Gentleman's Compendium Of The Visual Arts (AKA Television and Films)

mfceiling

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Extras is worth a look too. A bit of darker comedy I would recommend is Misfits although it is running out of stem in season 4.
QI is obviously the quiz show of choice for tGC regulars:p

I love Extras so much it's not funny. The Ross Kemp one cracks me up to end.

Jimmy Iovine

Fawlty Towers came on the other night. I haven't watched it all straight through. I must.

OFAH is as good as it gets in comedy for me.

The US Office is not far behind. Steve Carell is priceless. It tailed off a lot in the later seasons and I really struggled to continue.

Any mention of Prison Break yet? The first season is the best single season of TV I've ever seen. There was nothing wrong with it. It's such a pity that they dragged it out, much like The Office. Money talks though.

Kinet1c

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Any mention of Prison Break yet? The first season is the best single season of TV I've ever seen. There was nothing wrong with it. It's such a pity that they dragged it out, much like The Office. Money talks though.

Even season 2 wasn't that bad but after that it was complete rubbish!

K-9

Surprised it took so long for Mad Men to get a mention, superb tv, very close to perfection.

An oldie but definitely worth a watch is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, not the film but the original BBC TV series starring Alec Guinness and Ian Richardson. The original BBC House of Cards starring Richardson again was also excellent.

A sitcom that never gets old is Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, probably even truer now than then!

Yamanoto

I'd urge folks to check out Jean Xavier de Lestrade's eight-part US courtroom documentary 'Death on the Staircase'.

It's a really well crafted & compelling watch from start to finish and available on Youtube in its entirety. (8 x 45min episodes).

When Kathleen Peterson was found dead in her Durham, NC mansion in December '01, her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, claimed she had fallen down a narrow staircase. The authorities disagreed, and Peterson was charged with first degree murder. Thereafter, director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and his crew were given almost unrestricted access to the defendant (who remained free on bail) and his legal team, as well as to the district attorney and the prosecution crew, albeit to a lesser extent.

There are countless meetings to map out defense strategy, dozens of interviews (including many with Peterson himself; he's not an especially sympathetic character), scenes of pre-trial home life, excerpts from Court TV coverage, and so on. The filmmakers follow the prosecution investigators to Texas, where we see a body exhumed; there's even a trip to Germany to look into a previous death in which Peterson may or may not have been involved.

The result is both exhaustive and exhausting; indeed, it's not until the end of the fourth of the series' eight episodes (each is about 45 minutes long) that the actual trial begins. By then, various revelations about Peterson, ranging from surprising to unsavory to downright sordid, have proved once again that truth really is stranger than fiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2345vJZhSw

Mackman

Business Cat wrote: »

Also, Scrubs is imo the best sitcom of all time.

I can't watch Scrubs again. I enjoyed it the first time, but its re-watchability ( did i just make up a word?) is terrible IMO. My favourite sit-com of all time is Seinfeld, and one of the best things about it is its re-watchability. I have seen each episode at least a dozen times but I still laugh everytime I watch an one.

I have started Game of Thrones, not as enthralling as I was told, still on the first season though, so Ill keep going.

My contribution to the thread is Supernatural. A show that has evolved a lot over the 10 seasons, but still retains the charm and humour that it started out with.

Liam McPoyle

I do not nor will I ever understand Seinfeld's popularity, it genuinely baffles me how its so loved.

Mackman

Business Cat wrote: »

I do not nor will I ever understand Seinfeld's popularity, it genuinely baffles me how its so loved.

It's definitely one of those shows you either love or hate. Fortunately, I love it

BionicRasher

No mention of Fargo yet - it has to be up there with the best in the past few years if not of all time

Billy Bob Thornton as the weirdo is amazing. Martin Freeman and Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad fame) are perfectly cast and overall its gripping and great fun too

Based around the town that was in the Coen Bros movie season 1 is only 10 episode long and season 2 is in the making I think about now.
Well worth a view and is in my top 5 all time TV shows

mzungu

Mackman wrote: »

I can't watch Scrubs again. I enjoyed it the first time, but its re-watchability ( did i just make up a word?) is terrible IMO. My favourite sit-com of all time is Seinfeld, and one of the best things about it is its re-watchability. I have seen each episode at least a dozen times but I still laugh everytime I watch an one.

I have started Game of Thrones, not as enthralling as I was told, still on the first season though, so Ill keep going.

My contribution to the thread is Supernatural. A show that has evolved a lot over the 10 seasons, but still retains the charm and humour that it started out with.

You definitely should, if enthralling is what your looking for, the next few seasons will supply it. Season 1 was all about introducing the characters, things take off nicely after that.

pug_

I agree with a lot of what's been posted here so far, so I may as well add one that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Rectify is an overlooked gem. It's an intelligent, well written, well acted, slow paced but engaging drama.

keane2097

Archer.

Thundercats Ho

pug_ wrote: »

I agree with a lot of what's been posted here so far, so I may as well add one that hasn't been mentioned yet.

Rectify is an overlooked gem. It's an intelligent, well written, well acted, slow paced but engaging drama.

Yea Rectify is really good.
Also overlooked is six feet under, I loved it.

mass_debater

I hated Rectify, bored me to tears. Stuck with it to the end but it didn't appeal to me

tom_k

I have to recommend the Italian series Gomorrah

Set in Naples, it's a fast moving, unsentimental and often brutal view into the world of the Camorra, an Italian crime syndicate. I got the series a while back and found it compelling viewing.

It shares a style in some ways with The Wire in how it shows crime and the effects of crime from the street level up in a culture where friendship and loyalty are disposable.

Thought that the recent bbc 1-season story "The missing" was very good.
"Broadchurch" season 1 good too.
The already mentioned French series "The returned" was great too. I like the 1-season story shows - don't have to commit as much time to them and when they are done well it's good for a binge.
Homeland series 4 was actually entertaining - skip seasons 2 and 3 (although season 3 wasn't bad at all after the first 3 episodes).
Agree with most of the other recommendations, although I could never get into the walking dead or boardwalk empire (Buscemi's character just annoys me for some reason, along with his new wife - the girl from trainspotting).

barneysplash

Some brothers like fry-ups. Some love sport, others have a passion for
congac and cigars. My thing is quality television, with a nod to obscure or
forgotten shows and one-off dramas.

Here's my two cents worth, from a previous discussion over in the Television forum,
and a link to the full thread at the end.

MAN TIP: Position the cursor over the link and press the middle click on your mouse. The link
will open in a new tab behind the current one. You can continue to browse the list
and "middle click open" more shows that pique your interest. Also works for normal
weblinks - surf like a boss!


The Quatermass Experiment / Quatermass II / Quatermass and The Pit
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84216957&postcount=210

The Americans
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84271035&postcount=213

Tales of The Unexpected
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84315096&postcount=214

Porridge
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84356096&postcount=215

The Wire
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84365130&postcount=216

Restless
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84368221&postcount=217

The Day of the Triffids
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84382130&postcount=218

Archangel
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84390547&postcount=219

Doomsday Gun
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84396100&postcount=220

And the band played on
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84402523&postcount=221

Veep
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84404479&postcount=222

Micro Men
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84412867&postcount=223

Secret State
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84431214&postcount=224

Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84478434&postcount=225

Portlandia
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84482299&postcount=226

Edge of Darkness
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84503453&postcount=227

Traffik
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84504541&postcount=228

A Very British Coup
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84517015&postcount=229

The Shadow Line
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84520982&postcount=230

Yes Minister / Yes, Prime Minister
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84529859&postcount=231

Operation Good Guys
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84536033&postcount=232

PhoneShop
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84536253&postcount=233

Prime Suspect
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84537208&postcount=234

Cracker
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84537731&postcount=235

Party Down
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84554728&postcount=236

Game On
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84554898&postcount=237

The Critic
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84554968&postcount=238

Phoenix Nights
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84555023&postcount=239

The Stone Tape
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560184&postcount=240

Abigail's Party
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560298&postcount=241

Conspiracy
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560362&postcount=242

Professional Foul
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560444&postcount=243

My Zinc Bed
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560498&postcount=244

The Challenger
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560546&postcount=245

Closing Numbers
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84560618&postcount=246

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84590122&postcount=247

A woman called Golda
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84595233&postcount=248

The Computer Chronicles
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84607331&postcount=249

Pirates of Silicon Valley
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84607448&postcount=250

NOVA - Battle of the X-planes
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84630061&postcount=252

The Henry Rollins Show
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84643849&postcount=253

Industrial Revelations
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84647683&postcount=254

Full Thread
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055689569&page=6


In my humble opinon, every brother should watch The Wire and Yes Minister/Prime Minister.

Familiarity with these shows, and an ability to exchange banter about them is a badge of masculinity -
like owning your own hacksaw or taking pride in your farts.

boobar

I'm on the 3rd season of Mad Dogs, about 4 English guys in their 40s that go to Spain to visit a childhood pal.

They get mixed up with a drug dealer and I have to say its excellent, full of tension and has had me staying up very late on school nights for just one more episode.

I haven't met anyone else that's seen it, surprised really as it's really entertaining.

Liam McPoyle

I used to see the ads for it all over Sky but never watched it.


One show that I'm working my way through is Prisoner : Cell Block H.

I was obsessed with it in my teens so managed to acquire it.

I'm up to episode 60 out of iirc 698.

Could take a while!

D'Agger

tom_k wrote: »

I have to recommend the Italian series Gomorrah

Set in Naples, it's a fast moving, unsentimental and often brutal view into the world of the Camorra, an Italian crime syndicate. I got the series a while back and found it compelling viewing.

It shares a style in some ways with The Wire in how it shows crime and the effects of crime from the street level up in a culture where friendship and loyalty are disposable.

Really, Really enjoyed Gamorrah. Thought it was a bit poor starting off, particularly Genny as a character but the way it went was brilliant, similar to The Wire in that it seemed to get better as the show progressed.

Business Cat wrote: »

I'm up to episode 60 out of iirc 698.

Could take a while!

Sweet Lord! :eek:

barneysplash

Some more stuff:

Frank Herbert's Dune and Children of Dune - mini series from the Sci-Fi
channel from the early 2000s. Watchable space soap opera.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142032/


Anyone who liked Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy will enjoy The Sandbaggers.
This is a late 70s spy series set in M16 headquarters. A faily watchable espionage
"monster of the week" show. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077078/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


A few foreign films:

France
L627 - Paris street cop masterpiece.

Un Prophete / A Prophet - Brutal prison drama.

Delicatessan - Subtle satire where the residents of a seemingly normal town have
resorted to cannibalism.

L'affaire Farewell / Farewell - Cold war spy thriller based on a true story.


Brazil
Carandiru - Drama based on true events set in a notorious Brazilian prison.


Argentina
El secreto de sus ojos / The secret in their eyes - Great unsolved mystery story told
in flashbacks.


Germany
Das Leben der Anderen / The lives of others - The life and times of a loyal state
eavesdropper before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Good Bye Lenin! - A loyal son must do everything he can to prevent his frail mother
from finding out the Berlin Wall has come down and her beloved socialist state is crumbling away.
Entertaining black comedy.

Holland
Zwartboek / Black Book - Dutch resistance fighters shoot, sing and screw their way through
the Nazi war machine in occupied Holland.

Aidric

barneysplash wrote: »

Germany
Das Leben der Anderen / The lives of others - The life and times of a loyal state
eavesdropper before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

For anyone who hasn't seen this I cannot recommend it highly enough. The best film I have ever seen and as close to perfect film-making as you're likely to get.

I'm looking for a new series to start with and I'm encouraged by the reviews I've read of True Detective. Anyone here with an opinion on it?

barneysplash

Aidric wrote: »

I'm looking for a new series to start with and I'm encouraged by the reviews I've read of True Detective.
Anyone here with an opinion on it?

That is a brilliant series. Make a space in your calender or get a weekend
to yourself - you won't be able to stop after one episode.

Don't read any more reviews about it in case it gets spoiled for you!

Just remembered another film. Defence of the Realm - great cold war journalism thriller starring
our very own Gabriel Byrne.

Liam McPoyle

Aidric wrote: »

For anyone who hasn't seen this I cannot recommend it highly enough. The best film I have ever seen and as close to perfect film-making as you're likely to get.

I'm looking for a new series to start with and I'm encouraged by the reviews I've read of True Detective. Anyone here with an opinion on it?

I thought it good, but not great.

D'Agger

True Detective is well worth a watch, I really enjoyed it

eh i dunno

6 pages in and not one mention of one of my favourite shows ever http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111976/?ref_=nv_sr_1

mzungu

Business Cat wrote: »

I used to see the ads for it all over Sky but never watched it.


One show that I'm working my way through is Prisoner : Cell Block H.

I was obsessed with it in my teens so managed to acquire it.

I'm up to episode 60 out of iirc 698.

Could take a while!

Thats a right blast from the past there! Used to watch it years ago on UTV. Fair amount of old school Home and Away & Neighbours stars were in it IIRC.

On the film front, I think Goodbye Lenin and The Lives of Others are modern masterpieces.

There is a Japanese film called Memories of Matsuko thats just fantastic. Simple story told very well.

When I think of more ill add them.

barneysplash

eh i dunno wrote: »

6 pages in and not one mention of one of my favourite shows ever http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111976/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Game on is definitely on my list. A very funny little series, the one where Matt joins the band is my favourite.

Another forgotten cold war film, (you can tell I like spy stuff), is The Fourth Protocol.

Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan star in a quality espionage thriller based on the book by Frederick Forsythe.

_Kaiser_

cson wrote: »

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned in here but Mad Men is simply fantastic. From the period details to the depth of character development. Definitely a must watch.

You'd love to have been a male ad exec in the 60s anyway. :P

I watched the first few seasons of this and loved it but around season 4 I gave up when they started focusing more on the younger "new generation" in the office. None of the characters were as engaging as the original/older crew.

Dis it improve again after?

barneysplash

Some comedy shows you can check out clips of on youtube, or look up on wikipedia
to see if you'd like them.

Sketch Shows
Harry Enfield and Chums

The Fast Show

Smack The Pony

Chewin' the fat

The Karen Dunbar Show

Absolutely

The Mary Whitehouse Experience

The Kids in the Hall

The Real McCoy

Goodness Gracious Me

The Kenny Everett Show

The Stand Up Show - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179050/
(too vague to search on youtube without knowning who to look for)

The Benny Hill Show

The Two Ronnies

Morecombe and Wise

Not the Nine O'Clock News

Rory Bremner, who else?

The smell of Reeves and Mortimer

KYTV

A bit of Fry and Laurie

Alas Smith and Jones

Hale and Pace

Tittybangbang

Dave Allen at large


Some Sitcoms
I'm Alan Partridge

Green Wing

Spaced

Still Game

The Young Ones

Bottom

Rab C. Nesbitt

Blackadder

The Good Life

Duty Free

Mongrels


Pilot / Experimental Shows
Comedy Showcase - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_Showcase

Comedy Lab - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_Lab

Radio
Many of these shows started out on radio. Have a look at their wikipedia page
and do up some search terms on youtube, bbc sites etc. for radio comedy to see
what you can find.

Many of today's big names got their start in BBC radio comedy, moved
on to late night comedy sketch/stand up shows and then hit the big time.
I remember a great radio show on BBC Radio 4 called "Yes sir, I can boogie"
and a sublime panel show called "I'm sorry I haven't a clue".