So it's no secret that I watch a lot of British television. And by a lot, I mean most of the stuff I watch was actually on BBC at one time or another. But the biggest problem of living over here in the US means that I often don't get to watch things until a year or two after they've aired in the UK. I've spent a lot of time getting caught up on a bunch of great shows lately through streaming websites of dubious legality, Hulu and Youtube:
QI isn't a new discovery for me. I've been watching it on and off for the past year. It's a panel quiz show that the participants are asked impossibly hard questions they have no chance of getting right, so they get points by being interesting. It is also hosted by the wonderful Stephen Fry and Alan Davies as a permanent guest and is absolutely worth putting up with the crappy 10 minute clips on youtube. I finally caught up on all of them and am in the current 10th (!) series. Some swearing and innuendo, but I recommend it to everyone (note: the language is usually contained in the XL episodes which are about 45 minutes; the 30 minute ones are usually fine.)
Misfits is show that caught my eye through the Hulu ads. I was confused on the plot from the ads so here's an explanation: It's a bunch of juvenile delinquents that get hit with a freak lightening storm and develop superhero powers. They are, however, the worst superheroes ever. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this show was not only really awesome but really funny. It's like a good version of "Heroes". And despite the producers's obvious efforts to highlight Robert Sheehan, it's actually the amazing Iwan Rheon and charming Lauren Socha that end up being the best characters. All of series one and two (6 episodes each plus one Christmas episode) are available on Hulu, and there is a 8 minute episode called "Vegas, Baby" that takes some hunting on the internet. Series 3 is probably due out in November but will not be shown on Hulu until 2012. As this show contains kind of a lot of sex, violence and A LOT of swearing, I'm not recommending it to everyone. Actually, mostly just
Di.
Doctor Who. If you're not already watching Doctor Who, you're beyond my help and I don't know what wrong with you. Safe for everyone except very small children like Liam who might get scared at some of the creepy episodes. Starting to go downhill a little bit but I trust in Steven Moffat to turn it around.
David Mitchell Soapbox isn't really a show-I think they're just podcasts. David Mitchell is one of my favourite writers/actors/panelists on QI. He's such a little funny ball of frustrated energy and his rants are funny. All of these are on Youtube, but don't watch too many in a row or you'll start hating the world more than usual. Or at least I did. Best ones that I've seen so far are "Dear America", "Naming Your Child", and I hate to admit it, "The Merits of Necrophilia".
Would I Lie to You is another of David Mitchell's projects. It's a panel show along the lines of the party game "True or False". The panelists makes statement and the other team has to guess if it's true or a lie. Hosted by my favourite Welshman, Rob Brydon, previously hosted by Angus Deayton, with David Mitchell and the only sometimes funny Lee Mack as team captains. Usually the guests are entertaining with a few really odd ones here and there (Janet Street Porter needs to crawl back to whatever hole she came from). Available on Youtube.
That Mitchell and Webb Look is yet other Mitchell project with longtime comedy partner Robert Webb. Hilarious, offensive and available on Hulu. Innuendo, some violence, and lots of swearing.
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a music panel show. It's been on for a VERY long time. Used to be hosted by the hilarious Simon Amstell and has Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. I haven't watched a whole lot of these, but it usually cheers me right up. Funny episodes include: Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, David Tennant (hosting the Doctor Who episode), John Barrowman (who threatens a "Gay off" with Simon), and surprisingly Josh Groban with Martin Freeman (see Sherlock). The only not funny one that I've watched was the one with Amy Winehouse, which somehow I managed to watch the week after she died. Ummmm, so yeah. On Youtube but lots of swearing.
Whites is a restaurant drama/comedy that starts Alan Davies (see QI). Also a find on Hulu, it's worth watching just to see the genius of Davies, but sometimes painful to get through. Funny in a laidback, awkward sort of way. Cancelled after one series of 6 episodes. Lots of swearing.
Best for last is Sherlock. A modern take on the Arthur Conan Doyle stories with a texting, gadget-happy Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and a lovable Dr. Watson who blogs instead of writing penny dreadfuls, played by Martin Freeman who is making a career out of being literary characters (Arthur Dent and Bilbo Baggins). It's incredible. It's funny and exciting and well filmed and paced and doesn't have any anti-Mormon sentiments. Sherlock is actually likable and more than the flat character he was in the books, and the dynamic between Cumberbatch and Freeman is so natural that you actually understand why they put up with each other. Sometimes available on PBS under the "Masterpiece" series, but just do yourself and BBC a favour and buy it through Amazon.
Next on my list after I finish the Tudors and True Blood may be the UK Office. I'm not sure as my Ricky Gervais tolerance is dangerously low. Sorry about any grammatical errors and a reminder to
Brooke that she needs to come up to Seattle and remind me where those stupid commas are supposed to go.
