British Comedy Guide

Why Britain Can't Do The Wire Page 8

Quote: Chappers @ December 24 2009, 12:18 AM GMT

British drama is good enough.

I disagree with this statement.

You've probably been brought up on Yank stuff.

The only thing of theirs I've enjoyed recently has been Desperate Housewives and even that has got boring.

My proposal isn't a remake of the wire. It's going to be completely different and aimed at the British public.

It's a broad brush stroke approach that is similar to the wire.

Quote: Chappers @ December 24 2009, 12:24 AM GMT

You've probably been brought up on Yank stuff.

That is true.

But what is good British drama?

Quote: James Turner @ December 24 2009, 12:28 AM GMT

aimed at the British public.

I'd watch that if I were you.

Well it depends if your definition of "good" is action or violent.

Good drama can involve good dialogue and story lines. One of my favourite TV programmes ever is Survivors which was remade recently. It was different to the original but still very good.

Actually I've never seen the Wire and I've got no idea what it's about.

Quote: Chappers @ December 24 2009, 12:34 AM GMT

I've never seen the Wire and I've got no idea what it's about.

Watch it. It's good. If you think Survivors is good, you'll be totally impressed.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 24 2009, 12:40 AM GMT

Watch it. It's good. If you think Survivors is good, you'll be totally impressed.

But what I find with ITV dramas is they just milk it.

I started watching Lost but it just went on and on. At least with British dramas there is a finite story.

Quote: Chappers @ December 24 2009, 12:42 AM GMT

But what I find with ITV dramas is they just milk it.

I started watching Lost but it just went on and on. At least with British dramas there is a finite story.

Lost ends in 2010. There's a definite end.

Just me, but I'd prefer to watch a series with 100+ episodes than one with 16.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 24 2009, 12:32 AM GMT

But what is good British drama?

Life On Mars
Traffik (which rather led the way in long-running complex TV dramas)
A Very Peculiar Practice
The Street
GBH
Edge Of Darkness
Red Riding
Love On A Branch Line
Porterhouse Blue
Quatermass
Shooting The Past
Talking Heads...

Many BBC TV Plays from the 1960s - 1980s... e.g. Abigail's Party

...and plenty more.

The 21st Century (so far) has been a very poor period for good British TV drama, but eventually networks will have to start taking some more risks and it won't be endless reinventions of the police and medical genres. Hopefully.

(and Cracker)

Oops! And, as zooo says, Cracker. ;)

You missed off State Of Play as well.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ December 24 2009, 7:22 AM GMT

You missed off State Of Play as well.

Well, as I said, there are many more... The point is that we Brits can do all sorts of great, original TV drama, just that at the moment it seems no-one is allowed to. :(

I do like your first post in this thread, Tim. It's very insightful.

Oh, thank you Ben, very nice of you to say so. ;)

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