http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/may/23/germany.features11

It all comes down to language. And context.

I have been living here for almost eight years, find all sorts of things very funny, consider myself as someone with a dry humour and I am very fond of British comedians. The ones I enjoy are all very different from each other, among them: Bill Bailey, Stewart Lee, Russell Brand, Jo Brand and the Australian Tim Minchin. And not all of them really tell jokes in the traditional sense. Certainly not Lee. They also try to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and dissing other nationalities and don’t rely on cheap shots at Germans. I regard Bill Bailey’s Kraftwerk piss-take as a nice homage to the band.

In Germany we have different types of humour like the Brits, but the sophisticated political cabaret dominates more over here and has a long tradition. I grew up listening to old records by the Duesseldorfer Kommoedchen and people like Dieter Hildebrandt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Hildebrandt). Harald Schmidt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Schmidt) is a big name and in Germany and had his own late night show for years. He is funnier than say Jon Stewart, Jay Leno and the likes. The Misfits are a funny female duo that used to make me laugh out loud and I enjoy Dieter Nuhr’s satire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Nuhr). Loriot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicco_von_B%C3%BClow) is still very popular (and sadly his wonderful partner Evelyn Hamann died a few years ago). His sketches are timeless classics. I also like Kaya Yanar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaya_Yanar  and http://www.kaya-yanar.de/html/deutsch/home/home.php ) who is more like your typical comedian. He takes the piss out of everyone no matter what nationality.

You can find also silly humour and “below-the-belt” humour in Germany. Especially at this time of year in the run-up to Carnival. Cologne is the bastion of Carnival and for five days in February you can either dress up and get pissed and maybe shag some strangers (if you really have to) and get into the spirit of things – or you hide in your flat and wait it out. Or if you’re lucky you go on a holiday until “Aschermittwoch” – Ash Wednesday” when the show is over and people are back at work with a massive hangover. At this time of year German Television consist of a variety of shows which are called “Prunksitzungen” and are extremely unfunny. “Faekalhumor” or dirty jokes dominate these shows. Carnival is a time of year when I certainly don’t miss Cologne. I never enjoyed Carnival as I prefer to determine myself when I want to have fun. Organised fun – like organised religion – is not for me.

I prefer dry, ironic humour with a bit of sarcasm thrown in. But I do find Harry Hill’s TV Burp hilarious.