Why do Americans like Benny Hill?!
Question:
Why do Americans like Benny Hill?
Sorry but with respect to the late Mr Hill he was never very funny, most of us Brits found him incredibly naff and fairly cringe-worthy! His humour was really corny, very slapstick, very obvious!
As a child in the late 70s and 80s I remember rolling my eyes in disgust whenever his show came on the telly - it stopped being funny when I was about 5.
Imagine my horror then to find out that they still watch this old pap in America! Why oh Why? There is so much genuinely funny British comedy out there!
Answers:
Hmmmm ... I smell some Comedy Snobs, who let them in?
Benny Hill was great!
The little poems were, in fact, very witty. His play with stop-motion and camera tricks were fun and very visual.
I'm not too comfortable with "this is better than that" nor do I think humor must only be sophisticated. Even The Bard got a bit bawdy and broad in his comedies -- the Taming of the Shrew is very physical and naughty.
I love a pie in the face (especially when they spit out the crust and filling), humor is just one step from embarrassment and humiliation; hence, the comedic situation.
Bring on the naff and pap, let all women who's skirts blow up be wearing suspenders and may all comedians give a broad wink to the audience now and then.