# America, I congratulate you. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128 "2009-08-12T00:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/1 "2009-08-12T00:54:15Z")
On the awesomeness of your scriptwriters and your production values. Lost, Heroes (before it became shit), BSG, Prison Break, the pilot of Caprica (which I am now fairly convinced is going to be awesome) To name but a few. I think we do better comedy. But you guys have drama absolutely nailed to the wall. All of those mentioned TV shows are like a drug. I am abso-fucking-lutely addicted to them. And it’s only a shame that they end. The only consolation is that Lost and Caprica have more to come. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/2 "2009-08-12T01:03:26Z")
For drama, if you haven’t watched them already (and be forewarned they’re both quite violent) check out The Sopranos and The Wire - nothing like the SciFi type stuff you mentioned, but both consistently ranked among the best TV shows of all time by critics. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/3 "2009-08-12T01:08:56Z")
I think you guys do rather well with cop dramas, too. I’ve seen some fantastic shows on BBCA. What I really like about UK shows (most of what I’ve seen, anyways), is that they end. I mean, they END. They don’t drag on for years past the last good episode. Well, I’m sure you can come up with numerous examples of shows that did drag on, just to spite my posting this, but what I’ve noticed is a definite end to some very good shows. The UK versions of Life On Mars and The Office come to my mind. Of course, many of the shows that came over on our PBS (as opposed to BBCA) did seem to last beyond their prime. Sometimes well beyond. So I guess I should really say that I like it when shows have a set time to run and that’s it, which I’ve noticed is much more common with UK shows than with USA shows (B5 is an exception, some others probably exist), as far as I’ve actually seen. I do like how USA shows tend to spawn spinoffs, some of which are better than the originals (imho). Are spinoffs common for UK shows? Production values are high here, yes. I really appreciate that. Even with a show that has lousy actors, no plots, and shite4brains writing (which happens more than you see sent over for your TVs), as least we know we can actually SEE what isn’t happening. Sorry for the longish ramble of a post, but I am talking to good ol’ **Lobbersangarrilia** here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/4 "2009-08-12T01:44:33Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > What I really like about UK shows (most of what I’ve seen, anyways), is that they end. I mean, they END. **Last of the Summer Wine** has been on TV since the reign of Queen Victoria. I’ve barely ever made it past the schmaltzy opening theme. > [@](#): > > Are spinoffs common for UK shows? **Doctor Who** (another very long-running BBC show, if you consider the current revival a continuation of the classic series) has two successful spin-offs that I know of, **Torchwood** and **The Sarah Jane Adventures** , each skewed to a different demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/5 "2009-08-12T04:08:14Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Lost, Heroes (before it became shit), BSG, Prison Break, the pilot of Caprica (which I am now fairly convinced is going to be awesome) It’s true. Entertainment Weekly commented about the golden age of TV not that long ago…and how we might be leaving it(BSG is gone and Lost leaves this year). We may not do everything brilliantly hear, but let it be said: Cable TV has really allowed some risky, high-quality, entertainment. I’d argue BSG is the best show ever, actually. Prison Break? WTF? And no Babylon 5? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/6 "2009-08-12T04:14:42Z")
To the Sopranos and the Wire, I’d add Mad Men. The rise of great cable TV dramas has coincided with the decline of American movies into just utter crap. Now, you have directors like Lucas actually going back and crapping on their earlier masterpieces. ETA: **NoClueboy** mentions how series on BBC end, and that is also true of the really good American dramas like BSG, the Wire, etc. They have a true story arc and don’t drag it on and on. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/7 "2009-08-12T07:08:39Z")
Don’t forget the shows Dexter and The Shield in those lists of dramas. There are a few new ones you might want to check out when they air over there - Leverage and Dark Blue are both pretty good. I also like Burn Notice. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/8 "2009-08-12T07:30:55Z")
Yeah The Shield is friggin awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/9 "2009-08-12T07:36:02Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > They don’t drag on for years past the last good episode. Well, I’m sure you can come up with numerous examples of shows that did drag on, just to spite my posting this, but what I’ve noticed is a definite end to some very good shows. The flip side to this is that seasons don’t always have enough episodes and who the hell knows when they’ll be getting around to doing another season. Personally I don’t think British comedy shows are any better than the ones we produce here in the U.S. There are plenty of British comedy shows that I certainly like and many that I do not. Odesio ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/10 "2009-08-12T10:02:29Z")
Thanks! It’s true that I have absolutely nothing to do with anything mentioned in this thread, but I am an American, so I take full credit. Except for _Heroes_’ descent into complete shit. That, I take zero credit for. ---
**Author:** ![Slade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Slade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slade)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/11 "2009-08-12T10:36:23Z")
The thing to remember in US/UK television conversations is that each country tends to see only the best of the other one’s output. Ninety per cent of both British and American TV is dross, but most of the real rubbish remains confined to the domestic market. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/12 "2009-08-12T11:38:59Z")
And _Breaking Bad_ has a unique theme and a distinctly ‘can only happen in the US’ feel, but is absolutely fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/13 "2009-08-12T11:58:32Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > What I really like about UK shows (most of what I’ve seen, anyways), is that they end. I mean, they END. They don’t drag on for years past the last good episode. Amen, brother. “The Office” “Ally McBeal” and “Buffy” are just three that I can think of off the top of my head that would have been far better served had they had a well planned beginning, middle and (most importantly) END. The 22-24 episode requirement is a killer for creativity. The great thing about cable shows such as “The Sopranos” and “Dexter” is that they could work out a non-formulaic timeline and focus on telling a good story rather than stretching 10 episodes worth of meat into 24 episodes of meat and filler. Oh, and what is BSG? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/14 "2009-08-12T13:52:33Z")
BSG is the new edition of Battle Star Galactica. Thanks, **Duke**. I couldn’t remember the name of that dreadful show. Those actors must be related to Lazarus Long. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/15 "2009-08-12T13:58:03Z")
We are pretty awesome, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/16 "2009-08-12T15:40:32Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > I think you guys do rather well with cop dramas, too. I’ve seen some fantastic shows on BBCA. > > What I really like about UK shows (most of what I’ve seen, anyways), is that they end. I mean, they END. They don’t drag on for years past the last good episode. Well, I’m sure you can come up with numerous examples of shows that did drag on, just to spite my posting this, but what I’ve noticed is a definite end to some very good shows. The UK versions of Life On Mars and The Office come to my mind. Of course, many of the shows that came over on our PBS (as opposed to BBCA) did seem to last beyond their prime. Sometimes well beyond. So I guess I should really say that I like it when shows have a set time to run and that’s it, which I’ve noticed is much more common with UK shows than with USA shows (B5 is an exception, some others probably exist), as far as I’ve actually seen. > > I do like how USA shows tend to spawn spinoffs, some of which are better than the originals (imho). Are spinoffs common for UK shows? > > Production values are high here, yes. I really appreciate that. Even with a show that has lousy actors, no plots, and shite4brains writing (which happens more than you see sent over for your TVs), as least we know we can actually SEE what isn’t happening. > > Sorry for the longish ramble of a post, but I am talking to good ol’ **Lobbersangarrilia** here. 😉 Only Fools and Horses is the answer to two of your questions. It was great for a lot of years, but they dragged it through the mud kicking and screaming into shitness. And it spawned a trully awful spinoff (“The Green Green Grass” with the guy who was a car dealer in OFAH) ETA: Soprano’s. Seen. Awesome. The Wire. not seen. will check out. Dexter. not seen. Not sure about. Mad Men. Not seen. Not sure about. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/17 "2009-08-12T15:45:58Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Thanks! It’s true that I have absolutely nothing to do with anything mentioned in this thread, but I am an American, so I take full credit. > > Except for _Heroes_’ descent into complete shit. That, I take zero credit for. The producers made a statement not so long ago… “We apologise for the reduction in quality of the show Heroes. Unfortunately it was out of our control and was due solely to the user **Kyla** , a member of “The Straight Dope Message Board”. We hope that **Kyla** will restore quality as soon as possible” ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/18 "2009-08-12T15:51:04Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Oh, and what is BSG? You’re in for a treat. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/19 "2009-08-12T16:38:55Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Mad Men. Not seen. Not sure about. Do give it a try. The premise is simple; the writing and acting (and set/costume design) are what truly make it shine. Though I fear that they’re moving away from what worked so well in the first two seasons, realistic small victories and little tragedies that show a larger character but can stand alone, and going to the always unnecessary escalation, where every episode will end with a world-shattering cliffhanger that has to get resolved in the next, piling on and piling on until every character has some stupid no-win failure to confront. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128/20 "2009-08-12T16:41:59Z")
Just want to second **The Wire** and **The Shield**. Arguably the two best dramas ever shown on TV. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-i-congratulate-you/506128.md?page=2)