The Greatest TV Show Ever starts tonight; The Wire

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  • CJC
    CJC Registered Posts: 1,657 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    I'm not quite sold on the Greatest TV Show Ever concept really. How would you compare, say, such disparate offerings as The Wire, The Prisoner, The Singing Detective, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Babylon Five, Larry Sanders and Heart of Darkness to name but six potential candidates for the accolade?

    Whatever, The Wire is certainly telly of a high order and it's got me hooked. Sadly, it's impossible to imagine anything like this being produced in this country these days- I guess most of the population seem to prefer the latest incarnation of Opportunity Knocks with Simon (ugh) Cowell as the Hughie Green de nos jours. I suppose we still manage to pull off the odd decent comedy or documentary from time to time but let's face it, most telly now is rubbish.
  • Paul24
    Paul24 Registered Posts: 578 Epic contributor 🐘
    Totally agree, I watch hardly anything on TV nowadays. Shameless on a Tues, Question time on a thursday, and whatever football is on. Other than those four to five hours a week, it doesnt go on (unless the mrs is watching her trash) :-)
  • LondonMatt
    LondonMatt Registered Posts: 1,110 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    CJC wrote: »
    I'm not quite sold on the Greatest TV Show Ever concept really. How would you compare, say, such disparate offerings as The Wire, The Prisoner, The Singing Detective, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Babylon Five, Larry Sanders and Heart of Darkness to name but six potential candidates for the accolade?

    Whatever, The Wire is certainly telly of a high order and it's got me hooked. Sadly, it's impossible to imagine anything like this being produced in this country these days- I guess most of the population seem to prefer the latest incarnation of Opportunity Knocks with Simon (ugh) Cowell as the Hughie Green de nos jours. I suppose we still manage to pull off the odd decent comedy or documentary from time to time but let's face it, most telly now is rubbish.

    Oh of course, the Wire being the greatest TV show is just an opinion - one backed up by most critics, but yeah, still just an opinion. Never seen ANY of the other shows you mention there - before my time - so it's hard to judge tham against the Wire. I can't see something being made in the UK that comes close to the Wire, or other US dramas, but you never know. I'd just be happy if they at least tried to emulate the Wire, instead of giving us Ashes to Ashes, Robin Hood, Waterloo Road etc. I want some proper, decent drama shows aimed at intelligent adults, not just the one off dramas they give us now

    Can't really fault UK docs and comedy shows though
  • Paul24
    Paul24 Registered Posts: 578 Epic contributor 🐘
    Starts sub thread for favourite UK comedies....

    Alan Partridge
    Blackadder
    The Office
    Fawlty Towers
    Only Fools & Horses
    Phoenix Nights (unbeatable)
  • LondonMatt
    LondonMatt Registered Posts: 1,110 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    All the ones Paul mentioned plus
    Peep Show
    The Smoking Room
    Spaced
    The Fast Show
  • Paul24
    Paul24 Registered Posts: 578 Epic contributor 🐘
    LondonMatt wrote: »
    All the ones Paul mentioned plus
    Peep Show
    The Smoking Room
    Spaced
    The Fast Show


    Smoking room was quality, very dry. Never watched spaced although the other two are quality!

    Also Blacks Books & Green Wing
  • groundy
    groundy Registered Posts: 495 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    Dont forget Father Ted, one of the funniest programmes made (except Phoenix Nights).
  • CJC
    CJC Registered Posts: 1,657 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    I have to admit that I never really liked Fawlty Towers despite it being officially the funniest thing ever in the history of the universe (apart from Del-boy falling through the bar and Trigger pulling a face obviously).

    Couldn't argue with most of the rest, though I'd add...

    Nightingales (Brilliantly strange, barely known and hardly repeated 80s sitcom)
    The Day Today/Brass Eye/Jam (basically anything by Chris Morris)
    The Young Ones (looks a bit dated know but seminal)
    Father Ted
    Fist of Fun/This Morning with Richard Not Judy[aka TMWRNJ] (Lee and Herring best double act ever)
    Anything with Kevin Eldon in
  • CJC
    CJC Registered Posts: 1,657 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    And I almost forgot The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Just seen the trailer for the remake which is almost certainly going to be crap. I didn't get where I am today without knowing a pile of crap when I see it.
  • Paul24
    Paul24 Registered Posts: 578 Epic contributor 🐘
    I cant stand Father Ted, everyone who likes the comedies I like seems to enjoy it, but I just never got it. Cant stand the character of the younger priest, think thats it.
  • LondonMatt
    LondonMatt Registered Posts: 1,110 Beyond epic contributor 🧙‍♂️
    Paul24 wrote: »
    I cant stand Father Ted, everyone who likes the comedies I like seems to enjoy it, but I just never got it. Cant stand the character of the younger priest, think thats it.

    You don't like Dougal!?!?!

    "I don't believe in organised religion"

    :laugh:
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