MovieChat Forums > Mr. Bean (1992) Discussion > Is this type of humor too difficult to d...

Is this type of humor too difficult to duplicate?

posted 17 years ago by c6_vette_37
6 replies | jump to latest

Sometime around 1993 I started traveling to Europe every summer with parents and I turned on the TV and saw an episode of Mr Bean. I don't think I had ever laughed so hard and I couldn't believe how funny it was. After watching a few episodes over the years I thought all British humor was this good. However, most of it is as bad as what's on in the US.

Even though the episodes are relatively short, they are all hilarious and the acting ability of Mr Bean is exceptional. What I also like about it is that the whole family can watch the episodes together, and it doesn't rely on bad language or some of the "adult humor" that almost everything on TV does now.

Considering how popular this show was and still is, why haven't more people tried to duplicate some of the elements that made it great?

[–] drucifer_briggs 17 years ago

Similar shows don't exist. If they did they would basically be considered Mr. Bean rip offs.

That is the problem with TV, movies, music, and even books today. Nothing is original anymore. Everyone takes ideas from else where. If there was a Mr. Bean clone I'm sure it wouldn't be nearly as funny.

There are other British television shows that are really good but everyone has a different opinion on what is funny. I also enjoy Black Adder (staring Rowan Atkinson), Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Jeeves & Wooster, The Office, and Little Britain. There others I enjoy but there are also many more I still have yet to see.

[–] ExplorerDS6789 17 years ago

Exactly. We need our own "and now for something completely different" guy.

[–] hwik 16 years ago

Since Mr. Bean is a rip-off of "Från och med Herr Gunnar Papphammar" from 1980 there is no need to triplicate it. It was funny but in no way original or new.

"Life is hard. After all, it kills you."
K. Hepburn

[–] BethH24 14 years ago

Bottom and The young ones are hilarious British sitcoms, and Harry Enfield and chums is very funny too. That is a sketch show.

[–] helderuto 10 years ago

You must be so proud of being able to cite an obscure german show....

[–] Furienna (3322) 4 years ago

No, "Herr Papphammar" is Swedish actually.
It is true that there are similarities with "Mr Bean".
However, I don't believe that Rowan Atkinson knew about "Herr Papphammar" before he created his character.