Favourite Sitcom

Although it could be that only two series helped preserve the quality.

Have to agree with Frankly Mr Shankly on I'm Alan Partridge. One of my all time favourites and Coogan's best in my opinion.

I found Alan Partridge cringeworthy, even in The Day Today which, while not a sitcom, is bloody funny.

Although it could be that only two series helped preserve the quality.

Have to agree with Frankly Mr Shankly on I'm Alan Partridge. One of my all time favourites and Coogan's best in my opinion.

Cup of beans is probably my favourite skit from that show!

Alan Partridge - Cup of Beans

Gotta admit I love Extras, probably because I think the Gervais/Merchant writing team are quality.

Gotta admit I love Extras, probably because I think the Gervais/Merchant writing team are quality.

The Christmas special a few years ago wasn't that great but the two series was class especially the second series!

edit: Completely forgot about Father Ted in my list. Definitely in there amongst my favourite. Have to say of my love of Rising Damp as well. Don't see enough of it but I remember coming back from a lecture last year at uni and just putting on the tv at around lunchtime and that was on ITV3 and it was bliss!

Cup of beans is probably my favourite skit from that show!

It's hard to pick a favourite but I do love the Bond marathon episode.

Stop Getting Bond Wrong!

Gotta admit I love Extras, probably because I think the Gervais/Merchant writing team are quality.

Love extras as well DLS.

My favourite is the one with Kate Winslet. She was hilarious and seemed to really enjoy being in the show.

The Christmas special a few years ago wasn't that great but the two series was class especially the second series!

The Christmas special had the best piece of writing in any sitcom ever for me though. The part where Andy (Ricky Gervais) is talking about fame in the "Celebrity" Big Brother house.

Amazing Scene From Extras Christmas Special

So F***ing true!

It's hard to pick a favourite but I do love the Bond marathon episode.

Stop Getting Bond Wrong!

That one is definitely hard to beat! Absolutely loved it!

edit: completely forgot about Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights. How could I?! Would absolutely love a 3rd series but Neil Fitzmaurice and Peter Kay fell out over writing credits. Shame.

For the sheer number of sitcoms that the yanks make, I think it shows our class that we've got easily more classic comedy shows than them. For every classic american sitcom there must be about 100 sh*t ones. Still, they do have 3 or 4 which make my top 10.

No particular order:

Friends
Scrubs
The Royle family
Peep Show
Phoenix Nights
Extras (better than the office IMO)
Father Ted
Curb your enthusiasm
Spaced
The big bang theory/ How I met your mother (can't choose between those for the final place)

How I Met Your Mother!

For the sheer number of sitcoms that the yanks make, I think it shows our class that we've got easily more classic comedy shows than them.

Really? In my opinion, American comedy/sitcoms piss all over 'ours'.  

Anyhow, your post got me to thinking about the 'yank' shows that I've liked down the years but haven't made your top ten. ....

Simpsons
Seinfeld
Roseanne
M*A*S*H
Cheers
Frasier
Taxi
Will & Grace
Everybody Loves Raymond
Married With Children

 .... to be continued?  

I'm sorry I do generally hate most American sitcoms. The overuse of the laughter track and the "quirkiness" is too much.

Personally I think The Big Bang Theory, for example, is just sh*t.

There's no accounting for taste.

In response I give you the multi award-winning . ...Miranda

What a pile of sh*te. Gimme the well written, well acted, Big Bang, all day, every F***ing day, over the notion that a one trick pony of a giant, ugly, bird who falls down a lot, is funny.

 

Split between Gavin and Stacey and The Royle family for me, both pure genuis.



Couple of my favouriate scenes from the shows:
Awkward breakfast - Gavin & Stacey - BBC comedy

Jim Royle Pisses In A Bottle In A Car

I much personally prefer American sitcoms because I grew up matching most of them.

Quite funny how my country uses the British English for our Engliahd lessons and all but we still grow up watching American TV shows and movies.

There's no accounting for taste.

In response I give you the multi award-winning . ...Miranda

What a pile of sh*te. Gimme the well written, well acted, Big Bang, all day, every f**king day, over the notion that a one trick pony of a giant, ugly, bird who falls down a lot, is funny.

 

Ha! My dad just said the same thing about her tonight!

Really? In my opinion, American comedy/sitcoms piss all over 'ours'. 

Anyhow, your post got me to thinking about the 'yank' shows that I've liked down the years but haven't made your top ten. ....

Simpsons
Seinfeld
Roseanne
M*A*S*H
Cheers
Frasier
Taxi
Will & Grace
Everybody Loves Raymond
Married With Children

 .... to be continued? 

Highlighted this one cause I think it's one of the most underrated sitcoms ever. Been watching this for years and never get tired of it.

Started watching Parks and Recreation, which is a fairly new show in America (currently airing its 3rd season, started in 2009). It's made by the same guys that created the US version of the Office so it uses similar filming conventions. Personally think it's the funniest thing on in America at the moment, can't stop watching it.

I'm sorry I do generally hate most American sitcoms. The overuse of the laughter track and the "quirkiness" is too much.

Personally I think The Big Bang Theory, for example, is just sh*t.

Don't judge all American sitcoms by that! Just because it's one of the most successful doesn't mean it's anywhere NEAR the best. While I do think we make the best comedies overall (though that might just be our British sense of humour), America still puts out a lot of quality sitcoms, and they tend to last longer than British programs.

Started watching Parks and Recreation, which is a fairly new show in America (currently airing its 3rd season, started in 2009). It's made by the same guys that created the US version of the Office so it uses similar filming conventions. Personally think it's the funniest thing on in America at the moment, can't stop watching it.

Don't judge all American sitcoms by that! Just because it's one of the most successful doesn't mean it's anywhere NEAR the best. While I do think we make the best comedies overall (though that might just be our British sense of humour), America still puts out a lot of quality sitcoms, and they tend to last longer than British programs.

True. They can still produce sitcoms but Britain has hit a wall with that. The traditional classical sort of sitcom as in Only Fools, Rising Damp have totally gone. Apart from Not Going Out in which Lee Mack is hilarious in it, you look at others like Life Of Riley and think "oh dear God".

Or Two Pints of Lager, which I think is just... terrible..

Or Two Pints of Lager, which I think is just... terrible..

Please...don't get me started!

Please...don't get me started!

Seems like we agree!

I'll leave this thread with some words of wisdom from Ron Swanson (one of the characters in Parks and Recreation).

Ron Swanson on wives and marriage

Some of the best;

Cheers
Friends (although it took me a while to realise just how good it was)
Will & Grace
How I met your Mother
The Wonder Years (not sure if it actually counts as a sitcom?)
The Cosby Show
Everybody Loves Raymond
King of Queens
Only fools and horses