10. The Young Ones
This was actually my first introduction to British comedy, at the ripe old age of 13. I was so enamored with these kooks that I even wrote an "episode" as an extra credit English assignment. To my amazement, the teacher actually gave it an A. Here's an amazing scene from...well I think it's from the episode "Oil," where Rik plans a communist rock and roll benefit for the working class of the house (Neil and Vivian). This never gets old.
9. Jeeves & Wooster
It's not exactly the brand of silly, slapstick British comedy that I usually go for, but the Stephen Fry/Hugh Laurie adaptation of PG Wodehouse's novels has a certain charm to it that always makes me chuckle. Besides, Hugh Laurie's rendition of "Minnie The Moocher" is infectious. This is him singing another song...but it's also pretty adorable.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I wish Stephen Fry was my butler.
8. Absolutely Fabulous
"La-di-da, Darling!" Who couldn't love Edina and Patsy? Proof that the fun doesn't have to end just because you have kids.
7. Spaced
Awesome show. But then, it has Simon Pegg, so how could it not be? About a struggling comic book artist and a writer who never writes, Spaced has plenty of geeky moments in it - like this homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
6. The Mighty Boosh
A bubblegum monster named Charlie, a scaly man-fish that wears a tutu and Howard, the angry crab of trapped wind! What more could you ask for in a show? This is probably one of the most genius shows I've been introduced to in the past five years.
5. Fawlty Towers
John Cleese is officially a comic god. No one can do physical comedy quite like him, with his long, gangly legs and affected seriousness mixed with clumsiness. Though some of the jokes in this series would probably be considered slightly offensive today, you have to appreciate Cleese' ever-disgruntled hotel manager, Mr. Fawlty. My favorite episode is when some Germans come to the hotel, and Fawlty keeps bringing up the war.
4. A Bit of Fry & Laurie
I'm not really sure why, but I have a special place in my heart for sketch comedy, and some of my favorite sketches are from this show. Hugh Laurie singing "America" comes to mind. As well as this interview with "Michael Jackson." There are also the wonderfully "self-referential" sketches about their own sketches, like this one, in which they play critics.
3. Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson. Nuff said.
2. The IT Crowd
I absolutely adore Maurice Moss. He is probably the most amazing person in fictional existence. I don't really know what else to say about this show, other than that I am glad they didn't end up making an American version. Now that would have sucked. One of my favorite episodes is when Moss builds the "AbracadaBRA."
1. Monty Python's Flying Circus
This is kind of a no-brainer. What can I say, the ends of these lists are always a bit predictable, aren't they? But you can't beat the pioneers of British comedy. Without further ado, I give you the parrot sketch.
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