The impression I'm getting, in keeping with the idea that there are different kinds and levels of irony, is that irony found in television shows in the US tend to be more of the hard-hitting variety, the Simpsons being one example of this.

I think British TV shows have a fair share of this. I think Fawlty Towers would probably fit into this category, except when it's being downright sarcastic. I see quite a lot of more subtle and elegant irony as well. I think in its first season, Red Dwarf was packed with subtle irony along with the goofiness.

I'd put Canadian humor right up there with the best of them when it comes to subtle and elegant irony. I haven't seen it, but from what I've heard about it, it sounds to me like This Hour Has 22 Minutes would probably fit into this category.

Some of the most subtly ironic people I've ever seen on US television shows are Canadians. The funniest TV show I've ever seen was ABC World News Now (late night news) when Mark Mullen and Thalia Assuras were the co-anchors. Mark is American, but Thalia is Canadian. Just the looks those two used to give each other could send me rolling on the floor with laughter. Lots of incredibly subtle and ironic double takes and side glances. (I think there can be non verbal irony.)

A lot of the people who were involved in the production of ABC WNN used to be Canadian as well. I don't know if that's the case any more. It seems like most of the best people are gone now, and the show isn't very funny any more. I guess it was Disneyfied when Disney bought ABC.