Blackadder and Father Ted are both hilarious. I would recommend skipping the first season of Blackadder though (the show took a while to find its feet), and moving straight on to Blackadder II.

You earned that bump like a motherfucker…

"What was I laughing at again?… Oh yes, that crippled Irishman"

In terms of UK comedies, I'd say Nathan Barley and The League of Gentleman are definitely classics and well worth seeking out. Not sure that too many people outside the UK will have heard of them though, so maybe not the best subjects for TV Club Classic.

No need to lower your expectations my friend, the (British) Office is awesome. IMO, Gervais has never come close to topping it.

Kazakhstan greatest country in the world.
All other countries are run by little girls.
Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium.
Other countries have inferior potassium.
Kazakhstan home of Tinshein swimming pool.
It's length thirty meter and width six meter.
Filtration system a marvel to behold.
It remove 80 percent of…

I also like the guy who comes in to pick up the cigarettes for Fat Tony: "Hey, kid you look good with that cigarette… kinda sophisticated."

Best bit of this episode…
… when Homer finds Bart with the room full of stolen cigarettes, and threatens to make Bart smoke every one as a lesson.

Top Five De Palma Movies
For me, it would have to be:

That would be fantastic (especially the first two series, I wasn't as keen on the third).

@Flaubert - good call on Sisters. I'd say Sisters and Blow Out are definitely two of the best De Palma movies. They've both got quite a bit of substance to go with all the style.

Lionel Hutz - what a pro:

Now you can laugh yourself to sleep!

Headers and volleys
Really enjoyed this write up, and definitely agree that 'Back' is a subpar episode. The next episode of Season 2 is much better, and more in keeping with the standards of the first Season.

"Mayor Quimby, you're well known for your lenient stance on crime. But suppose for a second that your house was ransacked by thugs, your family tied up in the basement, with socks in their mouths! You try to open the door, but there's too much blood on the knob!

"Well, I believe I'll vote for a third party candidate.

I love Nelson's speech as well. It's powerful, moving and really speaks to the common man.

Joe's Crematorium…
… you kill 'em, we grill 'em

Darkplace
Those weird demonic penis puppets look quite a bit like Skipper the Eye Child from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. Seriously, check it out: http://www.bogleech.com/scr…. It's uncanny.

I vote for Separate Vocations