General Television Thread

[Lineker]

Speaking of Last Week Tonight, someone elsewhere pointed out how the show has the exact same formula every show for certain jokes and I can't help but notice it and get annoyed by it now >_>

Eh. It's still brilliant.

[Benji]

Oh I still like it most of the time, it just takes me out of it. It's like when someone points out a flaw in a film and you can't help but notice it every time you watch it from that point on.

[livid]

It's pretty great writing, tbh. By building in the repetitive nature of the segment, you have certain expectations for it that they constantly subvert in order to make a joke and point out how little we know about geography. Assuming you're talking about the segment that I think you are, at least.

Edited October 20, 2015 by livid

[Colly]

I like it, but I vastly prefer the topical stuff where the absurdity of the topic is funny rather than the rubbish pop culture metaphors that the first half always has too many of.

[Jimmy]

Not sure what I fancy watching next. Can anyone suggest me a good drama that's only a couple of seasons in at the moment? I'm thinking of doing Deadwood, Narcos or Sense, but I'm interested by stuff like the British Tinker, Tailor and any kind of mini-series. Was thinking of doing Todd Haynes' Mildred Pierce before I go see Carol in a month or something. Was thinking about Treme off the back of The Wire, but I don't think it's available to me at the moment. 

[LL!]

Definitely give Narcos a shot.

[MalaCloudy Black]

If you have HBO Now or HBO Go it should be. Dunno about availability of those services in the UK, admittedly. Treme is a fantastic piece of work.

The Treme theme song/opening is one of my favorites ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M1Iagf3GSs

 

 

Edited October 20, 2015 by Cloudy

[livid]

Definitely give Narcos a shot.

This. I watched the first episode a few weeks ago but finally sat down and started to watch it in more earnest and it's quite good. 

[Benji]

It's pretty great writing, tbh. By building in the repetitive nature of the segment, you have certain expectations for it that they constantly subvert in order to make a joke and point out how little we know about geography. Assuming you're talking about the segment that I think you are, at least.

It's almost his entire show, not just one segment.

[livid]

Do UK talk shows not follow a specific format from week to week? Because the show having a distinct structure throughout is how every talk show in the US works. 

[Benji]

As I said, I like it, and the writing is fine. It's that I notice it because someone mentioned it which is bothering me.

[Pizza]

It's how and when he peppers the jokes in.  I enjoy the show, but a lot of what he's doing specifically for laughs is very forced and a little cringeworthy.

I love the geography joke though.

[Colly]

Do UK talk shows not follow a specific format from week to week? Because the show having a distinct structure throughout is how every talk show in the US works. 

We don't really have them in the same way, Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe is probably the closest we get. I think it's the nature of the format really, Brooker does 6 episodes every 6 months, while LWT is every week and I've tried to keep up with the Daily Show since Noah took over but it's just so formulaic if you watch every episode.

[Benjamin]

The Last Kingdom is just great. Why aren't you guys watching it?!  Is BBC America not widely available or something?

[Benji]

Don't get your hopes up for more Community, it and other original series contributed to Yahoo losing $42m

[livid]

The Last Kingdom is just great. Why aren't you guys watching it?!  Is BBC America not widely available or something?

Yes/no. It's not available everywhere and is usually pretty hard to find among the million channels we have. 

Don't get your hopes up for more Community, it and other original series contributed to Yahoo losing $42m

Well I would bet that there does end up being a movie but yeah, no more seasons for sure. 

[Ruki]

Bokeem Woodbine/Mike Milligan might have been the best thing about the latest episode of Fargo. He's just so good!

[Benjamin]

The Last Kingdom is just great. Why aren't you guys watching it?!  Is BBC America not widely available or something?

Yes/no. It's not available everywhere and is usually pretty hard to find among the million channels we have. 

Don't get your hopes up for more Community, it and other original series contributed to Yahoo losing $42m

Well I would bet that there does end up being a movie but yeah, no more seasons for sure. 

Well that blows, because it's really entertaining, the set pieces and the dialogue especially.

[Ruki]

Has anyone watched Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? I like Rachel Bloom, just wondering if I should give it a try.

[GoGo Yubari]

Watched the pilot. It's good.