Ever notice how all the really good comedies have a bitter person as one of their main characters? Well I have. Let me give you some examples:
Friends: Chandler
Seinfeld: George
Becker: well Becker of course!
Chandler stopped being bitter in Friends after he paired up with Monika, but that when the show went downhill for me (and I know people who’ll agree). The only exception I can think of is comedies that are sexual in nature. Coupling, for example and this Hindi comedy that used to air on Zee TV when it first started. Weird I know, but we just seem to enjoy the sour pusses knock the wind out of the goody two shoes. Maybe its because we’ve all felt like that at one point or another in our lives.
I guess barring some GENUINE Indian Comedy Serials all other are shameless copy of english serials. The lates is Lo Kall Lo Baat on SAB Tv. If u have seen “Whose line is it anyway”, the show hosted by Drew Cary on Star world, you can easily identify make it that Drew has copied our OWN INDIAN show, Lo Kal Lo Baat.
Karishma ka karishma another example.
U can see n number o serials on TV that are true copy of english serials.
IMO, Office Office is the only comedy serial that displays usual scene of corrupt Indians.
The comedy series Scrubs is all about the same. So does Everybody Loves Raymonds.
Ah but Kumar did you know that Whose line is it anyway itself is a copy (or maybe I should say syndication) of another British series. Besides, its a good format that encourages originality so I don’t really mind what language its in. I’ve seen the hindi version and at best I’d rate it as mediocre. But stand up shows usually get better with age (goes the other way for situational comedies) so I’d watch that space.
You’re right Sushubh, both Scrubs (the cocky doctor who’s always being rude to everybody) and Everybody Loves Raymond (Raymond’s brother) have their share of bitter character in the main cast line up.
how about happy days? was Fonzie bitter? hmm. but it was not exactly a full fledged comedy series… hmm.
Its a sign of the times. I seriously doubt Happy Days would have been the hit it was in today’s times.
I think the same applies for Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie… :)