Don't watch Nighty Night because although the first series is pretty good, the second is god awful.
Check out, Knowing Me Knowing You With Alan Partridge, I'm Alan Partridge, The Thick Of It, Peep Show.
Oh and I see you haven't listed Arrested Development in your US list, if you haven't checked that out then do because it's excellent. If you like story arcs, and intricate plot lines that is the number one show I could recommend.
I know I'm probably on my own here but I highly recommend 'Nightingales'. Total irreverence, surreal scripts and an absolute education in how to write superb comedy.
Curb Your Enthusiasm has series arcs and call backs, Arrested Development is an archetypal example. How about the Larry Sanders Show? 30 Rock is meant to be quite good.
If you can handle Cockney and Scottish - Only Fools and Horses and Rab C Nesbit.
Peep show in my humble opinion is the best sitcom on at the moment.
Quote: Baumski @ August 2, 2007, 12:18 PMI know I'm probably on my own here but I highly recommend 'Nightingales'. Total irreverence, surreal scripts and an absolute education in how to write superb comedy.
I do remember watching and enjoying it but can't remember much else as it was solong ago.
OK, this should jog your memory.
Robert Lindsey, David Threlfall and James Ellis are superb in this surreal adventure about night security men. The plotting is very sureal, the dialogue sparkles and the performances from the three lead actors are brilliant. The programme often went off into odd places, making story comparisons with many genres like Shakespeare and apocryphal tales (think "West Side Story's" plot similarity to "Romeo & Juliet"). It had hilarious comedy moments and moments where it fell into Carry-On territory. Particularly memorable for the episode where Bell rapes a horse and the episode where a long lost son comes into the office. The humour is often repetitive, but clever enough to keep it fresh each time. And of course there was the catch phrase which was, "There's nobody here but us chickens!"
It's brilliant!
8 Simple Rules. The only funny American sitcom apart from Frasier.
Quote: Dave @ August 3, 2007, 9:09 PM8 Simple Rules. The only funny American sitcom apart from Frasier.
I agree, but M*A*S*H should also be included.
dont really agree with 8 simple rules but the earlier episodes with john ritter were better.
Quote: Treenifer @ August 3, 2007, 9:11 PMI agree, but M*A*S*H should also be included.
Yeah, M*A*S*H was great; Alan Alda is brillant as Hawkeye - his performance reminds me a lot of Groucha Marx. Saw Alda on Biography not long ago.
danield1000, I haven't seen the ones with John Ritter in - but I LOVE Season 2 and 3! CJ is hilarious! And it's really nice to see James Garner again.
Anyone mention Porridge?
Yes. 
"whatever happened to the likely lads" has a terrific story arc..but it's very English humour............so may not be funny to some one from the States
Alan Partridge (Watch this first, and then Knowing Me, Knowing You)
Ideal (Not terribly funny but still quite fascinating & fresh)
The New Statesman (Mayall at his violent best)
Father Ted (Extremely silly; great to watch whilst stoned)
The Rise & Fall of Reginald Perrin (British perfection)
8 Simple Rules.