I don't know if this has been asked already, sorry if it has, but does anyone know the route to and chances of getting on a writing team for a new or already established sitcom? I would have thought that this would be a more realistic and easier way of getting into the business rather than trying to persuade someone to take on a whole new sitcom from an unknown writer. I've also read that some now established comedy writers started their careers on a team of writers.
Anyone any insight?
If you get somewhere with the BBC writers room or in a BBC competition their usual route to progressing you is placing you on a team.
The fella who came up with 'I'm with stupid' won a Beeb competition and his first placement was on the team for My Hero.
In terms of sitcoms the only team written ones I can think of would be Two Pints, My Hero and maybe My Family. So the best routes into there would be via the BBC, though Big Bear Films who make My Hero will read unsolicited stuff.
You've also got plenty of panel shows who have writing teams but I dunno how you'd make yourself known.
Ah right, cheers, didn't know that....Right...I'll just nip out and win me a competition then, seeya later.
You've got to watch submitting stuff too, cos some of the companies who "accept" it, like I think BabyCow, have some NICE T&C's.
You know, the sort of thing that says, "Oh we develop new ideas all the time so it's probable we are already working on something JUST LIKE your idea, so if you send it to us and suddenly we have a new comedy that's JUST LIKE YOURS, you can't sue us ok?" 
American sitcoms are often written by teams aren't they, that's why each series has billions of episodes compared to Blighty's 6 or so?