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[The_Tank]

When it comes to drama on television, who makes it better. In my opinion america just do it better, they have the budgets to make high quality shows, there writers are better and there shows just interest me more.

Even when i was growing up and we didn't have sky and watched shows like the bill, coronation street, heartbeat. I hated watching those shows, they were just not for me.

In saying that we make amazing gameshows, bring back crystal maze.

Discuss.

[Alkaline]

Hmmm,

Ultraviolet
This Life
Killer Net
Hustle
Queer as Folk
Red Riding
Teachers
Sugar Rush
Messiah
Bergerac
Spooks
The Buddha of Suburbia
The Crow Road
Life on Mars
Ashes to Ashes
Our Friends in the North
Cracker
Prime Suspect
Rome
Silent Witness
Survivors (70s and recent versions)
The Street
Taggart (early stuff only)
Waking The Dead
Apparitions

That's almost exclusively ignoring British comedy. I admit not everything in that list is to everyone's taste but there is some great drama in there. I'm sure i'll remember more.

[John W]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

Hmmm,

Ultraviolet
This Life
Killer Net
Hustle
Queer as Folk
Red Riding
Teachers
Sugar Rush
Messiah
Bergerac
Spooks
The Buddha of Suburbia
The Crow Road
Life on Mars
Ashes to Ashes
Our Friends in the North
Cracker
Prime Suspect
Rome
Silent Witness
Survivors (70s and recent versions)
The Street
Taggart (early stuff only)
Waking The Dead
Apparitions

That's almost exclusively ignoring British comedy. I admit not everything in that list is to everyone's taste but there is some great drama in there. I'm sure i'll remember more.

There's only a small amount in there i've heard of/seen, the ones in bold though we're really good when i watched them.

I love the American Sci-Fi/Dramas, Heroes and Lost are my favourite TV shows

[The_Tank]

Never seen any of these shows, maybe hustle. The old school itv has rotted my british viewing.

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by The_Tank

Never seen any of these shows, maybe hustle. The old school itv has rotted my british viewing.

See, the Bill, Coronation Street and Heartbeat are all family serials or soaps. There is some boundary pushing, quality, British drama on TV. You might need to watch some to see it though.

It's no secret that the Americans are always trying to import our TV series (Life On Mars, The Office etc) over to their market yet we very rarely do the same with theirs.

Don't get me wrong, there are some brilliant US television programs out there but there are also some quality British ones as well.

[The_Tank]

I never thought of it like that, probably because the televison isn't controlled by me in my house and it seems like it goes from one crappy soap to the other, untill house and lie to me appear on sky one.

Also seen taggart, not a fan.

[Godzilla Blues]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

Hmmm,

Ultraviolet
This Life
Killer Net
Hustle
Queer as Folk
Red Riding
Teachers
Sugar Rush
Messiah
Bergerac
Spooks
The Buddha of Suburbia
The Crow Road
Life on Mars
Ashes to Ashes
Our Friends in the North
Cracker
Prime Suspect
Rome
Silent Witness
Survivors (70s and recent versions)
The Street
Taggart (early stuff only)
Waking The Dead
Apparitions

That's almost exclusively ignoring British comedy. I admit not everything in that list is to everyone's taste but there is some great drama in there. I'm sure i'll remember more.

Huge omission - The Lakes!!! Best British TV ever if you ask me. Even if series 2 was completely mad.

Shameless should also be included, certainly at least the first 3 series.

I thought Teachers went down hill after series 2.

haven't seen much of that list since I don't tend to watch TV, I usually end up buying whole series on DVD if I fancy it.

[Le Stu]

Originally Posted by The_Tank

When it comes to drama on television, who makes it better. In my opinion america just do it better, they have the budgets to make high quality shows, there writers are better and there shows just interest me more.

Even when i was growing up and we didn't have sky and watched shows like the bill, coronation street, heartbeat. I hated watching those shows, they were just not for me.

In saying that we make amazing gameshows, bring back crystal maze.

Discuss.

I remember growing up in the 80s when all the drama was British and the American shows were mostly soaps and action series. That's changed a lot, especially since our obsession with reality TV and talent shows gained in the last decade. We seem to be exporting that trend to the US and importing their scripted TV shows more than anything else these days.

Too many period dramas too. Fuck that...

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by Godzilla Blues

Huge omission - The Lakes!!! Best British TV ever if you ask me. Even if series 2 was completely mad.

Shameless should also be included, certainly at least the first 3 series.

I thought Teachers went down hill after series 2.

haven't seen much of that list since I don't tend to watch TV, I usually end up buying whole series on DVD if I fancy it.

Ahhh, the Lakes was fantastic. Almost like a UK Twin Peaks in places.

[delboy]

i'd go for british drama and comedy over american, some great stuff has come out the states but i much prefer british stuff, mainly bbc stuff - ITV dramas can be incredibly poor, i think they try too hard to emulate the beeb at times. having said that ITV are capable of some good stuff such as the bill (though havent watched it ages) and a touch of frost. hell even midsomer murders can be quite gripping. but then again some of the dross ITV produce is shocking, anyone remember rosemary and thyme - 2 crime busting gardeners???? beyond shit.