327,670 Aspiration Points

[SpaceDoll]

I luuurv Shaun of the Dead.  In my opinion, it is the only even slightly realistic zombie movie.  For god's sake, they shuffle!!! Just run, you fools! 

[syberspunk]

Haha. I totally luuuuuuuuurve Shaun of the Dead too. It's a farking excellent movie!!! The hubby and I totally love British humour. We went to see it in the theatres, and after the movie, we overheard these two guys sayin how it sucked. Ugh. Some people are just totally uncultured and lack the sophistication and intelligence to truly appreciate quality entertainment. They're probably the kind of generic, boring, average people who love things like Everybody Loves Raymond, 7th Heaven, the Cheetah Girls, Martin Lawrence movies.

If you love British humour, you totally need to check out the British version of the Office. In many ways, it was a lot better than the American version. Although recently, the American version has gotten a lot better. Especially last season and this season has been great. It definitely has a different vibe to it tho. British humour, I find, tends to be a lot more darker, cynical, sardonic. That's probably why I like it more. Shaun of the Dead had Lucy Davis, who was in the British verion of the Office. She was the actress/best friend of Shaun's girlfriend who tried to teach them all to act like zombies. Hehe. That part was hilarious! Martin Freeman also had a bit part. IIRC, he was one of the people in the part where Shaun and his group bumps into that other girl (I think it was his ex?) and her group. That was one of my favorite parts too. Hehehe. Hell, the entire movie was awesome! Also... Reece Shearsmith was one of those people too. He's from another hilarious and twisted British series, called League of Gentlemen. The first series is probably the best. It is just totally off the wall and really strange. The two later series are still funny, but there is a noticeably darker twist in the tone. The 3rd series is probably the darkest and the most abstract and absurd.

On a somewhat related note, I think 28 Days Later is one of the best zombie movies ever. It's also British and very dark. It stars Cillian Murphy, who is probably better known for playing the Scarecrow in Batman Begins. It also has Brendan Gleeson, who's a great character actor and has played great parts in great movies like Gangs of New York, Cold Mountain, The Village, and you might recognize him as Prof. Alastor 'MadEye' Moody from the Harry Potter movies. I love zombie movies and one of my favorite video game series is the Resident Evil series by Capcom. I love that the zombies in 28 Days Later actually RUN when chasing you. It's one of the better, scariest zombie movies I've seen in a long time.

Ste

[SpaceDoll]

28 Days was good; Cillian is sooo hot, but the ending was a little, ehh.  I love the resident evil movies (Milla is action queen), but if the Zombies are kind of slow and shuffly, why are the zombie dogs so god damned fast?  Still one of my favorite scenes though; down right creepy.  As for Brit comedy, I love love love it.  I haven't seen either Office, yet (I'm not much of a TV viewer, but will probably rent both on DVD).  I grew up on PBS Brit shows, though.  My all time fav is Are You Being Served?; it is the shit!!!  I also like Keeping Up Appearances, and who could forget Red Dwarf, although I have not seen a lot of that, as I started it much later.  But I can remember staying up late as an elementary school kid to watch Are You Being Served? with my Grandma; in fact, we were just reminiscing about it earlier today.  And, on a side note, Douglas Adams is my very favorite author.

[calalily]

Don't you mean the endings - you should watch all the way through the credits - it gives a far more realistic ending to 28 Days.

[SpaceDoll]

Yeah, yeah, two endings, ehh. 

[dusty]

There was a somewhat curious incident in the 1999 Cricket World Cup that arose from oddities in the way the scoring system worked.

Wasn't that the world cup in which South Africa had that highly suspicious loss against Australia?

Yes it was.

The 1999 World Cup semi-final saw Australia defeat South Africa when Lance Klusener set off for the winning run only to be involded in a farcical mix up, with Alan Donald getting run out when South Africa required just one run to win from the last over. Australia went through and won the final.

[rohina]

I remember thinking, "aha", when all those revelations about Hansie Cronje came out.

[witch]

If you love British humour, you totally need to check out the British version of the Office. In many ways, it was a lot better than the American version.

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant developed The Office in England. Americans copied it, as they often copy British shows. Just wanted to note that the Brit series is the original and the American one is a version.

I want to note this because IMHO The Office is the best telly in the last decade, although I will confess to being too scared to watch the American copy, the sheer black bleak cringeworthiness of the original could so easily be translated into American banana skin unsubtlety. (The Life and Loves of a She-Devil is a good example).

I did read a review that said the American version of The Office wasn't as bad as expected and did hit it's own stride some way in to the series. Although without Ricky and his shifty little piggy eyes...

The Office to me is very black, I reckon it speaks to peoples' deepest fears that they really do appear to be such a prat to others - or maybe that's just me. I do know quite a few people that can't bear to watch it, literally cringing with embarrasment for the characters, watching people watching The Office is almost as funny as watching the programme itself.

PS Red Dwarf was the star of the decade before that. In fact the only DVDs I own so far are The Office and the first four series of Red Dwarf.

[Emma]

Shaun of the Dead is my favourite movie too, I can watch it every day and not get bored of it I love the bit when they are beating the crap out of the zombie pub landlord with snooker cues to the soundtrack of Queen-I can watch that bit over and over again!

[syberspunk]

If you love British humour, you totally need to check out the British version of the Office. In many ways, it was a lot better than the American version.

Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant developed The Office in England. Americans copied it, as they often copy British shows. Just wanted to note that the Brit series is the original and the American one is a version.

Well duh. Any true fan of the Office would know that it was originally a British series. That was sort of implied. Hehe. Ricky and Stephen are credited as the creators, and they have producing and writing credits as well for the US version.

I want to note this because IMHO The Office is the best telly in the last decade, although I will confess to being too scared to watch the American copy, the sheer black bleak cringeworthiness of the original could so easily be translated into American banana skin unsubtlety. (The Life and Loves of a She-Devil is a good example).

I did read a review that said the American version of The Office wasn't as bad as expected and did hit it's own stride some way in to the series. Although without Ricky and his shifty little piggy eyes...

Actually, the US version is pretty good. It's probably the best sitcom in a long while, certainly the best that NBC has developed since the end of Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace. About the only other good sitcom on American tv is Scrubs. Everything else is shite. Don't believe the hype. My Name is Earl is total crap. The Office has definitely hit it's own stride and I think it's better when American versions of British shows veer off and develop their own character/identity that differentiates themselves within the context of the original model.

The Office to me is very black, I reckon it speaks to peoples' deepest fears that they really do appear to be such a prat to others - or maybe that's just me. I do know quite a few people that can't bear to watch it, literally cringing with embarrasment for the characters, watching people watching The Office is almost as funny as watching the programme itself.

The US version is definitely lighter fare, but I think that's best for American general audiences. The British series is just a tad too real and too dark for most Americans, especially the 2nd series and how it ended... and in light of current ongoing events, I think American audiences could use light comedy. The same thing kinda goes for Queer As Folk. The British series was definitely darker.

Spoiler alert

Hell, the Ted character (US) actually died from the drug overdose in the UK version, rather than actually being one of the main characters in the show. However, the recreational drug story line was fleshed out a lot further in the US series. I definitely feel like Season 3 of QAF was a lot darker than the first two seasons. Both Seasons 3 and 4 were a lot more serious and dealt with relevant political issues in current events at the time, such as gay marriage. I haven't watched Season 5 yet. I guess, in a way, I'm a bit sad that it's over, even tho I sorta stopped watching midway during the 3rd season. Thank goodness for DVDs

Regardless, the hubby and I love dark humour, so we can definitely appreciate the original British series.

Incidentally, we finally watched the Office Special, and I am really glad to see how everything turned out in the end. I think it is definitely worth watching to at least note the interesting parallels and individually characteristic differences. There are many story lines that are similar, yet slightly different in a way that works well for American audiences, and I think that's what makes it brilliant. If anything, it's interesting, for me at least, because it's sort of like a parallel universe. Plus, there have been rumors about characters from the British series possibly popping up for cameos.

PS Red Dwarf was the star of the decade before that. In fact the only DVDs I own so far are The Office and the first four series of Red Dwarf.

How many series were there for Red Dwarf, and why only the first four? I've been meaning to get around to watching that show. I've also heard good things about Father Ted, Black Adder (?), and Fawlty Towers.

Also, I don't remember if I mentioned it already, but Lucy Davis is on the US show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It was created by Aaron Sorkin (Sports Night and the West Wing) and it's actually a pretty good show. It's pretty much Sports Night and the West Wing combined with a different backdrop, a Saturday Night Live sketch comedy show. It's still got brilliantly written dialogue and sharp, witty sociopolitcal commentary. The West Wing is still better and everyone I know who loved that show recommend seasons 1-4 (Aaron Sorkin left after Season 4). Studio 60 started off strong and then struggled for a bit, but I also think it's started to hit it's own stride. Hard for me to say tho, because I haven't really watched the West Wing in it's entirety, and my best friend (who's a nut for the West Wing) noted that a lot of the dialogue has been recycled from Sports Night and the West Wing, but tends to lose it's effective impact in a less than provacative setting (certain speeches don't seem as significant or grandiose on the set of a sketch comedy as opposed to the White House). It's got a really great cast of some often underrated or overlooked actors (Amanda Peet and Sarah Paulson come to mind, and then of course there's Steven Weber, Matthew Perry, and Bradley Whitford to boot).

Ste

[jrd]

Blackadder I-V... Rowan Atkinson's best work to date. I really dislike Mr Bean, but love Blackadder.

[jsalemi]

How many series were there for Red Dwarf, and why only the first four? I've been meaning to get around to watching that show. I've also heard good things about Father Ted, Black Adder (?), and Fawlty Towers.

You've never seen Fawlty Towers?  Damn, Ste, get your butt down to a video store and rent it at least -- it may be the funniest show to come out of the UK  since the original Monty Python shows.  We've seen every episode (there are only 12) at least a dozen times, and they still put us on the floor in tears of laughter.

[kutto]

It's a damn shame that Fawlty Towers didn't last longer. 

[jsalemi]

I kinda like that about the UK shows -- they say what they have to say, and are then done with it. They don't drag shows out well past their prime just for the ratings or dollars (or pounds ) like the US networks do. The original Office was only 12 or 14 shows too -- just two of their seasons worth. The UK Coupling, which was also brilliant (and way better than that horrible remake here) was only 4 seasons of 8 shows, too.

[GayJohnScarritt]

   All this chatter got me going down memory lane for my favorite British shows on PBS as a youngster.  Fawlty Towers, most definitely you have to go rent it.  Another of my favs was The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.  Then we could go on forever about 'Classic' series/shows that we Yanks got to see.   I Claudius, The Miss Marple series, Poirot, Upstairs/Downstairs, anything that David Attenborough did (was Connections American or British?).  Ahh, the memories.

[aussieone]

Absolutely Fabulous was and still is, one of my favourite British sitcoms.

Faulty Towers was a classic piece as was Open all Hours with Ronnie Barker. That show is up there as an old favourite of mine too.

[SpaceDoll]

How could I possible forget AbFab???  Watched them all at a college party, stoned off my ass and very possibly tripping?!  Good times, good times. 

ETA: Just one more punctuation mark, please.

[aussieone]

How could I possible forget AbFab???  Watched them all at a college party, stoned off my ass and very possibly tripping?!  Good times, good times. 

Yep. AbFab was even funnier watching it while stoned, as was The Young Ones! 

[witch]

Actually, the US version is pretty good. It's probably the best sitcom in a long while,...The Office has definitely hit it's own stride and I think it's better when American versions of British shows veer off and develop their own character/identity that differentiates themselves within the context of the original model.

OK - you convinced me, you sound like you know what you're talking about and many of the shows you mention I have enjoyed, I'll give it a go. Gird the loins and all that.

Plus, there have been rumors about characters from the British series possibly popping up for cameos.

Oh Gareth, I hope they pick Gareth, I'd love to see how he'd go down in a different cultural setting. Although as you mention, the current US climate may not be the most suitable for a psychopathic control freak who's obsessed with the army - oh wait, sorry - that's Pescado's territory!

How many series were there for Red Dwarf, and why only the first four? I've been meaning to get around to watching that show. I've also heard good things about Father Ted, Black Adder (?), and Fawlty Towers.

Don't know how many series there were in all, but after the cast changed and a woman replaced Rimmer, the series never seemed to jell again. Their timing was off somehow.

Best invented swearword from the series - smeg. (Look up smegma - which is where I think the word smeg was found.)

All the other shows you mention are very good, though as others have commented Fawlty Towers is classic. John Cleese's character lives in a world of incandescent rage, resentment and revenge, he gallops round the set, long legs pistoning like a man possessed. The rest of the cast are well-defined characters, each with their own quirks, yet provide an entirely believable setting for Cleese's madness.

...Another of my favs was The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. 

Same! Have you seen Ever Decreasing Circles?

Absolutely Fabulous was and still is, one of my favourite British sitcoms.

Faulty Towers was a classic piece as was Open all Hours with Ronnie Barker. That show is up there as an old favourite of mine too.

AbFab - oh yeah. Best throwaway line:
Edie pauses in her hallway on her way out, there's a small eastern type shrine, she sprinkles some drops of water on herself and chants a brief singsong phrase. Patsy says, 'Are you still doing that?'

'Almost religiously darling', replies Edie.

[jrd]

If you're a fan of Scientifiction, check out the new Doctor Who and its spinoff Torchwood. It just doesn't get any better than that. While in the UK it is suitable for children (but not childish), I think for a US audience it would be classified for adults.

Be warned that especially Torchwood deals heavily with topics which may upset some conservatives: the main character is openly "omnisexual" (not just bisexual), and the series' episodes' stories tend to be on the dark side.

[MMEStalker]

Don't know how many series there were in all, but after the cast changed and a woman replaced Rimmer, the series never seemed to jell again. Their timing was off somehow.

There were eight series in all, the first six were great, the last two, not so much. I don't think it was wholly to do with the cast change (Kris didn't really replace Rimmer, he was still in four episodes of series seven and all of series eight), though I was never impressed with Chloe Annett. I think the break up of the writers had more to do with it, Paul Alexander just wasn't a good enough replacement for Rob Grant.

[witch]

Yes I'm a science fiction addict, generally more books than movies though. We've had the new Dr Who here, I did watch a few episodes and really enjoyed them. I've not heard of Torchwood, we get some things late or not at all, The Office (USA version) only started the first series here about a month ago. Straight after The Simpsons episode that was penned by Ricky Gervais - which I missed dagnammit.

Though there's talk of putting some quality drama/comedy/movies back on one of the free channels - oddly enough people left in droves when the programming kept dumbing down over the last few years. I only watch about 2 shows/movies a week, so it's not worth paying for satellite. I'll have a poke round the net, see if I can find Torchwood.

There were eight series in all, the first six were great, the last two, not so much. I don't think it was wholly to do with the cast change (Kris didn't really replace Rimmer, he was still in four episodes of series seven and all of series eight), though I was never impressed with Chloe Annett. I think the break up of the writers had more to do with it, Paul Alexander just wasn't a good enough replacement for Rob Grant.

Ah, thanks for that, it's been a while since I saw the rest, I just had a memory of Rimmer zooming in and out for cameos as Ace.
I think it was Laeshanin said that Charles Wossname who played Lister was last seen playing a seedy taxi driver, on TV I think. So sad, he was cute as a button.

[MMEStalker]

I think it was Laeshanin said that Charles Wossname who played Lister was last seen playing a seedy taxi driver, on TV I think. So sad, he was cute as a button.

He plays Lloyd in Coronation Street, though his character has disappeared for a while as Craig Charles was suspended for drug use. I don't watch it, but as I was reading this I opened the newspaper and there was a photo of him back at work on the third page.

[V]

The US version of Coupling was an exact copy of the UK version. They had the exact same scripts and almost exactly the same blocking. The US cast was soo very blah and there was also a general opinion from those who had no idea that the US Coupling was merely a copy of Friends. I don't think that it stood a chance.

[jsalemi]

Never even gave the US version a look, but yea, the blah cast is something I heard about, and it could ruin a show that depends on some liveliness in the characters.  Not to mention that some things are just funnier when said with a British accent.