Top 20 Favourite TV Shows (Part 2)

And now we come to the thrilling conclusion of what my favourite TV shows are. Well, not much else I can add, except let's begin!

10. Soul Music and Wyrd Sisters

So, this is the second double up and this one kinda makes more sense. In the 90s, an animation studio called Cosgrove Hall made two series based on two different Terry Pratchett books. And every Thursday, my mum would rush me home from ballet lessons to get back in time to record it on our VCR. Somewhere in our house, we still have the videos. The animation in this film is not the best, but that doesn't diminish either the story or the excellent prose that is available in every Terry Pratchett book. This was my first introduction to the author, and because I loved the Soul Music TV show so much, it became the first Pratchett book I ever read. And I've read as many as I can ever since! I also might own the soundtrack to that show as well. (And it's really good!) A must watch for any Discworld fan!

9. Midsomer Murders

Ah! The show I always turn to when I need some light hearted fun! Midsomer County is the most dangerous place to live in the UK, and the deaths are the most ridiculous you will ever see! I've talked to my friends many times about the infamous wine episode, the most ridiculous of the lot. But the show keeps together through a number of things, mainly John Nettles as Tom Barnaby and Jane Wymark as his long suffering wife, Joyce. Sgt Troy is also my favourite sergeant, he can be so bumbling and dumb at some times! The mysteries themselves can be surprisingly intense at times,and it's always fun to see well known actors before they were famous getting stabbed in the stomach with a pitchfork.

8. Shadow Raiders

Another animated show from my childhood that I taped and still have the videos somewhere! This seems to be a show that people either remember and love intensely or can't remember a thing about. Which is fair enough, since it was never as popular as other shows similar to it, like Reboot or Beast Wars. But I this one stands out as a really good kids show that shows kids the horrors of war. The plot of the show follows a galaxy of planets who are forced to put aside their differences and stand together against a common enemy who appears in their system, the ominous Beast Planet. It's quite serious, but that's what makes it so memorable. And you really don't get kids shows that tackle the serious business of war in such a good way. If you feel like checking it out, then the show can be found on youtube. One of the best shows from my childhood, and one that re-watch every so often, whenever nostalgia strikes.

7. Community

I was introduced to this show after spending most of one New Years Day watching it non-stop with some of my friends. Since then I was hooked. I haven't watched the latest series', but I will eventually. I just love the characters, they way they bounce off each other ad the way the show incorporates pop culture into it's plots and premises. Of course, it did give me some false expectations about what uni was going to be like. It's been two years so far, an no zombie apocalypse! I am most annoyed! But this is the perfect show to watch with friends, and I have done. Many, many times!

6. Firefly

It should come as no surprise that this is on my list. I'm fairly certain that it appears on everyone's list of favourite TV shows at some point or another. And it should be! The characters, even the smallest supporting ones, are all memorable and interesting. The acting is great. The science works so well, and the special effects support it awesomely. And the stories that follow the crew of Serenity are not only interesting on their own, but also allow the main characters to grow into real people. You become so invested in these nine characters that you really do wish there were episodes of them and their adventures! However, I do think that any more seasons would have destroyed how good the only season that we have is. And in the end, we can't help but be pleased that we do have something of this fantastic show! Not too mention the fantastic movie that followed it!

5. Blackadder

Blackadder is probably one of my favourite shows because it parodies 4 different periods of history so well. The first series is very different from the other three, but that doesn't make it any less amusing. But my own personal favourite will always be the fourth series, Blackadder Goes Forth. It manages to combine the mentality and historical accuracy of World War One with humour and actual pathos. Especially in the last episode. But all every single series is excellent in its own way. Hugh Laurie as Prince George in Blackadder the Third, Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth in Blackadder the Second, and of course the ever faithful Baldrick, played fantastically by Tony Robinson. The way history is presented as comedy is exceptional, which can't be surprising considering it was written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton. A must watch for any fan of British comedy!

4. Insektors

This is the last animated kids show from my childhood, I promise you! I'm not sure how many people will remember this show, or which version of it they watched. Yeah, there are two English versions of this original French animated series. The one we got in Australia was the North American dub, which makes it hard for me to watch any of the UK dub. But I digress. Again, this was a show that our family taped and that I get down from the shelves every couple of years or so to relive the memories. The story is pretty simple, and black and white, but I do love the animation style (considering when it was made, the animation is pretty top notch) and the characters. Most of the episodes revolve around two factions of insects and their never-ending inability to get along with each other. I love this show, I met some amazing people through the fandom this show spawned, and it was the first show that inspired me to make my own fan theory concerning the lineage of some of the characters! (It wasn't the first show that inspired me to write fanfiction, however. That's another confession for another day.)

3. The Vicar of Dibley

So, this show not only contains one of my favourite characters played by one of the most brilliant comedians ever to grace our screens. It's also one of the best representations of Christianity in popular culture. But I'm not going to wax lyrical about how the Church of England is not only mocked but celebrated as an accepting and forgiving entity. I'm just going to say that if there were more vicars around like Geraldine Granger, the world would be a better place. Again, this is a show that is hilariously funny, but can also contain some quite heavy and serious moments, and it knows how to handle them well without resorting to bathos (I learnt a new word, look it up!). The characters are also hilarious! I love the villagers and their dopey ways, and how their stupidity and misplaced enthusiasm bounces against the intelligence of Geraldine and David Horton. I love this show so much, that I even memorised Alice's butter speech (for a small fee of biscuits, I will quote it to you). But the heart of the show is the vicar, and I think that Geraldine Granger is one of the best characters ever created!

2. Dad's Army

Unlike a lot of titles on this list, this isn't a show that I grew up with. Instead, I just happened to be in the TV room while my dad was watching an episode of it one day. And since then, I've been hooked. Much like Blackadder, Dad's Army is able to create comedy out of Britain's darkest moment. It's able to combine the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' mentality that a lot of people felt during WW2 with humorous adventures surrounding a small town Home Guard. It's hard to put into words how clever this show is, especially if you know about England during WW2. And the stories are told through some of the funniest characters ever seen on television. I love these characters so much, that I can't even watch the show past the sixth series, because it would mean that I could no longer have the joy in watching James Beck as Private Joe Walker. And when I learned that Clive Dunne and Bill Pertwee had also died, I cried for days. It is now my ambition to meet Ian Lavender, and give him a massive hug, while wearing my hand knitted Pike scarf! I wait with excited breath for the new film!

1. Red Dwarf

For those of you who have been reading this blog (and I do thank those of you who have!) then this number one will come as no surprise! Red Dwarf is everything I could want in a TV show; funny scripts, an interesting premise, awesome characters played by excellent actors. And endless re-watch ability. I probably watch this show more frequently than any of the shows on this list (with the possible exception of Dad's Army), and every couple of years or so I find myself taking down the twelve or so VHS tapes of this show and slowly watch my way through all of them. One day I will get the DVDs, and spend a whole week watching everything that's on them! One of the best comedies ever, one of the greatest TV shows ever conceived and apparently, my favourite TV show. Red Dwarf, I give my double Rimmer salute!

So, that's that. I don't know when the next review will be up. It probably won't be a list, but possibly a rather terrible Christmas movie. Possibly starring Jeffrey Combs. Possibly, but who knows. If I don't post anything before then, have a wonderful Christmas! Until next time, readers.

LM - Underrated British Actors

Well, here we are with the second of my pretty random posts. This time, if you didn't tell from the title, it's all about those actors and actresses who never get the credit or attention they deserve. I live in an old fashioned kind of world, hence why I still say actress. Also, I find that whenever someone says actor, I think male actors.

So, anyway, I had to restrict this to the British Isles, since otherwise the list would go on for ages. Also, this is also from the perspective of living in Australia, so most likely they are more well known in they're own coutry. Or at least one would hope so!

So without further ado, lets carry on!

7 Underrated Actors:

7. The Entire Cast of Dad's Army

Ok, not really one actor, but since all the mains are men, and since the only other people I know who's heard of this show are either related to me or were alive when it was on, I'm going to put it on here.
This show is incredible! The cast is so good, you cannot imagine anyone else playing the parts here. I'm going to have to highlight Clive Dunn, who plays Lance Corporal Jones, as being one of the best slapstick actors ever. Also for being able to play a 70 yr old when he was only 49. If you get a chance, have a look at this show, because the characterisation can never be beaten.

6. Marc Warren

OK, this dude is fairly well known in the UK, and I'm sure he is in Australia, but whenever I mention him, I always have to give an example of what he's been in, and every time the only thing down under that people remember him from is that Doctor Who episode. And he's been in so much more!!!
From a laid back con artist in Hustle, to a down right creepy Marilyn Monroe impression in Hogfather, this dude has probably done it all. But good is that when no one here knows!

5. Paterson Joseph

This guy pops up all over the place, from the suave and charismatic Marquis de Carabas in Neverwhere, to the selfish game contestant on Doctor Who. Whatever role he plays, he is completely different, and you can see him putting his all into it.
The reason he's on the list is because he doesn't get the attention he deserves, and I speak from experience when I say that no one knows who he is. This dude definitely needs some more attention from everyone out there. And to not be known just as Lyndon from Green Wing.

4. Kenneth Williams

For those who have seen a Carry On film, you will instantly know who this is. But for a lot of people, this fabulous talent has never been seen. Kenneth Williams was at the heart of the Carry On films, with the most recognisible reactions and nostril flares, perfect comic timing and ability not only to play completely daft characters, but also serious ones.
He is on this list mainly because I reckon people need to re-discover him, and his amazing abilities. He is, to me at least, among some of the great British comedians, like Peter Cook, Rowan Atkinson and Arthur Lowe. He will be missed.

3. Matt King

Matt King is one of those actors who pops up all over the place. His most famous role is probably as drug addicted Super Hans from Peep Show, but also has an extensive resume of films, theater and tv shows.
I put him on because he doesn't get the credit he deserves. He co-wrote and came up with the idea for the Alan Davies TV show Whites, he is currently starring in Spirited alongside Claudia Karvan, and has appeared in such films as Inkheart, Rocknrolla and Malice in Wonderland. But do you know who he is? I haven't a clue, but I'm not very hopeful. This dude deserves more recognition than he gets.

2. Jack Wild

"Hey! Isn't that the Artful Dodger from Oliver?" I hear you ask. And yes it is, and that is also the reason he appears on this list. Though he was a big star in his day, and one of the youngest people to get nominated for an Oscar, he is only known for one film and the Pufnstuf series.
Even though he wasn't in that many films, he did quite a few, most of which have disappeared into the anals of filmic history. you can find copies of Melody on Amazon and The Fourteen is available on youtube, any of his other films have vanished, and it would be awesome if they could be brought back again.


And now it's time for the final person! After all the ones before I bet you're dying to know who this will be, unless you got bored earlier on and stopped reading. But enough chatter. Time for no. 1!



1. Huw Rhys

Yep, you read correctly. Huw Rhys. This guy is so unknown that he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. And don't try looking him up youtube either. While possibly more famous in Wales, he made a name for himself in the English mystery show, The Gil Mayo Mysteries or just Mayo (depending on which hemisphere). He has also appeared from time to time in bit parts on various TV shows such as Doctor Who and Spooks, but no one really knows who he is. And he is pretty awesome!

Anyway, the girls will have to wait another day or 2. I didn't this was going to be so long. I hope you enjoy, and please keep reading.