Top Ten Comedy Shows

[ursus arctos]

Nope, not me either

[Ray de Galles]

I want to add Friends and The Fast Show now. The only reason they weren't on the original ten or twenty is that their satellite channel ubiquity has given them a slight 'televisual wallpaper' feel.

Although that could also be said to be the case for a few others in my list. I feel guilty for not settling down to watch episodes of, say, 'Father Ted' more regularly because you always know it's going to be on again in a week or two.

That's why it's such a joy to introduce one's children to old comedies when they take to them as you can watch them almost anew vicariously. That was definitely the case for me with 'Friends' a few years ago and with 'Gavin & Stacey' very recently.

[gjw100]

A difficult choice as shows that I loved at the time haven't always aged well (Monty Python being a prime example). So I plumped for stuff that I would still happily watch today rather than historical favourites.

Parks & Recreation
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Fawlty Towers
This Country
Schitt's Creek
A.P. Bio
The Thick Of It
The Simpsons
The Office
The Inbetweeners
Peep Show
Moone Boy

[nmrfox]

In no particular order, just stuff that I've watched recently and repeated, or old stuff that I've enjoyed over the years -

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
Steptoe and Son
The Office (UK)
The Smoking Room
Back
The Detectorists
Alan Partridge in various guises
Cheers
Brass Eye
Taskmaster (good to see it's made Ray's list - obviously enjoying it being a recent convert)

[Ray de Galles]

I'm not a recent convert but my wife and children are.

I've watched it semi-regularly since series one but, like a lot of stuff on Dave and similar channels, I didn't necessarily watch every single episode and in order.

We're all going through them as a family from the start now though.

[Ray de Galles]

Ah, need to add PhoneShop to my list!

A pretty much ignored modern classic while the almost completely unfunny Inbetweeners (that it was usually scheduled in a block with) became bewilderingly popular.

[Mr Delicieux]

You alerted me to phoneshop, the scene where Newman tries to act alpha (I like you in all, you c*nt) and when the manager goes through a weed smoking mid-life crisis (with the QI theme serving as his idea of reggae) are as funny as funny can be.

[3 Colours Red]

Dare to believe! I can remember being surprised to see such a thing on ITV.

Twarb coffee, mellow as a horse. If you know, you know.

And I'll add:

Monty Python's Flying Circus
Farty Towels
Taskmaster
Shooting Stars
Modern Life Is Goodish
The Adam & Joe Show
Absolutely
KYTV
Kids In The Hall
Phoenix Nights
Fist Of Fun and TMWRNJ (can't have one without the other)
Alas Smith & Jones
Filthy Rich & Catflap
Black Books
I'm Alan Partridge
That Mitchell & Webb Look
Red Dwarf
The Mary Whitehouse Experience
Ripping Yarns

[ooh aah]

Not in order;

League of Gentlemen
Blackadder
The Thick of It
Bottom
Yes Minister/PM
Father Ted
Spaced
The Simpsons (although not the later years)
Have I Got News for You (ditto)
The Inbetweeners

[Ray de Galles]

You alerted me to phoneshop, the scene where Newman tries to act alpha (I like you in all, you c*nt) and when the manager goes through a weed smoking mid-life crisis (with the QI theme serving as his idea of reggae) are as funny as funny can be.

Oh, that's good to hear.

Now I have to ask the awful question of what your old screen name was?

[Mr Delicieux]

Twarb coffee, mellow as a horse. If you know, you know.

The agua moose! There's episodes available on YouTube, and I'd considered adding the Adam and Joe show, a real precursor to the kind of D.I.Y comedy content that was to follow online.

[Mr Delicieux]

Oh, that's good to hear.

Now I have to ask the awful question of what your old screen name was?

Tactictoe, then about five different names...

[elguapo4]

In no particular order;

Only Fools and Horses
The Day Today
Cheers
Frasier
Dads Army
Big Bang Theory
The Inbetweeners
The Fast Show
Father Ted
Partridge (although the last one wasn't great, apart from Martin Brennan)
Blackadder
Seinfeld

Irish TV is notorious for bad comedy, but Paths to Freedom was brilliant.

[ale]

Whatever Happened To Likely Lads
Fawlty Towers
Black Adder
Peep Show
League Of Gentlemen
Young Ones/Filthy Rich & Catflap/Bottom
Father Ted
Office
Partridge
Reggie Perrin

[Simon G]

Ah, need to add PhoneShop to my list!

A pretty much ignored modern classic while the almost completely unfunny Inbetweeners (that it was usually scheduled in a block with) became bewilderingly popular.

Wow - I'd completely forgotten about PhoneShop. I honestly thought myself and a lad who I worked with at the time were the only two to watch it - "A Owl"!!

Having had a bit more time to think about it, I can't believe I didn't put The Fast Show and, even more criminally, Gavin and Stacey.

[My Name Is Ian]

Better Off Ted was really, really funny. Absurd that they cancelled it so soon after it was shown. But anyway:

- Community
- Parks & Rec
- The Strange World of Gurney Slade
- Better off Ted
- Reggie Perrin
- Porridge
- Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads
- Action Bronson & Friends Watch Ancient Aliens
- My Name is Earl
- Look Around You

There's a couple there which I'm not sure qualify altogether as 'comedy', but they make me laugh regardless.

[Sporting]

No time to make a list just now, but can I mention How Do You Want Me?

[San Bernardhinault]

I was worried I was the only fan of Better Off Ted (which might be why it got cancelled)

[My Name Is Ian]

I have both seasons on my NAS. I dunno, maybe it cut too close to the bone.

[Southport Zeb]

Big Train
Blackadder
Community
Father Ted
Friday Night Dinner
Parks & Recreation
Peep Show
Porridge
Spaced
The Good Place

[Giggler]

Is there a reason I’m not aware of that no-one’s saying One Foot In the Grave? It’s clever, it’s dark, it’s so much more than just a catchphrase.

[hobbes]

I was worried I was the only fan of Better Off Ted (which might be why it got cancelled)

Nope. Me too. It was hilarious.

[hobbes]

Is there a reason I’m not aware of that no-one’s saying One Foot In the Grave? It’s clever, it’s dark, it’s so much more than just a catchphrase.

Never found it dark, clever or funny. Just deeply, deeply annoying.

[hobbes]

The Day Today
Blackadder 2
Taskmaster
Better Off Ted
Young Ones Big Night Out
Python
Simpsons until season 10-ish
15 Stories High
Spaced
Porridge
My Name is Earl
Phone Shop
League of Gentlemen
Watching Spurs lose

In no particular order

[Cal Alamein]

Brit favorites

MPFC
Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin
IT Crowd
Detectorists
Young Ones
Black Adder (WWI edition)

USA favorites

King of the Hill
Bob Newhart Show (Chicago psychologist edition)
Barney Miller
Simpsons
Arrested Dvlpmnt

*Were I 12 yrs old... Hogan's Heroes & Green Acres

**Not originally TV shows, but I watched Three Stooges shorts on TV and still dig em.