Peep Show, Phoenix Nights, Ghostbusters and Ronnie Barker

Agreed that the likes of these US sitcoms which get to 250+ episodes is probably too much - though must admit some shows like Frasier and Malcolm in the Middle seem to be quality week in, week out.

But having 3-5 series of 6-8 episodes would still be no more than 40 episodes!

I agree completely, I can't be bothered with The Simpsons anymore as it's run out of steam, and essentially it's the same jokes week in, week out. Friends is also wallpaper TV, ok there are some great "one-liners" and reasonably well played (but very 2D) characters, but the comedy set-ups are usually obvious, and in a 26 week run how many stand out as "classic" episodes? As for Will and Grace... it's slipped into obvious, cheap, stereotyped parodies of gay characters that in the most recent series the writing became insulting.

The reason why US comedies can go on so long is that they are generally written by committee, it's a production line where the characters are there to deliver one-line jokes. Most British comedy is usually crafted by one or two people - it would be hard to churn out 26 good episodes in a year. Victoria Wood wrote a longer than usual final series of Dinnerladies, and apparently it totally wore her out.

It is disapointing when series end too soon - I think some could stretch to another series or a Christmas special, but look at the evidence. The reputation of OFAH has been blown apart by those ill-thought-out come back episodes (and the constant repeats on BBC1). The Vicar of Dibley made a dreadful come-back last year too. Comedies that ran for years started out as good (not necessarily "classic" but were better than the rest at the time) included 'Allo 'Allo, Keeping Up Appearances, One Foot , and I think Men Behaving Badly's final series was poor too - they just wore out the characters and the comedy potential.

I'm not saying all UK comedy is brilliant (its not) - but US comedies are generally the Tesco Economy Sausage (mass-produced pap) compared to the British unique, hand-crafted, speciallity butcher's finest sizzlers.

I think it's good to come away from the table wanting more.... than get it force fed until your sick of it. I'm sure there's deeper cultural debates there - but all my talk of food must mean my tummy is after food....