No Right Answer: Best British TV Show Ever

[IndianaJonny]

Nice, but no Thunderbirds.

Five!
Four!
Three!
Two!
ONE!

BOOM!

Thunderbirds are GO!

Yeah, when I was a kid, the opening to the feature-length film was the most gorgeous example of pacing I'd seen:

Spoiler: The Zero X opening

 

[TRex22]

There are so many British Shows I like, I have a different list between American/Canadian shows and British shows. In South Africa I have about 2 - 2.5 shows I actually like so I just tend to watch full series of International shows. I love Sherlock but The IT crowd would have to be one of my best because its so British and I guess new.

 

[UltraPic]

The muppet show.

 

[Evil Smurf]

This is the best agument so far. I can't declare which I like more.

 

[Shalok]

Thanks for the shout out to us Brits, I have to say I would put forward Blackadder as the best but Python or Who are equally valid choices

 

[Krustosaurus]

I would have to vote for Black Books, Still Game or Father Ted. Love them. Although I quite enjoyed the first two episodes of Sherlock and fully intend to watch the rest.

As for the British identity thing, it is very rare here for people to refer to themselves as British rather than Scottish, but it does happen.

 

[Lunar Templar]

*shrugs*

I've no desire to watch Dr Who, but I do love me some Monty Python

 

[talideon]

The Ignorance of this article beggers belief, lets list British shows better than these two.

1) Red Dwarf
2) Faulty Towers
3) The IT Crowd
4) Black Books

Yes.

5) The Brittas Empire
6) The Office
7) The Green Wing

No.

8) Only Fools and Horses

YES. And it worked as both a comedy and a drama.

9) Knowing me, Knowing you

Eh, no. But then again, I don't particularly like Steve Coogan.

10) Black Adder

Yes, though the first season was rather weak.

11) Life on Mars
12) Sherlock
13) Spaced
14) Porridge
15) The Two Ronnies
16) The Young Ones
17) Peep Show

Yes.

18) I'm Alan Partridge

See my previous comment about Steve Coogan.

I could go on and on, try either making a show on something you know or at least research.

I'm quite disappointed you left out Father Ted (although whether that qualifies is open to debate); Yes, (Prime) Minister; Black Mirror; The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (the original, natch); Cracker; Prime Suspect; Brasseye; Keeping Up Appearances; and House of Cards.

In fairness, even including those, we're both just scratching the surface. The TV licence is good for something!

 

[talideon]

We, as US folks, don't need a translation for British TV.

In some circumstances, it is needed. I'm Irish, and I get the humour of The Office--though I don't like it because I don't like cringe comedy--but a character like David Brent wouldn't have worked in the US: he would've been seen as a villain rather than the ultimate expression of the Peter Principle. Instead, you got Michael Scott, who was the US version of the same character, but much more earnest.

We are geographically separated but culturally we can roll with it. The jokes are the same, we stand united in humor, etc etc. It's like trying to watch the US remakes of Coupling or Skins. *shudder* Just doesn't need to be.

To a large degree, yeah. Though your TV executives disagree. The comedy show Episodes explores this dichotomy very well.

On the other hand, I've got to say that I think our side of the Atlantic has the better version of Being Human. I'm not sure it's U.S. so much as Canadian*, but still. Good show, tightly written and the cast is awesome. Meaghan Rath is fairly devestating, Sam Huntington is funny as !@#$, and Sam Witwer is second only to Vin Diesel as World's Most Unlikely DM.

Canada is something of a bridge between Leftpondia and Rightpondia, isn't it.

 

[Something Amyss]

* set in Boston but produced in Montreal, not sure which wins out

It's a joint production, so it's still an American show.

 

[talideon]

While the best British TV show is up for debate, there can be no question as to the best intro to a British TV show:

No! But you're in the right stable: Captain Scarlet had a better intro, and it was much more dark and sinister:

 

[Andy Farren]

This is... unintentionally patronising. I would like to think my culture boils down to a bit more than a sketch show or a sci-fi franchise. Just saying, like. Love The Escapist, though ,keep up the good work!

 

[Yeager942]

All Creatures Great and Small
It had a Doctor Who AND a Dumbledore and the one and only James Herriot.

I remember reading all his books and suffering depression at the thought that I had read all his books.

And then I discovered this tv show. 8D

 

[Imp_Emissary]

You had Doctor Who lose?

Oh, you are lucky Susan is leaving soon. ;p

On a more serious note, the name of the show is No Right Answers, and you both made fair points.

Plus, it's not like it was a landslide victory.

Also, now I'm sad again about Susan going away........

None of us are "lucky" that Susan is leaving. This site really won't be the same without her.

Also, I know you didn't mean it that way, I'm just taking this opportunity and quoting you to make the point that I'm really going to miss Susan once she moves on.

No problem. I get what ya mean.

Also, isn't Red Dwarf Yahtzee's favorite show? Even though he said the current run of it is probably going to be bad?

Haven't seen the show, but it sounds neat.

Not that I don't believe it, but when did he say that?

It was during one of the Escapist Expo panels. He and a few others were asked if they liked something that wasn't really all that good, just because they have a weakness for it.

He said he always loved Red Dwarf. He said he heard about them doing a new run of the show, and that while he was thinking; "this isn't going to be that good", he said he was also thinking; "I'm going to be watching that".

I think it was one of the 2 were they got to ask the panel questions. Not the Hour of Love the other ones. If ya haven't seen them all yet I would definitely recommend them all.

It's all pretty good stuff.

 

[Revolutionary]

I'm so glad to here other people admitting that Dr. Who has become "Borg'd", Although I don't think it's America's fault, I think it's a generational thing.
Anyway here's MY favourite British TV Shows.

Being Human
Torchwood
Black Books
Waking the Dead
Dr. Who (Well old Dr. Who anyway)
Jonathan Creek
The IT Crowd
Faulty Towers
My Family (The first few series' anyway)

 

[likalaruku]

Haven't watched BBC America in a very long time. I don;t care for their modern post 90s comedies, nor do I care for America's.
My favorites from the UK: (Because Welsh & Irish are funny too).

*Absolutely Fabulous.
*French & Saunders.
*Father Ted.
*Monty Python.
*League of Gentlemen.
*Psychoville.
*Black Adder, especially BA2.
*Mr. Bean.
*Anything with Charlie Brooker. (Only post 90s answer. He's the UK equivalent of Bill Maher).

By all means, if anyone out there loves these, feel free to recommend something to me.