Transatlantic TV Recs

Sanders · 01-18-2013, 07:50 AM

So recently I've been watching far more US shows than UK ones, even though I'm British, and it strikes me that not a lot of people over here have heard of shows like Community and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

It got me thinking that I've probably missed some great American TV shows, and you guys have missed some gems from the UK. So this thread is for people on both sides of the Atlantic to recommend their favourite tv shows to their transatlantic cousins, be it comedy, drama, panel shows etc.

For my part, a small range of starters I'd recommend:

From the UK:

Sherlock
Green Wing
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Life on Mars
Frozen Planet (David Attenborough's a God)

From the US:

Breaking Bad
Community
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Friday Night Lights

Get rec-ing!

***Black Ink*** · 01-18-2013, 10:14 AM

Archer is a good one I've only recently started watching.

Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 but only because of James Vanderbeek.

Modern Family is pretty top notch.

And if you like IASIP then The League might be up your alley as well.

Daily Routine · 01-18-2013, 10:25 AM

Sanders what's the show/series about two blokes going about the English countryside solving murders

someone rec'd it to me, said it's "more like a movie"

I think it has murder in the title

Sanders · 01-18-2013, 10:43 AM

Errrm not sure, maybe Midsomer Murders? wouldn't describe that as movie-like in the slightest though...or good, for that matter.

Daily Routine · 01-18-2013, 01:53 PM

ya it's midsomer murders

I think by movie he was just referring to each episode being very long and self contained, which is not normal in the US

it's no good?

Sanders · 01-18-2013, 04:17 PM

Yeah each week is a different murder, the body count in Midsomer is ridiculous. I've not seen an awful lot of it, and it's quintessentially English, but there are better murder mystery programmes out there, like Waking The Dead.

Oh, another show well worth watching is Luther. Idris Elba playing a flawed cop, pretty gritty

thedeadwalk! · 01-18-2013, 10:24 PM

The American version of Wilfred is pretty awesome. I've also been enjoying a British show called Misfits.

zinc · 01-20-2013, 12:32 AM

misfits is pretty entertaining

Sanders · 01-20-2013, 09:59 AM

Yeah misfits is decent, but it's one of those shows that didn't fare well at all when it was remade in the US

fish. · 01-20-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanders

Yeah misfits is decent, but it's one of those shows that didn't fare well at all when it was remade in the US

do you mean unlike every show that had been remade in the US

oh man how can you forget The IT Crowd

score one for monarchy

Sanders · 01-20-2013, 10:37 AM

idk I like the remake of The Office, once it took on its own personality. Yeah The IT Crowd's class too, and has several of the cast of Darkplace in it.

Against All Authority · 01-20-2013, 11:07 AM

big bang theory

thats one top show

about the only decent yankee export for some time

Sanders · 01-20-2013, 04:50 PM

Yeah I enjoy it but it gets a lot of stick. Still prefer some of the other US comedies though

fish. · 01-20-2013, 04:57 PM

I understand why it gets criticised. It's pretty archetypal and it relies on those stereotypes for its humour.
So it's extremely unfunny.

But I like its storylines

Sanders · 01-21-2013, 04:08 AM

I really can't stand canned laughter, but apart from that I think it's harmless enough

fish. · 01-21-2013, 06:02 AM

Canned laughter is ok

Overused canned laughter is not

zinc · 01-22-2013, 06:52 AM

big bang theory and it crowd both suck

***Smokey D*** · 01-22-2013, 03:31 PM

midsomer murders is awful

oldie but a goodie: prime suspect (uk version).

i've got something called the shadow line stored on my tivo which sounds interesting but could be a bit silly, i think. any opinions?

the first season of the American the killing was pretty good, but it lost its energy near the end. shoulda kept it to one season, i think.

Sanders · 01-22-2013, 04:03 PM

I'd totally forgotten I'd seen The Shadow Line. That was a pretty good series actually from what I remember, think it'd be worth a watch

fish. · 01-26-2013, 12:00 PM

Need some new TV shows. Have The Wire and Mad Men downloaded. Might check out Parks and Recreation. What else is there? Looking for sitcoms and/or gritty drama/thrillers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Ink

Modern Family is pretty top notch.

I think this is something that only Americans will really appreciate tbh

01-18-2013, 07:50 AM	#1
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	Transatlantic TV Recs So recently I've been watching far more US shows than UK ones, even though I'm British, and it strikes me that not a lot of people over here have heard of shows like Community and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It got me thinking that I've probably missed some great American TV shows, and you guys have missed some gems from the UK. So this thread is for people on both sides of the Atlantic to recommend their favourite tv shows to their transatlantic cousins, be it comedy, drama, panel shows etc. For my part, a small range of starters I'd recommend: From the UK: Sherlock Green Wing Garth Marenghi's Darkplace Life on Mars Frozen Planet (David Attenborough's a God) From the US: Breaking Bad Community It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Friday Night Lights Get rec-ing!

01-20-2013, 04:57 PM	#14
fish. rgesiterrred usr Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 1,950	I understand why it gets criticised. It's pretty archetypal and it relies on those stereotypes for its humour. So it's extremely unfunny. But I like its storylines
	Digging: Still Corners - Strange Pleasures

01-21-2013, 06:02 AM	#16
fish. rgesiterrred usr Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London Posts: 1,950	Canned laughter is ok Overused canned laughter is not
	Digging: Still Corners - Strange Pleasures

01-22-2013, 03:31 PM	#18
*Smokey D* Moderator Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 29,183	midsomer murders is awful oldie but a goodie: prime suspect (uk version). i've got something called the shadow line stored on my tivo which sounds interesting but could be a bit silly, i think. any opinions? the first season of the American the killing was pretty good, but it lost its energy near the end. shoulda kept it to one season, i think. Last edited by Smokey D; 01-22-2013 at 03:33 PM.

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01-18-2013, 10:14 AM	#2
*Black Ink* Dancing since 08/03 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stamford CT Posts: 27,030	Archer is a good one I've only recently started watching. Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 but only because of James Vanderbeek. Modern Family is pretty top notch. And if you like IASIP then The League might be up your alley as well.

01-18-2013, 10:25 AM	#3
Daily Routine Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4,076	Sanders what's the show/series about two blokes going about the English countryside solving murders someone rec'd it to me, said it's "more like a movie" I think it has murder in the title

01-18-2013, 10:43 AM	#4
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	Errrm not sure, maybe Midsomer Murders? wouldn't describe that as movie-like in the slightest though...or good, for that matter.

01-18-2013, 01:53 PM	#5
Daily Routine Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4,076	ya it's midsomer murders I think by movie he was just referring to each episode being very long and self contained, which is not normal in the US it's no good?

01-18-2013, 04:17 PM	#6
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	Yeah each week is a different murder, the body count in Midsomer is ridiculous. I've not seen an awful lot of it, and it's quintessentially English, but there are better murder mystery programmes out there, like Waking The Dead. Oh, another show well worth watching is Luther. Idris Elba playing a flawed cop, pretty gritty

01-18-2013, 10:24 PM	#7
thedeadwalk! I Will Break Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: O-Town Posts: 11,244	The American version of Wilfred is pretty awesome. I've also been enjoying a British show called Misfits.

01-20-2013, 12:32 AM	#8
zinc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,441	misfits is pretty entertaining

01-20-2013, 09:59 AM	#9
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	Yeah misfits is decent, but it's one of those shows that didn't fare well at all when it was remade in the US

01-20-2013, 10:37 AM	#11
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	idk I like the remake of The Office, once it took on its own personality. Yeah The IT Crowd's class too, and has several of the cast of Darkplace in it.

01-20-2013, 11:07 AM	#12
Against All Authority mk ix Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: from out of town, flew in for the convention Posts: 5,675	big bang theory thats one top show about the only decent yankee export for some time

01-20-2013, 04:50 PM	#13
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	Yeah I enjoy it but it gets a lot of stick. Still prefer some of the other US comedies though

01-21-2013, 04:08 AM	#15
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	I really can't stand canned laughter, but apart from that I think it's harmless enough

01-22-2013, 06:52 AM	#17
zinc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,441	big bang theory and it crowd both suck

01-22-2013, 04:03 PM	#19
Sanders I'm Ron F****** Swanson Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3,421	I'd totally forgotten I'd seen The Shadow Line. That was a pretty good series actually from what I remember, think it'd be worth a watch