TV Heaven On A Duvet Day (Top Ten TV Programmes... Ever!)

Member Name: funzo

Product:	Top Ten TV Programmes... Ever!
Date:	13/11/08 (617 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Eclectic But Brilliant Viewing

Disadvantages: Why dont you turn off your tv set and do something less boring instead.

Top Ten Television Programmes.

I love TV, and I think TV loves me. Just when I think that I'm finished with TV and its X Factor and car crash watching it gives me a Gavin and Stacey to once more get enthused about.
Here is my comprehensive Top Ten list of Television programmes of all time, quite eclectic you might agree....... The list is in no particular order, except for the first one which is my all time favourite TV programme but please enjoy my hop skip and a jump down TV Memory Lane.......my perfect TV for those Duvet Days in front of the box under a nice warm duvet with piping hot tea and biccies within easy reach...



1) This Life - simply the best TV of the 90's. A brilliantly written and produced character led drama about a group of twenty something trainee solicitors and pupil barristers living together in 1990's London. Two series were made in 1996 and 1997, and a reunion special in 2007. Beautifully written, it encapsulated every human emotion possible and was played so superbly by the then unknown actors that just about all of them went to have successful careers. The final episode of series 2 - apocalypse now - culminated in one of the best endings to a series ever made and if you have not seen or heard of this series I suggest you get yourself a dvd immediately. When the reunion was broadcast I was away on holiday and someone very kindly recorded on DVD for me. However, I have been advised that this is a bit of Godfather 3 moment and should not have been made, so I have not actually seen the DVD... I want nothing to tarnish the unsurpassable memory of This Life, and the characters from the 90's.



2) Only Fools and Horses - Ok, it got a little tired towards the end its run but never has one TV show given so much pleasure and so many classic moments over so many years. If I have to describe the premise of Only Fools, and who the Trotters are, then it is a sad indictment upon you as this is truly a national institution and put simply, you are missing out. Running between 1981 and 1991 the sporadic Christmas specials provides warm happy memories of very happy Christmas's spent bloated in front of the box with family. Written by John Sullivan, who provided sublime poignancy to his comedy writing genius. The main character Del Trotter was brought to life by the truly great David Jason, I defy anyone who has seen Only Fools and Horses not to be able to think of scene or episode that made them roar with laughter at some point. For me, danger UXB, the episode where Del is trying to offload some blow up sex dolls filled with explosive dangerous gasses is the best of the bunch but there are so many great moments that it is always a treat stumbling across a repeat of any Only Fools and Horses on one of the many satellite channels around preventing me from going to bed at what society calls a reasonable hour.



3) Dogtanion and the Three Muskahounds. - yes the All for one and one for all cartoon adaptation of Alexander Dumas's - D'Artagnan and the Three Muskateers. Spain's best and as far as I know only meaning contribution to world television, although the animation was done in Japan. This gem of a cartoon was the must see TV for any child growing up in the early 80's. How could you survive in the playgrounds if you did not know every verse to its classic tune and for those that have forgotten over the mists of time here it is :


One for all and all for one, Muskerhounds are always ready.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one, it's a pretty story.
Sharing everything with fun. That's the way to be.

One for all and all for one, Muskerhounds are always steady.
One for all and all for one, helping everybody.
One for all and all for one. Kids are pretty corny.
If you got a problem chum, think how it could be.

They cross their hearts and pray. They cross their swords night and day,
They drink their beer and swear. They're faithful to their King.
No matter what you say, they're never far away,
They're always ready to fight or to sing.

They like to make jokes and tricks. They fight with swords or with sticks.
They have a beer and swear. They're faithful to their King.
They will defend you, save you. They'll always come to rescue.
And all may hope that they fight or they sing..

26 Episodes were made and I loved every one. Best children's cartoon ever made, worthy of an all time top ten place for me.



4) Family Guy... it seems from other reviews you either love or hate Family Guy, and I am very firmly entrenched in the Love category. The American animated adult comedy has now run for 7 series. Not bad, considering it was cancelled after series 1 and then reinstated due to repeat watching and then cancelled again after series 2, only to be reinstated because of DVD sales. Created by Seth Mcfarlane, it centres on a dysfunctional family in the fictional city of Quahog in Rhode Island. The genius is in the writing, more on the knuckle than near it. The frequently used throwaway tangential vignettes provide a hilarious surrealism never seen or bettered by these eyes before. Lots of references to the 80's and so politically incorrect it has replaced The Simpsons as my favourite cartoon comedy. No subject is left un-Family Guyed and for those easily offended or without a sense of humour this is not for you.



5) I'm Alan Partridge. - We were first introduced to Steve Coogan's character Alan Partridge as a sports broadcaster on Brass Eye/The day Today. He was then given his own talk shows on Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge which were funny enough. But he really came into his own brilliance with the series I'm Alan Partridge, which explored the character of Alan in depth and exposed his social ineptitude in such memorable fashion. His general incompetence provides the cringe worthy situations that he hilariously gets himself into and out of. The man Coogan is a genius and the episodes of Alan living in the Travelodge (exactly equidistant between London and Norwich) trying to win a second series of his chat show but slowly sinking into a breakdown provide some of the best comedy moments from UK television in last 20 years. Can never tire of watching of this.



6) Tour Of Duty was a Platoon typed American TV series aired between 1987 and 1990 set during the Vietnam War. It was shown at about 11.30pm on Fridays, just about the time I got home from the Pub, and I would race home, kebab in hand to watch this. The opening theme music was Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones, which set the standard for this Oliver Stone influenced story of a platoon of men in Vietnam. Another character driven drama, with a fine cast of mainly unknown actors, this had a fair sprinkling of war action that was this teenage boys dream (well that and Pamela Anderson),Bu as well as being a story of comradeship, it also tackled serious army issues like racism, drug abuse and civilian deaths. I recently bought the 58 episode DVD's at a car boot sale for two English pounds....still can't believe my luck.



7) The Simpsons - The groundbreaking comedy cartoon about the dysfunctional family of the same name. Even the most remotest and isolated of Peruvian forest tribes will know where 'Doh' was made famous. After originally surfacing on the Tracey Ullman show in America in 1987 it was given its own series in 1989 and is still going strong. Not as edgy as Family Guy this still delivers quality laughs and entertainment for all ages. This set standards for others to follow and The Simpsons is a television programme that has consistently provided many a guffaw over many a year.



8) Auf Wiedersehen Pet - originally broadcast on ITV1 and then later on the BBC this comedy/drama was written about 7 British migrant workers initially in Germany, then England, Spain and America. Written by the legendary Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais it originally aired in 1983. In Germany we were introduced to the main protagonists in Oz (Jimmy Nail), Dennis (Tim Healy) Moxy (Chris Fairbank) Wayne (Gary Holton) Timothy Spall (Barry) Bomber (Pat Roach) and Neville (Kevin Whately) The interaction between the group and the escapades they got in provided television that is up there with the finest. So much so that bar the ex professional wrestler Bomber Pat Roach each one of its stars went on make further names for themselves...even Moxey was in the Batman film. Auf Wiedersehen and its characters were brought back in 2002 and although some of the edge of the characters had naturally changed and mellowed with age, it was like seeing old family members who are dear to you. To make up for the sad death of Gary Holton (Wayne) Noel Clarke of Kidulthood fame was an actor inspired bit of casting as not only is he an a very fine accomplished but it seemed to fit naturally within the ensemble. Jimmy Nail is brilliant in this anyone who has seen their time in Germany cannot forget the sight of Oz in his blackened Y-Fronts Classic Television that makes me proud to be British.



9) Grange Hill - The 6th of February is a sad day indeed. This year on that day, the British school based drama - Grange Hill was cancelled after 30 years on out television, with final episode airing on September 30th this year. This is another children's programme that everyone seemed to watch. Not only did it provide half the Eastenders gene pool, but it controversially tackled groundbreaking issues, such as drug abuse, racism, bullying and teenage pregnancy. Originally set in the fictitious London borough of Northam, it was filmed in my hometown of Borehamwood, before production moved to Liverpool in 2003. So many great characters and storylines I truly loved this programme and as I'm writing this names and faces pop into my head... Gonch, Ziggy, Zammo, Roland, Precious, Pogo Patterson, Mr Baxter, Gripper, Tucker Jenkins, Bridget the midget, Mr Bronsons wig, cartoon sausages on a fork, and of course.... Just say no. The youth of the day are worse off without this.



10) The last entry into my top ten TV Programmes list is BushTucker Man. Les Hiddins was a highly decorated Australian soldier who had fought two tours of duty in Vietnam as a forward scout. He was asked by the Australian military to write the Australian Armys Combat survival manual. Whilst researching this a TV series evolved and there were two series of Bush Tucker man in the late 80's to introduce to Britain the edible qualities of such Australian fayre as WidgityGrubs... without Bush Tucker Man and his strange hat and LandRover Defender there would be no Ray Mears or Bear Grylls. I loved the two Bush Tucker Man series.. They were raw and fascinating and my love of outdoors was greatly enhanced by Les Hiddins, who retired a major in 1989. Great viewing.

There you go... my top ten TV programmes... I hope you have enjoyed reading this hop skip and jump, clutching a 1984 Christmas TV Times down memory lane as i have enjoyed writing it.

Thanks for reading

Summary: My Top Ten TV Of All time