I agree to a certain point... we have had some great comedians born over here, but it is true that on the whole the entire lot tends to be pretty lowbrow. We don't do cerebral humor very much or very well. Even when we have smart characters, they tend to be in a "smart people so dumb" role.
That, of course, is what you get when you have stupid people
writing smart characters.
But Robin Williams is arguably one of the most naturally funny people who ever lived... and George Carlin... even Dennis Miller before he sold out... and watching King of the Hill again with my son has reminded me just how incisive Mike Judge's wit is, and he has a knack for boiling down the important issues of this crazy and complex world down to their essence. Also, as a parent of two precocious kids, I find I do connect on an entirely different level from when it first aired. Same is true of Home Improvement, even though those kids are grandparents in their own right by now.
Sadly, most of the really creative stuff produced over here is cartoons, and has been for decades. It seems Americans can only handle discussion of
"the real stuff" and
"shows that make you think" if they come couched in an absolutely fantasty setting.
I just finished rewatching Good Omens with my son; of course that was produced by the Beeb. We also very much enjoyed Dirk Gently; tho we felt the 2nd season was a bit formulaic.
I'm hoping I can get him to watch the Beeb's HHGttG; might need to get BritBox just for that.
mnem
*fulminating at the mind again*