Team Idiot Box would like to select in the category of minseries, Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice.
This is a 1995, six episode British serial, which starred Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennett. It was well received by critics and received several award nominations, a BAFTA win for Best Actress (Ehle), a Peabody award, a Television Critics Award and an Emmy for Costume Design.
I am sure most of the guys are mad I took their selection, but what can you do?
Completely off my radar (clearly, I need to think harder), but such an awesome pick. Pride and Prejudice is easily one of my top 5 books.
I used to love pissing off my grade 9 English teacher by trying to convince her that Liz was Pride and Darcy was Prejudice.
"Don't move. You're surrounded by armed bastards."
For my next pick, in the World category, Frozen TV Dinner is pleased to select, from the UK, courtesy the BBC, the original Life on Mars.
I'll admit, I had never heard of this series until last month when the US remake version began airing on ABC. I found it to be an interesting concept, and when I read many reviews praising the UK version, I "acquired" both of its 8 episode series.
At only 16 episodes total, the entire run of the UK version will be surpassed by the US remake before the end of this season (assuming it gets a full order). However, its short lifespan is one thing that makes the UK version so good, they didn't need to drag out the storyline for an extended, open-ended run.
The premise is certainly unique: Sam Tyler (John Simm) is a police detective in Manchester, England in 2006. During the course of an investigation, he is struck by a passing vehicle and knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he is in the same location, but his clothes and car are different and he finds that he appears to be living in the year 1973 (a time when he himself was 4 years old).
He returns to the police station that he works out of in 2006 and discovers that he was expected by the other detectives there as a new transfer from another district. In 2006, he had recently been promoted to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector, but in 1973, the station already has a DCI, Gene Hunt (played wonderfully by Philip Glenister).
Gene is definitely not a 21st Century cop. He's racist, sexist, and he isn't afraid to drink on the job. His tactics don't sit well with Sam, but they are effective. Also, together Sam and Gene have a strange chemistry that helps them solve the crimes they are confronted with each week.
Also in the mix in 1973 are the other detectives at the station, and Annie (the very cute Liz White), a young female officer who doesn't really have anyone's respect in the station. She may wear a uniform, but the most police work she gets to perform is consoling upset children. Being a "modern" man, Sam respects Annie and her skills, and eventually confides in her about his situation.
As the series progresses, Sam receives bits and pieces of information about what is happening back in 2006. As best he can figure out, he is in a coma in 2006, where his mother, girlfriend, and doctors are working to bring him back.
Because it had a definitive end-date, the series does have a satisfying conclusion (which I won't spoil here), which the US version will hopefully have as well. According to one of the clips I found on YouTube, the ending was named the best series ending of all time in the UK.
Here's a musical tribute to Gene (unfortunately, the music is too loud that you can't hear his lines some of the time)...
The character of Gene Hunt was so popular that a new series, called Ashes to Ashes, was commissioned. This time, the series had a female lead waking up unexpectedly in the 1980s. I haven't seen it yet, but the reviews were not so flattering.
__________________
Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
We will not sit around and wait for another Canadian Classic slip through our fingers.
But for now, it's going under REALITY: ELIMINATION (I wouldn't consider it 'ongoing', as it's a constant battle).
And the wrongest of the wrong...
Kenny vs. Spenny is a Canadiancomedyrealitytelevision series about two best friends, Kenny Hotz and Spencer "Spenny" Rice who face each other in various competitions. The loser of the episode must perform an act of humiliation, usually selected by the winner. Kenny and Spenny created the series themselves, and it is typically shot in their hometown of Toronto, Ontario, based mainly out of the house they share. As of November 2008, the show airs on CBC, Global and Showcase in Canada, on Comedy Central in the United States and Germany. Kenny asserts that the series is completely unscripted, and is all real.
The series was nominated for Gemini Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2008 as the best Canadian comedy series, and has received a Rose d'Or nomination in Switzerland for "best international comedy series". The show has spawned several replicas of its format, including a British version on Sky One called Ed vs. Spencer. There is also a German version of the show, called Elton vs. Simon, featuring two German comedians and friends. A French Canadian version, called Frank vs Girard airs on VRAK.TV. Also following this format is Juan vs. Roman in Latin America, Cenk vs. Erdem in Turkey and Katja vs. Bridget in the Netherlands.
Each episode is typically based on a statement which sets the goal of the competition in a "who is...?" or "who can?" style; occasionally a "first one to... loses" statement is used instead. Competitions sometimes take the familiar form of performing a task the best, such as catching the largest fish; but they are more often unusual tasks, such as who can be tied to a goat the longest. The other typical style of competition is endurance to see who can do or abstain from something the longest.
Records:
Kenny: 42-19-4
Spenny: 19-42-4
(If competitions where Kenny cheated (15) or arguably cheated (6) and won are not counted, the record would be 21-19-4 for Kenny; If they are counted as wins for Spenny (as Spenny suggests they should), then Spenny would be leading 39-23-4. )
well yea that is true but hogan and osbourns would go under reality - ongoing and not reality elimination
I'm pretty sure that's my point. I know those two are "reality - ongoing", but to me they are pretty darn close to "sitcom", which Kenny vs. Spenny is not.
Plus, imdb uses "competition" as a tag for both Kenny vs. Spenny and Survivor.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
4th pick in the TV Draft proudly select from the Soap Opera/Serials........
"DALLAS"
The world is littered with the bodies of people that tried to stick it to ole J.R. Ewing.
Dallas began as a five part mini-series on CBS in 1978. The show then aired on CBS for a total of 14 seasons. The soap was broadcast across the globe and is considered the most successful American soap opera outside the US borders.
The Dallas TV series is best-known for the it's character J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), the greedy, scheming, oil magnate.
One of the most famous television show events ever happened at the end of the 1979-80 Dallas season, when an unknown intruder shot J.R. in the chest while he was working late at his office. "Who Shot J.R.?" was a phrase that captivated the world. Odds on the shooter's identity were calculated, and saw active wagering. Turned out it was Kristin, J.R.'s scorned sister-in-law and former romantic interest.
Ok we'll keep comedy-sitcom and comedy-open.
Chuck is in the open category.
We'll see what other ones pop up
Umm sorry about this............I don't think of this as a sitcom but we'll see what the ruling is. I love the show and recommend EVERYONE watch it!
Team Jumped the Shark is excited to select another of my favorite shows currently on TV. In the Open Comedy (for now) category: Weeds
The plot revolves around a widowed housewife (played by Parker) from an affluent California suburb who becomes her neighborhood's marijuana dealer to make ends meet.
I can't say enough about this show, mmmmm Mary-Louise Parker *drool*.
Kevin Nealon is awesome as Doug. Elizabeth Perkins & Justin Kirk are fantastic. It has been cool to see Alexander Gould grow up on the show.
Where's the Remote? are pleased to select in the Talk Show category:
The Larry Sanders Show
The only "Talk Show" I wanted to choose. Yes, it might be fictional but the show used real guests to great effect. This is simply a superb and very funny show. The cast is fantastic. Rip Torn as Artie, Jeremy Tambor (of Arrested Development fame) as "Hey Now" Hank! I'd highly recommend this to anybody.
Dammit Jagger, I thought I could leave that one a bit longer. But good for you to snag this. I would consider this a sitcom and not truly a Talk show, but I'll not argue against your pick.
Larry Sanders is the BEST sitcom (faux talk show) in history, IMHO!
__________________
Eberle said, "It was one of the more special ones I've had. You don't score your first NHL goal too many times."
Dammit Jagger, I thought I could leave that one a bit longer. But good for you to snag this. I would consider this a sitcom and not truly a Talk show, but I'll not argue against your pick.
It's listed as a Talk Show too on IMDB, hence the reason I picked it under that category. It's the perfect talk show imo!
I know those two are "reality - ongoing", but to me they are pretty darn close to "sitcom", which Kenny vs. Spenny is not.
proudly select from the Soap Opera/Serials........ 
