So, being as we've entered a brand new decade, and being as I've watched an AWFUL lot of television over the last ten years, I thought I'd make my list of the best TV shows of the naughties. (I hate that name for the decade, but sadly, it appears to have stuck.) My own personal rules for this state that the TV show has to have premièred within the decade, so any show that aired before 01 Jan 2000 is out. Even if it had only shown one episode before then.
So here we are, in traditional reverse order, my top 10:
10 - Scrubs
The hospitable hospital comedy
What it is: The odds of one of my blog readers having never seen Scrubs is ridiculous, unless you have purposely squirrelled yourself away from it, it is, after all, on E4 almost as much as Friends is. A half-hour sitcom shot on single camera about a group of young (and to start with at least, not very good) doctors, this series manages to get more laughs per minute than 90% of other U.S. comedies.
Why I like it: Plain and Simple. I like it because it is funny. The laughs range from the mild grin of amusement all the way up to the gut-busting roar of mirth. Not a weak link in the cast, and for the most part, the writing is smart and idiotic at the same time - which tends to be how I like my comedy! Also, especially in the earlier seasons, they had a nice balance of comic and tragic, which felt like the show gained some extra depth, and they allowed the characters to grow and evolve from their original creation.
What don't I like?: Well, the new (only aired in the U.S. so far) Season 9, in which most of the original regulars have left is patchy, but seems to be getting better, and Seasons 6 & 7 felt a little sterile, with too much left-field humour and too little serious (or medical) plot lines, but Season 8 went some way to re-dressing that balance.
09 - Q.I.
The pub quiz connoisseur's program of choice
What it is: A panel show hosted by the "Nicest Man in the Universe"TM - Mr Stephen Fry, with the regular panellist being the "Curly Haired Man who knows he's going to be proven wrong"TM Mr Alan Davies, in which we learn that every important pub quiz fact we thought we knew, was wrong.
Why I like it: Because, once again, it's funny, and also it's genuinely interesting. Plus it provides you with useful information to impress your mates / family / girlfriend with. (This is less effective now that it's on BBC One and approximately 7 billion people watch it (this may be an over exaggeration, I'm sure that the exact figure is available somewhere, but since my idea of research is to pick a number from the sky and claim it to be true, that's the method I'm utilising here)).
What I don't like?: Being a panel show, there are some guests that are much more entertaining than others, but that is just the way the cookie crumbles...
Favourite Person: Mr Stephen Fry. For his dry wit. And occasional sodomy jokes.
08 - The Middleman
It's about a man, right, and he's in the middle of stuff...
What it is: Now this one is hard to describe, mostly because it's never aired in the U.K., so many of you will never have seen it. Based on the comic series, it's the story of Wendy Watson, an art school graduate, who ends up working as The Middleman-in-training for a shadowy organisation who fight super villains. Her boss is the Middleman, an ex-marine who swears like he's from the 50's. Oh and there's a cranky old woman who's actually a computer called Ida. Confused yet?
Why I like it: It's flat out brilliant. Hysterical, surreal and just plain strange. It only ran for twelve episodes (which is a crying shame) and these episodes contained things like tentacled monsters, terracotta warriors, trout-craving zombies, alien boy bands and cursed Tubas. And that was just the first seven episodes....
What don't I like?: It only ran for twelve episodes! And there wasn't enough Sensei Ping.
Favourite Character: The Middleman. Or Nozer.
Here's a trailer for the first episode. Watch as much Middleman as you can. Or better still buy the DVD set. It's great!
07 - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Behind the Scenes of a fictitious comedy program
What it is: A drama series documenting the behind the scenes running of a Saturday Night Live-type show, starring Chandler off Friends (aka Matthew Perry) and Josh off West Wing (aka BradleyWhitford) and written by Aaron Sorkin (who wrote West Wing)
Why I like it: It's so incredibly well-written, that I actively want to be Matthew Perry's character (writing a 90 minute sketch show every week? That's a challenge I'd take!) Beautifully shot and well acted, the whole thing just feels glossy and wonderful and deals with relationships, work and touches on broader subjects too.
What don't I like?: It only ran for one season, and the last four episodes are a four parter, which I think is good ideas extended too far - it could have been a two parter and two other episodes... Plus it occasionally wanders slightly into a didactic arena, telling you how bad the war in Afghanistan is, for example...
Favourite Character?: Matt Albie
06 - Black Books
Makes you laugh black comedy tears of despair
What it is: A sitcom starring the wonderful trio of Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey and Tamsin Grieg, about a drunk Irishman who owns a second hand book shop.
Why I like it: It's amazingly funny, tightly plotted and the performances are out of this world. Episodes can veer from black sarcasm to slapstick in the blink of an eye, and the whole thing is so addictive that one episode is rarely enough!
What don't I like?: Well, there's only eighteen episodes of it. And I didn't find series three quite as good as the other two. But it's still immense.
Favourite Character: Manny. For reasons why, find a copy of the first episode of season two where he plays the piano, and enjoy.....
Well, that's the end of part one of this list, part two shall be up in the next few days...
But as a bonus feature for you (or VAM as they now refer to it in the DVD industry, which stands for Value Added Materials, which is kind of a poncy name for it I think!) here are two of my favourite TV shows that didn't make the cut, because they both started in 1999.
Spaced
Bizarreness of the highest order.
What it is: Sitcom which is both realistic of my generation, while at the same time being infamously surreal
Why I like it: Because, once again, it's hilariously funny. It stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Jessica Stevenson, and it's so much better than other sitcoms that try to be true to life, because it's true enough while still being amazingly bizarre!
What I don't like: Only two series' were ever made.
West Wing
If only politics was really like this
What it is: Long-running drama about working in the White House. Sounds boring, but it isn't.
Why I like it: It's gripping, right from the start. The pilot has one of the best entrances for a cast member ever (as Martin Sheen's President Bartlett enters the room, having been referred to for most of the episode), and it just got better from there. The first four seasons particularly are gripping, beautifully written and well-acted all round.
What don't I like?: Well, seasons 5 and 6 lost their way a little, but Season 7 brought it back by completely changing the format of the show, and making it all the stronger for it.
Favourite Character?: Joshua Lyman.
So that's it for now... numbers 5 to 1 following soon! So stay tuned...
2 comments:
Haven't seen Middleman, but the other 4 are certainly good tv.
Also... is it wrong to admit to being just a little in love with Josh Lyman? (The character, not the admittedly excellent Bradley Whitford!)
Of course it's not wrong Sue. :P I'm not you understand, but you can be :)
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