Elijah Wood Explains Why British Comedy Beats American Humor

Elijah Wood once shared why he believes British comedy is better than American humor. While the U.S. remake of The Office became a massive hit, most remakes of British shows often fail.

Wood experienced this firsthand when he starred in BBC America’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency between 2016 and 2017. The series was based on the original British show, which was canceled after just one season. The American version lasted two seasons and received generally positive reviews.

While promoting the show in the U.K., Wood praised British comedy and the actors he worked with.

He told The Telegraph, “The British actors working on [The Lord of the Rings] spoon-fed me everything from The Day Today to Brass Eye to The Mighty Boosh. [British comedy] doesn’t adhere to the same needs of American humour. It doesn’t constantly require a laugh out of you. It’s more sarcastic. There’s more wit to it.”

Wood has made similar points in other interviews. Talking about the American version of Wilfred, which ran from 2011 to 2014 and was a remake of an Australian show, he explained his preference for the British style.

He told Radio Times, “I always hoped [Wilfred] would be similar to a British comedy series, where it would tell a story and be done with it, as opposed to the typically American thing, which is to beat something into the ground over and over. I’m not interested in that.”

Wood’s experience shows that he values wit, subtlety, and storytelling over constant gags and punchlines. His comments highlight the differences between British and American comedy, emphasizing why he finds the British approach more sophisticated and enjoyable.

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