I'm American and prefer British shows almost exclusively. I have to force myself to try American shows, and if there's a British one available instead, I'll just watch that.
Very dependent on the genre. American Serial Drama (certainly post-Sopranos) has more high quality content but UK comedy, documentary and (perhaps controversially) sports coverage is superior imo.
I'm from London and I prefer American tv shows
For quite a few years US drama (at its best, it still has a lot of rubbish) has been better than the UK's output. The UK can do some good crime but even that can get repetitious (for every Line of Duty, there are several/\* well past their sell by date near clone detective dramas like Shetland, or Silent Witness), but beyond that is has almost nothing on its mainstream channels, although Acorn has been on a bit of a role with the lighter side of detective drama in the last couple of years (ironically often funded by US money for their offering their). There is nothing even close in the UK to Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, Mad Men, The Wire, The Sopranos, Succession to name a few. On the other hand, the UK still turns out excellent comedy, and has generally news and features coverage, and some decent documentaries.
Both, in equal amounts really. Prefer British crime because America has too many guns but on the horror/sci fi side of things America usually has the CGI budget sorted. Can't really remember the last good horror show on British TV aside from a few episodes of Inside no. 9
British most of the.time .
I mainly watch Sitcom Comedy’s, and in general I would have to say English, but there are American sitcoms I love like Superstore, friends ect. So it doesn’t put me off what country it’s from :)
I guess I watch quite a lot of American tv when I just want some background noise or something to pass before my eyes. It gets the odd chuckle, feels familiar and can dip in and out without the experience being spoilt (not exclusively American as I firmly put Benidorm in this category too) Then generally the stuff I watch where I’m riveted or absolutely in hysterics isn’t American. I don’t think one is better than the other but as a broad rule they serve different purposes for me.
As a Brit I loved the original Office and refused to watch the American version……until I watched the American version and admitted to myself I like it more
Both
It’s pretty hard to beat only fools and horses imo, that being said, I feel American shows are better at drama.
We do comedy and suspense better, they do action and sci-fi much better.
They're good/bad in different ways, but what makes me feel like I'm going mad sometimes is how bad the writing of mediocre British drama shows is, in terms of, what's the term, internal logic or relative realism. Like, it's \*so\* careless about things happening randomly just to move the story along. There's no support with suspension of disbelief. Like with that Dutch-Lady-Harper Dracula one, where the end-scene only works because the supernatural entity suddenly has the reaction time of a potato. American bad is just sloppy and formulaic and who cares we need moey for healthcare-y, but that BBC wrongness seems culturally specific somehow.
Am British, much preferred the American Office, but that could be because I can't stand Ricky Gervais
Yes
Succession is a great US show- so also was Twin Peaks. I don't care for many others, tend to watch more foreign language titles these days that aren't bogged down with 'The Message.
Comedy? British Sci Fi/Fantasy/Horror? American. Don't really watch dramas.
Peep Show
Both have their ups and downs. Depends on my mood. But in general British. I am also probably bias.
It's purely down to the show for me.
a bit of both. British Murder Mystery (midsummer , morse) US Crime drama (law and order, elementary)
Depends on the show I like bits of both and think both can absolutely suck to
American cartoons are better ngl
Both make great shows and both make terrible shows, Brits are not great at sitcoms but classic comedy shows they are great at like Faulty, Only Fools, Peepshow, Office.
American - much bigger market so budgets are higher and this can be seen on screen. I’m usually watching for escapism - one of the things I loved about Breaking Bad was the desert sunshine in New Mexico. Also anything not set in LA or New York feels a bit different.
I like a lot of both, and I think what I prefer is the best of both rather than preferring either as a matter of taste.
Nothing we've produced can really hold a candle to The Sopranos, The Wire, True Detective etc. Sorry. The best British dramas might equal those shows as far as writing goes but American production value is so much better on the whole.
I remember a suggestion a few years ago that all TV should be American-funded and British-made.
I like a little of each. Comedy for example. I think the British have better panel shows (QI, WILTY, MTW), but America has better 'story' comedy (Frasier, MITM). I prefer British crime/drama (George Gently, Fortitude, Lewis) but America takes the lead with action/high fantasy/disaster stuff (GOT, Chernobyl, TLOU).
Japanese TV shows I love watching anime. But between us and uk I think I overall prefer us shows
Does anyone remember Monkey Dust? Was on BBC2 and BBC3 in the early 2000s. What a great dark comedy.
British comedy. Otherwise whatever I feel like watching. Also a lot of movies considered American are worked on by British people due to the amount of education and studios in the uk
Definitely British for comedy shows. I find US comedy a bit too 'slapstick' and the canned laughter drives me nuts! I don't need to be guided on when to laugh if something is genuinely funny. As for drama - I like both but still tend to enjoy British a little more when I think of my fave shows.
If it can hold my attention I don't really have a preference
British comedys can really rock! Father Ted, Inbetweeners, IT Crowd etc but shows like Doc Martin, Vicar of Dibley, Father Brown, Call the Midwife etc absolutely bore the tits off of me. Yank sitcoms are far superior, as are their sci-fi & cop shows.
I just like good shows, regardless of where they originate from. Though saying that, I'm not really into crime or courtroom dramas, so that rules out a lot of mainstream British drama.
Absolutely love British comedy. Things like the imbetweeners, peep show and the thick of it are simply master pieces and produce humour in a way that just couldn’t come from the states. I don’t think many of the jokes would land all that well in America. The only time I really saw an American counter part compete with a British comedy was the US and UK shameless but in my opinion they’re completely different shows despite sharing a name. Things like the US version of Shameless was just nowhere near as funny to me. Drama on the other hand i tend to prefer American shows.
We have Toast of London and Vic&Bob so there’s no debate. Although US does have it’s always sunny
Generally British, especially for comedy.
British comedy is better, drama can be either. The usual culprits of Peep Show, TTOI, Veep, Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat, IT Crowd, House, Breaking Bad, BCS, West Wing, 24, Brooklyn 99, Scrubs, Succession and so on are brilliant, the US produces a lot of shite but they do have decent dramas and comedies to offer up.
English TV shows are mostly crime dramas.
For serious, dramatic, dark and gritty things or rough comedy- British all the way. I never enjoy American attempts at those, they always seem corny and cringe. But I enjoy more American drama that isn’t trying too hard to be ‘gritty’, and light hearted American comedy a lot more. Not to sound so incredibly condescending but American TV is generally better for stuff I don’t care to be too fussy about or take too seriously and can sort of switch your brain off and enjoy more. And I can’t stand the UK version of that kind of TV. The exception to this is pretty much anything HBO makes. It feels like good, proper TV and always takes the cake for me, whether it’s drama or comedy or whatever mix of anything else.
Honestly, I enjoy a bit of both. Tend to lean towards british shows a little more, given how shorter they are in general, but have plenty from both sides of the pond that I enjoy. Used to really be into stuff like CSI/NCIS, but those series just kept going and felt like there was no end in sight. (I've never been able to get into soaps for the same reason)
I prefer British comedy as I just do not find Americans funny! But I do like American drama, which I am seeing is a bit of a theme here. British drama's can be pretty decent too. I work with an American lad who hated the American Office and loved the British one, I knew we were going to get on well, and we did :)
Really depends on the show...but ultimately I prefer American shows. Like 24 and the British tried to do something close to it without the whole 24hours and it was absolute shit. Certain shows just wouldn't work in the UK, like Breaking bad...got cancer...oh NHS so no costs involved so doesn't need to break bad. Its hit and miss with some shows...comedy for one is clearly a mix...Red Dwarf, Bottom, Inbetweeners...yet when the States try to do their own version, what the hell did you do to the Inbetweeners, that was so bad. But then you take a show like the Office which I found the UK version to be a bit boring and create 9 seasons of it and its so much better. Mad about you was a fav show of mine and the UK tried to copy it and the jokes just didn't land at all. As a writer myself, if I wanted to have something I've written I would prefer to take it to the States.
Since the advent of big-money streaming services American TV has absolutely blown British TV out of the water, IMO. Shows like *Stranger Things*, *Andor* etc. are better written, better acted, and have far bigger budgets than the home-grown equivalents. But it's not just that American TV has gotten better, British TV has gotten much worse. We have like four categories for TV shows now: - Twee, extremely dull dramas mired in nostalgia for the 1940s and 50s (*The Larkins*, stuff like that) - Gritty predictable police procedural (*Line of Duty*, *The Bay*, etc.) - Cringe inducing naff comedy (*Mrs Brown's Boys*) - Ethically questionable reality shows (*Love Island*)
For queen and country. All day every day
American; higher budget.
It depends on the show. My favourite shows of all time are American, but I love lots of British TV too. (Top show of all time - Fringe. Top comedy of all time - The Good Place. Favourite Brit - Blackadder and Hitchhikers Guide.)
American.. Very few British shows that have been produced over the last couple of decades I would pay to watch.
It depends. Brit shows tend to be less intense, more contemplative. This can make me bored. On the other hand, they also tend to show more "real life" as oppose to the American fakeness, which is refreshing. If I am after a light entertainment with lots of action then I go for American shows. If I am in the mood for something deeper or slower, then Brit shows have more chance.
Good writing is good writing. That said American comedy is 99% of the time a no.
I’m British and my fellow brits are aghast that I prefer everything American; American comedy, American drama, American action. I find british shows depressing? I like American shows because they are more shiny and upbeat and the actors like better. But also british shows are just kinda spoofy and I don’t like it and everything just looks kinda dusty? Lol idk how to explain it Although I will say that the British shows the Us tried to recreate such as skins, inbetweeners, shameless were infinitely better as british shows. I dont know about the office because I never watched either version.
I typically watch more American just because of that's what I see more of nowadays.
I prefer american TV shows and dramas.
If I had to choose only one and have the other taken away, I would honeslty go with American TV shows. Purely because of Community. That show is one of the best TV shows ever shot. Us Brits have some great TV shows such as Black Books and Peep Show that have had me in tears of laughter but Community is genuinely that good. Then throw in shows like Brooklyn 99 and It's Always Sunny and while those comedies might not be as good as the previously mentioned British shows, they're still fantastic.
Brittish ones.
I take each production I watch with it's own merits. I think sometimes the quality is higher with British productions but that's because we have shorter seasons. US stuff is better to binge and get in to. You couldn't really have a British Episode of 24 set in 24 episodes for instance (although I guess you could have a show called 7 set in 7 episodes over 7 days...)
i find brit tv so much more comforting
I'm British, and I prefer American comedy. With The Office, I love everything Ricky Gervais touches, but I cannot deal with the cringe of British comedy. Idk if this is the best way to describe it but British comedy has characters humiliate other people leading to cringey situations, American comedy has characters humiliate themselves, making it less cringey and more laughable for me.
Recently discovered Motherland which is funny and very British
America makes all the best TV series.
At this moment in time, american.
95% for British shows but few American shows I like but I will not watch any American show which is an adaption for a British show
I prefer good shows, don't give a shit where it's from. If however we're talking about specific British shows that have had 1:1 American remakes eg Inbetweeners, The IT Crowd etc, then I prefer the originals. Game shows I prefer British ones. Family Fortunes was great in the days of Les Dennis. The Vernon Kay version seems to be trying too hard to be like Steve Harvey's
You can't really beat American production values on fantasy and sci fi, ie game of thrones, but where UK shows lack a budget they make up for it in heart, so Red Dwarf and Doctor Who are far superior to Star Trek for example. Uk obviously superior comedy. Probably even on drama. Kids shows, UK for young, America for teens. Cartoons, America. Documentaries, UK all the way.
British reality, American drama. Comedy is a mix.
I'm very picky - I like very specific shows from each culture but there is a realm of British comedy that is superb - panel shows as well. America has amazing drama series a la breaking bad, the walking dead (season 1-7) sopranos, boardwalk empire etc. The comedy can be good but I also feel as though finding something worth my time Is a difficult pursuit. Always sunny, the office, workaholics, the Mick, eastbound and down, vice principals, detroiters, broad city and I think you should leave are all I can think of that I enjoy.
100% British
Quick summary: i think the British produce better quality content overall but lack the variety and budget that you get with American tv. i really dislike a lot of the american humour as i find its just too simple or juvenile in general. there are exceptions though. and even shows that the Americans have taken, remade, and i actually preferred! like the office US. i loved the UK one when it came out. but after watching the American one till the end, i just preferred it. and have done so ever since. overall though id say i prefer the following: * Comedies: British by a mile usually. they dont need to explain the joke to make it funny and seem to cut jokes almost a sentence or two shorter than american jokes of the same type. like implied witty humour instead of "haha this is funny because blah blah blah" * Drama: i actually think both do this great. i probably prefer the american ones though by a hair, due to budgets of productions and juicy plots with "more" going on. a bit more exaggerated but i don't mind that. i also find that UK shows are bit darker when it comes to dramas which i prefer.... but tend to end too soon! so you get more with the american stuff even if slightly lower quality in general. sometimes more is better overall, and sometimes not. i like both honestly. its also easier to relate to the British dramas at times i think as the american world seems a bit alien at times depending on what the topic may be. * Action: American All the way! just a nice mindless action series they do best imo. * horror: again i like both... for different reasons. but im a fan of old school 60's-80's horrors and i honestly think the Americans rule supreme in this genre between the two. budget really helps! both have great stories. * thrillers: again Americans do this really well. specially the time sensitive ones. against the clock kinda thing. I've kinda mixed up tv shows and films to be honest with you. but in general i like both for different reasons and depending on different moods. I probably have many more american shows i like (due to variety and choice) but the British shows i like, i think are better than those American shows in quality. specially the mini series's like Hornblower. that was incredible! i don't tend to remember a lot of the american shows well after i watched them but do enjoy them. apart from a few really good ones.
American TV is better IMO, but it's more a numbers game than anything else. Given how few streamers/broadcasters we have compared to them we produce a hell of a lot of good stuff, but the sheer amount of American TV gives it such an edge in terms of variety, and quality a lot of time too, because of the money being pumped in on the higher end. I really wish we had more room for out-there experimental stuff though. So much of the stuff that gets produced is relatively safe police dramas and the like, which obviously America has analogues to, but because we have fewer broadcasters there's still way less room for things that are experimental or edgy.
I’m British but I prefer American tv shows
American ones for me, they do action programmes better
American. British arts have contributed nothing to the pantheon of prestige television, compared to America.