Is it me or do you fear the release of a new British sitcom, pilot or sketch show because you almost expect it to be shit?
I used to get excited when I heard a new sitcom or sketch show was being released but so many have been poor of late that I've lost confidence in it before even watching it.
Seriously, I almost watch them like I would watch a scary film - preparing myself for something shocking to happen any minute now.
Yes, I know what you mean. We shouldn't have to set ourselves up for a disappointment. Although I think being on this site and being more analytical of them doesn't help, lol.
i think its always been the case that there have been bad shows. there are still some good shows on. Not Going Out, IT Crowd both were quite good recently.
i think there seems to be a lot of new comedy being made at the moment which can only be a good think for the likes of us as writers.
I haven't lost faith at all. I enjoy watching all comedy, good or bad.
Very few comedies make me laugh out loud ("Not Going Out" is one of the current ones that does), but I'm actually amazed when people talk about "the state of British comedy." I love British comedy. There are times when there's a lull, but it isn't long before something good comes along.
If I don't find a comedy hilariously funny, I watch it anyway, simply because it serves me in other ways. I learn from it, or just revel in it, love it, hate it, scour at it, complain about it... but I still think British comedy is the best there is. Long live the British comedy... Oo-aaaaaaargh! 
I still thing there are plenty of talented comedy writers and performers out there and if I see that one of them is connected with a show then I always give it a fair chance.
Things like Not Going Out, Peter Sera... Show and The Channel 4 Pilot with Martin Freeman I enjoyed last week.
I hope its a lull. I also watch all the comedies from a writing view and pick up on the bad points but surely the majority of the audience won't be benefiting from bad comedy. NGO and IT Crowd, I don't class as new as they are in/finished their second series.
I can watch a sitcom that doesn't make me laugh if the story is still good, but of late both have been missing.
The TV companies themselves probably don't help as they they don't take the risks that they once used to?
Logically, there must be at least as many and just as talented comedy writers and performers out there as there ever were. Any other point of view would be illogical, Captain.
Of course, we may not be seeing them...
All comedy these days are rubbish.
I don't expect things to be shit, but I don't expect them to be good either. I'll have a look at a premise and a cast list and get an idea of whether I'll probably like it or not, but I don't let it influence me.
And most crucially, I don't let who the writers are influence my opinion. HendrieBrown. 
I think there's some good things around but nothing that really stands out.
It's just been in a comedy lull the past few years, with very little good stuff coming out, The Thick Of It, Peep Show, Not Going Out been the stand out shows, but when you think about how many sitcoms are made throughout the year that is very poor.
To me it just seems as if writers aren't taking enough time with their sitcoms, it seems rushed and just made for the simple fact that they have the power and contacts to get it made.
Almost there.
I think it's been mentioned before but there probably always were about 1 good one to 5 crap ones. It's just that you remember the good ones.
Well said David. For me it might be more than 1 in 5, but I agree that the ratio hasn't changed too much. Instead of moaning about how crap British comedy is, maybe we should be reveling in how many outlets there are for new British comedy now? Back in the so-called golden age we only had 3 (count 'em) channels, none of which were able to repeat 2 Pints.
3 channels? I remember the days when there was only 4, but we soon got BSkyB and sorted that problem out, so we had 3 channels + some dodgy German porn ones and I don't think they took sitcom submissions.