Quote: Marc P @ November 5 2009, 12:38 PM GMTI imagine the money plays a part there Dan.
Which may also go part of the way to explain why US drama is stuffed to the brim with British actors -- even the two main guys in The Wire (insofar as it has main guys) are Brits.
Armando Ianucci used to write article like that one when Larry Sanders came out. His solution was to write a sit-com just as good as an HBO produced comedy.
After watching Spiral from France and Swedish TV's Wallander (a bit like the sort of memorable crime shows that ITV gave up any pretence of producing over 15 years ago) on BBC Four it's not just US cable showing up British TV drama.
Hollywood is also having the same level of soul searching about the poor level of writing compared to TV.
Interestingly though I have seen more decent British films this year than I have in a long while; In the Loop, Damned Untied, Moon, Frost and Nixon (Brit writer and Star), Telstar and An Education come to mind.
Quote: youngian @ November 5 2009, 1:09 PM GMTDamned Untied,
A bondage horror? 
No, I agree there's been some very good British films recently.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 5 2009, 12:55 PM GMTI turn over the channel and think to myself, "What a waste! Somewhere there's a regional theatre company missing an pompous, irritating, unfunny git to run the ticket office".
There is no need to tell everyone the plot of my recently-pitched to ITV2 sitcom, starring the ephemeral Sanjeev Baskar, his clicheed wife Nina Wadia and his 'hilarious' workmate, Craig Charles!
Dan
Quote: youngian @ November 5 2009, 1:09 PM GMTAfter watching Spiral from France and Swedish TV's Wallander (a bit like the sort of memorable crime shows that ITV gave up any pretence of producing over 15 years ago) on BBC Four it's not just US cable showing up British TV drama.
Both BBC co-productions; presumably they are less inclined to meddle when they can't read the scripts.
In fainess ITV's crime output is still respectable, I particulalry enjoyed Foyle's War, and that fifties set one with Lee Ingelby is another that sticks in the mind.
Quote: Griff @ November 5 2009, 1:47 PM GMTAnyway, adaptations don't count
Quote: Griff @ November 5 2009, 1:53 PM GMTWell they're alright but I want big long-running drama serials like The Sopranos that you can get engrossed in. Adaptations tend to be over after a couple of Sundays.
Yes and no. If you use the novel as a springboard - as with Homicide and Dexter - you can get a long running show out of it.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 12:26 PM GMTIf it had been done in America it would have had the full special effects and looked a lot more expensive.
Being Human is going to be done in American. The Sci-Fi Channel just comissioned a remake.
Quote: hotzappa11 @ November 5 2009, 2:17 PM GMTBeing Human is going to be done in American. The Sci-Fi Channel just comissioned a remake.
The cast will be too pretty no doubt. No whatshisface and his ears.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 2:23 PM GMTThe cast will be too pretty no doubt. No whatshisface and his ears.
A bit of a generalisation, they're are lots of less than beautiful people in American shows. Hurley from lost. The guy with Asperger's from Boston Legal. Tony Soprano etc etc.
Quote: chipolata @ November 5 2009, 2:28 PM GMTA bit of a generalisation, they're are lots of less than beautiful people in American shows. Hurley from lost. The guy with Asperger's from Boston Legal. Tony Soprano etc etc.
Okay, but not many ordinary looking women with real tits. 
They need to start making Cracker again.
They really really really do.
Or get Jimmy McGovern and all the director type people back together to make something else.
That Robbie Coltrane 3 part drama just on was pretty good. But just made me miss Cracker more.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 2:30 PM GMTOkay, but not many ordinary looking women with real tits.
Tony Sopranos wife, played by Edie Falco. To name but one.
Quote: zooo @ November 5 2009, 2:33 PM GMTThey need to start making Cracker again.
They really really really do.Or get Jimmy McGovern and all the director type people back together to make something else.
That Robbie Coltrane 3 part drama just on was pretty good. But just made me miss Cracker more.
Agreed. That 3 part drama wasn't quite right. The ending was a bit of a let down.
Cracker's time has passed. The most recent one wasn't great.
