I always thought the biggest failing of Americans was their lack of irony. They are very serious there! Naturally, there are exceptions... the Jewish, Italian, and Irish humor of the East Coast.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best, which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating.
Americans are pragmatic, relatively uncomplicated, hearty and given to broad humor.
Comedy in America is very serious. Either they laugh, or they don't.
Sometimes Americans don't quite get my sense of humor. My good ol' British sarcasm seems to go over their heads.
I think that humor has become a principle means of communication among Americans about politics.
Every Brit I met had the best sense of humor. They're hilarious: very dry and witty.
If you have a sense of irony or humour, you're usually cut down, as you're usually distorted or misinterpreted. So it does lead to us being slightly more dour and staid and predictable than would otherwise be the case, which I personally find quite frustrating - because if you don't laugh occasionally in my job, you cry most of the time.
When I first started writing, I was living in England and I had that uniquely English sense of sarcasm, which has definitely seemed to have left me. I am a naturalized American and my sensibility has become far more American.
Humor is so important to the American scene throughout history.
American people have the ability to laugh at themselves. It is one of the things that makes this country the great country that it is.