Here is part one of my biased guide to UKTV newsgroups starting with those dedicated to British comedy:
(note: The newsgroup hyperlinks will attempt to open the selected newsgroup in your default newsreader if you've set one up. If you don't currently use a newsreader you might be surprised to learn that you already have one. Both Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape's Navigator 3.0 come with newsreaders. The Microsoft reader is built into Outlook Express while the Netscape one is built into the browser. Another great newsreader is Forte's Free Agent. Once you have your newsreader you'll still have to configure it to access Usenet messages. Please refer to program documentation and your internet service provider's help area for more information. If you'd prefer to read your news on the Web you might like The Deja News Website.
Has your local PBS station just added a new Brit-com to its lineup? Do you want more information on it? You could do worse than posting a message in the rec.arts.tv.uk.comedy newsgroup where Brit-com fans from around the world gather to discuss their favorite shows and actors. Like all newsgroups, the quality of the messages depends on the people reading and writing them. While you'll find useless spam and aimless flame wars here, the signal-to-noise ration is pretty good (as it is in most of the groups I'll be showing you). Recent message threads have included discussions of Keeping Up Appearances, The Fast Show, Are You Being Served, Blackadder, To the Manor Born and Harry Hill. The newsgroup also receives frequent posting of such files as The Young Ones FAQ and The Definitive UK Sitcom List as well as numerous requests and offers for video trades.
Another newsgroup dedicated to British comedy in general is alt.comedy british. Here you'll find topics ranging from the new Mr. Bean movie to Father Ted and Monty Python. Comedy on the radio and the Internet are also discussed as is stand up comedy and even books. As always, there's a fair amount of spam and junk but it's not too bad.
Right next to alt.comedy.british in the Usenet hierarchy is alt.comedy british.blackadder dedicated to everyone's favorite lineage of ne'er do wells, the Blackadders. An exceptionally cunning newsgroup, it has
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