BEST- UK:
Fawlty Towers- the characters delivery of lines and the situations that unfold in every episode are repeatable viewing. So are the lines, eg. "Whatever you do, don't mention the war!"
Blackadder- the dialogue is brilliant. Rowan Atkinson's character assassinations are worth watching the whole series for.
The Office (UK version)- there is so much that is real about it, most of the characters have very believable personality traits. Not to mention how deliciously painful some of the scenes are. Even now I always find myself fast-forwarding the first episode of season 2 where David Brent introduces himself to the Swindon workers. I can't watch the man kill himself in 5 minutes over and over again!
Dad's Army- possibly the greatest example of British-style comedy in which not a whole lot of action can take place in an episode, but the characters and their interactions with one another make you want to keep watching. Walker the womaniser, Wilson the snag, Fraser the tightarsed Scot, Mainwaring the pompous hypocrite- 40 years on the show is still funny when viewed over again.
Keeping up Appearances- in many ways this is a sad show- especially in poor Richard's case. Hyacinth's delusions of grandeur are highly amusing though, and like Fawlty Towers I love the way a scenario builds up in intensity over an episode.
Fawlty Towers- 'nuff said.
BEST- NORTH AMERICA:
The Larry Sanders show- Larry isn't the star of this one so much as his supporting cast. Insecure Hank Kingsley and the loud-mouth, gung-ho character that Rip Torn plays are fantastic! It reminds me of The Office in that it's a show primarily about having to work with people who often piss you off.
South Park- the later seasons anyway. The early seasons are largely unspectacular. The last few seasons though, are satirical brilliance. I am glad they decided to develop Randy as a character, I find him funnier than Cartman or any of the kids actually. Also, in an age in which the entertainment industry is full of out-spoken chardonnay socialists, it's nice to see Trey Parker and Matt stone giving the two fingered salute to such hypocrisy.
Family Guy- I agree with others on here that some of the jokes go on way too far or aren't that funny to start with, but the way the humour pushes the envelope is what I love. Quite a few of the pop-culture references are very funny as well. I can watch 3 episodes of The Simpsons and only piss myself laughing once, whereas I am guaranteed to do that at least once in every Family Guy episode.
Drawn Together- I love this show because it is so wrong and totally politically incorrect. It makes South Park and Family Guy look tame. I wish they'd release it on DVD here but!
Trailer Park Boys- like Dad's Army, sometimes not much can happen in this show. Indeed, each series is largely repetitive: Work out a scheme to (illegally) make money, avoid the watchful eye of Randy and Mr Leahy, get arrested, go back to prison, get out of prison, repeat. But the characters are brilliant! Ricky reminds me of Rip Torn's character in Larry Sanders, how gung-ho he is. Like The Office, there are alot of characters that remind you of people you know somehow.
BEST (Australia):
The Chaser's War on Everything- I love how ballsy the Chaser guys are. They aren't afraid to pull any stunt in the name of satire.
Summer Heights High- the characters Chris Lilley has modelled in this show are so close to reality, which is the funniest thing about it. We all went to school with girls like Jamaíe, with guys like Jonah and had teachers like Mr G.
The Micalleff Programme- Australian satire at its' best. I would love to have seen one more series of the show, because that last series was so delighfully random and non-sensical in its' material. It's the sort of thing you can watch drunk and still love it.
Kath & Kim- it's all about the sight gags and how daggy the characters are.
BEST (rest of world):
Hip Hip- it's this Swedish sketch show an old flatmate of mine had a few DVD's of. There were some really great characters and they weren't afraid of pushing the envelope humour wise. I'd never thought the Swedes could be this funny!
WORST- Anywhere:
The Wedge- is this meant to be a comedy? I watched an episode once and by the end of it I felt kind of depressed that I couldn't get those 25 minutes of my life back.
Swift and Shift Couriers- too much like the later episodes of Pizza, which had a worn feel to them. I wouldn't call myself a wowser, but there's too much profanity on this show. It's gratuitous so that it isn't even funny anymore. Randy saying "F**k off Randy! F**k you Leahy!" on Trailer Park Boys is funny. Some character dropping the F bomb for no apparent reason on this show, isn't.
