Comedy:
British comedy has a reputation for being irreverent, sharp, witty, at times surreal and nearly always sarcastic. Any British person will tell you that ours is the funniest sense of humour. British people also tend to think we have the most sophisticated or intelligent sense of humour. Try some of these series and see if you agree!
(The following links are for tv-links.eu, you can also find most of this on google video and youtube. I recommend watching them from the first episode, first series onwards although it can often take a couple of episodes to get to know the characters and to get into the sense of humour. Persevere though, it's well worth it!)
From the 2000s
Peep Show (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Peep-Show_522/ )
Peep Show is a very popular and highly acclaimed series about two friends who live together and have completely different personalities. Hardly groundbreaking stuff! However, with some of the sharpest, most witty dialogue and, managing to get themselves into some ridiculous situations, the boys make for hilarious viewing. Peep Show is a satire of British paranoia, self doubt and selfishness. Very, very funny.
The Office (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/The-Office--UK-_509/)
You may have already watched the US version of The Office. Its very good. But this is the original series that was so good they wanted to make their own in the US. Ricky Gervais - pictured her, wrote, directed and starred in the original British version and is executive producer in the US version. The Office is often referred to as 'cringe' humour. Meaning that when you watch him you are constantly saying to yourself, 'Oh god, he didn't do that, did he?'. Watch it and see if you get the same cringey feeling.
Green Wing (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Green-Wing_315/)
Green Wing is a surreal comedy about a hospital. Again very popular, Green Wing has also had success in the US. If you want a taste of the British penchant for the bizarre, this is a good place to start!
Spaced (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Spaced_628/ )
One of my old favourites. Spaced was a cult hit and it's makers have gone on to have film success, notably with the zombie film, Shaun of the Dead. Spaced is about two people who meet whilst flat hunting and end up moving in together without really knowing each other. It may take a couple of episodes to get to know the characters in order to really get into Spaced, but once you're in you will fall in love with them!
Coupling (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Coupling--UK-_182/ )
This one might be considered a little more girly, although I enjoyed it when I was your age! I suppose you could call this a British 'Friends', although like everything British its a bit more grown up and is willing to push the boundaries quite a lot more that what is considered acceptable in the US. People who are used to British comedy can sometimes find mainstream US tv quite tame! Coupling is about six friends who get into problematic tangles with their relationships, especially with each other. It is very sharply written and highly watchable.
Alan Partridge (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/I-m-Alan-Partridge_353/)
This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen and will always be remembered as a British Comedy classic. It's about a failed TV presenter who is now working for a local radio station. He has a massive ego, is completely selfish and is pretty much an all round horrible person. All of this makes it very easy to laugh at him as he tries to keep believing that he is an important person. I highly recommend giving this a try, although you may not get it immediately as it is very particular British humour. Go on, whack it on!
Father Ted (
http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/Father-Ted_261/)
About three priests that live together on a small island off the coast of Ireland, Father Ted is a friendly satire of parochial Ireland and the church. Father Ted began in the mid 90s and was immediately hugely popular. Three series were completed before the sad death of the actor Dermot Morgan (Ted) in 1998. Watch it!
More to come...
