The Guardian's top 50 television dramas of all time

[Nanker Phelge]

Indeed, and you can write lengthy lists on that basis. For example, I can't imagine David Chase saying "Fuck the casual viewer". In fact, he rather did the opposite. IMO.

Actually there was an interview in sight and sound after series one where David Chase realised that the viewer numbers were gonna balance out and that he was never gonna draw casual viewers......he said then he felt comfortable experiment and to put in some of the fantasy/dream sequences, allow plotlines to grow, develop or fade as he saw fit because he realised he now had a core fanbase and that they would pretty much stick with the show whatever he did.

I was always quite impressed that he chose not to chase viewers.

 

[Ceej]

No Life on Mars, or GBH?

 

[DotCommunist]

Re: Buffy

Giles spanking the whiskey and singing Freebird is fucking hilarious

 

[London_Calling]

Actually there was an interview in sight and sound after series one where David Chase realised that the viewer numbers were gonna balance out and that he was never gonna draw casual viewers......he said then he felt comfortable experiment and to put in some of the fantasy/dream sequences, allow plotlines to grow, develop or fade as he saw fit because he realised he now had a core fanbase and that they would pretty much stick with the show whatever he did.

I was always quite impressed that he chose not to chase viewers.

It's a fair point, though I'm not sure how engenuous he was really being given his viewing numbers - and new HBO customers - were so far beyond expectations at the end of S1: HBO were in totally new territory at the end of 1999.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

It's a fair point, though I'm not sure how engenuous he was really being given his viewing numbers - and new HBO customers - were so far beyond expectations at the end of S1: HBO were in totally new territory at the end of 1999.

You're right, but Chase realised very quickly that he had an audience that would stick with the Sopranos wherever it went, and HBO picked up on this realised that they too could push the boundaries and green light shows that were not as accessible, or contained straight forward narratives, and therefore the Sopranos remains the groundbreaker for me and my favourite.

The dialogue in Deadwood was biblical, Shakespearian, Dickensian, fucking nasty.....bloody brave stuff for any channel.

I also think that Oz helped paved the way - it was uncompromising, experimental, it toyed with its audience, played with its formula etc - produced very few sympathetic characters.

In short HBO has revolutionised TV and this has filtered through the network channels too. Compare an episode from the start of the Shield to one from the end and see how far they pushed themselves - sex, language, violence and storytelling were all up a few notches. Even a show like 24 has much rougher edges. Showtime are coming through as real contenders too. Both Dexter and Brotherhood are HBO style shows which I've enjoyed.

UK drama needs to catch up a bit.

 

[London_Calling]

Indeed. The amusing thing for me is that, towards the start of this wonderful era, I gave up tv (obviously not knowing what was unfolding) . I suppose at least playing catch-up has allowed me to enjoy them in a non-prescribed format (i.e. not weekly spread over several years)

Anyway, for anyone intereted in putting this era into context, I found this article quite helpful a while back.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Indeed. The amusing thing for me is that, towards the start of this wonderful era, I gave up tv (obviously not knowing what was unfolding) . I suppose at least playing catch-up has allowed me to enjoy them in a non-prescribed format (i.e. not weekly spread over several years)

Anyway, for anyone intereted in putting this era into context, I found this article quite helpful a while back.

Good article. I've been left wondering where HBO goes next.

I was in at the beginning with the Sopranos and so taken with it I used to tape it and watch it again straight afterwards.

I never felt let down by it, even when the pace dipped a little around season 4, it was still head and shoulders above anything else, and it soon picked up again. I've seen it all about 4 times now.

 

[DotCommunist]

Well, series 3 of True Blood is being made, and that is HBO's highest viewed show since Soprano's. It's certainly a very diffrent show to The Wire or Sopranos. I shouldn't think it'll be long before we see something else crime/police/gangster related from them though. Oh and of course we have more Sons of Anarchy to come. I've no idea how popular it is proving stateside but it is very, very good.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Couldn't get on with Son of Anarchy - maybe I'll give it another go.

Scorcese has something planned with HBO - that could be good.

Rumours still floating around about an American Tabloid adaptation too - that could be mighty.

 

[Badgers]

Did anyone mention "Hormblower"? I remember being really impressed when they came on British television

I have the box set of this on DVD and really like it. Would make my list above a lot of the stuff in the Guardian top 50 but can see why it is not to everyone's taste. What about Sharpe?

 

[London_Calling]

And David Simon has Treme in the works, of course. HBO did let Mad Men get away though . .

 

[Orang Utan]

breaking bad is the best new one i reckon

 

[Nanker Phelge]

HBO did let Mad Men get away though . .

I'm not a fan. I think they made the right choice.

 

[London_Calling]

Well, perhaps not in terms of revenues. I'm keen for HBO to represent a successful business model as well.

 

[DotCommunist]

Couldn't get on with Son of Anarchy - maybe I'll give it another go.

Scorcese has something planned with HBO - that could be good.

Rumours still floating around about an American Tabloid adaptation too - that could be mighty.

Give it a few episodes (I find myself saying this about all HBO stuff) to get into it's stride.

Testosterone and motor oil.

 

[butchersapron]

What about The Sandbaggers - anyone remember that? Was it any good? Seems to have disappeared off the radar.