Archive for December, 2010
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
The remarkable longevity of House
Another favourite TV show of mine, currently on a Sky One season-break at the moment, is House (or House, M.D.). This American TV drama is one of those addictive programmes that you cannot understand why you like it so much.
This is because it is essentially the same concept every week; Dr. Gregory House (played by our own Hugh Laurie), is given a case at Princeton‑Plainsboro Teaching Hospital (PPTH), where he works as head of the diagnostics team; the case is hard to solve but, in the end, Dr House (always) saves the day with a completely outrageous diagnosis which usually breaks the hospital rules.
The premise really should have worn thin by now (well into its seventh season), but for some reason, it just hasn’t.
Monday, December 27th, 2010
Eight days of Bauer
Most people have heard of 24 – even if they have not actually seen the programme themselves- such has been the reaction to the longest running espionage TV show ever made.
This US export is a firm favourite of here in the UK and Kiefer Sutherland’s Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) agent, Jack Bauer, is one of the most well-known characters in TV.
The show started back in 2001 (wow, is it really that long ago?) and ran for eight seasons (of 24 hours in real-time), spanning 192 episodes and a short TV movie. It finished this May as a TV show, but a feature film is already in the pipeline, so Bauer fans still have something more to look forward to.
Friday, December 24th, 2010
The sheer genius of Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is the show that took the 90s by storm, in America and throughout the rest of the world. I remember watching it as a bemused teenager back in 1990 but have since revisited the two seasons of Twin Peaks which were made and must admit; it is certainly up there with the best TV shows of all time.
While it is not to everyone’s tastes; it is very strange and the supernatural element does take over from the murder investigation drama it starts out as, but I still find it captivating to this day.
If you have not seen Twin Peaks yet, but like TV programmes like the X-Files, then I’d suggest you give it a try.
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
Have you seen Dexter yet?
Dexter is one of those American TV series that I heard about when it first came out (in 2006) but never got round to watching it. I knew the first season had been critically acclaimed and friends and family suggested I watch it, but I never did – until recently.
During the summer I had run out of programmes to watch and found the show in HMV for around a tenner. I thought it was worth the risk, and I’m glad I did. I have now seen all the seasons up until the current one (five) and think it is one of the best TV dramas out there. The sixth season has now been given the go-ahead.
Dexter Morgan, the serial killer and forensic bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro PD, is played perfectly by Michael C. Hall. You certainly never grow tired of watching as he almost gets found out for who he really is – by his colleagues and family members alike.
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
The best of American TV drama
Some people really have a problem with the entertainment that comes out of the US, stating that the TV programmes are dumbed-down or too cheesy to be enjoyed. However, I have always given these shows a chance, and I must say that most of them beat anything we have to offer in the UK.
Over the next few articles we will have a look at my top dramas from the States over the last 20 years or so.
Here are some of my favourites:
• The Sopranos
• The Wire
• House
• Dexter
• Twin Peaks
• The X-Files
• Quantum Leap
• 24
• Prison Break
• The Mentalist
I know there are many other quality shows that have been missed off the list, but these are my top 10 choices.