UK Comedy Panel Game shows

[Denim Gremlin]

like QI, Would I Lie To You?, Mock The Week, Nevermind The Buzzcocks, etc.

I'm seriously obsessed with them. Does anybody else here watch them?

It always make me wonder why these arn't the type of shows that get imported and remade for America. I think the format translates way better than sitcoms and they're way more entertaining that shit like America's Got Talent.

I know they tried years ago to do an American version of Buzzcocks for VH1, hosted by Marc Maron of all people, that tanked but I think the comedy scene now is so strong and they'd fit in perfectly. Plus people love stuff like The Soup, I Love the 80's and Best Week Ever so we know they'll accept shows where comedians get to riff and make fun of pop culture, which when you break it down is really what these panel shows are all about, albeit with a much more high concept and entertaining framework.

Think about how cool it would be to have an American version of QI hosted by John Hodgeman or Would I Lie To You? with people like PFT, Jen Kirkman, and Julie Klausner.

plus they're a great way for working comedians to make some extra bread while getting to be funny and test out jokes and get some exposure.

Even if they don't remake the UK shows, I still wish there was more stuff like this on the air in America. There are so many amazing comedians and other funny people out there right now it just seems like a wasted opportunity. Like, how hard would it be to take something great like Doug Loves Movies and turn into movie quiz show with comedians? I would watch that in a heart beat.

[Sarah]

I don't think Americans want to think as hard as those shows make you think.  It's a miracle, really, that Jeopardy is still popular.

[DS1077]

Similar to these, I'm convinced that doing the "Big Fat Quiz of the Year" here in America would be a good way to test run this.  There's nothing else on TV around New Years anyway, and doing it as a year-end event means it could be a one time thing to see how it goes over without committing to a full series order.  But on a less business-y level, I just think that it's a really funny format and there are plenty of American celebs and comedians who'd have fun with it.

[Sarah]

I'm not disputing that the shows could be done and done well; I just think they'd be quickly canceled, because enough people wouldn't watch them.

[yesno]

We have plenty of group chat shows in the US.  We just don't pretend that they are "games."

[Denim Gremlin]

We have plenty of group chat shows in the US.  We just don't pretend that they are "games."

like what? All I could think of Chelsea Lately.

[yesno]

The shows I'm thinking of aren't necessarily any good.  Bill Maher, for instance.

I think that the semi-bogus "game" conceit on a lot of those shows would bug Americans.  It kind of bugs me.  If it's going to be a game there should be clear rules, people shouldn't just fuck around, etc.  I take it that the game format allows random topics to be discussed.

Here's the thing.  I love Armando Iannucci.  I've even read all his books.  But I think Charm Offensive is really boring and not that funny.   

[Bryan]

Scott Aukerman does those kind of free-form games on the Comedy Bang Bang/CDR podcast, and I like the way it allows him to moderate and structure the show. It's a good format for comedians. But you're right that it does seem to irritate some of the guests, and no doubt some listeners, too.

[AllisonLeGnome]

Nevermind The Buzzcocks is the number one thing that I somehow enjoy without actually getting any of the references.

[JBillington]

The problem is that the cheapness of panel shows has made them ubiquitous on British TV. No-one will take a chance on an expensive sitcom when they can get a few comedians to come on and read out pre-written jokes for a few laughs. They are also very heavily aimed at the lowest common denominator 18-30 key demographic. C4's 8 out of 10 cats being probably the nadir, though BBC2 Mock The Week (aka Mock The Weak) is pretty apalling too. Even the formerly interesting QI has been dumbed down for BBC1 audiences.

Also, these shows are basically adapted from a radio format that has been common on Radio 4 for decades. The American equivalent is anything where a group of funny people sit around and talk about something. Like the Best Show. We don't have stuff like that here. Grass is always greener etc.

[CSW]

The problem is that the cheapness of panel shows has made them ubiquitous on British TV. No-one will take a chance on an expensive sitcom when they can get a few comedians to come on and read out pre-written jokes for a few laughs. They are also very heavily aimed at the lowest common denominator 18-30 key demographic. C4's 8 out of 10 cats being probably the nadir, though BBC2 Mock The Week (aka Mock The Weak) is pretty apalling too. Even the formerly interesting QI has been dumbed down for BBC1 audiences.

Seconded.
All of those shows suck (possible exception for QI but I cannot stand Stephen Fry) and it really does seem to stop sitcoms from being made. I can't think of any good, new UK sitcoms recently except for Grandma's House which was good but weird and kinda dark (not sure if it would play well overseas, I liked it but I don't think it played well here.) And that was made by a guy (Simon Anstell, former host of ...Buzzcocks) who was already well known.

That said, I did tweet Hodgman a while back when his QI episode was on to suggest he should host a US version.

Grass is always greener may be a fair point but personally i would rather watch any number of US sitcoms at the moment, especially as there are some very good ones on air - 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Community etc. We need more stuff like that here.

[Sarah]

I enjoyed Friday Night Dinner. 

[Denim Gremlin]

I just really like watching David Mitchell rant.

[wood and iron]

Looks like there is one coming:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/chris-hardwicks-nerdist-podcast-coming-to-bbc-amer,56496/

I don't know about anybody else, but for my money, the more I listened to that podcast, the more I started disliking Misters Hardwick, Ray and Mira.

[samir]

Have I Got News For You is the only one I keep up with. Probably the daddy of all these shows, as it's been going since the early 1990s.

Here's the latest episode-

Hignfy S41E06 extended