I don't know how well he goes over with U.S. audiences but I find Dylan Moran's stand-up to be fairly amazing. Saw him in 2006 at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and left with a grin from ear-to-ear. More of a storyteller (in the great Irish tradition) than a punch line comic.

Patton's accountant just called and said the check will be late this month, but thanks for proceeding in good faith with the review.

Someone once remarked that he looks like Matt Damon's brother after being left in the oven too long. A harsh, but accurate assessment.

Hipsploitation.

Stacks on indeed! :)

"I killed your brother."
*sad face*
"Cigarette?"
*pensive face*
"So I take it we're all good here?"
*acceptance face*
"Yeah, fuck that guy. Go build me a fence."
*wingman face*

My rebuttal, or at least my nuanced difference of opinion, to this position is stated in long form elsewhere in this thread.

Well said. :) I'm three years stateside so have no idea what's popular now back home. Anything worth checking out?

What I get from your post is that most mainstream American comedies are only funny to Americans and that if they don't like stuff from abroad, it *must* be a matter of cultural exceptionalism, which is reductive and basically false.

The twee answers are amusing, but I'm obviously not getting my point across so let me break it down.

Actually the two can exist side be side - it's called having an opinion. I believe that's still a popular concept around these parts, no?

"Oh, so you've come back after swanning around the planet huh?"
"Yeah, I had a successful job in San Francisco."
"Really? Well…no one gives a shit."
"Thanks dad."

Trivialize my opinions all you want - my original point just grows and grows. :)

Maybe I need to give it another try. I've caught episodes here and there but never committed to watching it consecutively.

Dude, I'm pretty chill about just about everything, but unless you've lived in a place where your core identity is misrepresented back to you on a continual basis, then I'm sorry, but you don't have a clue.

I loved the UK Office first, so I found it hard to get into the U.S. version; the transplant to a new context was a little jarring. As for 30 Rock, man, I've caught some flak from people I know for not liking it. Ostensibly, it should be a show I'd find funny. Just doesn't do it for me.

I agree with what you say, but the myopic, self-reflecting world view does start to grate after a while. BTW, there are plenty of awful shows made back home as well, but it can be tiring to explain on a daily basis that the broadest parts of Australian cultural output don't really reflect how we actually see ourselves.

Much love for Archer, Chappelle Show and Louie.

Insightful AND hilarious.

Your point is well taken, but I live here because my wife missed her family. We would be back in Sydney in a heartbeat if I could convince her otherwise.