Quote: swerytd @ March 3, 2008, 12:59 PMOne line to prove it:
"Get the f**k in, or f**k the f**k off"
(Although I have no proof to confirm the rumour that this was simply a Yes, Minister cut scene that later found it's way into The Thick of It)
Dan
That is my favourite line!
Quote: Curt @ February 29 2008, 5:18 PM BSTBritish I would have to agree with Aaron Yes Minister was the most clever. Allo Allo was also a very sharp sitcom that could contend with Yes Minister in my opinion.
I wonder what drugs he was on when he wrote that. How can you compare top of the drawer political comedy with the audience going into hysterics with the term 'Good Moaning'
But anyway, I now have no doubt what the cleverest British sitcom is of all time and it hasn't been mentioned on this thread. One Foot in the Grave. Complex plots and some sublimly clever moments.
British: Blackadder.
Yank: Seinfeld.
Quote: Charisma @ March 3 2008, 2:00 PM BSTLook Around You was superbly clever!
Yes. But not a sitcom. 
Quote: Jackson Neil @ July 15 2009, 8:04 PM BSTBritish: Blackadder.
Yank: Seinfeld.
No.
Quote: Aaron @ February 29 2008, 10:16 AM BSTWhat's the cleverest British sitcom you can think of? I'm talking about the subject, tone, content and such. Not writing.
Ooh good choice picked me to the post, but was it a sitcom?
I'd add the Book Group and Newsnight.
I suppose that being clever is quite different from being intelligent.
I thought The Office was quite clever using the documentary style.
Although you forgot that it was supposed to be a documentary, the looks to the camera really helped to define David Brent's character.
Quote: Griff @ July 15 2009, 10:18 PM BSTThe Book Group is a good choice.
So; Clever = Not funny?
Read the first post andthat's it. But wthout any doubt the cleverest in terms of construction/execution etc has so far been One Foot in the Grave.
Frasier was weirdly smart for a show that has some fairly sophisticated psycoannalysis humour.
I think Futurama and The Simpsons could be quite cerebral. I'll always love the episode where Bart sold his soul and discussed Neruda with his sister.
I knew people who smuggled Yes Minister into Russia as a teaching tool on British democracy.
Quote: Nil Putters @ July 15 2009, 10:37 PM BSTSo; Clever = Not funny?
How dare you be so wrong with an avatar of Dangermouse.
Quote: Marc P @ July 15 2009, 10:38 PM BSTRead the first post andthat's it. But wthout any doubt the cleverest in terms of construction/execution etc has so far been One Foot in the Grave.
Or most contrived, depending on your point of view.
I'd say the cleverest sitcom was probably 'Out of this World'.
The girl in that could completely stop time.
Quote: sootyj @ July 15 2009, 10:41 PM BSTHow dare you be so wrong with an avatar of Dangermouse.
I didn't find The Book Group at all funny, and I sat through the entire run.
Quote: Nil Putters @ July 16 2009, 12:20 AM BSTI didn't find The Book Group at all funny, and I sat through the entire run.
If you didn't find it funny why did you sit through the entire run?
I thought it might get better, and there was nothing else on at the time.