August 10, 201014 yr The fact that you've just branded EastEnders 'complete shit' when it's produced moments which can easily rival the best of television drama over the decades is 'insulting'! Fair enough you just haven't seen them because you don't watch but it's ABSOLUTELY deserving of topping this list - IF it does, of course, that's not a clue or anything - based on stuff like the Tony grooming Whitney storyline and Stacey's bipolar disorder diagnosis, just to pluck two examples from the last 18 months... sorry have you seen Band of Brothers? I have seen enough episodes of Eastenders (including the Stacey bipolar storyline) to form a proper opinion on it, so its interesting to know where you get at claiming someone you have never met, hasnt watched Eastenders, sorry do you know every thing I have seen on TV :s Have you seen Band of Brothers, because, I dont really see how you can compare EE to it if you havent seen it, BoB is one of the most finely produced television series ever, i'd go as far as to use the word 'perfect', how one can think a soap opera with little interlect based for mass appeal and people who wish they had drama in their life so invest it in a television show instead is even a match to one of the greatest pieces of television ever. TO THEO: shut up and find something better to do, if you have a problem with what I said, then actually construct a response.
August 10, 201014 yr Author For starters you're taking words out of my mouth and getting defensive - of course I don't know everything you've seen on TV, I never claimed to, I just said 'fair enough you havent seen them' (the storylines I mentioned) because you think it's shit so of course you won't have sat through months of storylines. I was making an (fair and correct) assumption... I haven't seen Band Of Brothers, no, and I never said it wasn't great (although no war drama or film has ever done anything for me at all - I find them a chronic chore to sit through as a rule, so chances are I wouldn't like it), I just said EE can match the quality of the greatest dramas I've ever seen at its best (and I think I've seen some pretty bloody great drama!). It's very clear from your post that you're a soap opera snob, which is fair enough, I'm a war drama snob in a similar sense, but when you clearly have no time for the genre (dismissing it as having 'little interlect' - ironically you mispelled intellect LOL) it kind of destorys your credibility in claiming EE doesn't deserve to be high because it's a soap and so it's shit, and that's why I wouldn't dismiss BoB as shit even though I hate war dramas. I'm sure it's as high quality as any other drama out there, it just isn't to my tastes. Anyway I wasn't looking for an argument, merely pointing out that I thought your post was kind of off the mark.
August 11, 201014 yr I'm so glad Six Feet Under has made the list, although in an ideal world, it would be No.1, but of course I'm slightly bias; but being objective as I can be, it is the only show I have ever watched that can really make you re-evaluate your life, and contemplate your own demise. It's just so honest about the whole taboo of dying. There are people, who after watching the series and the finale, said that they are more comfortable with the idea of death. By the way, thanks for the namecheck Jark, I don't know whether to feel proud to be known as such a big fan, or feel embarassed at being such a loon :P JamesP - I hope you do start watching Angel, you won't regret it. Make a thread in the TV forum with what you think if you do. On the issue of this whole soap debate, I agree that soaps (I only watched Hollyoaks religiously for about a year, and EE on and off) can have great, well written, acted and directed episodes and moments and in some cases, whole storylines (and some of those have great ends to them; one of my favourite examples being Sara's death in Hollyoaks). The problem I have with them are that they are never-ending, there is no clear beginning, middle and end, which means the filler and poorer episodes outweigh the good. Which is why I think that BoB is overall a stronger show, because it's very short, the quality never drops in terms of both production (they had a large budget that they didn't have to stretch over a lot of episodes) and writing. Edited August 11, 201014 yr by Daniel Gleek
August 11, 201014 yr For starters you're taking words out of my mouth and getting defensive - of course I don't know everything you've seen on TV, I never claimed to, I just said 'fair enough you havent seen them' (the storylines I mentioned) because you think it's shit so of course you won't have sat through months of storylines. I was making an (fair and correct) assumption... I haven't seen Band Of Brothers, no, and I never said it wasn't great (although no war drama or film has ever done anything for me at all - I find them a chronic chore to sit through as a rule, so chances are I wouldn't like it), I just said EE can match the quality of the greatest dramas I've ever seen at its best (and I think I've seen some pretty bloody great drama!). It's very clear from your post that you're a soap opera snob, which is fair enough, I'm a war drama snob in a similar sense, but when you clearly have no time for the genre (dismissing it as having 'little interlect' - ironically you mispelled intellect LOL) it kind of destorys your credibility in claiming EE doesn't deserve to be high because it's a soap and so it's shit, and that's why I wouldn't dismiss BoB as shit even though I hate war dramas. I'm sure it's as high quality as any other drama out there, it just isn't to my tastes. Anyway I wasn't looking for an argument, merely pointing out that I thought your post was kind of off the mark. I'm not particulary into war dramas, infact a war drama has to be pretty amazing for me to like it as much as I do BoB, in fact even my sister likes it and she would never watch a war drama and watches a lot of soaps, I have seen a fair bit of EE (not in my choice to be fair), and to be honest is it a drama or comedy? because it just makes me laugh my arse off, it's almost like it's a parody of soap operas some of the things it comes out with.
August 11, 201014 yr 67 / Murder, She Wrote / 164 Points http://i25.tinypic.com/x4m4pd.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Jessica Fletcher Up next we have our first murder drama of the countdown, and it comes in the form of 'Murder, She Wrote', which follows the works of mystery writer and amatuer detective Jessica Fletcher. What always bugs me the most about these types of shows is the person who solves the crime is not only completlely untrained, but always seems to run into murders wherever they go, eventually you'd think the police would cotton on and secretley she's involved. But nonetheless, Buzzjack must like it! Jessica Fletcher is a Goddess amongst mere mortals (for proof I point you to the fact that Angela Lansbury is still alive today at the age of 174). I just think she had an unfortunate taste in friends; she seemed attracted to the homicidal.
August 11, 201014 yr And the arguments begin already? :( I dont even see how one can compare Band Of Brothers and Eastenders, since their totally different programmes? Band Of Brothers is without a doubt much better produced, but they're completley seperate entities..
August 11, 201014 yr Author 63 Being Human 189pts http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45391000/jpg/_45391553_beinghuman.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Annie Sometimes a premise for a new TV show can be so simple it's hard to believe nobody's done it before. Being Human is about three housemates with a twist - one is a ghost, another a vampire and the last a werewolf. Why make a drama about just one mythological creature? Living in Bristol and trying to keep their heads down, Annie (the sexy ghost), Mitchell (the sexy vamp) and George (the not so sexy wolf) (who always seems to be naked) above all else just want to be normal, but apparently that's easier said than done when you're either invisible to people or struggling to hold yourself back from ripping them apart/guzzling on their blood. Who knew? I became a major fan after the terrific first series but definitely felt the second series lost its way, and I stopped watching three or four episodes in so I'm still to find out what happened - nobody spoil it please! Queen Lacey Turner will be putting in an appearance during the third series so that should be worth watching. Buzzjack's favourite character is Annie, which is to be expected as she's female and the show features no gays (although occasionally there's a slight homoerotic undercurrent), but as refreshingly frank and totally charming character she deserves the title. 62 Birds Of A Feather 191pts http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/mar2009/9/3/birds_of_a_feather_473834210.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Dorien Gray If I've ever seen an episode of this (considered classic) sitcom then I can't remember a thing about it! The fact that all three actresses are quite fabulous probably means I should check it out one day. Birds Of A Feather was one of the great British institutions of 90s television, in which Essex sisters Sharon and Tracey (Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson) and their promiscuous friend Dorien (Lesley Joseph) adjust to life follow the imprisonment of their husbands. Rumours of a reunion have been rife for some time now but with Quirke recently joining Emmerdale as the mother of gay Jackson whilst Robson and Joseph are busy being terminally grumpy old women, it may never happen. Buzzjack voted Dorien the best character - I have no idea whether that's a reasonable choice! One day, folks. =60 The Sopranos 194pts http://www.virginmedia.com/images/tv-crims-sopranos-431x300.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Tony Soprano No surprises here - Tony Soprano might be male but he is undoubtedly the greatest character in this highly-acclaimed dark drama about his blood and mafioso families, a fact not even Buzzjack could attempt to deny. An unimitable man, Tony is both 'good' and 'bad' - family man, loyal to the end, more than handy with his fists and with a gun. I've only seen the first series so far, and it was pretty much flawless. One episode in particular, where Tony takes his daughter Meadow to look around a college and manages to find time to drop in on an old ex-Mafioso (and kill him with his bare hands in a very intense scene), was one of the greatest hours of television I've ever watched. Other great characters include Tony's ageing mother Livia, an expert whinger whose greatest fear is being dumped in a nursing home and who fakes having amnesia after an instruction she gives to Tony's uncle Junior doesn't exactly go to plan, and Tony's therapist, the sexy Dr. Jennifer Melfi who frequently features in his fantasies. The Sopranos veers wildly between darkly comedic and shockingly dramatic, and cuts out all of the melodrama which is usually the preserve of family dramedies. One of the greatest shows of all time by all accounts - many critics consider it the greatest.
August 11, 201014 yr I adored Being Human for the first series but definetly lost interest in the second. :( Annie was fabulous in it, by far my favourite character, closely followed by the vampire character. I have yet to watch either Birds or Sopranos
August 11, 201014 yr Being Human is absoulutely superb, I agree that the first series was better than the second series which lost it's way a bit but re-gained it's brilliance as it draw to a close. Definatly my favourite British drama series at the moment, brilliant storylines and three superb lead characters. Lenora Crichlow is for me, now one of my favourite British actors around, and I just adore Aidan aswell. The fact that Russell Tovey is probably the weaker link just proves how wonderfully cast they are, and I dread to think how ruined the American version will be. I cant wait for a third series. The Sopranos series's i've been gradually going through, i've only seen the first two seasons so far but I absoulutely love it. I'm quite devastated to see both of these wonderful shows below some of the $h!t thats still to come.
August 11, 201014 yr Very pleased that Birds Of A Feather made it into this at all, nevermind out of the bottom ten here! Very funny show, Dorien was comedy gold although Sharon/Tracy were very good too. Highly recommended if you haven't seen it before!
August 11, 201014 yr Birds of a Feather is amazing. :wub:! Three brilliant actresses and just so simple and amazing. Apparently it's not making a return but they're all doing a 'Most Haunted with' or whatever they're called with Yvette. Oh Jark, you'd love Dorien btw! ^_^
August 11, 201014 yr =60 / Malcolm In The Middle / 194 Points http://images.buddytv.com/articles/malcolm-lois.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Lois Malcolm In The Middle join The Sopranos at #60, an American sitcom about the dysfunctional family of Malcolm, played with Frankie Muniz. I've only seen this show a few times and it's some pretty funny stuff but not amazing comedy. I also think I speak for everyone when I say AGENT CODY BANKS. 59 / Supernatural / 198 Points http://www.thetvaddict.com/blogpics/supernatural.jpg Buzzjack's favourite characters: Dean & Sam Up next we have American drama/horror show Supernatural, a show which follows the stories of brothers Dean and Sam as they hunt demons and other such figures of the paranormal. Currently on it's sixth season, Supernatural is still receiving high acclaim by critics. Not only did Buzzjack vote one male as their favourite, but TWO! They must be a brilliant duo. 58 / Sugar Rush / 206 Points http://www.insideout.on.ca/current2007/ottawa/img/sugarrush.jpg Buzzjack's favourite character: Sugar Sorry Casey, this lovely little C4 dramedy has only made it into #58 of our countdown, try and control yourself! This two series long show followed the story of fifteen year old lesbian Kim Daniels who moves from London to Brighton. The shows title character is infact Kim's best friend, who is your stereotyped British teenager into drink, going out, sex and guys, getting Kim mixed up in all sorts of whacky situations! Sounds like a puzzling yet ecstatic delight.
August 11, 201014 yr Malcom In The Middle :wub: I used to love it, i'd probaly hate it now. I recall enjoying Sugar Rush, but tbh it was so long ago I doubt I understood alot of it.
August 11, 201014 yr I never watched Sugar Rush, though it does look like the type of thing i'd enjoy. Loved Malcolm In The Middle too, glad to see BuzzJack in agreement with me that Lois was amazing. Never seen Supernatural though, I cant decide if it's the type of thing which i'd like or if it's nothing more than the usual US trash with a couple of monsters thrown in for good measure, I should probably give it a go at least.
August 11, 201014 yr Author would of thought Sopranos would be a easy top 10. only on buzzjack. In fairness The Sopranos never was big in the UK. I know that I'd never even stumbled across it on TV during its entire run and I guess most people are the same. I had to search it out online. Definitely worth doing though!
August 11, 201014 yr In fairness The Sopranos never was big in the UK. I know that I'd never even stumbled across it on TV during its entire run and I guess most people are the same. I had to search it out online. Definitely worth doing though! do you reckon? I remember the final season, and particulary the last 6 episodes and the final episode were milked as f*** on channel 4/E4/More 4, adverts between every show, i guess it didnt have the impact it had in America but it still had the British critics raving about it, but yeah it's pretty much a give if you look at 'top whatever tv shows' that The Sopranos will be mega high. Perhaps it is more known through dvd box sets etc here now, like The Wire seems to have become.
August 11, 201014 yr Author The Wire has had the most incredibly bizarre success - even at the time it was airing it was snubbed by awards shows like the Emmys which other critics' favourites succeed at. It's literally only when it came to an end that people started piling the praise on it and it developed a reputation as something amazing. I guess it's sold well on DVD. I meant to watch it when BBC2 started showing it but I couldn't be arsed starting yet something else. I still want to though ESPECIALLY now I've seen Idris Elba in Luther and realised what a fantastic actor he is.
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