[DWF]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...8/27/6488.shtml

Quote

The Radio Times' experts have published their list of the top 40 television shows of the past half century.

From Abigail's Party to Z Cars, the top 40 should spark heated debate, mainly because of the cult shows omitted from the list. Blue Peter and Doctor Who fail to get a mention, as does Star Trek.

"If you were an alien wanting a good grounding in TV this is it," defends TV editor Alison Graham. "I wouldn't condemn anyone for not having watched any of the 40 - but a lot of them are on video."

The Radio Times' greatest shows are:

Abigial's Party
The Ascent of Man
Blackadder Goes Forth
Boys from the Blackstuff
Cathy Come Home
Caught on a Train
Civilisation
Coronation Street
Edge of Darkness
Eastenders
ER
Fawlty Towers
Frasier
Hill Street Blues
Hancock's Half Hour
I'm Alan Partridge
The Larry Sanders Show
The League of Gentlemen
Life on Earth
M*A*S*H
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Not Only... But Also
The Office
Our Friends in the North
Phoenix Nights
Police
Porridge
Pride and Prejudice
Seinfield
The Simpsons
The Singing Detective
Steptoe and Son
The Sweeney
Talking Heads
Til Death us do Part
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
Z Cars
9/11

No Star Trek or Dr. Who in the top 40?

[Christopher]

I'm wondering what "The League of Gentlemen" was -- it sounds like an inspiration for the Alan Moore comic.

Or maybe not. According to IMDb:

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0184135

It's a sitcom premiering in 1999, in which most of the roles are played by the same three men. Maybe they both get their name from this 1959 heist picture:

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0052997

Or more likely all three works of fiction got the name from some pre-existing institution or custom.

[DWF]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...ex_league.shtml

Make of it what you will, I've not seen it and don't quite what to make of it.

[Kosh]

I saw one episode of something that might have been that, whatever it was, it wasn't one of the better British comedys.

I've seen some Blackadder. It's good, but I don't know about top 40.
Blackadder Goes Forth

Fawlty Towers : Got to be there

Hill Street Blues :I'll buy this one
Hancock's Half Hour : and this one

M*A*S*H
Monty Python MASH and MONTY got to be in there

The other Brittish shows I havcen't seen, the other American shows I wouldn't put in the top 40.

[Shaun]

Given that it's a list made by Radio Times I'm not surprised, if you took a poll of the general viewing audience I think you'd find the results would include a few SF shows.

I've watched The League of Gentleman and I still don't know what to make of it.

[DWF]

Shaun, on Aug 27 2003, 10:38 PM, said:

I've watched The League of Gentleman and I still don't know what to make of it.

Now that's scary.

[Davesnothome]

"Blue Peter"? Sounds like a porno! Or a kids show!! (g)

Dave

This post has been edited by Davesnothome: 27 August 2003 - 11:31 PM

[Christopher]

Davesnothome, on Aug 28 2003, 12:30 AM, said:

"Blue Peter"? Sounds like a porno! Or a kids show!! (g)

I believe it is a kids' show, judging from references I recall from the British Whose Line Is It Anyway.

[Cauda]

Blue Peter is indeed a kid's show, intended to be educational, with lots of documentary and informative stuff. It's been running for centuries (or maybe it just feels like it). Generally considered to be a show for nerdy kids who actually like school

The league of gentlemen, on the other hand is like nothing that's ever been seen on TV before. It's about a bizarre town full of hideously eccentric characters all played by the same four guys (even the women). The show takes bad taste to new levels! It's the kind of thing you either love or hate. It's developed a cult following, although the usual reaction to seeing it is more like "WTF was that"?

[Kosh]

Cauda, on Aug 28 2003, 09:26 AM, said:

Blue Peter is indeed a kid's show, intended to be educational, with lots of documentary and informative stuff. It's been running for centuries (or maybe it just feels like it). Generally considered to be a show for nerdy kids who actually like school 

The league of gentlemen, on the other hand is like nothing that's ever been seen on TV before. It's about a bizarre town full of hideously eccentric characters all played by the same four guys (even the women). The show takes bad taste to new levels! It's the kind of thing you either love or hate. It's developed a cult following, although the usual reaction to seeing it is more like "WTF was that"?

Da Ali G show had enough of a following that HBO picked it up. I wish some of them had watched it first. There is so much better TV across the pond.

[DWF]

Cauda, on Aug 28 2003, 09:26 AM, said:

Blue Peter is indeed a kid's show, intended to be educational, with lots of documentary and informative stuff. It's been running for centuries (or maybe it just feels like it). Generally considered to be a show for nerdy kids who actually like school 

I've seen some of Blue Peter, mainly it was promotions for Dr. Who, like seeing a War Machine, and Colin Baker's visit.