Looking for British TV Suggestions (Region 2)
#1
Looking for British TV Suggestions (Region 2)
My wife and I enjoy BBCAmerica, which has introduced us to a number of shows we wouldn't have had the opportunity to see otherwise. However, I know that BBCAmerica doesn't pick up a lot of series, old and new, that we'd probably enjoy a great deal more than the three repeats of Changing Rooms or Mile High the channel seems determined to foist upon us.
We recently bought a region-free DVD player, and two of our first purchases were Big Train and The Best of Smack the Pony, both unavailable as Region One/NTSC discs. We also enjoy The Fast Show, Coupling, The League of Gentlemen, The Office, and As Time Goes By in terms of comedy, and my wife is addicted to the mystery/crime dramas, like Murphy's Law, Wire in the Blood, and Waking the Dead. And we loved Cracker.
I'm willing to make perhaps one blind purchase a month to build up our selection of British television programs on DVD, but wonder whether or not someone more knowledgeable that me might make some suggestions, based on the stuff I already know I like.
No hurry. Like I said, about one blind purchase a month is as much as we can afford at present. It would be much appreciated.
We recently bought a region-free DVD player, and two of our first purchases were Big Train and The Best of Smack the Pony, both unavailable as Region One/NTSC discs. We also enjoy The Fast Show, Coupling, The League of Gentlemen, The Office, and As Time Goes By in terms of comedy, and my wife is addicted to the mystery/crime dramas, like Murphy's Law, Wire in the Blood, and Waking the Dead. And we loved Cracker.
I'm willing to make perhaps one blind purchase a month to build up our selection of British television programs on DVD, but wonder whether or not someone more knowledgeable that me might make some suggestions, based on the stuff I already know I like.
No hurry. Like I said, about one blind purchase a month is as much as we can afford at present. It would be much appreciated.
#2
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Hey, I like Mile High--at least what I've seen of it (four unedited episodes that I downloaded). I may actually buy the first series as a result.
Based on your likes, you're missing out on Spooks. Since you're region free, you can get the R2 versions for less than their R1 counterparts.
Also, try Spaced for comedy if you can still find it on DVD. For CGI animation there's The New Adventures of Captain Scarlet. Although you'll have to wait until January 2007 to buy the DVD, Life on Mars is excellent. Coming to R1 DVD in July is the new Doctor Who.
Based on your likes, you're missing out on Spooks. Since you're region free, you can get the R2 versions for less than their R1 counterparts.
Also, try Spaced for comedy if you can still find it on DVD. For CGI animation there's The New Adventures of Captain Scarlet. Although you'll have to wait until January 2007 to buy the DVD, Life on Mars is excellent. Coming to R1 DVD in July is the new Doctor Who.
#3
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I highly recommend Spaced. I guess the R2 collector's edition is out of print for copyright reasons or something but I'm guessing it'll be re-released before too long. I also recommend Father Ted (available in R1) and you might also check out Black Books (the complete series is available in R2, and the first season is available in R1).
#5
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Black Books, Spaced and Danger 50k Volts are on the top of the list for comedies. I would also recommend Spooks (about MI-5) for a drama w/ a little action and Ultimate Force (about the SAS) for action w/ a little drama.
#6
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You might want to check out Randall & Hopkirk {deceased}, atleast the remake.
http://www.randallandhopkirk.com/
http://www.randallandhopkirk.com/
#9
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15 Storeys High - easily one of the most underrated UK shows, hilarious, a bit like Curb Your Enthusiasm in some weird way
Peep Show
Marion and Geoff
Human Remains - I LOVE this show
Happiness - This is Paul Whitehouse from the Fast Show's Dramedy that is fantastic
Peep Show
Marion and Geoff
Human Remains - I LOVE this show
Happiness - This is Paul Whitehouse from the Fast Show's Dramedy that is fantastic
#10
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Originally Posted by Ron G
My wife and I enjoy BBCAmerica, which has introduced us to a number of shows we wouldn't have had the opportunity to see otherwise. However, I know that BBCAmerica doesn't pick up a lot of series, old and new, that we'd probably enjoy a great deal more than the three repeats of Changing Rooms or Mile High the channel seems determined to foist upon us.
We recently bought a region-free DVD player, and two of our first purchases were Big Train and The Best of Smack the Pony, both unavailable as Region One/NTSC discs. We also enjoy The Fast Show, Coupling, The League of Gentlemen, The Office, and As Time Goes By in terms of comedy, and my wife is addicted to the mystery/crime dramas, like Murphy's Law, Wire in the Blood, and Waking the Dead. And we loved Cracker.
I'm willing to make perhaps one blind purchase a month to build up our selection of British television programs on DVD, but wonder whether or not someone more knowledgeable that me might make some suggestions, based on the stuff I already know I like.
No hurry. Like I said, about one blind purchase a month is as much as we can afford at present. It would be much appreciated.
We recently bought a region-free DVD player, and two of our first purchases were Big Train and The Best of Smack the Pony, both unavailable as Region One/NTSC discs. We also enjoy The Fast Show, Coupling, The League of Gentlemen, The Office, and As Time Goes By in terms of comedy, and my wife is addicted to the mystery/crime dramas, like Murphy's Law, Wire in the Blood, and Waking the Dead. And we loved Cracker.
I'm willing to make perhaps one blind purchase a month to build up our selection of British television programs on DVD, but wonder whether or not someone more knowledgeable that me might make some suggestions, based on the stuff I already know I like.
No hurry. Like I said, about one blind purchase a month is as much as we can afford at present. It would be much appreciated.
the lakes :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
frost (series 1 - 5 box, then 6 - 10 box) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
recent comedy, i like...
the smoking room :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
catterick :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
look around you (series 2) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
late 80s show 'a bit of fry and laurie' is coming soon :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
ideal :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
early doors :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
extras :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
early 90s show 'the day today' :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
alan partridge :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
...theres so many!
Last edited by logboy; 03-05-06 at 11:02 AM.
#11
Great--this really gets us started. I've put them all in the "Save for Later" portion of my Amazon.co.uk cart, and we'll probably pick up a couple of them next month, when the credit card recovers from the initial bout of Region 2 buying.
But keep those suggestions coming. You never know when I might hit the Powerball.
But keep those suggestions coming. You never know when I might hit the Powerball.
#12
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comedy : green wing :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy / drama : shameless :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy : peep show :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : no angels :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : this life :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : doc martin :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : midsomer murders :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : hamish macbeth :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : ballykissangel :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : between the lines :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : waking the dead :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy : funland :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : teachers :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
drama : our friends in the north :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : jonathan creek :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
...keep you busy for a year or two.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy / drama : shameless :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy : peep show :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : no angels :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : this life :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : doc martin :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : midsomer murders :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : hamish macbeth :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : ballykissangel :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : between the lines :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
crime drama : waking the dead :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy : funland :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : teachers :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
drama : our friends in the north :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
comedy drama : jonathan creek :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...864158-8845418
...keep you busy for a year or two.
#13
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In addition to all the great stuff already mentioned, I very much recommend the mini-series The Crow Road, based on the novel by Iain Banks (@imdb), at present only £9.86, shipping included to the U.S.
#14
Green Wing actually made it to BBCAmerica, and I plan to buy the first series when it comes out later this Spring. I'm also looking forward to getting Spaced, which I know a couple of people IRL have mentioned to me. I liked Simon Pegg in Big Train and Shaun of the Dead, so I think I'll probably enjoy Spaced. Looks like there are a number of used copies of this available through Amazon.co.uk. Someone mentioned plans for a re-release of this?
We saw several episodes of the new Randall and Hopkirk on BBCAmerica (I used to watch the original series when I was a kid), and I see that those are dirt cheap.
The Chicago PBS station picked up Ballykissangel, which I enjoyed through series three. After that, it was hit and miss.
I also liked Is It Legal?, but I think that part of my appreciation for that show was Kate Isitt in short dresses. That doesn't appear to have been released to DVD, though.
Another show I liked that no one has mentioned is People Like Us. I see the first series is available--are there plans to release the second?
We saw several episodes of the new Randall and Hopkirk on BBCAmerica (I used to watch the original series when I was a kid), and I see that those are dirt cheap.
The Chicago PBS station picked up Ballykissangel, which I enjoyed through series three. After that, it was hit and miss.
I also liked Is It Legal?, but I think that part of my appreciation for that show was Kate Isitt in short dresses. That doesn't appear to have been released to DVD, though.
Another show I liked that no one has mentioned is People Like Us. I see the first series is available--are there plans to release the second?
#16
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crime drama : mccallum :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
crime drama : rebus (new version, ken stott) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
crime drama : rebus (old version, john hannah) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
crime drama : rebus (new version, ken stott) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
crime drama : rebus (old version, john hannah) :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...735925-1416744
#17
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UK TV comedy
I don't think anyone has mentioned the very funny "Coupling". A rude UK version of Friends. The writer started his TV career with the excellent kids TV series "Press Gang" about a school newspaper. The boxed sets of this are also worth getting. Lots of adult appeal, not just for children.
#18
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"Coupling" was great and is mentioned ina few earlier threads.
"Press Gang" was also excellent; a little like "Moonlighting" at times especially the Sawalha/Shepherd, Fletcher/Willis dynamic. I watched it because my aunt was wardrobe mistress (or costume designer, I forget) for a few seasons!
"Press Gang" was also excellent; a little like "Moonlighting" at times especially the Sawalha/Shepherd, Fletcher/Willis dynamic. I watched it because my aunt was wardrobe mistress (or costume designer, I forget) for a few seasons!