MovieChat Forums > Thank God You're Here (2007) Discussion > aussie vs. american

aussie vs. american

posted 17 years ago by flaviabrowne
25 replies | jump to latest

i'm from australia (where the show came from) and we're just about to start the third season. the show is an unbelievable success here and i'm sad to see that so many people on imdb don't find it funny.

the show features comedians and actors like hamish blake, andy lee (both from the highly acclaimed "hamish and andy show" on fox fm), matthew newton (son of austraian television royalty, bert newton), alan brough, cal wilson, angus sampson, shaun micallef, fifi box, peter rowsthorn, colin lane, frank woodley (both from the comedy duo, "lano and woodley", who are some of the most highly respected comedians in australia today) and also julia zemiro, glenn robins, joshua lawson and the list goes on.

the show is cleverly written and wonderfully hosted by the witty and charismatic shane bourne and adjudicated by tom gleisner. the acts are complemented by a very talented support cast and no show fails to deliver on entertainment and plenty of laughs.

i have to wonder about the quality of the american adaptation and how well it reflects the australian show and whether or not it has been well received in the states.

here's a couple of links to some of my favourite sketches from the australian show, i would be interested to hear how they compare to the us version!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJqLrNJAYvE
- matthew newton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRsE1OEtcuM&mode=related&search=
- hamish blake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfRUzvJut4&mode=related&search=
- angus sampson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmyQZYoaiE&mode=related&search=
- julia zemiro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tErxORc4n7o&mode=related&search=
- tahir bilgic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSh-ngoUzAc&mode=related&search=
- cal wilson

i would be really interested to hear what people have to think about how the aussie version compares to the u.s one. i saw jason alexander's performance and i thought it was quite good. as the show progresses, however, the performances will improve and the ratings should too.

to any u.s viewers, i would say to persist with the show, it can only get better!

flavia.

[–] lokifirewalker 17 years ago

ya I am just going to start this off by saying the australian version destroys our version thus far, I think this is mostly due to sending in people who are just not funny, I hope for the sake of the show they start learning from their mistakes and sending in people who are good at this kind of improv environment, I dont mind if they send in someone once and awhile who is well known and not an improv god to test their skills but having everyone be not good at improv in an improv show makes for very unfunny stuff as we saw. I look forward to seeing harland williams performance he can be really funny. Tom green is crazy but might give an interesting performance to watch. Now if they add in a few people from who's line is it anyways (not wayne brady) slap on will ferrel and find any good improv comic they can hell I wouldn't mind if they invite one of the guys from the aussie version to come over, anything but monique richard kind, hell just about everyone they showed so far except the E soup guy and malcoms dad he was ballsy and showed some good improv potential, they actually were pretty decent. "I packed it good"

[–] aidanDESPLAT 17 years ago

I love thank god ur here, the american one must be really bad if u guys dont like it.

[–] missymooa 17 years ago

I love the australian version of thank god you're here! i cant wait till the next season is out! It is kinda dissapointing to hear that the American version that has been made is crap and has given the show a bad name! but the Aussie one Rocks the caz bar!

Ladies and Gentlemen 45 minutes of butt-robics, I present to you my ass

[–] Heathasorus 17 years ago

The Aussie version rocks!!!

Its the funniest new show for as long as i can remember

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

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[–] AsmoAD 17 years ago

Monique was totally screwed over in her scenario and I still managed to get a laugh out of it. At least give her a chance in a better scenario before you write her off.

[–] aidanDESPLAT 17 years ago

Yeah I would love too see Rove and Peter Helier put on the aussie show.

[–] Ladytronstar 17 years ago

agreed. I also think the the sensors are just too touchy with what is allowed to be said. I think if censorship was more leanient then the actors would feel more free to say whatever they want.

[–] off_with_the_faries 17 years ago

No, Andy Lee has never been on Thank God you're here, just Hamish. Those two are so funny though.

I think people don't liek the US version, because most of the people who have been on are not funny, as previously said.
And there's no way you could put movie or music stars (like Brad Pitt or Beyonce) who have no actual stand-up comedy background on the show, they would suck. You need good improv people.
We had Arj Barker on one Aus episode and he was pretty good. They need people like that.

[–] janney_cj_peach 17 years ago

I am a huge fan of the Australian version, and am a devoted viewer during the season. It has worked incredibly well here, and whilst a lot of credit needs to go to the comics and other guests they feature, a lot of credit also needs to go to the team behind the program.

Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch and the rest of the guys are absolutely fabulous and so incredibly talented at what they do. They brought us Frontline and I was also a huge fan of that series.

I also tend to think that the differences in senses of humour in both countries come into play here. Australians have such a laid back open sense of humour (this certainly isn't to say that Americans are uptight, because I know Americans love a good laugh too, but there is a difference between the two countries)

Hopefully the American version gets it's wrinkles ironed out, because it's a fantastic concept for a show, and an absolute delight when it is done right. So hang there!

[–] lukedblair 17 years ago

why do you wonder about the quality of the american adaption? why do you care if it reflects the australian show? the creators of the show, who have been producing tv shows in australian for 2 decades, have now made it big in the states and are raking it in. that's what it is really about. it's just encouraging to know that something made by australians is now being shown overseas with the potential to expand and become an international phenomenon. whether they butcher our version doesn't really matter does it? or which actors they get on the show. it's still called the same thing, same theme song, same format, same scenarios, same logos...

the aussie creators obviously found someone willing to produce the show in the states 'on just terms'. it's a great achievement for the show to produced at that level and not be changed dramatically.

i think australia still has a long way to go in tv production. it's just great that now these guys are getting some recognition for all their hard work.

[–] hpfans2 17 years ago

Although some of you think that big BIG stars like beyonce or brad pitt wil attract ratings, the aussie show never had huge films actors or singers. everyone had a bit of a comic background (minimum. i saw the skit with jason alexander and it felt to slick to me. some of the funniset moments come when the actor is just standing there absolutely shocked and then comes out with the BEST one liner EVER!

[–] kittd82 17 years ago

Just to let you know
IMDB.com
is not the whole of America.

---
This Aint No Fanboard!

[–] flaviabrowne 17 years ago

just to clear the air,

i wasn't having a go at anyone, i just was wondering if the american format was doing the australian one justice. i'm really happy that an american network picked the show up, i think it reflects well on the australian tv network. so many people plug away for years and years to get recognised and i'm really glad to see that their hard work has paid off.

it's great to hear some positive stuff about all of this!

[–] pa-58 17 years ago

I just downloaded and watched a torrent of Episode 3 of TGYH (US version), including performers Harland Williams (who was great) and Jason Alexander. I was surprised to find that it isn't just the format that is adopted; the set, music, scenarios, and even the statuette are all replicated from the Oz version. With so much in common, each version is as entertaining (or otherwise) as the other. The US host (David Alan Grier), however, is pretty hammy for my liking, and the frequent cutaways to the laughing audience and judge (Dave Foley) during each scene reek of a director who doesn't trust the quality of the writers/performers. That kind of approach is best left to 'Funniest Home Videos'. Personally, I prefer 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' to TGYH, but they are comparable in that the quality of each show can vary. Having said that, with so much rubbish on tv, I hope each version of TGYH has a good long run.

[–] angelique21 17 years ago

The Australian Thank god your Here is so much better, they have recycled ideas from the australian show like the robin hood setch, property developers and the weight watcher one even witht he same lines that the australian one has,

im very dissapointed because i love the show and i thought because of the intresting comedians on it, it would be awesome, the only good person i have seen on the american one was the woman from the office

[–] matineeidyll 17 years ago

Call me biased, but I love the Aussie show. I hope the American show improves, because the show's format is too wonderful. I fear the Americans will butcher it to death.

[–] WhataBastard 17 years ago

The actors in the american ones cut off what the guest has to say. They say no that's not it and correct them. The number one rule in impro is never to refuse an offer and just go along with it, it's unplanned.

Ker-Splat!

[–] J-Ping 17 years ago

They do that in the Australian one too. It sucks when they do but sometimes it's neccessary for the progression of the skit.

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[–] goanna_38 17 years ago

Unfortunately US television has a habit of butchering remakes of overseas shows. Anyone on here seen the appalling version of Cracker that was remade as Fitz in the US? Something obviously gets lost somewhere in translation.

If you called a Centaur a "horses ass", would he be offended?

[–] chunter_the_blonde 17 years ago

BTW I am an Aussie through and through.

The real reason of the success in Australia and not so much in the US is because actual comedians/comediennes are employed rather than just straight actors/actresses. Also, I thinks Aussies and Yanks have a different view on humour and what is believed to be funny. I watch alot American programmes and Australian programmes and their attitudes and the content which they find funny is just so vast! I really think that the success in the US would have been greater if they employed real comedians and really get into it.

P.S. When we heard about in Australia, some of us, including myself, were not quite as sure but now I am a huge fan!

[–] tyrthunder 16 years ago

When was Andy Lee ever on Thank God You're Here? I don't remember ever seeing him! It's only Hamish, yeah?

But back to the main topic, countries take ideas from other countries all the time. The Australian Thank God You're Here is SO much funnier and I'm not sure why because I really love the American actors such as Jason Alexander and have just been disappointed whenever I've watched a clip from it. As someone said before, most of them aren't used to impromptus whereas all of our Australian performers are mainly radio hosts so they are used to thinking on their feet quickly.

But it doesn't matter. If you like it, yay! And if you don't, does it matter? We're not versing each other. lol. ;-)

And I agree ^^^ Hamish Blake and Angus Sampson are the funniest!! I also love Josh Lawson and Rebel Wilson and the regular, Dan whom is usually the one in charge of a scene!

All I can say though is I'm a massive fan of Thank God You're Here and am going to try and get tickets to see it in Melbourne next year, no matter what! :-D

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