British TV Shows...

[MissAnne]

^ Tbh, it wasn't that funniest show ever. I can see why it didn't get the ratings it needed to be renewed.

BUT, I really really loved Billy and Gemma's romance. That was what kept me watching. I'll just pretend that they ended up together. lol

So cute.

I thought that it could have gone in a pretty interesting direction. Oh well.

 

[MissAnne]

I wasn't really sure if it was trying to be a Modern Family type show or a romantic comedy.

It seemed like a little bit of both. I thought that the supporting cast had loads of potential and were very funny. Sheehan and Alexander were great. Plus it was nice to see Sheehan play a sexy, straight-man for a change.

We got that in Love/Hate, however that character is put in such extreme circumstances its hard to focus on much else.

 

[MissAnne]

Also, saw the new BBCOne trailer for 2013. New episodes of Luther and Miranda...Nice

This ?

I saw it on Facebook yesterday. Ive watched it atleast 10 times.

I didn't know that there was a Voice UK. I love Will i Am

 

[goldenmoth]

So many great shows are coming. That 'the White Queen' looks amazing and of course Luther and Doc Who

 

[justdra]

Just signed up for Hulu and have been watching this show called Spy. It's about a guy fighting for custody of his high iq smart mouthed kid and accidentally winds up working for the CIA after quitting his job to impress his kid. Pretty funny after they focus more on the father as oppose to the manipulating child.

 

[LaughOutLoud]

I've just read this thread in it's entirety and have really enjoyed it

I live in the UK, but I haven't watched all the shows mentioned, just because I don't have much time for TV these days. That said, if my Facebook NewsFeed is anything to go by, it looks like you're in with the majority of the UK when it comes to most of these shows lol
Of the shows mentioned in this thread that I did watch, I've loved them all (especially IT Crowd, Green Wing, Books, Misfits, Shameless and Peep Show).

Anyway, I don't think I saw Inbetweeners mentioned. Easily one of the best shows to come out of the UK in recent years. It's finished now, but they ended it with a movie (also well worth a watch). I've seen a few episodes of the US version and, tbqh, they were awful. Completely murdered it. Watch the UK version, I insist

Also, I don't think anyone has mentioned Mount Pleasant. It's not AMAZING, but it's watchable. It's easy viewing. Somewhere between a drama and a comedy. You might like it


If anyone has mentioned either of those, oops, my bad. I can't remember every show that's been recommended :/

 

[cheesebiggins]

This ?

I saw it on Facebook yesterday. Ive watched it atleast 10 times.

I didn't know that there was a Voice UK. I love Will i Am

I highly reccomend The Voice UK, imho it's much better than the US version and i'd rather Danny O'Donoughue, Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J and will.i.am to Christina, Adam, Blake and CeeLo. Christina really gets on my nerves!

 

[MissAnne]

What is up with the Midsomer Murders' producer saying that the reason why the show isn't more racially diverse is the fact that it represents the "Bastion of Englishness". I was trying to get into the show, but now I think that I will pass.

From the comments, all the fans seem to be okay with this ? I dont know how race politics are in the UK, but if someone said that here in the US it would have been a completely different story.

Can any English POC explain your color line in the UK? Are you considered English or immigrants, even if you have lived there your entire life? Is there a large enough POC audience that can influence your indigenous programs

This made me think of when Idris Elba won a Golden Globe for Luther. All the cameras panned to English actors getting strange reactions. All except for Kenneth Branagh were giving him the stink eye or perhaps didn't even know who he was. It was a little uncomfortable to watch.

 

[MissAnne]

Nevermind. They fired him and did damage control.

Jo Wright, the producer of the ITV programme, said the next series would “continue to develop and evolve as a drama”.

Her comments come after her predecessor lost his job after saying non-white characters had no place in the show.

The producer, who has also worked on the BBC drama 55 Degrees North, said: “I strongly believe Midsomer Murders should represent its audience and, alongside some of the core characters, we have the opportunity to introduce a range of characters from different backgrounds within the films in the next series.”

Their newest member:

 

[MissAnne]

I don't watch Midsomer Murders but I'm sure that is comforting for its fans.

I hope so. From the comments it seems like his firing has upset the fans. Apparently a large part of the fanbase thinks that Midsomer Murders represents a very real part of the English countryside. I wouldn't know. Perhaps there are places with not one minority.

Their POC fans should be happy anyway.

And I would watch the hell out of any Bond movie with Idris in it.

In an article, someone speculated that had Idris not made it big in The Wire, he may not have Luther. The whole thing is interesting.

Where are our Black-English JUBbers ?

 

[JohnnyAnger]

Yeah I am pretty sure with Idris without The Wire he would not have made it at all in the UK. I saw an article the other day advising most aspiring black, male actors to go to the states to get roles as they will not land them in the UK, which is upsetting. An article here covers it quite well from David Harewood point of view - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/.../Young-black-actors-should-go-to-America.html

On Midsummer Murders, you are dealing with very affluent, rural environments with massively aging populations who tend to be white in reality. This tends to be the case in reality as younger people (of all ethnicities)now don't tend to want to live in the arse end of nowhere in a cold old house that cost them a million of pounds Also it's mainly aimed at an older audience who want to view the country side as some weird traditional area that they can move to once the man has given them enough money.

 

[MissAnne]

^ Thankyou for that article Johnny. BTW I love your avatar. I don't why. I just do LOL

It was interesting. I googled the Black population in the UK. I came up with 8%. I don't know how true that is but I found that to be kind of low. Its low in the US too. Our 13% isn't much to talk about either. In Soc class we learned that Americans, Blacks included, overestimate the Black population in the US. Most people think that its well into 30%. I kind of chalk that type of thinking up to the Civil Rights Movement and the unrelenting fight to gain a voice. That voice is pretty loud and the Black audience is strong and profitable. However, Black actors here complain about the lack of roles as well.

Sorry thatgirl. I don't mean to derail your thread.

I would like to say that Im really excited for Merlin. I just saw that I missed the season opener on our Syfy channel (We get it late over here). That kind of sucks. There are too may things on TV!!

Plus Ive been trying to get into Fresh Meat. Really trying. I just can't stick it.

I do love her though

 

[MissAnne]

Ughhh, my heart is so sore. Ive finally finished Merlin Season 5.



I have to say that this was a great season. I really enjoyed it and will continue to watch it once a week on our SyFy channel here. That show had AMAZING writers.


Before I discovered Merlin (which was two yrs ago) I thought that these types of shows were long behind me. I was obsessed with Hercules, Xena and later, Beast Master when I was younger. I tried to get into The Legend of the Seeker a couple of years ago but I felt like the awe of this genre had been lost in the 90's.

Im feeling really nostalgic right now lol

Someone made a beautiful video in dedication to Gwen and Arthur, I keep going back to it . AND Kudos to Bradley for actually looking really in love this season. Well done.

 

[MissAnne]

Yes, Mordred and Morgana's ends were way too rushed. I thought that both of them could have died a little more epically. Mordred's end was very specific to the legend but could have been drawn out a little more. I really enjoyed that character btw.

Morgana was our ruthless villian for years and I thought that there would have been a little more of a battle. She was so tortured, its sad, really. The Once and Future King reference has always been confusing to me. Is Arthur meant to return ?

What's up with this spin-off ?Bradley is out, so will there be an Arthur ? So many questions.

I loved how strong Gwen was at the end, no tears, she just looked numb but ready for the challenge.

Arthur's death scene was beautiful. It was terrible, yes, but BEAUTFIUL. It all seemed very platonic. I can't let my mind go to slash when it comes to Arthur and Merlin LOL. I just see a very beautiful friendship between two men. I think that I almost lost it when he asked Merlin to hold him. Who writes this stuff ?! Did they want me to cry my eyes out ? It was right to have Arthur die in Merlin's arms. I was so impressed with Colin and Bradley in that scene.

 

[MissAnne]

Honestly, I just want there to be another fantasy type show from the BBC. I feel like, now that Merlin has ended and Being Human is in its final series, I need something to fill the void.

Yes, absolutely.

And I agree, some sort of prequel series would be interesting. Or maybe they should just celebrate the beautiful show that they have made and end it there. I know that it must be difficult to let it go.

Id watch any show that has Lancelot and Merlin getting down. I wouldn't care what it was about

 

[StickShift]

It may be because I'm a petrolhead as they say in the UK, but my 3 favorite British shows are Top Gear (UK version), Fifth Gear, and Wheeler Dealers.

You don't need to know anything about cars to enjoy Top Gear or Fifth Gear. Wheeler Dealers is about buying iconic classic cars cheap, repairing/restoring them, and selling them at a profit.

Top Gear has notably won awards (Including an Emmy for best factual TV program) and has more often then not, gotten itself into trouble, usually because Jeremy Clarkson has said something bigoted on the show. The 3 hosts bicker and argue like grade-school kids. It's funny to watch them. The show is on season 19 and is a 1 billion dollar franchise.
[video]http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gear-season-19-episode-2-19x02_2418722.htm[/video]

 

[goldenmoth]

'In the Flesh' looks amazing. I hope it come to DVD soon so I can convert my friends to British television

 

[MauiGuy]

I love the Eastenders, The Desmonds, Red Dwarf, Keeping Up Appearences, Are you Being Served?, The It Crowd, and The Ali G Show

 

[MissAnne]

Hey Thatgirl,

is Call The Midwife any good ? Im trying to decide between Bomb Girls or that.

 

[TickTockMan]

I really enjoy Spy, which I hear ABC will be doing an American version of. I also really enjoyed Whites, but it got canceled after six episodes.