Oh, so there was a thread.
Honestly, I don't like British television. Maybe it's because of who I am; it doesn't have the exotic appeal that Americans might like or the local appeal that British do. Mostly it's just something I find very tiresome and uninteresting; a half-dozens sitcoms I'd rather not watch, another half-dozen dramas I'd prefer to pretend didn't exist, and sci-fi made on a shoestring, a prayer, and a script that probably needed a second polish. I can count the British TV shows I like on one hand and the ones I love on even fewer fingers (The Prisoner... uh...)
I don't even find Monty Python that funny. And the Office? Better concept than humour, honestly. Ricky Gervais annoys me.
I wanted to say that just to put that in perspective: The Inbetweeners is one of the best comedies I have seen in years; probably my pick for one of the best comedies of the last decade - only Futurama rivals it - and basically the best teen show ever.
I sure wish there was a show like this when I was a teen, but then, since I can see so much of myself and the people I knew then (to the point I forgot the name of one the leads as I just referred to him by the name of a guy I knew who was frighteningly similar), perhaps better not. This is the ur-example of teen shows; anyone who even considers writing in such a programme should sit down and take notes.
The Britishness is definitely a strength here. As opposed to Hollywood's approach to teen shows; which invariably as a bunch of fashion models and bad angst (I hate them all with a fiery passion and it may explain why I as a teen signalled out geek faves like Buffy for especial ire), this is a very funny show about relatively regular and human looking people, done with absolutely brilliant scripts and positively electric comic timing. I would be very surprised if Simon Bird doesn't have a bright career ahead of him, he's scarily good as the neurotic, retentive lead who does not at all remind me of myself as a teen.