Patrick Smith (I)

Chris Morris's scathing satire Brass Eye, Jessica Hynes and Simon Pegg's brilliantly offbeat Spaced, Victoria Pile's gloriously surreal Green Wing - Channel 4, it's fair to say, has reeled out a number of memorable comedies since it launched in 1982. Part of C4's Funny Fortnight, this lively two-hour programme counts down its top 30, as voted for by readers of the station's website. "Rude, radical, and irreverent, over the last 30 years Channel 4 comedy has taken us on one hell of a ride," intones the narrator, with no shortage of hyperbole. Though the tone, of course, is self-congratulatory, there's still plenty to enjoy here, not least the terrific archived footage, which reminds you why these show's have such an enduring appeal. Interspersed with these clips are hilarious insights from an impressive array of talking heads: among them, Tamsin Greig, Sally Phillips, Al Murray, Charlie Higson, David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes, who says about Spaced: "When I think about all the things I've done, that was the most intense, the most fun, the thing I'm most proud of." One caveat: how did a show as derivative as Star Stories make it on to the list?

Sally Phillips: 'Please God, let it not be My Family'

Sally Phillips and Tom Conti talk about their new recession-era family sitcom Parents.

This warm coming-of-age comedy set in 1966 stars Gregg Sulkin as a geeky 12 year-old who wants his bar mitzvah to be a huge party. Problem is, his parents (Eddie Marsan and Helena Bonham Carter) have scheduled it for the same day as the World Cup final (which, of course, without a hint of irony, England reach).

Taking its title from John McEnroe's infamous on-court diatribe against a tennis umpire, this new entertainment show, presented by Alistair McGowan, skewers all the funniest and quirkiest clips from the week's televised sport. Featuring sketches and impressions, too, it's essentially Harry Hill's TV Burp but for sport fans.

Grandma's House, BBC Two, review

My favourite scene involved Simon Amstell discovering the age of a one-night stand he'd brought home. "Sixteen. Well, it's not illegal. It's not a betrayal of trust. I'm not a teacher."

The Amnesty International benefit show returns after a four-year hiatus with a transatlanic special, taking place for the first time in New York at the Radio City Music Hall. Recorded on Sunday, the show celebrates the charity's 50th anniversary with a stellar comedy line-up including Russell Brand, Ben Stiller, Eddie Izzard, Sarah Silverman, Jack Whitehall, Jon Stewart and The Muppets. There's music, too, from Mumford & Sons and Coldplay, whose frontman, Chris Martin, announces onstage: "We take pleasure in being the least funny act here."

Titillating talk-show host and Telegraph columnist Graham Norton has an all-male line-up tonight. He's joined by British actor Damian Lewis, who's currently garnering rave reviews for his role in Channel 4's US spy drama Homeland. Lewis's fellow Etonian Dominic West - who starred in the searing US crime saga The Wire - drops by to talk about his latest film John Carter, about an American Civil War veteran mysteriously transported to Mars. Also among the guests are French actor Gérard Depardieu and singer Olly Murs, who performs his new single Oh My Goodness.

Wrapped up in colourful scarves, Stephen Fry and company are in particularly jovial mood tonight for this festive edition of the esoteric quiz. Answering questions on such subjects as ice and prawns, Ross Noble, Sean Lock, Brian Blessed and Alan Davies prove hilarious company as they reel off a number of anecdotes. For the comedian's quick wits, though, the most amusing moment comes from Lock falling off his chair.

Life's Too Short: episode two, BBC Two, review

Patrick Smith enjoyed the second episode of Life's Too Short, which guest starred Johnny Depp.

Drawing a respectable 4.3 million viewers in its first episode, Jonathan Ross's new show has precisely the same format as his old one, minus the Four Poofs and a Piano. You can hardly blame ITV for not tinkering too much, though: even when Ross was in the grips of "Sachsgate", his show managed to attract decent audiences. Tonight the loud-mouthed presenter welcomes Stephen Fry, comedian Peter Kay and Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who'll be discussing his new big-budget sci-fi movie, Real Steel.