To be nonplussed why people rave over Mrs Brown's Boys

[ComposHat]

I've tried watching it twice twice and haven't got past the first five minutes it was so awful.

It seemed like an artless parody of a shite 70s sitcom (like something Frankie Howerd forgot to make) Don't get me wrong I'm not a comedy snob and quite enjoy a broad knockabout comedy like Vicious, yet I am utterly bemused by Mrs Brown's Boys, it looks dated, absurd and utterly free from laughs.

Yet it has a massive following, especially amongst people of my parents' generation. Normally when there's a TV programme I dislike I can see why other people (Top Gear for example) may enjoy it. But Mrs Brown seems to be without any redeaming features.

There must be some fans out there who can explain its appeal?

fireside, like you, I listen to R4 all day and so have come across David Sedaris- I agree, he's really entertaining.

Quite

YANBU. The only episode I've seen is the Christmas one, which I watched out of curiosity. I couldn't believe what I was watching. It's desperately unfunny - it should have an award for being the first comedy to make 'Allo 'Allo look subtle.

It's not that I object to humour of the basic variety - I've been known to laugh at people falling over in You've Been Framed. It's just that it's all so obvious and so badly done - the "funny" lines are signalled well in advance and then when they come they're not actually funny.

Hairygrotters comment sounds harsh yes, but I know what she means.

..but that is why it is funny

Hairy.

Kudos for saying what I said in a much more succinct way!

Exactly Hairy

I'm Irish. It's embarrassingly unfunny, utter shite. Father Ted was fabulous, there is no comparison. I find most people who like it are of a certain age, so it may be a generational type of thing, though some people just have shite taste in comedy .

I'm far from simple minded. I like it, I also like some mothers do..., I like Laurel and hardy too.
I can't get on with 'clever' comedy, it works too hard and misses the point.
Miranda though is a pile of shit.

The most fiercely, intimidatingly intellectual couple I ever met used to double up in laughter at Keeping Up Appearances.

The first time I witnessed this I thought they were taking the piss but they weren't. They thought it was hilarious and it's the closest I've ever seen to anyone actually rolling on the floor with laughter.

They were genuinely baffled when I said it just didn't do it for me.

Father Ted was funny, Mrs Brown's Boys is totally unfunny. The Irish half of my family hate it more than I do!

I've never heard anyone in rl race about it - only people saying how catastrophically shite it is. And yet the DVDs seem to be on sale in supermarkets, which generally only stock stuff that's in the charts so I guess someone must be buying them.

I had assumed it was bollocks but thought I should watch some before judging. I managed about ten laughter free minutes before reverting to my previous opinion. Sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, 70s throwback bollocks.

I loved Father Ted, Red Dwarf, Count Arthur Strong, Man Down and some others mentioned on here, they can't be compared to this insulting crap.

I read 'Me talk pretty one day' on recommendation of bro in law who generally doesn't read anything except science journals. David Sedaris is truly funny. Would've loved to have seen him live in March but it sold out v quickly.

Hairy I believe your individual tongue in cheek humour seems to be failing in this audience.

I won't wager a guess as to whether it's the Pro MBB or not.....

Nancy66 They were probably high

DH loves it, it is the first comedy in years he has laughed out loud at! He doesn't understand why everyone doesn't agree with him! Quite a few people I know love it too...more than don't! I find some of it funny. I didn't find the Xmas ones as good though I admit. We never found Little Britain, The Office or Vicious funny though.

You have my first yanbu.

My aunty, and everyone around my mum's generation love it.

I don't get it

Thank goodness there are others who don't like it. I thought it was just me.

Can't bear it. So obvious and totally lacking in any kind of subtlety or intelligence.

Shit List Great List

Mrs Brown's Boys Father Ted
How I Met Your Mother Frasier
Count Arthur Strong The IT Crowd
Miranda The Big Bang Theory
My Family The Inbetweeners

Mrs Brown is embarrassing. So is Miranda & anything with Ricky Gervais or Simon Pegg.

Where did my spaces go?? Should have a foward slash between the first named shit comedy and second named great one.

Ah but the Barney's Stag Night episode of HIMYM was comic genius.

Where's Black Books?

Runes - spot on

I like simon pegg. In film at least.

I agree with the OP. It is an absolutely dreadful programme.