help!

[DanaC]

(well, *two* "seasons", of six episodes each.)

They were series rather than seasons. 6 episode series were far more common here than the 13 - 26 week seasons, until quite recently.

[Ibby]

Well then i've seen the first of the two serieses then. Cuz i know i didn't see 'em all.

[Sundae]

I back the suggestions of The IT Crowd, Spaced and Black Books (I have the special edition boxed sets for the last two)

Ahhhh Dani, Chelmsford 123. I thought I was the only person who remembered that. I watched it primarily because it had so many of the Radio Active crew. And then carried on watching it because I fell in love with Rory McGrath. I still wouldn't kick him out of bed. Completely filthy, I love it.

Ibs you might like to check out The Young Ones. Very dated now, but the mixture of profanity and violence is still funny in an adolescent and particularly British way.

And I can't let this post go by without pushing my heroes - The League of Gentlemen. I'll let someone else explain them so I don't sound like too much of a fan-girl:

At times genuinely moving, at others so profoundly disturbing and shocking that it transcends traditional comedy, most of the time The League of Gentlemen is just extremely funny, biting and brilliantly, dramatically written - the classiest sketch-based format written in recent broadcasting history.

Starting as a revue format at Edinburgh and then vaulting onto radio, The League of Gentlemen is a sketch show, although it is also a sitcom - particularly in its television guise.

In the village of Royston Vasey, various characters mostly played by Gatiss, Pemberton and Shearsmith inhabit a dark world of secrets and offhand depravity.

Oh and if you can get hold of it - Funland. Again, surreal, violent, funny and dealing with themes of pornography, taxidermy, incest and other fun family issues. Co-written by Jeremy Dyson and featuring Mark Gatiss (both of The League as above).

BTW Mark Gatiss is a Who writer and performer - he's written a number of Who books and three (I think) Dr Who episodes. He's also appeared in one, as has Steve Pemberton, another of the League, as was the man who owned the library world in an episode just a few weeks ago.

Mark's working on a series called Clone, which hasn't had good feedback from audience members during filming, but I'll give it a go anyway. Steve and Reece are filming a series called Psychoville (the Japanese title for The League of Gentlemen series) this October.

Oh and how could I forget? If you manage to catch Benidorm! It's another filthy gorgeous sitcom. Might lose a little in translation, being about Brits abroad, but I should think most of it will be readily accessible. I love it because of the quality of the writing and the superb timing of the excellent ensemble cast. And because Steve Pemberton spends most of it in shorts Also notable for the appearance of Johnny Vegas, very funny man.

[DanaC]

Another brilliant series was Blackpool. I think it was called Viva Blackpool in the US (though that might be the name o fthe one hour special they did).

It's a bizarre little musical crime drama. Stars two of my favourite actors, David Morrissey and David Tennant. It's very dark.


@ Sundae, Can't believe I forgot the League! I live in Vasey country as well:P I was thinking about the League the other day whilst watching old episodes of All Creatures Great and Small (Ibram if you like stuff that's quintessentially British, check out All Creatures. It's set in 1940s Yorkshire, about a family run vet firm. Stars Peter Davison who was Doctor Who in the early 80s. It's good fun as a period piece) It made me think of the vet in League. The one who kills all his patients lol.

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by jinx

Fawlty Towers?

I loved how the hotel sign letters would be rearranged at the beginning of the show. The best one was "Farty Towels".

[barefoot serpent]

The Avengers !!!

and now for something completely different.... /head fake

No, not that silly. But for a great noirish feel -- even complete with B/W -- Dial 999

edit: ahem... I mean compleat

[Sundae]

I just couldn't help myself.
I had to look for Benidorm clips. That's it. Even if it means another few shifts in the pub I'm getting the dvd.

The marvellous Mr Pemberton:

[BrianR]

SG - does Benidorm refer to the town in coastal Spain? I do seem to remember a few Brits living there...

[Sundae]

Yes - the series focuses on the holiday-makers though.
My parents came back from there about a month ago

[BrianR]

Did they feed the croc?

[Sundae]

Is that a euphemism?

Ibby I've though of another series that you might like.
It's by Channel 4 and is called Skins.
Hot (and not) young kids hanging out and partying and having traumas - in a very British way. This is not Dawson's Creek!

Trailer (DRUG REFERENCES possible nsfw)

[Ibby]

OH SKINS!
we met a guy
working at Warwick Castle
who told us he was about to quit his job
and start working on (acting in?) Skins
and a buncha my friends watch it and said its cool
tom dodd i think his name was.

[BrianR]

SG, no, it's not a euphemism, I refer to the "pet" crocodile kept at the pub "Croc's" in Benidorm. Customers can buy a fish to toss to the animal who happily swallows them from midair.

[wolf]

Try MI-5 (which is the "American" name for the show, the Brits called it "Spooks" which has another connotation here).

I thought the first season was better.

I'd also recommend Hex and Life on Mars.

I'm very scared about what the about to premiere American version of Life on Mars is going to be like.

[DanaC]

I expect it will be good in its own right, but bear little resemblance to the original. The connotations of 70s Manchester are very specific. As I understand it, for the American version they've chosen to set it somewhere that was pretty cool in the 70s. Given how important the setting is to the story, I can't see how it can be the same.