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Little Britain Face Uphill Battle to win Over US

So British comedy sketch show Little Britain died on its arse after its US debut. Was it because it wasn’t funny? Or was it simply because Americans didn’t ‘get’ it?

When the comedy by Matt Lucas and David Walliams was first on BBC3 in the UK, it caused a storm because it was so unique. It was the first time i laughed out loud at a sketch show since the Two Ronnies during the early 90s, and the nation was totally hooked.

The comedy made stars out of the two actors. Matt Lucas the short tubby one was out and out gay, and is married to another bloke I believe, and David Walliams had the UKs newspapers on fire with the is he/isn’t he gay rumours (even though he’s had a string of beautiful women hanging off his arm over the years).

Is it just too in your face for the US? I find it strange. Its not the first time a UK comedy show has translated over though. Iconic late 80s sci-fi show Red Dwarf, starring Craig Charles and the hilarious Chris Barrie as Arnold J. Rimmer, had a brief foray in to the US with its own version that even had a guest appearance from Robert Lewellan, who played android Kryten, but that show plain sucked as American actors couldn’t deliver the sarcastic lines how it should have been.

More recently, the Office, which in the UK starred stand up comic Ricky Gervais, won over any initial critics in the US and became somewhat of a hit show, lead actor Steve Carrell played the part of the foot in mouth boss perfectly, which was the main factor, along side the brilliantly written script.

Little Britain was never supposed to be a clever program, it was never suggestive, it has always been more in your face, and crude, and perhaps America’s viewers just weren’t ready, or maybe the characters just don’t cross the Atlantic well. They may not see the funny side of a guy faking that he’s wheel chair bound, or that to body builders probably love chasing each other around the locker room…

It may well grow on viewers though, i knew a few people who hated it the first time they saw it, so go on America, give Little Britain a chance.

Tags: Little Britain, Opinion, Television