# \[b\]Coupling\[/b\] and other BBC America shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289 "2003-02-25T01:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![little\_lighthouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@little\_lighthouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_lighthouse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/1 "2003-02-25T01:21:23Z")
Does anyone here watch **Coupling**? I am a huge fan of this show! I’m also a BBC America addict- yes, I’m a **Changing Rooms** girl. I also enjoy their new one, **What Not To Wear** and the fun show **Bargain Hunt** - sometimes also shown on HGTV. Has anyone out there watched the newest show their touting **The Office**? I haven’t had time to watch that one yet. I also wish they’d show more **Father Ted** , and put back on **Brilliant** (aka **The Fast Show** ) and **People Like Us**. Your opinions please. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/2 "2003-02-25T01:56:14Z")
LOVE Changing Rooms–a bit partial to Handy Andy, meself. Haven’t caught The Office, but I’m dying to, and… Father Ted must be the absolute funniest thing on the planet. The actor who plays (played?) Father Dougal had his own Comedy Central Presents half hour special a while back. If it’s ever on, you should give it a shot–he’s not as stupid as he acts. Have you tried Monarch of the Glen yet? Not a comedy, but pretty darned enjoyable if I do say so myself. ::wanders off, giggling about Father Dougal:: “I’ve always wanted to be a milkman!” ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/3 "2003-02-25T02:00:22Z")
His name is [Ardal O’Hanlon](http://www.ardalohanlon.co.uk/), btw. ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/4 "2003-02-25T02:28:19Z")
The Office is very much worth watching. The characters are so painfully real that watching it is almost uncomfortable. I’ve also become a huge Graham Norton fan. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/5 "2003-02-25T02:33:25Z")
Graham Norton is a great amount of fun, but I don’t usually remember to watch him. ---
**Author:** ![little\_lighthouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@little\_lighthouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_lighthouse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/6 "2003-02-25T02:35:34Z")
FYI: BBC America is planning a St Patty’s Day marathon of **Father Ted**! I believe he was also in a very short run series called ?-My Hero? He was a superhero from another planet… caught a few episodes on PBS a while back. He was hilarious, but the show was just okay. I haven’t gotten into the mysterys or soaps… that requires a bit more of my time, and with two rugrats around, about a half hour is most I can manage! ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/7 "2003-02-25T02:42:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by little lighthouse \* > **FYI: BBC America is planning a St Patty’s Day marathon of Father Ted!** :eek: WOOT! ---
**Author:** ![GrandfatherTrout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@GrandfatherTrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandfatherTrout)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/8 "2003-02-25T04:10:57Z")
Oh, man. We’re total addicts in this household. One of my AIM away messages is “Oooh! **Changing Rooms** is on!”, if that gives you any indication. The boyfriend has threatened to write slash fiction featuring Handy Andy and Tommy Walsh (of **Ground Force** ). I have recently become obsessed with **What Not to Wear.** A friend tells me that it’s because I’ve never read a women’s fashion magazine that it seems so mindbending. I disagree: I think it walks a number of razor edges, and am considering a little Media Critique Essay to explain. We also love **Wire in the Blood** and **Waking the Dead.** **Coupling,** not so much—it seemed like Friends with canned laughter—although the one we stumbled upon last night was pretty funny. Also **So Graham Norton,** although after a while the shtick starts to get old. Or perhaps more accurately: the show is starting to get old. Early episodes are lots of fun, but the newest stuff is all flash without the freshness. I know what you mean about the **Office** characters being painful to watch. The ads generally send me diving under the couch; I can’t imagine watching a full episode, funny though it may be. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/9 "2003-02-25T18:19:06Z")
I’ve recently started watching **Coupling** and an occasional other show. Like it so far. The fact that the guys dig themselves into holes while the gals watch them is funny. But not sure if it works in the long run. A US version is expected next year to join the Thursday NBC line up. So comparisons to **Friends** will increase. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/10 "2003-02-25T19:14:27Z")
I love _Coupling_ when I can catch it. I wish _Changing Rooms_ was a full hour like the US version. _What Not to Wear_ is really quite fun and educational. Do they ever do men on that show? But _Ground Force_, while I do watch and enjoy this one, it makes be leary about vactioning in the UK. Why? Because it seems that even in the summer the place can’t for 48 hours straight with out a pretty heavy rain. but the show does feature a hot woman who always wears t-shirts and never wears a bra so the show is facinating ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/11 "2003-02-25T19:51:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by little lighthouse \* > \*\*FYI: BBC America is planning a St Patty’s Day marathon of **Father Ted**! > > I believe he was also in a very short run series called ?-My Hero? > He was a superhero from another planet… caught a few episodes on PBS a while back. > He was hilarious, but the show was just okay. > > I haven’t gotten into the mysterys or soaps… that requires a bit more of my time, and with two rugrats around, about a half hour is most I can manage! \*\* A short run? My Hero is on season 4 and has about 35+ episodes under its belt. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/12 "2003-02-25T20:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mockingbird \* > \*\*A short run? > > My Hero is on season 4 and has about 35+ episodes under its belt. \*\* I think that **little lighthouse** meant PBS had a short run. Whichever station that aired it here (either WETA or WMPT) seemed to only have the first season. ---
**Author:** ![Wintermute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@Wintermute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wintermute)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/13 "2003-02-25T20:33:38Z")
Oh, I’m so glad I found you all! 🙂 I have become a total BBC America addict since we got it, and thought I was the only one! I can’t decide which I like better, though: _Ground Force_ or _House Invaders_. I like _Coupling_ better than _Friends_, FWIW, if mostly because _Coupling_ seems fresher and _Friends_ jumped the shark a while ago, IMHO. Also, _Coupling_ is sexier, and that can’t be a bad thing. I like “What Not to Wear”, but usually disagree on at least one or two things per show. But, then, _I_ have good taste! 😉 (So I wouldn’t need their advice, I mean. But I could sure use the cash!) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/14 "2003-02-25T20:56:09Z")
**CHEF!** Caught the end of an episode the other night! I have no idea if we’re at the beginning or end of a run, but I will try to find it again! It is hysterical! ---
**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:** [February 25, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/15 "2003-02-25T21:42:50Z")
I love **Office**. I heard it’s trendy to like that show in England(like Buffy here), but in the U.S., hardly any have heard of it. Is there nudity in Coupling? Do they show nudity on BBC America? ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/16 "2003-02-25T21:59:57Z")
I love Coupling, it’s such a hilarious show. I caught the marathon of the first two series they had on . . . I think it was New Year’s Eve. Great stuff. My favorite episode was “The Man With Two Legs”. There’s gonna be an American version on NBC? It’ll fail, guaranteed. I mean, other than Cosby, which lasted lfor ike three seasons and was hardly a huge hit, there hasn’t been a successful adaption of a British series on American television since Three’s Company went off the air. ---
**Author:** ![little\_lighthouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@little\_lighthouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_lighthouse)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/17 "2003-02-25T23:23:07Z")
First off, I rarely watch American sitcoms- except for Malcolm In The Middle or every so often a Simpsons- so I have no idea about comparing Coupling to Friends. I would never watch the “american” version, they’d probably make Jeff gay, or Jane a lesbian- not that there’s anything wrong with that! **Zebra** - you mean Charlie??😉 And **Mokingbird** and \*\* Jeff Olsen\*\*- you’re both kinda right, our PBS only showed a few seasons, so I did assume it was a “short run series”. When I clicked on the link **Buckleberry Ferry** provided I did see it does have quite a history! And, I’m so happy to see other BBC America fans out there- nobody I know has the channel! I insainly always talk about the shows I’ve watched but nobody ever knows what I’m talking about!! ---
**Author:** ![Merseybeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Merseybeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merseybeat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/18 "2003-02-25T23:28:01Z")
It’s nice to see some British humour making the transition over there! We’re now on “V Graham Norton”, shown nightly at 10 pm, but it’s pretty topical, and by the time the BBC buy it and show it on BBC America, it may seem dated. (It’s on Channel 4 in yhe UK). I hope you got all the Father Ted shows - my favourite was the one where they had to enter the Eurovision Song Contest and lose! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Watcher\_of\_the\_Skies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@Watcher\_of\_the\_Skies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Watcher_of_the_Skies)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/19 "2003-03-15T15:45:19Z")
**C** oupling is great (can’t break that a-thread bolding habit, sorry). Our local pbs channel ran the first two seasons before it even hit BBCA. I think it’s season 3 that BBCA is now running. I like it so much, I bought the British dvds of the first two seasons ([amazon.uk.co](http://amazon.uk.co)), even though I can only watch them on the computer (different tv systems and all that). Now the first season is out on U.S. dvd. The Americanized NBC version will very likely suck (how could it not). I’ve also just started watching My Hero on the local pbs channel and I find it amusing after seeing just the first 2 or 3 shows. Coupling is a comedy more on the order of Seinfeld, although the comparison with Friends is unavoidable (never been interested in Friends). Thanks for the thread. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289/20 "2003-03-15T19:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Merseybeat \* > \*\*It’s nice to see some British humour making the transition over there! > \*\* There’s always been a small but loyal home for British comdey over here. Looking at my DVD collection, I own the complete runs of Black Adder, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Young Ones, and the first two seasons of Red Dwarf. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-coupling-b-and-other-bbc-america-shows/157289.md?page=2)