The TV Thread

[Jaimoe]

I've never seen Only Fools Have Horses. I've heard that The Royle Family is terrific too.

I'm also a fan of Bottom.

Regardless, I think the US Office after Season I is the best US non-animated sitcom (and by best non-animated I don't mean The Simpsons since it hasn't been good in 10 years).

Better than Seinfeld? That's just silly talk  ;)

I wouldn't recommend Only Fools & Horses. I grew up with it & I think that's why I still like it but it's very dated & horribly cheesy, like I said.

The Royale Family is great! Avoid the latest Christmas Special, terrible compared to the the earlier stuff.
Ricky Tomlinson is great, have you seen Mike Bassett: England Manager? (the movie, not the TV show that followed)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282744/

Oh, I meant that the US Office is the best non-animated sitcom since Seinfeld.

I haven't seen Mike Bassett. Sounds good.

[dragonboy]

Oh, I meant that the US Office is the best non-animated sitcom since Seinfeld.

Phew, just safe!  ;)

Better than Curb Your Enthusiasm? Arrested Development?! 30 Rock?!! Haha I'll stop now!

We might need a 'best US comedy thread' & a 'best UK comedy thread' to battle things out...

[Jaimoe]

Oh, I meant that the US Office is the best non-animated sitcom since Seinfeld.

Phew, just safe!  ;)

Better than Curb Your Enthusiasm? Arrested Development?! 30 Rock?!! Haha I'll stop now!

We might need a 'best US comedy thread' & a 'best UK comedy thread' to battle things out...

I feel shame. I think Arrested Development, even with that spotty final season is the best US series since Seinfeld with The Office at #2.

[dragonboy]

I feel shame. I think Arrested Development, even with that spotty final season is the best US series since Seinfeld with The Office at #2.

Haha I know you're a big fan of AD so I was wondering. I agree about the final season.

Working on your lists?

[Jaimoe]

I feel shame. I think Arrested Development, even with that spotty final season is the best US series since Seinfeld with The Office at #2.

Haha I know you're a big fan of AD so I was wondering. I agree about the final season.

Working on your lists?

I don't immediately think of AD as a sitcom, in the traditional sense.

[capt. scotty]

Curb Your Enthusiasm is best sitcom since Seinfeld (and dare I say better than it).

...and it would be hands down if not for Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia

[red]

I completely forgot about ''How's Your News?'' and now they're coming to TV!!!  Excellent.

[media]http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Cncq5GcmU[/media]

[media]http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-nzHcxfqehI[/media]
(absolutely perfect song choice)

http://howsyournews.com/

[capt. scotty]

Can anyone tell me why 30 Rock wins every damn award??

I seen a few of the shows, and its okay, but itd hardly call it hilarious. Somehow Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, the cast, and the show win every damn award, the last couple years, and I just dont get it.

David Duchovny in Californication kills Baldwin's character. Its not even close

[dragonboy]

Having seen a couple of episodes of the US Office last year I dcided to buy Seasons 1, 2 & 3 last year when they were dirt cheap (black friday)

The pilot was difficult to watch because the storyline/script is very similar to the UK version, which I love dearly but a few episodes in I grew to like it OK. Not bad, maybe quite good even, if you haven't seen the original.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS8I96QinhA[/media]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS8I96QinhA

Hey dragonboy, I think the UK Office belongs in the same category of excellence, comedy-wise, as Fawlty Towers, Father Ted, League of Gentlemen, WKRP in Cincinnati, SCTV, 1970's SNL, MASH, All in The Family and Black Adder (to name a few), but the US version of the Office is excellent, as long as you skip Season I - especially the first 3-4 episodes, which are near verbatim redos of the UK Office.  

Trust me, the US Office will grow on you. I never thought I'd like it, but I indeed can't miss an episode.

Just like you said Jaimoe, it's really growing on me. Season 2 gets better & better as it goes along, Office Olympics was funny, the Fire was great, from The Fight onwards...The Client, Performance Review, Email Surveillance, Christmas Party, Booze Cruise etc...these were all great!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TS3xP-tOWM[/media]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TS3xP-tOWM

;D

[Jaimoe]

Hey db, regarding the US Office. One reason why I think it works so well is that Steve Carell, Mindy Kaling (Kelly), Paul Lieberstein (Toby) and B.J. Novak (Ryan) are writers and/or producers of the show. Also, producer, writer/creator Greg Daniels is the brains behind the best years of The Simpsons and he also helped create and produce King of the Hill. The US Office also does a nice job of creating interesting support characters and introducing excellent new ones. I also like that Creed plays himself and Ed Helms steals every scene he's in.

Jim and Tim may look similar, but they are different dudes that's for sure. Tim is mean and cynical whereas Jim is fairly nice, but sneaky and sarcastic.

I like Dwight, but Gareth is more human and real. Dwight is an exaggeration whereas we've all known people (or at least heard or read about them) that are kinda like Gareth.

Both versions are great shows. I like that Stephen Merchant directs some episodes. I hear he's going to be in an episode too.

[aMillionDreams]

Speaking of the office, I thought last night's episode was hilarious.  I'm glad you foreigners are coming around to appreciate our Office!  ;)

[primushead]

GREAT episode of the office.  I loved when Dwight cut the maniquin open to harvest his organs.  Classic.

Also, I like American Dad WAAAAY more than Family Guy now.  And, dare I say it?  Family Guy has sucked bad for the last few episodes.  I've gone through 3 or 4 where I don't laugh at all.  Is anyone else getting that vibe?

I'm concerned.

[Jaimoe]

GREAT episode of the office.  I loved when Dwight cut the maniquin open to harvest his organs.  Classic.

Also, I like American Dad WAAAAY more than Family Guy now.  And, dare I say it?  Family Guy has sucked bad for the last few episodes.  I've gone through 3 or 4 where I don't laugh at all.  Is anyone else getting that vibe?

I'm concerned.

I don't think the Family Guy has been good since it came back from "hiatus". There's some funny episodes and scenes from time to time, but having shallow plots loaded with one-liner jokes is bound to fail more times than it'll succeed.

[primushead]

Yeah, I'm glad it's not just me.  South Park has still stood the test of time, though.

[Jaimoe]

Yeah, I'm glad it's not just me.  South Park has still stood the test of time, though.

Every time I watch new South Park episodes they've been dogs. I bailed as a regular viewer of the show years ago, but I watch the odd episode a few times a year. Bad luck I guess.

Worst Family Guy episode of the last 2 years = Stewie and Brian going back in time to WWII. Awful, awful episode.

[aMillionDreams]

Yeah, I'm glad it's not just me.  South Park has still stood the test of time, though.

Every time I watch new South Park episodes they've been dogs. I bailed as a regular viewer of the show years ago, but I watch the odd episode a few times a year. Bad luck I guess.

Worst Family Guy episode of the last 2 years = Stewie and Brian going back in time to WWII. Awful, awful episode.

Every now and again Southpark will put out a shitty episode, but they've definitely still got it. The episodes about Family Guy/depicting the prophet Muhammad were classic.  One of the best shows I've seen from any series.

[dragonboy]

BBC World has an excellent travel documentary Taste Of Iran showing this month: http://www.bbcworldnews.com/Pages/Programme.aspx?id=252

I miss traveling...

[ManNamedTruth]

Important Things with Demetri Martin airs at 10.30 eastern on comedy central tonight. His stand-up is good, hopefully the sketches aren't dumb.

[capt. scotty]

Important Things with Demetri Martin airs at 10.30 eastern on comedy central tonight. His stand-up is good, hopefully the sketches aren't dumb.

I heard a lot of things from a lot of people about him, so when I saw 1 of his half hour stand ups was on Comedy Central last week, I watched it.

I didnt think he was all that funny.

I guess enough ppl must think he is though if hes getting his own show. Man, I miss the days of CC's best show ever - Chappelle's Show.

[Soulshine]

Important Things with Demetri Martin airs at 10.30 eastern on comedy central tonight. His stand-up is good, hopefully the sketches aren't dumb.

I heard a lot of things from a lot of people about him, so when I saw 1 of his half hour stand ups was on Comedy Central last week, I watched it.

I didnt think he was all that funny.

I guess enough ppl must think he is though if hes getting his own show. Man, I miss the days of CC's best show ever - Chappelle's Show.

I'm not sure I "get" him either.  :-?
Maybe I just need to give him some more time.