Alternative comedy and sketch comedy, consisted of Manchester University and Royal Central School graduates Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders, who began to aim their talents at television. As "The Comic Strip Presents", the group made over 40 television films for both Channel 4 and BBC. Ben Elton, who had by then become the Comedy Store's next MC, was invited by Rik Mayall to join him as co-writer of BBC2's TV hit sitcom "The Young Ones". However, it was as MC of Channel 4's new comedy show "Saturday Live" that Elton found fame in his own right.
American comedy films was released and paved the way for more of the same including "Top Secret!" (1984) and the "Naked Gun" films. Popular comedy stars in the 1980s included Dudley Moore, Tom Hanks, Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, and Dan Aykroyd. Many had come to prominence on the American TV series "Saturday Night Live", including Bill Murray, Steve Martin and Chevy Chase. Eddie Murphy made a success of comedy-action films including "48 Hrs." (1982) and the "Beverly Hills Cop" series (1984–1993). Also popular were the films of John Hughes such as the "National Lampoon's Vacation (film series)" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". He