Since most of the "new" shows on in the U.S. are just re-hashes of British shows, I've been checking out what is on the horizon. This is the list of my favorite British shows, and I hope to update as I go.
The Office
The original series that was obviously the basis for the U.S.-based Office with Steve Carrell. Like most British shows, each season (or Series) was only 6 episodes long. This show had two Series with two "specials" that wrap up the story lines. If Series 1 seems familiar, Season 1 of the U.S. Office used the same scripts as the U.K. version.
The IT Crowd
Two IT nerds at a large company suddenly get a boss who doesn't know anything about technology. Hilarity ensues. Probably my favorite British comedy. 3 6-episode series have been made so far, with another scheduled for this fall. A pilot for an American version was made with Joel McHale, but wasn't picked up. As much as I like Community and The Soup, I still don't think this version could have been as good as the original.
Skins
My best assessment would be an R-rated Degrassi High. This show is a one-hour drama that follows the lives of a group of high-school/college kids. The first two Series were based on one set of characters, but Series 3 swapped the entire cast to keep the characters roughly the same age. The younger sister of one of the main characters in Series 1 and 2 becomes on of the main characters in Series 3 and 4.
The Mighty Boosh
Very strange show about two zookeepers. An extremely low budget and reliance on regular dream sequences make the show even weirder.
The Inbetweeners
This sitcom follows four losers in their daily life in and out of school. A lot like The Big Bang Theory, but the characters are a little younger and not nearly as smart.
Psychoville
Extremely weird sitcom(?) murder-mystery featuring cross-dressers, a psychotic clown, and a blind man who is in search of the world's largest Beanie Baby collection. Good show, but still haven't finished all 6 30-minute episodes. Almost makes you want to shower after it's over.
Life on Mars
The basis for the American show with the same name in which a cop has an accident in the 2006 and wakes up in 1973. I watched all of the American version and was disappointed in the finale. I've heard that the U.K. version has a better ending, but I haven't gotten that far yet.
Misfits
This show revolves around a group of juvenile delinquents that are struck by lightning while cleaning a rec center for community service. I've only watched the first episode, but it's not bad so far.
Being Human
I haven't actually watched any of this one yet, but it sounds like an interesting premise. It's a fish out of water tale chronicling a threesome of outsiders that share an apartment. By the way, the main characters are a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost. I'll get around to this one at some point, but Deana watched the first episode and deemed it a bit too graphic to watch around Cooper.
I also intend to watch Peep Show and Paradox at some point, but haven't gotten to them yet. Stay tuned.
