In England BBC2 was a TV Channel that didn't ever get big audiences for its shows - possibly due to the fact that when it first started broadcasting in the 1960s people had to buy a new arial (antenna for our US readers) to receive it on their TV. However, it was a channel famous for Friday and Monday night comedy shows/series which appealed to a younger audience - who were willing to laugh at the more unconventional (eg 'Monty Python' types).
These shows (like the Comic Strip, Not the Nine o'Clock News, The Goodies and a few more) generally involved actors and writers with a University education, who were now considered talented enough, by the BBC and later Channel 4, to present their comedic skills to a wider audience. We have to be thankful that they all were given their chance. Some incredibly talented shows were made and careers were formed, by those people involved, who then went on to join and influence the mainstream Film and TV world.
They were ground-breakingly funny at their time. I hope the tradition continues - to boldly go where no comedy has gone before and break new ground.
