The UK of today is completely alien to the UK of 30+ years ago. It would be like, totally uncool nowadays.
Realistically, it was just a repetitive sexual innuendo laden low brow T@A comedy movie franchise. Not exactly intellectually stimulating, but it was stimulating in other areas
Similarish to 'Are you being Served' in regards to non-stop sexual innuendo.
But just like most UK comedies from that era, the premise and catch phrases did wear thin towards the end of their runs. "My pussy jokes etc" are a prime example. Still good for a leave your brain at the door' laugh though
But some original modern US sitcoms are fantastic as they aren't too formulaic like most US sitcoms are. There are varying degrees of originality.
A lot of popular US sitcoms survive and rate well due to better writing and the appeal and calibre of the actors, but are still essentially template based. <insert 90% of current sitcoms>
Shows like Seinfield, Curb your Enthusiasm (both largely successful due to the originality of Larry David - who created some of the new templates now in use), Boston Legal (the first few seasons before it became a boring and preachy political platform), Arrested Development and 30 Rock are successful because they deviated from the sitcom mould.
Traditionally US comedies of the yesteryear were more 'visually' orientated, rather than dialogue which can be traced back to it's vaudevillian roots. Shows like "I love Lucy/ Lucille Ball Show / I dream of jeanie / bewitched et al" just a few quick examples.
Most successful UK based shows that are ported and 'tweaked' for US audiences tend to fail miserably. Usually because the humour is very different and during the process of adaptations to suit a US audience, they ruin the essence of what made the originals so appealing.
The only current successful UK port I can think of atm is 'The Office'. The format to the original UK version is very close and is successful largely because of Steve Carell's appeal and that of the other supporting actors. Plus by and large, audiences can 'identify' on some level with the workplace environment.
In the past, the other was Sandford and Son based on Steptoe and Son. Sanford and Son was successful due to strong performances from Red Foxx and some of the other ancillary characters.
Although towards the end of Sandfords run, Red Foxx's vaudevillian roots started to turn it into more a 'variety hour' format.
But that's not to say UK comedies were exempt from the 'slapstick' style. There's plenty of those of those too.
Basically, there is both comedy gold and comedy travesties from both continents.
Australian comedy is unique in it's own way, but is still largely UK influenced rather than US.
