Rsquared Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 G'day I have now lived here in Thailand for 12 months and unfortunately still cannot read or speak Thai (but am now determined to learn). My question is after watching much Thai television, there seems to be many comedy shows and game shows that appear to be very funny, but I have NO CLUE as to what they are saying. Is it as funny as it appears to be or just plain silly. Is it witty and clever? How does it compare to Oz, British and American humour? Do I have a good laugh to look forward to once I learn to understand Thai language? Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Orac Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 It is a highly sophisticated form of humour which many fail to understand riddled with double meanings and cutting edge political satire. I hear that it takes many years of training to be able to reach the exalted status of 'boing' man who does the additional sound effects to provide the extra cues needed to ensure that those that are less enlightened to the subtlety of thai humour know when to laugh. 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyDrinker Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 It is a highly sophisticated form of humour which many fail to understand riddled with double meanings and cutting edge political satire. I hear that it takes many years of training to be able to reach the exalted status of 'boing' man who does the additional sound effects to provide the extra cues needed to ensure that those that are less enlightened to the subtlety of thai humour know when to laugh. That has made my day...cheers... Brilliant... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rsquared Posted April 18, 2012 Author Share Posted April 18, 2012 Many thanks Orac, I thought it would be something like that, my wife laughs a lot at it but she has trouble explaining it to me and obviously everything is lost in translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 "How does it compare to Oz, British and American humour?" Maybe somewhere in the area American and German humor? Not British, they have good humor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeavyDrinker Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 Think "Benny Hill" then remove a few IQ points from that.... 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DocN Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 It compares perfectly with english and american...or any other humor. The only problem: it is humor that was last popular in the late 1920's! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 watch "Mum" (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and his team.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TheWalkingMan Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 The stuff is like The Three Stooges from 70+ years ago. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 watch "Mum" (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and his team.... Or, Note Udom. Very funny stand-up comedian. (Similar to stand-up in a Western sence, not the typical slapstic team with a midget, a ladyboy, etc. Some posters above seem to have a very limited exposure to Thai comedy. Or perhaps Thailand in general) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeavyDrinker Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 Some posters above seem to have a very limited exposure to Thai comedy. Or perhaps Thailand in general) Or maybe they just think it's <deleted>...? 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendix Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 The inane slapstick stuff on primetime tv is awful, truly awful, but it's no worse or more inane the crappier primetime sitcoms and comedy of the west - it caters to keep the masses happy and - as someone once said - you never lost money by underestimating people's tastes. Having said that, there is also a rich vein of very good satire and stand-up comedy that doesnt make primetime. I saw a standup show by a Thai comedian (in English) in HK a while ago and it was excellent. Having said that, there is no way he could have used his material in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DP25 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 The stuff is like The Three Stooges from 70+ years ago. Three Stooges with ladyboys 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) To Mr. Rsquared, just learning the language is only half the battle when it comes to understanding the subtleties of the words and its actual meaning. It also requires knowledge of the culture in all its forms. For instance, the wildly successful US comedy Seinfeld would never hit it off in, say, Japan, because the meaning simply can't be translated. Same with Leno and Letterman on late night--I doubt most Euros would even understand some of the quips, even if they understood English perfectly. None of the TV readership understands Thai well enough to be able to answer your question. Why don't you ask a Thai person? Edited April 18, 2012 by Berkshire 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnieTheKhwai Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Some posters above seem to have a very limited exposure to Thai comedy. Or perhaps Thailand in general) Or maybe they just think it's <deleted>...? Some people seem to think everything is <deleted>. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brit1984 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I find many Thai television shows very funny... especially those that are supposed to be serious. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post katana Posted April 18, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted April 18, 2012 The Thai stand up comedian Note Udom is quite funny and the humour translates to Western humour quite well. Here's a short skit with English subtitles about being dumped by your gf: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean999 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) watch "Mum" (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and his team.... Or, Note Udom. Very funny stand-up comedian. (Similar to stand-up in a Western sence, not the typical slapstic team with a midget, a ladyboy, etc. Some posters above seem to have a very limited exposure to Thai comedy. Or perhaps Thailand in general) A lot of posters have only seen the stuff of thai tv. I go to the cinama and watch the Thai films (they have English subtitles). Mostly the ones with Petchtai Wongkamlao (Mum) in it. The films are very funny. I recommend a film called Saranae Hen Pee (สาระแนเห็นผี), If you can find it on DVD with English sub's. The clip is a lot more funny if you watch the film because of the build up to that scene. But there are better and much more funny scene's in that film. I couldn't find one on Youtube with English sub's, so i just posted this one. Edited April 18, 2012 by dean999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean999 Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I find many Thai television shows very funny... especially those that are supposed to be serious. I know what you mean. I once watched a tv programme where Thai's had to stay by themselfs in a haunted room and take pictures. I was laughing my tit's off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibeachlovers Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Like all humour, much is cultural and "in jokes". While I find it tedious, the Thais I know love it. However, they don't understand western humour. I wouldn't learn Thai just to understand the Thai "comedy" shows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) I think the whole country is a comedy/farce. Hence I like living here Edited April 18, 2012 by Semper 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 For the Thai TV offerings, answers 6,7, and 9 sum it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) Charlie Chaplin/ slapstick /cued noises/ cheap kid's circus clowns/ all very 1920's personally I find it not the slightest bit entertaining and even go so far as to say irritating. Edited April 18, 2012 by CharlieH 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draftvader Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Think "Benny Hill" then remove a few IQ points from that.... A pot plant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Like all humour, much is cultural and "in jokes". While I find it tedious, the Thais I know love it. However, they don't understand western humour. I wouldn't learn Thai just to understand the Thai "comedy" shows! I think Mr Bean is quite popular here. My significant other likes him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Think "Benny Hill" then remove a few IQ points from that.... A pot plant? ...a toaster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Like all humour, much is cultural and "in jokes". While I find it tedious, the Thais I know love it. However, they don't understand western humour. I wouldn't learn Thai just to understand the Thai "comedy" shows! I think Mr Bean is quite popular here. My significant other likes him. Mrs Soutpeel enjoyed "The Full Monty" and the "The life of Brian"...but think she strugged a bit with BlackAdder, maybe not understanding the historical context, and expecting Rowan Akinson to burst into a "Mr Bean" type character all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Think "Benny Hill" then remove a few IQ points from that.... A pot plant? ...a toaster? A dead Norwegian Blue ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Like all humour, much is cultural and "in jokes". While I find it tedious, the Thais I know love it. However, they don't understand western humour. I wouldn't learn Thai just to understand the Thai "comedy" shows! I think Mr Bean is quite popular here. My significant other likes him. Mrs Soutpeel enjoyed "The Full Monty" and the "The life of Brian"...but think she strugged a bit with BlackAdder, maybe not understanding the historical context, and expecting Rowan Akinson to burst into a "Mr Bean" type character all the time I think she was familiar with the haggling part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Payboy Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Just love those skits on TV using midgets and the retards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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