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Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

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Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#102
post #53

The best thing about the German version (if you watch in on tv) is that before the comedy begins, there's an explanation about why it's funny.

For anyone outside of Germany who's wondering, the introduction mostly has the function of explaining the setting and the key repeating line to people who might not be completely familiar with the English language. It's usually shown without subtitles.

I found it on YouTube with German subtitles and a rather annoying laugh track.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#104

As a Brit deeply into comedy I can confirm my total ignorance of "Dinner For One". How very strange what travels. Visiting the US I was surprised how many Americans knew obscure and not terribly funny Monty Python sketches word for word, and meeting a Chinese CTO once whose first words were "Ah Mr. Bean".

For the reverse of the reverse - no one in Germany actually cares about David Hasselhoff.

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Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#105
post #6

It‘s British actors, but was filmed in Hamburg by the public broadcaster NDR. It is a tradition which is not that funny unless you are already shitfaced. Loriot, on the other hand…

Zame procedure as last year, H?

Zame procedure as every year, Feldmarsckalk.

kloph

I'll kill that Bear.

-- The Bunker Version.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it due to the US being prudes and Donald Duck doesn't wear any trousers/underwear?

No, most Americans don’t perceive him as naked, any more than they do Bugs Bunny or other anthro mascots. I think it’s the accent. His voice actors are pretty hard to understand sometimes.

Interestingly, having only ever introduced to those characters through comics, I never pictured any particular accent and instead imagined them speaking normally.

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#107

As a Brit deeply into comedy I can confirm my total ignorance of "Dinner For One". How very strange what travels. Visiting the US I was surprised how many Americans knew obscure and not terribly funny Monty Python sketches word for word, and meeting a Chinese CTO once whose first words were "Ah Mr. Bean".

[dead]

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#109
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For anyone outside of Germany who's wondering, the introduction mostly has the function of explaining the setting and the key repeating line to people who might not be completely familiar with the English language. It's usually shown without subtitles.

I found it on YouTube with German subtitles and a rather annoying laugh track.

A laugh track on top of the original laughs (the whole set was filmed in front of a live studio audience)? The audience laughter is an important part of the show, with the person having the most prominent audience laughter being interviewed about her experience 50 years later ("Today I'm rather embarrassed about my laughing" https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/dinner-for...)

Re: Dinner for one: A little-known British comedy famous in Germany

#110
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whereas in Sweden it starts at 15 and, for some reason[0], is titled “Donald Duck and his friends wish you Merry Christmas”, despite Jiminy Cricket being the presenter. [0] The reason is obviously his popularity in Sweden

I was surprised to discover that Mickey Mouse was more popular and well-known in the US than Donald Duck. Come on, Donald Duck is a much more fun and interesting character!

I grew up thinking the Warner Bros. characters were the superior cartoon stars (and that Daffy is better than Bugs; my wife and I still argue about that). Disney is more like Apple...the people who like them really love them and get sucked into the rabbit-hole, but everyone else sees them as a cult.
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