h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Often' is simply a matter of choice. My accent makes it sound like 'off'n', whereas others might say it all drawn out, 'off-t'n'.

In the UK, we ONLY say 'lifts'. In America, they say 'Elevator'. Any Brit using the word elevator is either doing an impression or they're too immersed in American culture.

Here's a funny one: In the UK, the words 'poor' and 'law' tend to be pronounced as a rhyme - 'pore' and 'lore'. In certain areas of the US though, they'd be pronounced differently - 'puur' and 'lah'. That's why some British songwriters - notably Tim Rice, who co-wrote Jesus Christ Superstar - have found their songs didn't work for American accents.

Thank you for your reply.
It's very useful for my English study.

Lifts are lifts

The example you mentioned is very very funny. Very interesting matter of facts.
Even for me, it's very hard to listen to American English as I studied Engish literature, I've been keen on British culture/music and I've imitated yours. So when most of us who learn American English at school say CANT, I feel very very . And some of them can't understand when I say kaaaant.

Hi Jim,
I was shocked at the news of today's bombs at London Tube stations.
I can't believe that they attacked London again.
I do hope you can keep cool and get back to normal and peaceful life soon.
Take Care of your spirit
Taeko

Hello,
Long not to see you
How are you? Hope you're fine.
As to me, I feel better now.
It's getting pleasant here than the time of horrible boiling summer.
Although it's sticky and rather hot in daytime, but it's cooler at night and early in the morning

A frined of my British friendsd told that "LAUREL AND HARDY" was very funny and good comedy. And I searched for it with the shareing software. Then I was able to downloasd some episodes of them.
Such a funny series
I really like Laurel

We have comedy, too, but not like that. And unfortunately lots fo your programmes (neither British nor American ) don't broadcast here in Japan

But I realised that the good works never ever fade if they were very old ones

I really enjoy it.

I want to tell you about it, because you know a lot about dramas

Pantmiming is my favourite entertainment, and old comedy has full of miming

It makes full of smile. Very happy cos I've been in low for long time But thanks god, I regain my energy now

How about you, Jimster? Hope you enjoy lovely weekend

Taeko

And I see you've grasped the popular British comic style of puns too!

Pantomime is a forgotten art in the UK at the moment - and it's one theatrical genre that never made it across to America, so when our American cousins see pantomimes they tend not to understand them quite so much. A friend of mine is an actor who works in pantomime every Christmas, usually as the villain, and his voice is hoarse after one week of shows because it's all so very 'large' in the style of performing and encouraging audience participation. In fact, the complete opposite of mime - which makes me wonder where they got the name from

Laurel and Hardy are, of course, half British (the skinny one was from the North of England), but they feel quite English in that the fat one is so very pompous but is always undermined by events. They're still highly regarded over here though. Many comedians have named them as their comedy heroes. Have you read our entry on them? A733763

And have you seen the one where they play removal men trying to handle a piano? !!!

Good to hear from you again. Sorry I didn't respond last time, it was, as you might imagine, a very busy time.

I love Stan . Yup, I found his birthplace where is in Uoverston ahd there's a Laurel and Hardy's Museum Should have to visit when I'll go to the UK again
I'm now downloading "on the piano" which you may mention on this thread. So, I've not seen it yet, but I'll be able to watch it, anyway
I love one which is "dirty job". They are sopposed to be Chimney Sweeper and went to a Scientist house to clean up the chimeny. Then... lol Very Funny

I think you know Lindsey Kemp, don't you?
I like his mime as well I know his name, cos Bowie and Kate Bush once were leant mime at his company And I did see Alice by the Lindsay Kemp Company (premier theatre) while I was in London which was really wonderful. Though he uses some sounds, or not like really mime only, but very very good art visually as well. I also saw his works here when they came to Osaka. And, I did see himself when they were just going into the back door of the theatre, but I didn't realise at first because they were coming from(maybe from back after eatig) outside just before say half an hour of the stage And I never ever thougth that was Lindsay himself (headskin round face) walking in front of me and seeing me with winking... aaarrrgghh, I missed to say anything to him. lol.(I hope you'll understand my Enlgish, because of bad explanation )
Unfortunately, I haven't seen one of his masterpieces (I think) "flowers" I should see it.
I also like Marcel Marseau, a great French mime. I was very lucky because I had a chance to see his stage in Osaka

But as you mentioned, it seems that pantmime is appeared at theatre only there I hope someone like Mr. Laurel (not like Mr. Bean) will appear on the British comedy scene soon

aaawww, what a lovely chat I have had with you this time I have to learn lot more British "domestic" culture

Hello Dear Jimster,
Hope you still keep this thread
I now enjoy lot of English comedies.. Yup I'll try to find as much as I can
At the moment, Absolutely Fabulous is my favourite
Jennifer Saunders is really good writer, I think.

By the way,
I wonder if you could do me a favour..
A friend of mine (the h2b2 member) would love to know how lots of members get the T-shirt with H2G2 logo. He saw them at photo gallerly. Some are the same and others are very original.
Do you know are there any h2g2 goods shops
If you know, pleae tell me

It's getting warmer here and now it's the time of cherry blossom's seasion , though it means that it's hay fever season for me
Never mind, I'd be happy to tell you that I'm getting unbelievably fine recently
do hope I'll "go back to" England soon

Take Care and Enjoy

Taeko

Eek - hay fever. I hope with all the rain we've had recently that I might get a year off this time.

Sadly, we're not allowed to sell the h2g2 t-shirts. We give them away as prizes occasionally or at the h2g2 meet-ups. Keep an eye on the Announcements page for the next competition

How far into Absolutely Fabulous (or 'AbFab' as it's known here) have you got? Jennifer made another series in 2004 after quite a long break and it was one of the best yet. Won't tell you what happened though, in case you've not got that far. If you like that, you should also check out French and Saunders, which was the show Jennifer became famous for alongside her comedy partner Dawn French (from The Vicar of Dibley).

Hello Jimster
for your kind reply. I'll tell about the t-shirt to my friend

Yep HEY FEVER IN JAPAN ... Actually it doesn't mean that it causes from HAY but causies from pollen (esp. Japanese cydar, or other trees pollens)... Can you imagine how many people here has to wear masks this season to protect from pollen or from polluted air
As I've got lots of allergy, I don't mind, but it's really awful. Also I hate wearing mask, only thing that I do is to sneeze with tissues ....ATCHOOOOOOOOO It seems that that affects my eyes, too
I never had hay fever when I was in England, though

I watched, 5 episodes of series 1, 4 episodes of series 2, each 3 episodes of series 3 and 4, and 7 episodes of series 7, then a few special episodes as well as outtackes
I wonder if I can get its books, too, so that I may be able to enjoy it more
Yep, I checked French and Saunders. And watched a few pieces of their skecth. A kind of parodies of singers, films..
Me, I prefer Ab Fab to French and Saunders....
I enjoy so much

I prefer AbFab too. I went to see an episode being recorded many years ago, long before I came to the BBC to work, and it was fascinating watching Jennifer Saunders improvise around the script just to make the ultra-professional Julia Sawalha laugh.

Yep, we have the same pollen problems here. Tree pollen, grass pollen, all of them can make spring a nightmare for sufferers. Today is officially the first day of Spring here, so it can't be long now before everyone is all watery-eyed and red-nosed.

wow, my preference, AbFab is the same with your Every character is so attractive.
The very interesting thing that I have found is that most of Comedy programmes (I think not only comedies but also lot of programmes) often referred/appear GAY lol
AbFab, Little Britain, Catherine Tate... Hope that because I don't know other progrmmes that no gay/homosexual people appear.
lol. Also, I saw that Sir Elton John was appered both AbFab and Little Britain..

The pollen problem season has come as well as the most beautiful season in Japan has come
I can't stop sneezing, and running nose.....
Because I've got lot of allergies (pollen, chilly air, chemical clothes, blah blah blah), my nose never ever turn normal colour
always RED RED RED REINDEER NOSE I've got

How are you? Hope you're fine and enjoy yourself
See you soon

PS: I'm now reading "Mitford Girls" by Mary Lovell... I'm very interested in Unity Mitford, and I found the translated version here. I ordered original version, but it'll take 3 weeks to get it, so I can't wait for it and bought translation version, and started reading ,book> Then it'll be very easy to read the original version Mmmmm They are so charastristic and fascinating girls, indeed , though they are well-known as naughty/scandouls girls at the same time. Am I right?

Hiya again
I did "Abfab Quiz" twice
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/quiz/

First try last week, I was to be Ppat(Patsy)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/family_tree/patsy.shtml

Today, I did second try, then I was to be...
BUBBLE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/family_tree/bubble.shtml
she is one of the most favourite person here

Bubble is really Cute I think....
I'm sure that I'm adicted with it
Taeko

I love the episode where Bubble has been told to buy a laptop, but she gets confused and buys a lapdog - a fluffy dog that sits in her lap.

And her response to the work-related question: 'What do you do?': 'Dunno. Come in... get paid...'

yeah
I remember it, too
But I didn't know that the pun, lapdog and laptop till you mentioned above
Just I guessed that she confused with laptop computer and something. lol
her reaction is all ways full of humour and her costumes, too

I like the epsode of "France", too.
Only person who may understand is Bubble

She's so cute. lol

But the most incredible thing is that YOU, JIM know all programmes , dramas, cults, comedies..... It's really ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

And I thank you for all your reply with lots of information that I mentioned. It's very kind of you to do that

I've written a lot about television over the years. Last year I wrote a book with my former colleague Paully called TV Heaven, which involved 18 months of rersearching over 1000 old TV shows.

So I'm great in quizzes, but useless at doing anything practical, like putting up shelves

Hello Jimster
Researched OVER 1000 old TV shows
Unbeilievable number of shows you did actually watched, I guess, in a certain period
I wodner if you got fed up with those shows even they were so fascinating, interesting or funny shows...

I found the episode that you mentioned to me about Bubble who misunderstood what Edie asked her of "laptop" and brought LAP

I'm now thinking what the best way to practice "speaking English"...
mutual voice chat is one of good way, but I think tapping the speech, monologue, shows' presenters are also good practice to me... The problem is nobody can check my English

Well, I really enjoy UK programmes.
If you know something ones, please tell me, though you've got too many programmes to tell me... I know.

It's getting really warmer and warmer here.
Sneezing all days but we now can enjoy beautiful Cherry Blossoms Blooming in Osaka