US vs British tv series:

[Cooperhawk]

Since the Summer reruns have begun we have been watching quite a lot of British TV series programs. We especially like "Foyel's War, Dr. Brown, Midsomer Murders, Poroit, ect.

I realize that some of this is still reruns, but it is material we haven't seen. What I do like is the attention to detail, for instance a lot of old vehicles matching the period of the story. I wish Hollywood would get their act together and do some historically correct and technically correct series like this.

Oh, I know we have some but they are usually way too violent for me.

 

[graygun]

I haven't seen many lately but liked the first Downton Abbey series.

 

[gramps]

I liked peirot, but most I can't understand the accent!
gramps

 

[Cooperhawk]

I think our favorite is Foyle's War. I know it's a rerun from years ago, but it's set in the time of WWII and very well done.

 

[Critch]

The British movie Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is excellent..

 

[Colonialgirl]

I like two of the old Brit Comedies;
"keeping up Appearances" and the other is "Are you Being Served" about the Men's wear and women's wear floor in a department store.
I use to be a big fan of "Faulty Towers" when it was on too.

 

[bobski]

its simple. usa can only make action series.
they dont know how to contruct a 3 act drama if their lives depended on it.

 

[Snake45]

I guess none of you watched The Americans on FX. :?

 

[Cooperhawk]

Yes, I did and was disappointed. We watched episode of Dr. Brown last night. At first I found him weird, but he grows on you.

 

[BearBio]

A few years ago, there were British and American versions of the same comedies ("The Office" and "Coupling"). The American versions were sad copies. I couldn't get through a single episode of the US version of Coupling and watched a single episode of The Office (American version).

Sci fi? BBC still has Farscape. I was never a Dr. Who fan but my wife is. Primeval was great; compare it to what's on broadcast TV here!

Except for cable channels (FX, AMC, etc), TV is a "broad wasteland". Nothing on compares with Walking Dead, Vikings, SOA, True Detective, American Horror Story, Boardwalk Empire. We are catching up but still waaaasyyyyyy behind!

 

[graygun]

I liked Dr Who (the older series more),Red Dwarf,Are You Being Served,Fawlty Towers,Last of the Summer Wine and a few others.

 

[TCGuy]

RE: BritComs

We have the whole collection of Jeeves and Wooster on DVD. If you like "House" with Hugh Laurie, you'll love him as an upper-class twit. Steven Fry is excellent as Jeeves.

Another oldie that is hilarious is "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" with Leonard Rossiter.

 

[SamV]

I assume you mean "Doc Martin" about the eccentric small village doctor. It has been a good show over the years. I have enjoyed many of their crime dramas. "The Blechley Circle" was good. I like "Father Brown" also.
The old comedies were great. I rented "Fawlty Towers" recently. OMG, this show would never be allowed to air today. I loved it when it first came out. Today it would be really not pc. John Cleese made fun of everyone.
"Black Adder" was funny as well if you were a history buff.

 

[exavid]

Don't forget "Waiting for God" that was a good comedy about denizens of a retirement home.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I liked Dr Who (the older series more),Red Dwarf,Are You Being Served,Fawlty Towers,Last of the Summer Wine and a few others.

Another that was a favorite of mine while it was still on was:

"Waiting For God" about an old peoples hiome where the manager was ALWAYS trying to pinch pennies and one old lady was always finding a way to "put it to him" as the Brits like to say. It got hilarious at times.

 

[graygun]

I liked Dr Who (the older series more),Red Dwarf,Are You Being Served,Fawlty Towers,Last of the Summer Wine and a few others.

Another that was a favorite of mine while it was still on was:

"Waiting For God" about an old peoples hiome where the manager was ALWAYS trying to pinch pennies and one old lady was always finding a way to "put it to him" as the Brits like to say. It got hilarious at times.

I've seen a few of those but memory fades. "One Foot in the Grave" was funny but I have not seen more than a few of those either.

 

[Snake45]

A few years ago, there were British and American versions of the same comedies ("The Office" and "Coupling"). The American versions were sad copies. I couldn't get through a single episode of the US version of Coupling and watched a single episode of The Office (American version).

Gonna disagree with you on that one. I've seen all episodes of both US and British The Office (not just one episode) and the American version is far superior. Not every single episdode, of course, but as a whole...American is better.

 

[Cooperhawk]

Watched another detective series last night but for the life of me cannot remember the name of it. We generally eat a late Dinner, pour a couple drinks and watch a little TV together before bed. Right now there seems to be a dearth of good programs on that are not reruns, so we watch British shows.

Course last night we also saw a new "Duck Dynasty".

 

[ProfessorWes]

Never was a big Doctor Who fan - the series strikes me as cheesily juvenile - but I did like its Torchwood spinoff. Judging from the few episodes I've seen, the Beeb's Orphan Black looks intriguing, as does the cop drama Luther. I also enjoy the new, modernized Sherlock Holmes series with Benedict Cumberbatch, which runs on PBS.

I've got a soft spot for Brit-style murder mysteries as well, of the "Prime Suspect" and "DCI Leeds" sort.

Suprised that nobody's yet shown Monty Python and Benny Hill any love. And - while we're talking about older shows - The Avengers (the original, with Diana Rigg) and The Saint.

 

[No-1]

Top Gear - love the British one won't waste my time watching the American copy.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Top Gear - love the British one won't waste my time watching the American copy.

Started to watch ONE episode of American Top Gear and turned it OFF as a piece of trash totuing American made cars and NOT anything really challenging. The Brit Version is MUCH funnier all around.
AAAHHHH YES; Good old BENNY HILL, I use to LOVE watching him on the PBS channel up in Hagerstown, MD. He was a MASTER of , what would you call it; Slapstick Comedy??
I loved the "CHASE SCENES" at the end of every episode !!