British or American sitcom suggestions?

October 16, 2009 5:02 PM

I'm seeking to expand my repertoire of sitcom shows. Please suggest some series that have a similar type of humour as the shows I've outlined below.

Like:

Spaced
Monty Python
Peep Show
Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Seinfeld
The IT Crowd
Curb your Enthusiasm

posted by PowerCat to sports, hobbies, & recreation (45 comments total)

Arrested development
posted by saradarlin at 5:04 PM on October 16 [6 favorites has favorites]

The Big Bang Theory. Nerd humor. Brainy characters. Occasional dumb plotlines (esp involving the ditzy girl next door who is socialized but not as sharp and makes most of the geek boys tongue-tied) but I like it about 70% of the time which is more than I can say for almost any other network tv.
posted by jessamyn at 5:05 PM on October 16

Oh, also check out How I Met Your Mother. Excellent writting.
posted by saradarlin at 5:06 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

Extras
Arrested Development
posted by Shesthefastest at 5:07 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

30 Rock is excellent.
Modern Family is the best new sitcom in years.
Arrested Development was spectacular.
posted by willpie at 5:07 PM on October 16

The Office UK
which, despite what you might hear, is nothing like the show currently airing in the US
for better or worse...
posted by setanor at 5:12 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

Flight of the Conchords.

And nthing Arrested Development
posted by hegemone at 5:13 PM on October 16

Father Ted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9xuXQjxMM

Absolutely Fabulous (no clips but trust me).
posted by Countess Elena at 5:17 PM on October 16

2nding Big Bang Theory. Also, Better Off Ted (when it returns, or watch the first season online).
You might like Corner Gas, too. But that'll be a DVD/Online thing as well (unless you're in Canada and they're rerunning episodes, as the 6th and last season ended last spring).
posted by necessitas at 5:20 PM on October 16

For a moment there I thought you were saying Father Ted was absolutely fabulous, which is true. I always hated Absolutely Fabulous, though I was probably fifteen when I last saw it, so maybe it's better now I'm older.

I'd recommend Black Books. Also, I sort of just assume that everyone has seen Fawlty Towers...
posted by doublehappy at 5:21 PM on October 16

Also, New Adventures of Old Christine has the some of the same seinfeld/Curb Your Enthusiasm self-absorbed/cringe-worthy type scenarios. Very funny.
posted by necessitas at 5:22 PM on October 16

sitcom:
The Larry Sanders Show
Party Down
Parks and Recreation
seconding Modern Family

sketch:
Mitchell & Webb Look
Upright Citizens Brigade
Human giant
posted by sharkfu at 5:23 PM on October 16

Big Train
Snuff Box
posted by fire&wings at 5:23 PM on October 16

The Odd Couple
The Bob Newhart Show (No, not the other one called "Newhart")
posted by Zambrano at 5:23 PM on October 16

If you like Spaced, try out Black Books. It's about a bookshop owner who's a horrible misanthrope. My favorite quote is along the lines of "CUSTOMERS? Oh, Christ--why didn't you lock the door?".
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 5:23 PM on October 16 [2 favorites has favorites]

The Book Group is worth a look. It's watchable on 4oD if you're clever with proxies/in the UK and is basically an odd group sitcom with literary jokes, drugs and bisexual football players. Also notable for launching the comedy career of Green Wing's Michelle Gomez.
posted by permafrost at 5:25 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

Ok, last one from me, promise. The original (australian) Kath & Kim. You can watch most episodes online via veoh, and possibly elsewhere. It's smart and funny. I'm not sure what they were thinking with the american version. Not the same at all.
posted by necessitas at 5:25 PM on October 16

I second jessamyn's Big Bang Theory but reject the idea that Penny is ditzy. She's just not a physics PhD. Oh, and use the pause button after the credits.

If you're open to things not currently airing, Sports Night: West Wing's creator doing a sitcom a couple years before West Wing. It's behind the scenes of a sports show, but you don't need to care about sports to enjoy it thoroughly. Just as snappy/quippy as WW, but with less life-or-death. And less Latin (alas). My fave British sitcom is As Time Goes By, but I'm guessing it might be a bit sedate for you. Still... Judi Dench! If you like Monty Python, you've found Fawlty Towers and Blackadder, yes? And Red Dwarf?
posted by clauclauclaudia at 5:27 PM on October 16

Soap. Possibly the best sitcom on TV, ever.
If you can find it, there's a sitcom by David Lynch from the 80s called On the Air, which is truly bizarre.
In the Monty Python vein, the British sketch comedy series Man Stroke Woman.
posted by xingcat at 5:35 PM on October 16

Extras for sure- the Patrick Stewart episode alone is funnier than every network sitcom of thr last 10 years put together.

Flight of the Conchords, but season one only. Season two is watchable but there's a significant quality drop.

And it's a littler drier kind of humor, but HBO's new "Bored to Death" is very funny and very smart.
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:38 PM on October 16

I came in to offer up Sports Night as well.
posted by dpx.mfx at 6:14 PM on October 16

How I Met Your Mother is easily one of the most underrated shows on TV these days. I'd definitely put it in the top 5 sitcoms ever.
posted by firei at 6:41 PM on October 16 [3 favorites has favorites]

It may be a bit of a departure from the style of the shows you listed (many of which I also enjoy), but I really liked The Young Ones.

Father Ted and Black Books (both already recommended) were both written by the same guy behind The IT Crowd (the brilliant Graham Linehan), so you'll almost certainly like them. I think Father Ted is by far the best of his shows, and quite possibly the funniest TV show since Faulty Towers.

I don't like Flight of the Conchords that much, but most of my friends do and there's a good chance it'll work for you.
posted by Emanuel at 6:49 PM on October 16

Thanks for all these suggestions, I'm gonna test out most of these.
Forgot to include Big Bang Theory, I definitely watch this one regularly.
posted by PowerCat at 6:59 PM on October 16

seconding Arrested Development and I have to say I am kind of digging the new Amy Poehler show, Parks & Recreation.
posted by nnk at 7:00 PM on October 16

The Mighty Boosh.
posted by Webbster at 7:06 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

Where's the love for Community? It's my favorite new sitcom. Also, Arrested Development is probably the second best sitcom ever made.
posted by bluefly at 7:19 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

"The Critic" interpolates nicely between "Seinfeld" and "Spaced".
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:23 PM on October 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

Definitely Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Extras, and the original (BBC) Coupling. Both versions of The Office are worth checking out. Also possibly Ugly Betty and Chuck--they're a bit more mainstream, but both very clever.
posted by EarBucket at 8:22 PM on October 16

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Look Around You, Posh Nosh, and definitely agreeing with the Boosh.

Unfortunately, as far as American shows go, there have only been three good comedies in the past five years or so (Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and the Big Bang Theory). (I don't have cable, so I guess there could be something half-decent kicking around on there.. Although if one more person tells me I'll love Flight Of The Conchords! I don't, incidentally.)
posted by Mael Oui at 8:26 PM on October 16

Arrested Development, 30 Rock, and The Office (but only the US version - the UK version has a much drearier feel and isn't as funny)
posted by kookaburra at 8:47 PM on October 16

Going to agree with Arrested Development (although the 3rd season is rather painful) and Big Bang Theory.
posted by radioamy at 9:17 PM on October 16

nth'ing Father Ted and Black Books, especially Black Books. Ab Fab is good too, although, I've always had a soft spot for Vicar of Dibley, not like the ones you described there, but funny as hell in my opinion. Lastly, there's always the very old favorite, Are You Being Served? which for its age (done in the 70's and 80's) is still really funny.
30 Rock, I heard people praising for 2 years, and it wasn't until I saw Seasons 1 and 2 that I finally understood why.
posted by Polgara at 9:42 PM on October 16

News Radio
Green Wing
30 Rock
Andy Richter Controls the Universe
Better Off Ted
posted by Good Brain at 10:20 PM on October 16

Here we go:
A Bit of Fry and Laurie -- A Bit of Fry and Laurie - Hugh Laurie is dead! (youtube)
The Fast Show -- The Fast Show - Unlucky Alf (youtube)
posted by dougzilla at 10:31 PM on October 16

Get a Life is one of the most twisted, surreal comedy sitcoms to survive network TV (Fox)--the team somehow managed to produce and air 35 episodes. Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine, etc.) and Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) were contributing writers, alongside show creators Chris Elliott, David Mirkin (Newhart) and Adam Resnick (writer/Exec Prod, Larry Sanders Show).
Clips: "Zoo Animals on Wheels" "Spewey the Alien"
posted by prinado at 10:36 PM on October 16

Hey, I've got a GREAT one for you. Do you have netflix? If so, you have GOT to check out at least the first three seasons of News Radio. I recently went through the series, and I could not believe how sharp and funny the writing was. And the cast -- holy cow! Dave Foley. Maura Tierney. Vicky Lewis. Joe Rogan. Andy Dick is AMAZING in a part clearly written for him. And I frankly had never realized what a comic GENIUS Phil Hartman was. Oh also, Steven Root -- an unbelievable character actor. Check out his IMDB page -- the variety of his roles is just astounding. King of the Hill, No Country for Old Men, Finding Nemo, Office Space (he was the guy with the stapler), etc etc etc.

As I understand it, viewership fell like a rock after Phil Hartman died. But those first three or four seasons should absolutely be considered among the greatest ever. If you like Seinfeld I guarantee you'll love them.

- AJ
posted by Alaska Jack at 10:40 PM on October 16

Get a Life is absolutely brilliant. Charlie Kaufman's "original voice" is just him doing Get a Life jokes in a feature format.

If you haven't seriously watched Married With Children or Three's Company, they're both funnier and bolder than anything on TV today.

British: I'm Alan Partridge and Saxondale are both incredible shows from Steve Coogan, he does the unlikable protagonist better than anybody.
posted by paperzach at 11:42 PM on October 16

All of these have been mentioned at one point or another, but here are some more votes for Arrested Development, both versions of The Office (personally, I'm partial to the US version, but your mileage may vary), 30 Rock, Better Off Ted, and Parks & Recreation.
posted by andrewcilento at 11:48 PM on October 16

I have been watching the Canadian show Trailer Park Boys via Netflix, and I think it just might be my favorite show ever.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:47 AM on October 17 [1 favorite has favorites]

Don't forget Strangers With Candy! If you're in the U.S. you can watch every single freaking episode at hulu.com.
posted by bendy at 4:13 AM on October 17

I've been watching The League of Gentlemen on Netflix instant, it's pretty nuts.
posted by cali59 at 6:25 AM on October 17

Mitchell & Webb Look
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:31 AM on October 17

Seconding Sports Night and Community.

Some older shows to look for would be It's Garry Shandling's Show (just coming out on DVD) and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Also, the Chris Isaac show was fun (now if they would only release it on DVD, sigh.)
posted by gudrun at 7:08 PM on October 17

I asked a sorta-similar question awhile ago...lots of good suggestions: Smart TV comedy?

I just finished watching Party Down, which was absolutely hilarious. We have similar taste so I think you'd enjoy it.

Also, you have to watch The Thick of It.
posted by pilibeen at 8:10 PM on October 17