British TV? Dead in the States?

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

I'm not a regular in this particular drinking establishment but like to pop in from time to time.

Yesterday whilst 'working from home' I watched 3 back to back episodes of 'NCIS', an episode of 'CSI New York' followed by an episode of 'CSI Vegas'.

The night before I watched the last two episodes of 'Justified' which I love. I also bought the entire DVD box sets that make up Episode one of 'Prison Break'.

This morning I watched disc 3 of Season 15 South Park which is my ultimate favourite - it's absolute LOL genius.

I also used to love the Simpsons and Family Guy but am not really fussed about them anymore.

Dog the Bounty Hunter is an absolute ar$e (imo) but his show is good for a laugh.

That means that apart from Sports the bulk of my TV consumption is American made. There's a few good Brit shows but they are thin on the ground. To find a very good Brit show you have to go back in time two to three decades and watch Blackadder, Monty Python and 'Allo 'Allo.

Obviously this left me thinking - do you fellas from across the pond indulge in any old or modern Brit television?

Cheers,

Ben

[Tojo72]

I really liked the Richard Sharpe Series,and the HornBlower Series.We also used to enjoy "Keeping up with Appearances",Mr Bean was OK
How about Primeval,is that considered British TV,I do like that

I tried to get into the British version of "Law and Order" but it didn't quite translate for me.

Oh I almost forgot "Red Dwarf",great stuff for sure

Great topic Ben

[ceresvesta.]

I`ve watched: Ultimate force lately...Not sure tough, kinda love hate I presume. I am more of a reader so when I watch tele I need it to be distractive (not sure about this word) and this show did it for a while.
Ditto tojo`s choice too!
Phil.

[bbd468]

Hiya Ben,

First off, Justified is one of my favorite Series....havent missed an episode. Thats one killer show! South Park is also one of my favorites. I laugh my arse off watchin that show.

The Thing about 'Prison Break' was, i started watching that while i was in prison in Englewood Colorado, just south of Denver. We had 4 TV rooms in our Pod and 3 of the 4 would have the show on when it aired. Was mad when it was cancelled. Yeah, i was a bad boy for awhile........

I grew up with Benny Hill and Monty Python....didnt get any better than that!!!  I cant begin to tell how many times ive seen Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Meaning of life....HILARIOUS!!!

When i got older i quit watchin TV very much.....was doin ummmm....other stuff.  Now days, im hooked on Justified, Homeland, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones as well as Sopranos and Deadwood. Every one a brilliant show. Oh and Dancing with the Stars .....THATS RIGHT, i said it!

Later Ben!

[wbill76]

Oct 8, 2013 22:46:54 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Now days, im hooked on Justified, Homeland, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones as well as Sopranos and Deadwood. Every on a brilliant show. Oh and Dancing with the Stars .....THATS RIGHT, i said it!

Later Ben!

Aha! The Kiltutu's been repurposed!

[Paul P.]

your right most of the best shows appear to be american. but they nearly all seem to have British actors in them. I love game of thrones. walking dead. rules of engagement is funny as hell and im on season 4 of true blood now

Paul

[M1Carbine]

I worked in IT for 16 years, the funniest show on the BBC has\had to be "The IT Crowd" Only 4 seasons but I watch them every once in a while...FREAKING HILLARIOUS...especially if you work\worked in the IT field

Right now back to Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story

Bob

[bbd468]

Oct 10, 2013 4:33:24 GMT -5 @boo said:

Oct 8, 2013 22:46:54 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Why on earth did they ever stop making Deadwood Gary ?

One of my fave all time shows.

That is a damn good question!!! I watched all seasons all episodes 3 times over and enjoyed just as much everytime. The series "Justified" is made by some of the  same folks who created "Deadwood". You would recognize several guest actors from Deadwood  from time to time thru each season....Great Show Boo!!!

Your right about British and Australian actors playing American characters better than Americans. They speak better American english than i do.

I must admit, im a huge Jason Statham fan.....thats a BAD MO-FO right there!

[imatanker]

Favorite Brit show? Easy, Topgear. Those Guys crack me up. The American version is no where close to it. I do miss Benny Hill and Monty Python.. I also watch the History Channel a lot of the time, and although it's not really a British channel it does have quite a few British docs on it that I like. Same with The Military Channel. 

[John Everett]

As a kid I grew up on daily episodes of Danger Mouse and Benny Hill. This led naturally into Python when I was old enough to get the jokes. Also remember that many poplar US programs began in Briton, The Office for example. An understanding of British humor from an early age served me well when I went to work in the Middle East, a land with more English than Arabs.

I do think that perhaps you're correct about there not being enough BBC style programming here at home, but I think there's been a sort of convergence over the last decade. It's common now to see actors and writers and directors from both sides of the Atlantic working together on the same thing. And there will always be the great films. I just re-watched Train Spotting the other night. Fabulous film!

Netflix and similar Internet based entertainment has made easily accessible those old shows which are barely remembered, Island At War, Foyle's War and Piece Of Cake are all enjoyable, and can be seen anytime I like.

At the end of the day, I see the US and the UK, and the whole world for that matter, becoming more similar, less diversified. That's both good and bad, I suppose.

[Hinksy]

Hi fellas,

Good feedback guys - great stuff!

How on Earth did I forget about Game of Thrones!? Imo that has to be one of, if not THE BEST EVER television series.

I don't watch enough TV to warrant Cable/Sky so I have to wait until the box sets come out but I haven't been able to resist the odd peek at Season 3 on You Tube (I currently have Seasons 1 & 2 box set's). The third looks spectacular.

My fave characters have to be Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), Jorah Mormont (the excellent British actor Iain Glen) and for just being an out and hard man and seriously cool, Tyrion's lifesaver and good friend Bronn (ex UK TV actor and singer Jerome Flynn).

It's just so annoying as every half decent TV series eventually gets pinched by Sky Atlantic or Sky One - in 5 years time we'll have no choice but to have cable in most UK households!

Thanks guys,

Next round's on me!

Ben

I've just bought every box set of Prison Break as I really got into that and sort of lost track of it so I'm enjoying catching up on that at present.

[bbd468]

My Favorite Character in Game Of Thrones is Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clark) OMG!!! Shes so very YUMMY!!!

[rbaer]

I just started watching Foley's War on NetFlix, very involving. My wife and I got hooked on Downton Abbey, but it started to seem like "Downer" Abbey. Hmmm.....
I guess Ab Fab got to be a little too non-PC even for British TV? It was truly hilarious.

[bbd468]

Oct 14, 2013 14:17:37 GMT -5 rbaer said:

My wife and I got hooked on Downton Abbey

OMG  ..........my sister too Russ! Russ, say it isnt so brother!!!

[Hinksy]

Oct 15, 2013 10:51:49 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Oct 14, 2013 14:17:37 GMT -5 rbaer said:

My wife and I got hooked on Downton Abbey

OMG  ..........my sister too Russ! Russ, say it isnt so brother!!!

Russ dude!

Downton Bleedin' Abbey! Each to their own I suppose

You want a good laugh - try watching some good old Laugh out Loud 'One Foot in the Grave' with Richard Wilson - aka Victor 'miserable old git' Meldrew.

Blackadder is also an old favourite - Blackadder Goes Forth set in the Somme Trenches of WWI sums up the insanity of warfare to the point where you feel comfortable laughing. Only that and 'Allo 'Allo do that for me.

Just about to watch CSI now - it's American TV all night tonight.

Love a bit of that WWE Wrestling. Rehearsing them lines must take some doing but who cares, for sheer athletic brilliance and entertainment value it cannot be beaten!

Ben

[rbaer]

Oh yeah Gary, hook, line and sinker.
Ben, you should try Burn Notice, good writing. Gotta get you off that WWF stuff...... but I guess if we're stuck on a nighttime soap opera, I shouldn't talk.....

[bbd468]

Oct 15, 2013 13:10:26 GMT -5 Hinksy said:

Oct 15, 2013 10:51:49 GMT -5 bbd468 said:

Love a bit of that WWE Wrestling.
Ben

Me too.....Female Mud Wrestling!!!

Cheers Ben

[bullardino]

Oct 15, 2013 13:10:26 GMT -5 Hinksy said:

Blackadder is also an old favourite - Blackadder Goes Forth set in the Somme Trenches of WWI sums up the insanity of warfare to the point where you feel comfortable laughing.

While I was catching up in this great thread I was starting to think no one would mention it. It's far better than Mr. Bean, I truly loved all of the series

Unfortunately no one mentioned Dr.Who

[beast]

Not much in the way of Brit dramas and comedy stuff i watch these days. I find a lot over here has gotten a bit tame to say the least.
I grew up with the Sweeney and the Professionals, full of wise cracks and criminals getting a damn good hiding lol, they don't make them like that anymore.
Different story over the pond though, you had the all time best by a million miles cop series ever made, "The Shield" absolutely awesome. Sopranos, brilliant! I'm now hooked on Homeland. 
Do agree, some Brits play some real evil characters, although for you guys in the states most of them have that high class sophistication to them. In reality our real life underworld villans take the meaning of being a baddie to a new level altogether, maybe if some of them turned to acting, it could be a case of freaking too many folk out lol?