This reminded me of some other funny Jesus videos on youtube that I was going to link to but they seem to have been pulled. They were from a UK TV show aired since I moved here - I can’t remember the name of it.
That’d be Robert Webb as Jesus. I also recognized Olivia Colman as one of the listeners. Were I to hazard a guess, I’d wager that this clip is likely from “That Mitchell and Webb Look.”
I wish we had good television in the U.S. like Mitchell and Webb, Peep Show, and the like.
Dan, you don’t get Mitchell and Webb in America? That’s terrible. Terrible and unjust. At least t’Internet lets you download and watch almost anything.
Dan, you don’t get Mitchell and Webb in America? That’s terrible.
They show it on BBC America, which is on my DirectTV. I’ve never watched it, though. What is it?
I often find that British humour doesn’t always translate well for those of us used to American humor. Just as an English friend of mine tried to enjoy Seinfeld (which I find hilarious, even in reruns) but she couldn’t get what was funny about it at all.
Helen that’s a horrible thought. Tell me it isn’t so. :)
Karen, you might be right about the translation. I don’t find Seinfeld funny at all. I understand the jokes but they don’t appeal to me.
Another example is The Office. The original version by Ricky Gervais is funny in a cringingly horrible way. The American version also makes me cringe but it’s not as funny for me to watch.
I’ve watched several episodes of the U.S. version of The Office, but it’s just not funny to me. The performances are good, but I just can’t get into it. I haven’t seen the U.K. version.
I generally find Seinfeld to be funny, but haven’t seen a full episode in quite a while.
A bit of a tangent from humor, but I really loved Louis Theroux’s “Wild Weekends” series which was on BBC2, and wish that we had a U.S. equivalent to him. He worked on “The Awful Truth” for a while, but I’d rather see Louis. :)
He did a special called “The Most Hated Family in America” on the Phelps Family. It was really fascinating. Again, I wish we had programming like that here in the U.S.
Here’s a clip from Louis Theroux’s documentary. The whole documentary used to be on youtube but I’m not sure that it is any more (maybe got pulled for copyright violation). I agree it was fascinating.
Another example is The Office. The original version by Ricky Gervais is funny in a cringingly horrible way. The American version also makes me cringe but it’s not as funny for me to watch.
Okay, and see my whole family adores The Office (U.S. version) with Steve Carrell. In fact, we like it so much we ordered the British version from Netflix. We had high hopes because we like Ricky Gervais’ standup comedy.
We tried watching a few eps, but eventually gave up. We just … really didn’t find it funny! So there is definitely something lost in translation. (Though we do love other Brit imports like Monty Python!).
The whole documentary used to be on youtube but I’m not sure that it is any more (maybe got pulled for copyright violation). I agree it was fascinating.
It’s sad that in the self-proclaimed Land of Free Speech we have to rely on bootleg YouTube postings in order to see some of these programs that are highly critical of religion. I remember when Dawkins’ Root of All Evil came out it was only available online. I think it was eventually shown in the U.S. on some PBS stations? but it wasn’t widely promoted or available everywhere. Or maybe it was never shown and I’m thinking of another British documentary critical of religion…
At any rate, it’s unfortunate that controversial programs are not able to be shown on U.S. commercial television - especially given the plethora of cable channels we have nowadays.
I enjoy watching Louis Theroux too but I missed the episode with the Phelps in. There’s another one that was done by Keith Allen featuring the Phelps. I don’t know if you’ve heard of him but he’s not nearly as polite as Louis Theroux is. Here’s an introduction sadly not featuring the Phelps.
Our family watched the UK Office first and loved it. Then we started watching the US one. I like it and so does my son but my husband doesn’t because he finds Steve Carell irritating. (I can’t remember what my daughter thinks).
We watched Extras a couple of months ago (another Ricky Gervais series) and enjoyed that too.
Karen I don’t think Root of All Evil was ever shown on my PBS station but perhaps it was and I missed it.
Jason I’m afraid it might be so because on the whole don’t countries export their best TV series, not their cast-offs?
I’m sorry you missed the Louis Theroux documentary on the Phelps.
That one is the only one I’ve seen, actually. It fascinated me because Louis developed a relationship with them (many of them - not Fred who just came across as mean). Louis was impressed by how close-knit they were as a family even though he didn’t agree with their values at all. And they let him hang out with him and apart from Fred - who didn’t seem to be around with the family that much - were friendly to Louis, although not agreeing with his values at all.
It fascinated me because Louis developed a relationship with them
From the stuff I’ve seen, that’s standard Louis Theroux. I was amazed and shocked to have developed some empathy for members of the Phelps’ family (they’re screwed from the womb due to the perpetual bombardment of bad theology [isn't "bad theology" an oxymoron?]). Theroux treats the subjects in his shows like human beings, which is rare on television, to say the least.
I’ve found myself thinking “huh, I kinda see their point, though I can’t figure out where to start about how wrong this is” more than once when watching Theroux interviews. I think his greatest strength is that he really listens, and he tries to really understand. He asks hard questions, but softly.
I guess I’m saying that I like him because he’s my polar opposite! ;)
how close-knit they were as a family
One of the scenes that’s stuck with me for a long time is the one where the younger Phelps daughters are responding to “do you have boyfriends?” question by chortling and basically commenting “who would date us, we’re Phelps’?”
Thank you for the links to Keith Allen. Sadly, there only seems to be one clip of him on YouTube. He seems a little less snarky than John Safran. I like Safran a lot too… his “John Safran Vs God” is entertaining stuff.
Here’s an introduction sadly not featuring the Phelps.
Wow - what a contrast between the “weak tea” television versions of British and American Christianity. Quite illuminating!
Karen I don’t think Root of All Evil was ever shown on my PBS station but perhaps it was and I missed it.
No, I think you’re right. There was another British documentary about religion that was eventually shown on a few scattered PBS stations late last year. It was much less critical than Dawkins’ documentary, which was pretty hard-hitting. I can’t recall the fellow who produced it (Neil?) but he was raised Jewish and is a leading British intellectual.
Jason I’m afraid it might be so because on the whole don’t countries export their best TV series, not their cast-offs?
They export anything they think will sell overseas, which is just about - anything, I guess. We knew some missionaries in Indonesia and they used wait excitedly every week for Knight Rider to come on TV there! It was one of those dumb ’70s action shows, but it was a treat for them just to watch anything from home (plus hear English on TV, since it had subtitles).
I stand corrected - point taken that exported programs are based on what sells rather than the quality of them (and those two are often not the same thing).
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
1 03/15/08 5:34 PM | Comment Link |Fun :)
Comment by: Jason
2 03/16/08 9:24 AM | Comment Link |Thanks for sorting out the embedding. It looks so much better than just a link.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
3 03/16/08 11:42 AM | Comment Link |It should work for you next time Jason.
This reminded me of some other funny Jesus videos on youtube that I was going to link to but they seem to have been pulled. They were from a UK TV show aired since I moved here - I can’t remember the name of it.
Comment by: Rev. Dan
4 03/21/08 1:57 PM | Comment Link |That’d be Robert Webb as Jesus. I also recognized Olivia Colman as one of the listeners. Were I to hazard a guess, I’d wager that this clip is likely from “That Mitchell and Webb Look.”
I wish we had good television in the U.S. like Mitchell and Webb, Peep Show, and the like.
Comment by: Jason
5 03/21/08 2:50 PM | Comment Link |Dan, you don’t get Mitchell and Webb in America? That’s terrible. Terrible and unjust. At least t’Internet lets you download and watch almost anything.
Comment by: Rev. Dan
6 03/21/08 3:11 PM | Comment Link |’tis sad and true. TV in the U.S. sucks (in the bad way).
Praise Science for the Internet, helping me to waste my day, every day. :)
Comment by: Jason
7 03/22/08 12:30 AM | Comment Link |Tell me about it. We get shipped US cast offs to fill the enormous gaps between decent programs. Even the BBC is dumbing down.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
8 03/22/08 5:10 AM | Comment Link |Jason, maybe those aren’t cast offs. Maybe they’re the best of US programming!
Comment by: Karen
9 03/22/08 10:48 AM | Comment Link |They show it on BBC America, which is on my DirectTV. I’ve never watched it, though. What is it?
I often find that British humour doesn’t always translate well for those of us used to American humor. Just as an English friend of mine tried to enjoy Seinfeld (which I find hilarious, even in reruns) but she couldn’t get what was funny about it at all.
Comment by: Jason
10 03/23/08 2:24 PM | Comment Link |Helen that’s a horrible thought. Tell me it isn’t so. :)
Karen, you might be right about the translation. I don’t find Seinfeld funny at all. I understand the jokes but they don’t appeal to me.
Another example is The Office. The original version by Ricky Gervais is funny in a cringingly horrible way. The American version also makes me cringe but it’s not as funny for me to watch.
Comment by: Rev. Dan
11 03/23/08 2:40 PM | Comment Link |I’ve watched several episodes of the U.S. version of The Office, but it’s just not funny to me. The performances are good, but I just can’t get into it. I haven’t seen the U.K. version.
I generally find Seinfeld to be funny, but haven’t seen a full episode in quite a while.
A bit of a tangent from humor, but I really loved Louis Theroux’s “Wild Weekends” series which was on BBC2, and wish that we had a U.S. equivalent to him. He worked on “The Awful Truth” for a while, but I’d rather see Louis. :)
He did a special called “The Most Hated Family in America” on the Phelps Family. It was really fascinating. Again, I wish we had programming like that here in the U.S.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
12 03/24/08 4:54 AM | Comment Link |Here’s a clip from Louis Theroux’s documentary. The whole documentary used to be on youtube but I’m not sure that it is any more (maybe got pulled for copyright violation). I agree it was fascinating.
Comment by: Karen
13 03/24/08 11:01 AM | Comment Link |Okay, and see my whole family adores The Office (U.S. version) with Steve Carrell. In fact, we like it so much we ordered the British version from Netflix. We had high hopes because we like Ricky Gervais’ standup comedy.
We tried watching a few eps, but eventually gave up. We just … really didn’t find it funny! So there is definitely something lost in translation. (Though we do love other Brit imports like Monty Python!).
It’s sad that in the self-proclaimed Land of Free Speech we have to rely on bootleg YouTube postings in order to see some of these programs that are highly critical of religion. I remember when Dawkins’ Root of All Evil came out it was only available online. I think it was eventually shown in the U.S. on some PBS stations? but it wasn’t widely promoted or available everywhere. Or maybe it was never shown and I’m thinking of another British documentary critical of religion…
At any rate, it’s unfortunate that controversial programs are not able to be shown on U.S. commercial television - especially given the plethora of cable channels we have nowadays.
Comment by: Jason
14 03/24/08 3:16 PM | Comment Link |I enjoy watching Louis Theroux too but I missed the episode with the Phelps in. There’s another one that was done by Keith Allen featuring the Phelps. I don’t know if you’ve heard of him but he’s not nearly as polite as Louis Theroux is. Here’s an introduction sadly not featuring the Phelps.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
15 03/25/08 6:25 AM | Comment Link |Our family watched the UK Office first and loved it. Then we started watching the US one. I like it and so does my son but my husband doesn’t because he finds Steve Carell irritating. (I can’t remember what my daughter thinks).
We watched Extras a couple of months ago (another Ricky Gervais series) and enjoyed that too.
Karen I don’t think Root of All Evil was ever shown on my PBS station but perhaps it was and I missed it.
Jason I’m afraid it might be so because on the whole don’t countries export their best TV series, not their cast-offs?
I’m sorry you missed the Louis Theroux documentary on the Phelps.
That one is the only one I’ve seen, actually. It fascinated me because Louis developed a relationship with them (many of them - not Fred who just came across as mean). Louis was impressed by how close-knit they were as a family even though he didn’t agree with their values at all. And they let him hang out with him and apart from Fred - who didn’t seem to be around with the family that much - were friendly to Louis, although not agreeing with his values at all.
Comment by: Jason
16 03/25/08 10:15 AM | Comment Link |There is an hilarious scene in Extras with Kate Winslet dressed up as a nun. I must find it for a Friday Funny…if it’s not too rude.
Comment by: Rev. Dan
17 03/25/08 1:54 PM | Comment Link |From the stuff I’ve seen, that’s standard Louis Theroux. I was amazed and shocked to have developed some empathy for members of the Phelps’ family (they’re screwed from the womb due to the perpetual bombardment of bad theology [isn't "bad theology" an oxymoron?]). Theroux treats the subjects in his shows like human beings, which is rare on television, to say the least.
I’ve found myself thinking “huh, I kinda see their point, though I can’t figure out where to start about how wrong this is” more than once when watching Theroux interviews. I think his greatest strength is that he really listens, and he tries to really understand. He asks hard questions, but softly.
I guess I’m saying that I like him because he’s my polar opposite! ;)
One of the scenes that’s stuck with me for a long time is the one where the younger Phelps daughters are responding to “do you have boyfriends?” question by chortling and basically commenting “who would date us, we’re Phelps’?”
Thank you for the links to Keith Allen. Sadly, there only seems to be one clip of him on YouTube. He seems a little less snarky than John Safran. I like Safran a lot too… his “John Safran Vs God” is entertaining stuff.
Comment by: Karen
18 03/25/08 2:49 PM | Comment Link |Wow - what a contrast between the “weak tea” television versions of British and American Christianity. Quite illuminating!
No, I think you’re right. There was another British documentary about religion that was eventually shown on a few scattered PBS stations late last year. It was much less critical than Dawkins’ documentary, which was pretty hard-hitting. I can’t recall the fellow who produced it (Neil?) but he was raised Jewish and is a leading British intellectual.
They export anything they think will sell overseas, which is just about - anything, I guess. We knew some missionaries in Indonesia and they used wait excitedly every week for Knight Rider to come on TV there! It was one of those dumb ’70s action shows, but it was a treat for them just to watch anything from home (plus hear English on TV, since it had subtitles).
Comment by: Rev. Dan
19 03/25/08 4:42 PM | Comment Link |Apparently the power and appeal of a fairly empty-headed surgically-enhanced blonde in a tight bathing suit is global.
I can’t cite the source, but “Baywatch” was allegedly the most-watched TV show globally for a while.
Comment by: Jason
20 03/25/08 11:31 PM | Comment Link |Well it did have David Hasselhoff as well. Who isn’t entertained by The Hoff.
Comment by: Rev. Dan
21 03/26/08 1:52 AM | Comment Link |Sorry, my bad… I didn’t mean to Hassel the Hoff!
(I also apologize for posting a link to the above picture.)
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
22 03/28/08 8:53 AM | Comment Link |I stand corrected - point taken that exported programs are based on what sells rather than the quality of them (and those two are often not the same thing).