[wokeye]

At the moment (well for years really) I think television is at an all time low, and as such watch nothing. Well just Harry Hill's TV Burp, The superb BBC's Planet Earth, My Name Is Earl isn't bad, gave up on Desperate Housewives as that has went right down the tubes. Anyway I am just wondering if anybody can recommend anything decent to buy on DVD. I prefer things to be fairly realistic although I do like 24 I really do not like Friends, Scubs, Smallville, Will & Grace, Battlestar Gallactica etc.

What I am into (have seen) is The Sopranos (best by a mile), Band Of Brothers, 24 (I do not take it to seriously), Lost (very overrated IMHO but still interesting).

I have recently just bought Season 1 of "The Wire" as I read this was good, will have to see though as I have not watched any of it yet.

I have also just bought season 1 of "The Shield" watched one episode and I think it is pretty good and different from anything else that I have ever seen, hopefully it will get better.

The other one I was thinking of is a HBO release called "Six Feet Under", is this worth trying? Seems to get decent reviews and sounds like it may be my type of thing.

Or is there anything else that anyone can recommend? I also find the majority of American comedy not very funny (although earlier seasons of The Simpsons were very good). I prefer things that are fairly real BTW (although I did love twin Peaks), it needs to be on boxsets as I have cancelled my Sky subscription as I think it is totally dire!

[krish]

Alias - good escapist female James Bondian type stuff
24 - all boxsets
Spooks
Lost
Six Feet Under - very good
Millennium - might appeal to your Twin Peaksy tastes
The Shield - very good
Battlestar Galactica - this could appeal to you as its more of challenging drama than sci-fi
Firefly (and the movie Serenity) - again not really geeky sci-fi, very entertaining stuff with great characters

[samjpullen]

Csi..........

[wolfwiser]

Agree that CSIs are good (original version - Las Vegas) is best followed by New York, although CSI Miami can be a bit naff.

My favorite by a mile is House, (series 2 is currently on Channel 5), even though its a medical type drama, it has some brilliant laugh out loud lines....

[reevesy]

deadwood,sopranos,the shield,band of brothers.....you know it makes sense

[shahedz]

sopranos all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Crazy Snake Man]

without a trace

[majorstare]

Band Of Brothers.... already mentioned but utterly brilliant

The Blue Planet... David Attenborough

[RunDMC]

Six Feet Under is without doubt one of the finest TV shows you will ever see (easily up there with The Sopranos). A fantastic series and definitely recommended.

[Mr.D]

Deadwood definitely. If you like the sopranos you'll love this...never heard language like it on the TV before!

Brillliant acting , brilliant dialogue brilliantly shot and edited....can't go wrong.

[wokeye]

Thanks for the replies will have to splash some more cash. I forgot to mention Deadwood as I had read this was good somewhere else, although you guys seem to reckon it is good too. I was slightly put off by this as it is a western (although I love Unforgiven with Clint) and that the guy from Lovejoy stars in it

[wokeye]

I am going to buy the Blue Planet boxset too, even though I have seen it before, it was a while ago and I know it is awesome

[dsw182]

The X-Files - you can pick these up for about £14 a series
Scrubs - I realise you don't like US sitcoms, but this is different.
Futurama

[rob j]

'Over There' is about to be released on R1. I really like it. You say you love Band of Brothers, so you may like this too. Most episodes don't have the usual 'candyfloss' type endings either

[lovemunkey187]

When it's released Rome - from HBO, who also brought you The Sopranos, Carnivale, Six Feet Under and coproduced Band Of Brothers.
Oz - see above
Prison Break - don't think it's out yet, but more intriguing than Lost.

Out of all those previously mentioned House is probably the best one to go for. Ingenious storylines and some of the best one liners and put downs, ever.

Deadwood - has it's moments, but the language is repetative and detracts from the quality of the performances by Ian Mcshane, Timothy Olyphant and the other leads.

[rob j]

Originally Posted by lovemunkey187

Oz - see above

I cannot recommend OZ enough - One of my all time favourites! Michael and Eko from 'Lost' star in it if you don't know

[lovemunkey187]

Originally Posted by rob j

I cannot recommend OZ enough - One of my all time favourites! Michael and Eko from 'Lost' star in it if you don't know

Wouldn't recommend watching it with your Granny but it is a powerful show. Just got to try and find a cheap copy of season 5 now.

[stealther]

How can no one have mentioned Westwing? Easily one of the finest TV series ever!

[pmc]

Well you've already got two of the best with The Wire and The Shield. I also second the recommendations for Oz.

How about ER and NYPD Blue? Enought of these are avaialble to keep you happy for a while.

Oh, and for laughs its got to be Seinfeld.

[krish]

Originally Posted by pmc

...Oh, and for laughs its got to be Seinfeld.

and also...
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Arrested Development

[Barbara2001]

I'm puzzled. You say there isn't anything to watch on tv, yet all the box sets/programmes recommended in the postings are for shows that have been on recently, and in most cases are still running. Why haven't you already seen these shows?

[wokeye]

Originally Posted by Barbara2001

I'm puzzled. You say there isn't anything to watch on tv, yet all the box sets/programmes recommended in the postings are for shows that have been on recently, and in most cases are still running. Why haven't you already seen these shows?

I understand where you are coming from, I have just been stuck in the dark ages. I guess I always just thought of American TV as rubbish and usually never bothered with it, except for Twin Peaks as I am a big David Lynch fan. Then somebody at work just over a year or so ago told me how good The Sopraonos was. I read about it, and thought it sounded good. So I bought season 1 and was hooked, I very quickly bought the rest of the Season's and am now right up to date. Then I thought I would try 24 as I had also heard this was good, again I enjoyed it (not as good as The Sopranos) and again I was right up to date very quickly. So now with the garbage that is on TV, although I do understand that some of these series are on there (I do watch Lost) I just need something to watch. Also I do not like subscribing to Sky as I think it is a huge rip off, at least when you pay for the BBC (no choice I know) you get no adverts. With Sky you subscribe to it and it has adverts on Watch an episode of 24 that actually lasts for just over 40 minutes, but have to suffer over 15 minutes of adverts which I cannot stand. So I would rather buy things on boxsets as it works out cheaper you can keep them, watch them when you want, with no adverts! Also some of these programs may never of been on over here, I do not think Oz has, has it?

[lovemunkey187]

Originally Posted by wokeye

Also some of these programs may never of been on over here, I do not think Oz has, has it?

It was originally shown on Ch4 and E4.

Oz was written/created by Tom Fontana who also brought us Homicide: Life On The Street, he also wrote some stuff for St Elsewhere. If you're not old enough to remember it St Elsewhere was a seriously inventive and groundbreaking medical show from the early 80's.

[Pbryanw]

I'd recommend the This Life boxset (hate to bang on about it) especially as it now contains both series 1 and 2 (the only ones broadcast). I bought it from the BBC store for £32.99 - definitely worth the money. One of the seminal series of the 90's (whatever that means ).

[wokeye]

Originally Posted by lovemunkey187

It was originally shown on Ch4 and E4.

Oz was written/created by Tom Fontana who also brought us Homicide: Life On The Street, he also wrote some stuff for St Elsewhere. If you're not old enough to remember it St Elsewhere was a seriously inventive and groundbreaking medical show from the early 80's.

Ok cheers mate I just thought that Oz was not on in this country as it does not appear to be available on Region 2 DVD, just Region 1 and 4. Although I think 4 is the same as 2 anyway and I have a multi-region player anyway. Just thought because it was not available in PAL format it was not on over here. I should really do more research!

[tichtich]

Originally Posted by wokeye

I understand where you are coming from, I have just been stuck in the dark ages. I guess I always just thought of American TV as rubbish and usually never bothered with it, except for Twin Peaks as I am a big David Lynch fan. Then somebody at work just over a year or so ago told me how good The Sopraonos was. I read about it, and thought it sounded good.

I was much the same, hardly giving US drama and comedy a chance. A few times I only discovered good series while channel-hopping during a commercial break. That was how I discovered Friends, ER, The Sopranos and Frasier. Now I watch hardly anything but US series. Currently watching (on Freeview): Planet Earth, Supernatural, ER, House, Tru Calling, My Name Is Earl, Invasion (and recording The 4400 but not sure if I'll watch them). Only one British series among them.

If you like wild life series, I would second "Blue Planet". "Wild Down Under" was excellent too.

[rob j]

What about Shameless? Have you seen that?

[ash]

CSI is very cool. You say you don't like Smallville but have you given it a try?
Also The Apprentice BBC2 Wednesday 9.00pm

[lovemunkey187]

Originally Posted by wokeye

Ok cheers mate I just thought that Oz was not on in this country as it does not appear to be available on Region 2 DVD, just Region 1 and 4. Although I think 4 is the same as 2 anyway and I have a multi-region player anyway. Just thought because it was not available in PAL format it was not on over here.

As far as I know you're correct and they haven't seen the light of R2 day, but I think that this has more to do with the fact that it was never promoted or shown at a reasonable hour by CH4 rather than it not being a quality show(which it is).

Originally Posted by wokeye

I should really do more research!

Hey, asking here helps others aswell. Recommendations on these threads may give some inspiration or remind people of stuff they've not seen for years.

[lovemunkey187]

MOre highly recommeded shows to try.

Farscape
American Gothic
Babylon 5
Space: Above & Beyond

Have a look at my(and other folks) dvdprofiler link for some other ideas