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English vs English


deanb
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Toad in the hole? The name is a downer compared to the look of it.

 

I watched a show this weekend about 2 people who eat the cuisine of a time period/place, giving their commentary and health conditions along the way. The time frame they did was the time and food of Shakespeare. The food was horrific and super unhealthy. Almost no fruits were consumed. They didn't drink water in the city at that time. So, they had beer with about every meal (including breakfast).

 

It was interesting from a standpoint of health and what was common to the local people at the time. It also reflected on history and how the favorites of the queen were popular with everyone, as well as some of the eating mandates from the queen.

 

Good show, if I could remember the name of it.

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Toad in the hole? The name is a downer compared to the look of it.

Welsh rabbit, turtle soup, Mr Brains Pork Faggots, devils on horse back, spotted dick, etc. We don't always choose awesome or properly descriptive names.

 

As for the show: The Supersizers eat [time period], maybe?

Supersizers.jpg

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I really like that programme. It does help that I have a massive crush on Giles Coren. Sue Perkins does a baking competition show with Mel Giedroyc which is genuinely awesome as well. Have a search for great british bake off (and add squirrel to get a true sense of what it means to be british). They are my favourite comedy duo I wish they were on TV more, their old show Light Lunch was my favourite TV show ever.

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How popular is pantomime in the states?

 

It depends. If you mean in terms of comedy, it varies. Most American comedies are "laugh" a minute sitcoms where everyone insults everyone else in-between making jokes about sex. Seriously, see Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory for examples (though I'm convinced Jim Parsons if he gained some acrobatic skills could be the next Keaton.) Instead many Americans tend to like insult or gross out humor. For many, there has to be witty banter or they don't laugh. I'm ashamed to come from a culture where Adam Sandler and Jim Carey are considered funny.

 

Outside of comedy, pantomime is practically dead as an artform (though The Artist, a French film, showed there is merit to the art form even today.) There are a few people who enjoy things like silent films, M. Hulot and his British doppleganger Mister Bean so the art isn't totally dead here but it's hardly a popular form of expression.

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Can someone explain to me what exactly pantomime is? Wikipedia wasn't very enlightening.

 

I like witty banter, but hate gross-out humor. I also hate "uncomfortable" humor, like Michael in the American version of The Office or basically any movie with Ben Stiller in it. It's not funny to me if I'm embarrassed for the character, it's just unpleasant, like real embarrassment. I also like slapstick if done well, but very frequently it's not.

 

I can't put my finger on what it is about Modern Family exactly, but that's probably my favorite type of comedy (ignoring the liberally biased setting and characters, just looking at the comedy style). I also really like dry verbal humor, like the old Jeeves and Wooster TV show with Hugh Laurie, or Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead, though I have to be in the right mood for that.

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I don't think Battra and Dean are talking about the same kind of pantomime. Over here, pantomime refers to theatrical shows with audience interaction. For example, on stage there could be someone sneaking up on the main character who's looking everywhere but behind him and looking at the audience for help to which the audience will respond with "He's right behind you". Then the main character will turn around but the sneak will turn with him so he's still behind him and the main character will shout "Oh no, he's not!" to which the audience will respond "Oh yes, he is!"

 

Something like this:

 

Also, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler are funny.....they just haven't had any funny movies in quite some time.....Ok. So they were funny! Still counts!

Edited by MasterDex
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I can't put my finger on what it is about Modern Family exactly, but that's probably my favorite type of comedy (ignoring the liberally biased setting and characters, just looking at the comedy style).

 

Funny because the Phil character seems very much like the guy is impersonating Steve Carrell, and that's the same sort of humour. You'd probably find the British version of The Office even worse.

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And for that reason Phil is my least favorite character on the show.

 

As far as the British version of The Office, I've never seen it, but from what I've heard the first season of the US The Office was basically the exact same script as the British one, and I didn't like the show that season.

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I don't think Battra and Dean are talking about the same kind of pantomime. Over here, pantomime refers to theatrical shows with audience interaction. For example, on stage there could be someone sneaking up on the main character who's looking everywhere but behind him and looking at the audience for help to which the audience will respond with "He's right behind you". Then the main character will turn around but the sneak will turn with him so he's still behind him and the main character will shout "Oh no, he's not!" to which the audience will respond "Oh yes, he is!"

 

Something like this:

 

Yeah here in the States Pantomime refers to acting via gestures and actions without the use of words or any speech much in the way of a silent movie or a Mime.

 

Also, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler are funny.....they just haven't had any funny movies in quite some time.....Ok. So they were funny! Still counts!

 

Neither have ever been funny. I will give that comedy is subjective and I am a big snob.

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And for that reason Phil is my least favorite character on the show.

 

As far as the British version of The Office, I've never seen it, but from what I've heard the first season of the US The Office was basically the exact same script as the British one, and I didn't like the show that season.

 

I like the guy who plays Phil. I think the fact that Steve Carrell never won an Emmy but he did is funny. Abeit a 'supporting' one.

 

Only the pilot of the US version of The Office was like the British one.

Edited by Hot Heart
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One of these days I'm going to buy Battra a modern dictionary so that he can stop referring to scrolls and tapestries for the definition of things. ;)

 

Also, I think that Jim Carrey is brilliant physical comedian who is more likeable for being self aware, for example:

 

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One of these days I'm going to buy Battra a modern dictionary so that he can stop referring to scrolls and tapestries for the definition of things. ;)

 

My definition is listed first on Dictionary.com. Not sure how more modern one needs ... :-/

 

Also, I think that Jim Carrey is brilliant physical comedian

 

Ooh, 0-3. :P

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If I were in the army, I'd probably hire a batman.

 

Just realised that there's a fair number military terms here that would sound amusing to a lot of people. Oh not to mention there's also John Batman of Oz.

 

I wonder if we've touched upon the fact that the American Heritage Dictionary at one point defined the word Catholic as meaning liberal.

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I know that one definition of "catholic" is "universal" or "all-encompassing". My family's Episcopalian and in their services they always say "we believe in one holy catholic and Apostolic Church" which confused the hell out of me until I asked and my grandpa (a Deacon in the church) explained that it means that they consider all Christians to be part of one universal church, and that's what "catholic" means in that context.

 

I like the Episcopalians, they're very accepting.

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