I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I doubt it's as good as the above options.

Anyways, for me it's a really close call between Mr. Show and Kids In The Hall, but I had to give it to KitH, because it just clicked with me during its original broadcast (though admittedly, Mr.Show is much better the more you watch it). As great as Python is, it has been far too canonized to be as funny as it once was.

Sure, a show like SNL may contain just as much good material as something like the short run of Mr. Show, because it's been around for so long, but it's wide range of bad material really dilutes it.

Chappelle Show

A tie between The Chappelle Show and Kids in the Hall. With MadTV a close third.

SNL... when it was good... years and years and years ago.

KiTH
Mr. Show
The State
Chappelle Show
MadTV (the Nicole Sullivan-Alex Borstein-Will Sasso years)

...in that order

Mr. Show. KitH was second, but it wasn't that close. I've seen some KitH reruns and they just don't hold up very well. But I agree that they really clicked during the original broadcasts. Maybe it was because the only real competition at the time was a rather vanilla SNL.

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

"Very interesting....but stupid."

I'm waiting for someone to suggest "Hee-Haw"

There's a fine line between sketch comedy and a variety show. "They say our love won't pay the rent ..."

Probably Flying Circus.

das

"You bet your sweet bippy!"

As much as I love Python and certain seasons of SNL, SCTV always holds the top spot for me. For people who followed the show and got to know the re-occurring cast of characters, nothing was ever as sublime as SCTV.

The Sammy Maudlin Show, Bobby Bittman, Jerry Todd, The Shmenges, The Great White North, Dr. Tongue, Ted and Edna Boil, Guy Caballero, Edith Prickley, Johnny LaRue, Gus Gustofferson, Farm Film Report, The Fishin' Musican, Dialing for Dollars with Walter Cronkite, Earl Camembert, Bill Needle, Libby Wolffson, Mel's Rockpile, Mrs. Falbo, Mr. Messenger, The Days of the Week, Ed Grimley, and of course, Count Floyd.

And that's just the re-occuring stuff. Add in the one-shot bits, like Ricardo Montalban, Margaret Hamilton, George Carlin and DeForrest Kelley in "Death of a Salesman" and Fred Rogers boxing Julia Childs during "The Battle of the PBS Stars" and you had comic gold.

BTW, where's the love on this poll for "The Ben Stiller Show." Ten times better than Mad TV ever has been.

Oh, and where's "Hee-Haw"??

"Hey Grampa, what's for supper?"

MPFC by a country mile.

Monty Python's Flying Circus, bar none. It is still the atomic clock to which all sketch comedy is set.

The rest, while noble in their attempts, are but pretenders to the throne.

Sock it to me!

And as long as we're geezering out, how about The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Carol Burnett Show?

"I saw it in the window and I couldn't resist."

Monty Python

SNL was great ...





when I was still pooping my diapers

SCTV. TheAllPurposeNothing summed it up nicely.

I absolutely love Python and there's been some great stuff on SNL over the years.

I agree Python set the bar, but SCTV perfected the format.
Tough call.

The State

I've never really cared for Monty Python, KitH, or Mad TV.

ILC was great, but I wonder how well it's held up.

Still watching SNL, and enjoying just over half of the episodes each season.

Never saw SCTV.

Never saw Mr. Show, but David Cross is about as funny as leukemia so I can't imagine liking it.

Loved Carol Burnett.

I also liked The Donny & Marie Show. However, I was just a kid at the time and most shows I liked as a kid are unwatchable to me now.

Of the ones listed, it would be Flying Circus.

Horse Apples

"Mother always liked you best"

The State and League of Gentlemen for me.

In terms of recent television, Chappelle's Show is the winner. Season two was probably the most perfect season a television show could ever have. Consistantly hitting comedy with very few misses, unlike the first season which a skit would either hit completely or miss badly.

You Can't Do That On Television was ahead of it's time for children's programming and remains a favorite of mine to this day.

The State was ahead of it's time as well, but not as well known as most other sketch shows.

Monty Python's Flying Circus was sheer brilliance all around.

I'm a bit curious as to whether SNL has run longer than the other poll choices combined. I'm guessing that it does sans-Mad TV but that Mad TV has run just long enough to put the others combined on top in terms of seasons.

It's SNL for my money, as funny as most of the others have been at points. SNL just has too much very funny history.

I also have to express my love for The State. I couldn't vote for it even if it were on the list, but I mourn that it didn't catch on better and that there is no way (I know of) to watch that genius stuff.