Does anyone else here find that, in general, British tv is so much better than what we get over here? Granted there is a bit of a filter system for what makes its way acorss the Atlantic, but aside from sports, documentaries, and re-runs of older shows, what television I watch these days is almost exclusively British. Comedies: The Office, Coupling, People Like Us, etc., not to mention Fawlty Towers, possibly the funniest show ever, pound for pound. Mysteries: ( Where the Brits are, IMO, clearly heads and shoulders above us) Cracker, Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse, Sherlock Holmes, Daziel & Pascoe, Inspector Lynley, Lovejoy, the Commander, etc. Drama: The Sins, Good Guy Eddie, MI-5, etc. IMO, the reasons for their superiority are thes: Lower production budgets and access to a slew of great stage trained acotrs means they stress writing and acting over special effects and slick production. British shows tend to use simple camera set ups, and pretty basic editing, and virtually all of the budget in on screen. Now there are some good US shows; Law & Order, the Sopranos and Curb Your Enthusiasm...and even better re-runs, like Seinfeld, Rockford, etc. And I have heard great things about 24, though I have yet to see it. But in general, I much prefer British television. Is anyone else in the same boat? BTW, if you havent seen the shows I;ve listed, I'd highly recommend them, especially Morse, Prime Suspect, Cracker, the Office, People Like Us, Coupling, and MI-5.
What's MI-5? Is that the North American name for Spooks? I've answered my own question... yes, it is. Good show.
I watched Hamish Macbeth ( ) religiously when it was on. It was filmed near the Isle of Skye, where we vacationed. It also reminded me somewhat of Northern Exposure, one of my favorite shows ever.
Yes, and yes, although it had a more serious slant, IMO. Northern Exposure was about the best North American television show, when you consider acting, writing, directing, etc. in the past 20 years, IMO. Robert Carlisle rocks.
The old school British "Whose Line is it Anyway?" improv show was great back in the day. For some reason, though, it turned into a big, steaming heap of poo when it became Americanized
Of course MacJAg they created Red Dwarf plus Black Adder, the Goodies, Young Ones, Bottom, Yes Minister, Monty Python and plenty of other great comedies as for drama/mystery try Silent Witness.... sensational and don't forget the MacCullum series from a few years back and you must watch one of the things on TV the Uk has ever made, the mini-series from the 80s that is now out on DVD The Edge of Darkness
Heard great things about SW, just have never seen it. Inspector Barnaby/Midsomer Murders is also good. MacCullum; is that the one with the guy from Four Weddings, John Hannah, or the one withe the guy who plays Lynley? Or are they the same?
I *LOVE* British comedies. Red Dwarf is one of my favorites, Mr. Bean was great, Keeping Up Appearances is pretty good, Fawlty Towers is awesome, but the VERY BEST: <a href="http://www.siegler.net/chef/">Chef!</a> Well, the first two seasons at least. The third was garbage . . .
MacCullum that is with John Hannah..... very good Silent Witness is sensational the Linda Green show is a very funny current comedy MacJag - YOU MUST see Edge of Darkness... you will love it!!!!!
