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British Shows: Watch all the hot new television before it comes to America!

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    Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The first series of Look Around You was incredible, the second didn't work as well. It was trying to be Tomorrow's World, but it was like the writers couldn't quite remember that series very clearly.

    Mojo_Jojo on
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    mere_immortalmere_immortal So tasty!Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Snuff Box is pretty decent if you like Darkplace/Boosh.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxaXwwGUrXQ

    Also Extras is fantastic.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iME60JZInfw

    mere_immortal on
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    BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited January 2011
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    You can't have Brasseye without The Day Today, and Peter O'Hanra-Hanrahan.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bq_dkPkQUU

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    TexiKenTexiKen Dammit! That fish really got me!Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I loved how on The Day Today they created a war. And Alan Partridge's first appearance.

    "Shit! Did you see that!?"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzSQ3xgoh-w

    TexiKen on
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    mattclemmattclem Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Did anyone else watch "Help" with Chris Langham and Paul Whitehouse?

    It's a real shame Langham made such a giant fuck up with career, because I would love to have seen more of Help, it really was fantastic.

    Apparently, the defence for the whole child porn thing was that it was partially for research for Help, which... actually sounds sort-of plausible.

    Honestly, I always thought that Langham was one of the funniest guys in television and always a bit of an unsung hero (he worked on The Muppet Show!). I was *so* disappointed in him when all the revelations came out; such a letdown.

    mattclem on
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Yeah, Langham has done some great work on TV and radio. It's sad that even though he was cleared of 95% of the charges against him, he'll probably never work again. He was missed on In The Loop, that's for sure.

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    RMS OceanicRMS Oceanic Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Also you guys should watch Charlie Brooker's -wipe programs.

    Not only are they funny, they're also informative about Television (Screenwipe) and the News Media (Newswipe).

    RMS Oceanic on
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    surrealitychecksurrealitycheck lonely, but not unloved dreaming of faulty keys and latchesRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Oh yes, there is something you should definitely watch if you like strange things:

    Chris Morris' Jam. Not to everybody's taste, but absolutely fantastic.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEacGiMO3K0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6p5ORHRnXs

    surrealitycheck on
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    poshnialloposhniallo Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Brass Eye and the Day Today are amazing.

    The Day Today gave me one of the greatest TV moments of my life.

    I'm watching English telly at my mum's house. I change channels. There's a current affairs programme ending. I have no interest in this, and I know nothing of it because I live abroad.

    The studio lights dim, the suit shuffles his papers, pushes back his chair, and then ties off his arm and starts hunting for a vein. As my brain goes 'buh?' he produces a syringe and slips it in.

    A perfect what-the-fuck moment.

    poshniallo on
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    surrealitychecksurrealitycheck lonely, but not unloved dreaming of faulty keys and latchesRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Have you watched Jam posh?

    surrealitycheck on
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    Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Jam was so strange. The DVD extras were even stranger. Watch the episode in a tiny window at the centre of my screen? Errr...

    Mojo_Jojo on
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    surrealitychecksurrealitycheck lonely, but not unloved dreaming of faulty keys and latchesRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The best ones were where they made the first 5% of the episode last 90% of the run time.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEacGiMO3K0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6p5ORHRnXs

    Quoting these because they got BOTP'd and are amazing.

    surrealitycheck on
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    joshofalltradesjoshofalltrades Class Traitor Smoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I was only partially kidding in the OP title. When I went to London for a couple weeks, I watched a bunch of television at night and saw a bunch of cool shows that made me wish we had them back home. Then about 6 months later I saw pretty much the exact same shows I liked in England except more EXTREME because we Americans don't steal anything halfway, I guess.

    And then The Office came and there are still people who don't know it was a British show first. Those people need a punch in the nuts. I like the American version for what it has become but Ricky Gervais will always be awkward boss guy to me.

    joshofalltrades on
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    mattclemmattclem Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Then about 6 months later I saw pretty much the exact same shows I liked in England except more EXTREME because we Americans don't steal anything halfway, I guess.

    And on *that* note, I'm quite looking forward to Episodes. Might be good, might be bad, not sure, but it's certainly an interesting premise:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodes_%28TV_series%29

    "Happily married couple Sean and Beverly win yet another BAFTA award for their successful British sitcom - Lyman’s Boys. However, they’re soon to find themselves moving to Hollywood as they agree to remake their much loved series for an American based audience. Although, they now realize they’ll have to work harder then they hoped Matt LeBlanc is cast to play himself, who not only damages their reputation and show, but their marriage too."

    mattclem on
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    mattclem wrote: »
    Then about 6 months later I saw pretty much the exact same shows I liked in England except more EXTREME because we Americans don't steal anything halfway, I guess.

    And on *that* note, I'm quite looking forward to Episodes. Might be good, might be bad, not sure, but it's certainly an interesting premise:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodes_%28TV_series%29

    "Happily married couple Sean and Beverly win yet another BAFTA award for their successful British sitcom - Lyman’s Boys. However, they’re soon to find themselves moving to Hollywood as they agree to remake their much loved series for an American based audience. Although, they now realize they’ll have to work harder then they hoped Matt LeBlanc is cast to play himself, who not only damages their reputation and show, but their marriage too."

    The idea is solid, but the cast and creative talent seem extremely iffy.

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    Anarchy Rules!Anarchy Rules! Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Page- wrote: »
    mattclem wrote: »
    Then about 6 months later I saw pretty much the exact same shows I liked in England except more EXTREME because we Americans don't steal anything halfway, I guess.

    And on *that* note, I'm quite looking forward to Episodes. Might be good, might be bad, not sure, but it's certainly an interesting premise:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episodes_%28TV_series%29

    "Happily married couple Sean and Beverly win yet another BAFTA award for their successful British sitcom - Lyman’s Boys. However, they’re soon to find themselves moving to Hollywood as they agree to remake their much loved series for an American based audience. Although, they now realize they’ll have to work harder then they hoped Matt LeBlanc is cast to play himself, who not only damages their reputation and show, but their marriage too."

    The idea is solid, but the cast and creative talent seem extremely iffy.

    For some inexplicable reason Stephen Mangan really annoys me. Put me right off Green Wing and Dirk Gently.

    One of the programmes that has stuck with me the most is Threads. Takes depressing to a whole new level.

    Anarchy Rules! on
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    He was good as Dan! Dan! DAN!

    Page- on
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    Bacon-BuTTyBacon-BuTTy Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Also you guys should watch Charlie Brooker's -wipe programs.

    Not only are they funny, they're also informative about Television (Screenwipe) and the News Media (Newswipe).

    This.

    I love Charlie Brooker, easily one of my favourite writers. I am at work right now, but someone post the youtube video of the news report about news reports. It's brilliant.

    He also did one episode entitled "Gameswipe" which neeeeeds to become a regular thing. It was great.

    Bacon-BuTTy on
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    joshofalltradesjoshofalltrades Class Traitor Smoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Yeah everything I've ever seen of Brooker points to him being fantastic. I need to watch more of him.

    joshofalltrades on
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    RocketSauceRocketSauce Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I really liked The Office, Spaced, and The Inbetweeners.

    RocketSauce on
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    KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    For Christmas my sister got me the first season of "Skins," about which I know nothing.

    KalTorak on
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    SanderJKSanderJK Crocodylus Pontifex Sinterklasicus Madrid, 3000 ADRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    My most watched British show is QI:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51njbgcr_NU&feature=fvw

    SanderJK on
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    kdrudykdrudy Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Matt Berry has become one of my absolute favorite people in the world so I was glad to see Snuff Box on the last page, just a hilarious show. Here is another clip, language not really safe for work:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOn56F6BaAY

    kdrudy on
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    Mojo_JojoMojo_Jojo We are only now beginning to understand the full power and ramifications of sexual intercourse Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    KalTorak wrote: »
    For Christmas my sister got me the first season of "Skins," about which I know nothing.

    The first series is great. Or I thought so.

    The Inbetweeners is how it was at school, Skins is how you wish it was. Although I may enjoy Skins largely as it is set in Bristol.

    Mojo_Jojo on
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    saggiosaggio Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    The Thick of It.

    saggio on
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    KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    saggio wrote: »
    The Thick of It.

    I am so pissed I can't find this show over here in Americaland, because of how mindblowingly awesome "In The Loop" was.

    KalTorak on
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I liked it better when Langham was still around. The Malcolm focus doesn't always work. He's a great character, but he's best used as a looming presence who shows up twice an episode to deal out the best lines, not a constant fountain of half-assed insults.

    Though he still had some great lines in series 3. It's still a fun show, and the best approximation of a modern day Yes, Minister.

    Page- on
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    P10P10 An Idiot With Low IQ Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I love Charlie Brooker, easily one of my favourite writers. I am at work right now, but someone post the youtube video of the news report about news reports. It's brilliant.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI

    Charlie Brooker is fantastic.

    QI and Would I Lie to You are great quiz shows, but of course the best quiz show is Numberwang

    P10 on
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    joshofalltradesjoshofalltrades Class Traitor Smoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Oh man, I just watched The Grapes of Wrath episode of Black Books. Fantastic.

    Bernard: It's all waffle! Nobody is prepared to admit that wine doesn't have a taste.
    Manny: Of course you can't taste anything, you smoke eighty bajillion cigarettes a day. What's that you're eating?
    Bernard: It's some sort of delicious biscuit.
    Manny: It's a coaster!
    Bernard: Is it? Are there any more?

    joshofalltrades on
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    Squirminator2kSquirminator2k they/them North Hollywood, CARegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I'd like to throw in some recommendations, being a bit of a Brit-living-in-America-having-trouble-finding-unattractive-people-on-telly sort of person.

    People have already suggested Coupling. I'd like to throw out recommendations for Press Gang and Joking Apart, both by the same writer (Steven Moffat, the current Doctor Who showrunner) and both absolutely cracking. Unfortunately, unlike Coupling, neither show "clips" very well, so I can't find anything that doesn't look odd out of context.

    Hey, we've seen recommendations for Doctor Who. Why, then, has nobody recommended Red Dwarf? It's a scifi-sitcom that's brilliant, funny, witty, and is choc-a-block with interesting scifi concepts. The show follows Dave Lister, a low-level vending machine repair man aboard a mining ship who is played in temporal stasis as punishment for smuggling a pregnant cat on board the ship. However while in stasis there is a critical engine failure and the entire ship is flooded with a lethal dose of radiation, killing the crew. Holly, the ship's computer, takes Lister out of stasis once the radiation has died down to a safe background level - some three-million years later. Lister's only company is the aforementioned computer, who's gone Computer Senile after millions of years alone, a holographic reproduction of his neurotic bunkmate, an evolved humanoid descendant of his cat and, from series III onwards, a square-headed sanitation droid named Kryten.

    Fortunately Red Dwarf does clip well, so here we go:

    Blue Alert

    What else can I recommend? Well, for people with an appreciation of British "celebrity panel quiz shows" like Have I Got News For You and Never Mind The Buzzcocks there's Annually Retentive, ostensibly a cross between HIGNFY and Curb Your Enthusiasm with cutaways from the actual quiz show to faux "behind the scenes" moments. Very funny.

    For sketch comedy enthusiasts, I'd like to recommend Man Stroke Woman...

    Nick Frost feeds a dog

    ...and Big Train.

    Simon Pegg makes a phone call

    Oh, and if you want to see the Tenth Doctor having tons of raunchy sex there's always Casanova. Import from the UK if you can - the US "Masterpiece Theatre" version is heavily edited.

    Squirminator2k on
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    Jason00Jason00 Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I am shocked that no one has mentioned High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman. It's narrated by Patrick Stewart, and it stars Marc Wooten as psychic Shirley Ghostman. It's kind of like Borat -- Marc fools real people into thinking he is actually filming a BBC show about a 'real' psychic.

    Red Dwarf is one of my favorite series of all time. Series 1 through 5 are especially good, and although a lot of people will tell you it went way downhill in series 7 and on, I am not one of them.

    Jason00 on
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    saggiosaggio Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    KalTorak wrote: »
    saggio wrote: »
    The Thick of It.

    I am so pissed I can't find this show over here in Americaland, because of how mindblowingly awesome "In The Loop" was.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99CZHHgAOy8

    saggio on
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    mattclemmattclem Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    SanderJK wrote: »

    Linda Smith :-(

    mattclem on
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    Page-Page- Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Page- on
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    Squirminator2kSquirminator2k they/them North Hollywood, CARegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    That really is something special.

    Squirminator2k on
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    Mr BubblesMr Bubbles David Koresh Superstar Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    As a British person, I generally find American shows far more entertaining than our homegrown efforts. They just seem cheap in comparison

    Mr Bubbles on
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    Squirminator2kSquirminator2k they/them North Hollywood, CARegistered User regular
    edited January 2011
    As a British person living in America, I can tell you that changes considerably when you have access to the American shows that don't make it across the pond.

    Squirminator2k on
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    TexiKenTexiKen Dammit! That fish really got me!Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    I think that barrier works both ways. You don't usually get our Lone Stars or 100 Questions, we don't get any buzz about the Life of Reilly or Over the Rainbow.

    Although one thing I could never understand when I was in Europe in 2006 was why Judge Judy was syndicated internationally.

    TexiKen on
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    Bacon-BuTTyBacon-BuTTy Registered User regular
    edited January 2011
    Mr Bubbles wrote: »
    As a British person, I generally find American shows far more entertaining than our homegrown efforts. They just seem cheap in comparison

    Go to America and try to watch TV for just one evening.

    They throw a lot more money at TV shows than we do, but honestly the quality overall is quite shocking.

    And don't even get me started on the amount of ads. Fuck.

    God bless the BBC.

    Bacon-BuTTy on
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