Hooked On UK TV in the FALL
I am not sure what is about the Fall but I always happen to come across and become addicted to great BBC, iTv or channel 4 TV shows. Typically it’s iTunes fault because they load some awesome new programs this time of year. Or maybe the nesting months is to blame. This year is no different, I ran across the 3rd season of “Lark Rise to Candleford”. Thankfully iTunes has the first 3 seasons. I am almost already done with the first season. I am such a sucker for period British dramas. The show first aired back in 2008, and lasted for 3 seasons. The show ended on a high note of rating. The cast is a great mish-mash of great actors, some you might now from other great shows like Brendan Coyle from Downton Abbey or Julia Sawalha who played Saffi Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous. My favorite member of the cast, sadly was only in a handful of the episode through it’s 3 year run. Dawn French, love her to death. I’ll gush about her later!
I will say this, the british have been doing amazing TV for some time right now. The past 20 years especially! Other shows that I’ve come across in the last 10 years, include Merlin, The Paradise or Mr. Selfridge and South Riding. The one area of television that the UK outshines the US is Sci-Fi. Let’s face it, we may have Warehouse 13, Eureka and Star Trek or the Stargate shows. Sadly americans have a love/hate relationships with Sci-Fi shows. I mean we cancelled great shows after only 1 or 2 seasons. Examples include Firefly, Stargate Universe, Dollhouse or Alphas. The are flawless with their offeings like Torchwood, Being Human, Misfits and Dr. Who, which has been on the air for 50 years now.
So check out Candleford, I just love how I run across these shows. The last few years I I've fallen in love with shows like Clatterford, Cranford and Call the Midwife, the three C's you could call them. Clatterford (Jam & Jerusalem as it's called in the UK) brought French & Saunders back together, it lasted 3 seasons and the story of this dramatic but hilarious country town was thanks to Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders great comedic minds. Joanna Lumley as Delilah Staggs is frikin hilarious! Crandford was another period show which started Judi Dench the first two seasons. The show was able to hold on for one last season, closing out at #3. Call the Midwife is still kicking and alive and kicking. The show is built off the 4 memoirs by Jennifer Worth who was midwife in the east end of London in the 50's. Each episode is like a little present, you are treated with a compelling and human story each time. The show will air a Christmas Special in December followed by the 3 season airing in January.