The Top 10 British Comedies You Should Be Watching

Every now and then, I like to force my opinions on you. It's just a thing that makes me happy. So, let's all just try to get through this one together and it will be over before you know it!

Do you like fun? Do you enjoy giggling? Do you think British accents are better? Do you enjoy watching American TV? Well, if you said no, you're wrong, and if you said yes, have I got a list for you! If it's been on in the US, chances are good we stole it from the UK.

There are a million examples I could give, but I'll confine myself to three:

Do you like The Office? That syrupy Jan/Fred (I don't actually know names here, I hated that show) romance thing that sustained an ungodly number of seasons? Yep, Britain did it better.

Do you like Veep? You're missing out on it's far-superior Anglo-original, which I've helpfully included here.

Do you like The Daily Show? I suppose this should say, "Did you used to like it" because let's be honest, it's awful and un-watchable without Jon Stewart. Either way, the limey geniuses had it first (the concept anyway) with Not the Nine O'Clock News. In 1979!

I personally had a slight aversion to Brit-Com for the longest time. I had family and friends who repeatedly gushed about things and I was rebellious and wanted to find things that no one else liked. That didn't end very well, and I've come back to the "fold", as it were.

These gems are found on Netflix, but some are only on DVD or Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime Instant Video. There's also always piracy I guess, but I can't condone that. For legal reasons. I now realize the genius behind some of these shows and while there are some bad episodes, for the most part, they are superb. I now find myself compelled to share these with everyone, spread the word, you know... for the greater good.

So, in no particular order, I give you:

Top 10 British Comedy Television Shows That You Should Be Watching

Get in there, I mean right now!

But before we begin... (grumble-grumble-grumble)

Honorable Mentions

(Historic, Honourable Mentions, in this case I guess?)

These are shows that everyone watches. The grande dames, they have movies and millions and they don't need my help. You already love them!

Black Adder / Mr. Bean, The Inbetweeners, Red Dwarf, Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers...

And master of them all, Monty Python's Flying Circus.

But this isn't about what you are already watching, this is about those few hidden gems you may not have seen, but you should! Let's do this!

10. Black Books / Father Ted / The IT Crowd

Or as I like to call it, the “Graham Linehan Trilogy”. These are primarily shows about three or four people in an unusual situation. An unusual, hilarious situation. From a quiet bookshop to a small parish to the bustling world of Internet Things, these sitcoms bring the funny. They all feature brilliant performances and talented casts. The quirky, idiosyncratic, manic storylines are wonderful and funny. If you haven’t seen these, give them a try. Black Books is my personal favorite, followed by The IT Crowd and finishing with Father Ted.

9 ^¾ : The Good Life

I wasn’t going to include this one. But a wise person told me not to discriminate against things I don’t understand. This is a quaint story about a husband and wife who want to unplug and homestead in their very suburban home outside London. It’s the 70’s. That’s the only explanation I’ve got here. This show had comedy and wit and fun, and I loved Paul Eddington as the posh neighbor. However, this show is part of the tapestry that lead to me write Non-Steading. So, while I despise everything they try to do in this show, and cheered a bit when they failed at things, it is genuinely funny and you may want to check it out. Ahem.

9. The Vicar of Dibley

This is one that most people have at least heard of. Geraldine is a force to be reckoned with, and so is her boss. This series was always being heralded as the second coming and it took me a while to get on board. But after seeing Alice how could anyone turn away? The actors on this show tackle real world problems, bringing levity and sanity to anyone who needs it. Make sure to watch the Blessing of the Animals episode, and tell me your heart doesn’t melt. I was smiling so hard I may have cried a little. Or a lot. But it’s not all heart-warming, there’s a great bit of comedy in there as well. Plus a very, very  young Peter Capaldi if you watch closely! Plus Sean Bean doesn't die!

8. As Time Goes By

This is the show I think really made me admire Dame Judi. Not only was she off playing M, winning awards, being an over-all badass, but she was making this quietly wonderful revelation on television. This is what it really looks like to be good at your job all of the time. Between her and Geoffrey Palmer, it’s impossible not to giggle! It made me wish I had a coffee plantation in Kenya that I could lose and then find the love of my life a second time around!

7. Spaced

Ah, a love letter to my childhood. I almost wish I could have appreciated this gem way back when it first aired! This tiny confection only lasted two seasons, but those were all it needed. Of course, we all would have loved more, but Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright had other things they needed to bring us like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz! (We don’t talk about The World’s End around these parts.) This show also introduced me to Jessica Hynes, who aged nicely, as we will see. From Resident Evil to aliens to comics and more, this show is a perfect capsule that you can swallow any time to help with Anger… Pain… Fear... Agression.

6. The Last of the Summer Wine

This one has always held a special place in my head. It was the first show I remember watching that had British characters. It was also the first time I got to see the creations of Roy Clarke, and that is always fortuitous. Like most British shows, this one just keeps recasting people as they leave, so it’s a little confusing at first. Once you look past any small inconsistencies, you are free to sit back and enjoy this madcap romp. Generally focusing on older men who still think they are quite young, it gives you hope that you’ll be that active in your golden years!

5. W1A

This is the only show (I think!) that I’m listing that is still on the air. My favorite thing to say about this is, “Hollywood created a show named after a zip code and we got 90210. The BBC does it and we get W1A.” Finally a chance to see Hugh Bonneville outside the walls of Downton, and we get more Jessica Hynes as the PR maven slash nightmare. Everything about this production is dazzling. They are dealing with the charter renewal, poking fun at themselves and the BBC, and slaying all the sacred cows they can find. Their meeting on BAME/LGBT numbers is on-point for how most offices sound these days when trying to “hit their numbers” and it is comical. Plus I love Will and I don’t even know what’s wrong with him yet. Seriously, check this show out and be vocal if you like it, maybe it won’t get cancelled!

4. Yes, Minister / Yes, Prime Minister

This is another classic example of British television being awesome. When America does politics we get The West Wing. It’s a great show, but it’s not exactly light. When they make a show about politics across the pond, we get House of Cards. Oh that’s right we stole that too! Don’t get me wrong, Spacey is amazing, and I binge that show with everyone else. But back to Yes, Minister and its fabulous follow-up Yes, Prime Minister! These are the shows that other shows try to be. From the delightfully smarmy Sir Humphrey Appleby to the return of Paul Eddington as Jim Hacker, MP, this show contains more laughs than you realize. I’ve had to watch it dozens of times to mine new jokes, and they just keep appearing. Everything from multiple meanings and witty double entendres to insider humor can be found in this wealth of material. My personal favorite quote explained everything I ever needed to know about the newspapers in Britain.

Asked about the press Hacker responds, “The Daily Mirror is read by the people who think they run the country. The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country. The Times is read by the people who actually do run the country. The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country. The Financial Times is read by people who own the country. The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country. The Daily Telegraph is read by the people who think it is.”

Woolley, his secretary, asks about people who read the Sun. Hacker replies with, “Sun readers don't care who runs the country - as long as she's got big tits.”

3. Keeping Up Appearances

This is the pinnacle of Roy Clarke’s creations in my book. If you’ve never seen Hyacinth Bucket (that’s pronounced Bouquet, dear.) then you are missing something in your life. You will also never feel as sorry for a man as you do for Richard, but that’s fine. This show is basically Married with Children, but heaps better. It has a whole mad crowd: Daisy and Onslow, Rose and whoever she’s on top of that week and their batty father, Elizabeth the neighbor and Emmet her poor divorced brother, the scruffy Dog, absent Sheridan. Every single episode of this series is a standalone masterpiece. From what I understand, it’s still in syndication in the UK out of sheer popularity. If you only watch one thing from this list, make it Keeping Up Appearances. You won’t regret it.

2. My Hero

Never has one show caused so much love and then so much hatred. I hesitated here. I love this show beyond all reason. Seasons 1 through 5 will determine whether I can be friends with a person. Season 6 is even worse than The World’s End. We don’t just avoid talking about it, we actively forget it exists. So, please go and watch this amazing show right up until the end of Season 5. Then follow the lead actor over to Father Ted. Do not watch past the end of Season 5 and you will love this show more than you thought possible. You can watch Season Six Episode One if you want to see what happens to George, but I… I don’t recommend it, honestly. Basically just assume everything is fine and the end of Season 5 is the end of the show.

1. The Thick of It

Malcolm Tucker.

Love him, hate him, fear him.

If you don’t know who Malcolm Tucker is, allow me to introduce you. I can’t possible write a better review of this show than to just show you this clip.

It does contain #NSFW language. Be prepared!

This is Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker. I know he’s the new Doctor, but I will always love him for this role. This is my favorite show, and it should be yours, too. Yes, there are a lot of sweary words and this is definitely #NSFW, but it is just sidesplitting hilarity. Once you get past the language, which let’s be honest, is a bit like naughty poetry in the hands of a master-dramatist like Capaldi, it’s just all wonderful. And just remember it's NMFP.

It's the best Death Glare I've ever seen.

So, there's my list of suggestions. If you think there is a conspicuous absence of crime-solving comedy (Waiting for God, etc) or WWII era fun (Like Dad's Army?), you are correct, as those need their very own lists! 'Til Next Time!

 Is there anything you would add? What's your favorite, unsung Brit-Com?

Construction Project: I Should Not Be Up This Early

As anyone reading this blog knows, I am cursed to live with someone who has "project ideas" every so often. I won't say this comes entirely from Pinterest or YouTube, but I think we know I could say that.

The latest undertaking that I have been tasked with assisting is a home gym.

Let me tell you about my love of fitness. Let me shower you with ideas about weights and angles and safety.

That's right, I can't. Because I don't care. I don't care even a little tiny bit about fitness. Or gyms. Or building things. I'm a NonSteader. This means I like to take advantage of things that someone else has already put together like cell phones, cheesey puffs and Netflix. I don't want to have to build something. And even if I were going to help with the construction of  some sort of fitness machine, I would consider the very act of construction work-out enough!

I may be alone in my steadfast refusal to take part in anything remotely assembly-required, but what's even worse is something that involves building from scratch.

It's one thing if you want to test your relationship by making a pilgrimage to some giant furniture emporium that sells things that come in pieces in boxes with hex wrenches and instructions that consist mostly of pictures and foreign languages!

It is something entirely different when you want your loved ones to field trip to the local hardware store, measure, cut wood, cut metal or pipe, solder things together, weld, wire, glue, clamp or otherwise engage in things best left to professionals.

The very thought that you would want to use something after I have been involved in the construction of said thing is ludicrous. Honestly, I wouldn't use the shower head first after I had to install it myself one day last year. I waited until some other poor sap tested it out first. I know my limits. I know my skills. Handi-craft and manufacturing are not among them!

With that being said, if you ever find yourself working out at my house (which I can't really imagine happening, but you never know) maybe don't use anything that has been put together by anyone other than the original retail outlet.

So, today I am up bright and early and I am going to help build a gym. Let's all cross our fingers that I don't lose any.

Ye Olde Cascade d'Cinema Part Deux: The Case of Netflix and the Old Releases

Warning/Spoiler Alert:

This is a personal rant. Feel free to skip this rant. You are probably not the person I am ranting about. This is not personal. This is just the Internet. Thank you.

Yesterday, I had some things I needed to say about Netflix. As a result of that post, I began talking with some of my Tweeps and such and I realized I had skipped a very important piece of this rant. I will now fill you in on what we discovered.

So a friend from Twitter had posted some memes, and they were funny. At least, I believed them to be funny. I think she's pretty hilarious with the meme thing.

They were funny on their own, but they made more sense when you put them together. They got posted (separately) to Imgur. That's where the communication begins to breakdown.

They didn't get it. Well, one guy in the comments apparently got it, and high five for that guy.

Sincerely, high five.

I know this isn't some catastrophic thing, but it's such an easy fix! A simple adjustment to their criteria! A cut off for when a movie or show can be considered "new"! But this problem bugs me, and I really felt like it should have been included in my long-winded piece from yesterday. It wasn't, so now it goes here!

You can clearly see that both of these images are referencing a phenomenon anyone on Netflix has seen before. There are often movies and TV shows that appear in "New Releases" that are older, sometimes years older. The appropriate place, categorically, for those items, which may be "New to Netflix" but have a release date from 2013 or even 1974 (in one case I personally witnessed) should be more properly classified as "Recently Added".

"Recently Added" is a category that denotes a particular show or movie as being "New to Netflix" but not actually newly released. "New Releases" should be limited to things that are newly released, whether that means newly released from theaters, newly released on DVD, newly created, etc. But I think we can all agree that "New" should not extend backward infinitely. Otherwise, we would still be talking about the "New Shoes I got 50 years ago but you haven't seen" or the "New Civil War", which makes sense if you're a Marvel fan, but not much beyond that.

This is something that often happens at video stores, as well. Since Netflix has become the replacement for such things as Blockbuster, they seem to have picked up some bad habits from their ancestors. For example, if I went into my local video rental place, They are still giving you "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7" on the "New Release" wall. Redbox will also offer you something from 2011 under their New section.

Anyway, the point here is simple. We are nearly at the end of 2015. If a movie came out in December 2014, ok, fine. But stuff from 2013? 2011? I think we can all agree those are "New to Netflix" and belong in "Recently Added". New Releases should be limited to things that came out within the last 12 months or so, 18 months at a stretch. Just my opinion.

ow.ly/Tdpgz 

Ye Olde Cascade d'Cinema, I knew ye well...

Back when I first got Netflix streaming, it was different. Brutal.

There were like 8 movies, you had to basically call to connect any device and you couldn't even run any other program on your entire internet connection or it wouldn't load properly. But we were undoubtedly grateful.

The barren cable conglomerate landscape had burned our eyes and our souls into black pits of charred paper bills and contracts. The cinders from our "bundle" plans reminded us everyday that we could no longer even justify having a home phone, let alone cable. So those first brave few pioneers cut the cord.

We kept our overpriced internet plans and jettisoned the dead weight. We were a small community, surviving on the outskirts of civilization, not knowing what was happening on the latest shows, making our bones on movies like Clockstoppers and TimeCop. We suffered. But we forged ahead.

Competitors were springing up everywhere: Hulu, Project FreeTV, MegaVideo, they all had their drawbacks. Commercials, viruses, the federal government... you know. Yes, some people went rogue, dealing with pirates to get their sweet fix of The Office or American Idol. We did not encourage them! But nor did we judge. For some, the harsh realities of life without cable were too much. And those digital converter boxes were ridiculous!

The poor bastards just couldn't live without knowing what happened to Jim and Sam or whoever I don't know I hated the American remake. The original British though... everything is better in Britain, isn't it? They make a TV show named after a postal code and we get the brilliant "W1A". American does it and we get "90210". Twice.

I could continue, but that's not what this is about!

No! This post is about the progress we have made! Like the first settlers in a new landscape, we may lose some along the way, but we will always be improving, building, adapting.

First, we had to manually play the next episode during binges. Then we got the auto-play feature. I wept with joy, almost as if I were witnessing a new step forward in the evolution of this thing we had all put our faith in.

Then there was Max! How I loved to play with him, choosing between the different terrible options he would always give me that never had anything to do with what I watched. But I understood. Just like a child isn't usually born knowing how to properly fold clothes or make the perfect Eggs Benedict with fresh Hollandaise, Max only needed instruction! Careful attention and proper training and I could have made him BRILLIANT! When they took Max from us, I understood. I was sad to see him go, even though he had never, ever correctly selected anything for me to watch. I still... find myself humming our song from time to time... Get the max- from Netflix- YEAAAAHHHH!

Again, we moved beyond the pain and the struggle and pushed forward. We had another great feature introduced to soften the blow, the Post-Play. Not only did it automatically advance forward from one glorious episode to the next with hardly a motion, but it did something truly miraculous. Something we had only dreamed of...

It skipped the damn opening credits of TV shows that you were clearly watching for 14 hours straight because no you don't have a problem and you don't need any help and Murder, She Wrote was amazing and Jessica Fletcher just cannot be interrupted!

That was the moment I realized that Netflix and I had finally reached our zenith. Our pinnacle. Our crowning glory.

And then came the "Continue Watching" button. It was a cold slap in the face from what had previously been regarded as a beloved member of my family. Just because I've watched three episodes of Magnum, P.I. in a row does not mean I am finished! I do not need to be interrupted to see if I am still conscious in the middle of my marathons of Keeping Up Appearances! I am an adult Netflix! I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!

Sadly, that isn't even the worst part. This idea, this ideal, that we had nurtured, cared for, supported financially was now bigger than we were. It knew better. Netflix was sure that anything beyond the three or four episode limit was just human error. I could not communicate directly with Netflix about this oddly parochial new slant, so I simply took comfort in jamming the button as hard as possible on the "Continue" option. It began to leave me alone if I paused it once or twice an hour to know I'm there, on guard and alive and I don't need help from an algorithm. 

No, the worst was yet to come...

Last month I noticed something odd when I added a new show and began to watch.

I sat through all the credits at the beginning. Of the second episode in a row. "What?" I actually asked out loud, forgetting that Netflix could not hear me. Then, like an adult, I manually fast-forwarded through the credits.

46 minutes later and there I am again, facing the same 2 minute wall of nonsense that I didn't care about the first two times! I immediately shut everything down, thinking that if I could just turn it off and then turn it back on again, perhaps it would work! Ah, just thinking of the many happy hours of Roy and Moss that Netflix had provided me calmed the worst of my ire.

Rebooted and ready to get my binge on, I moved through the various screens that stood between me and my current victim- I mean show. Why is the My List suddenly at the bottom? Why is the Continue Watching not updated? Fine! I will brave these challenges Netflix because I AM NOT A QUITTER!

Finally I arrive at my destination, the newest season of "Call the Midwife". I resume on episode three, which starts from 0:00 and OH MY HOLY MOTHER OF ALL SAINTS WHAT THE HELL?!

Credits. All of them. Still. This is a travesty! After everything I have given you! After that horribly conceived price hike, the email thing, the lack of the last season of Poirot! I have stood by you! Believing that you were simply still growing, still maturing, and that you would one day be the streaming service I always dreamed you could be! And this... this is how you repay me?

Forsooth, Netflix. forsooth.

I shake my head, my back now turned from the smoldering wreckage that was my Roku. Alas, you died a noble death Roku-san. You could not have known what betrayal would be carried through your shiny black covering into my abode. However, I regret nothing. You were merely the carrier of the poison, but like a beautiful black goblet spiked with hate, you suffered the fate of the damned. But do not blame me. What other reasonable reaction could have been expected in the face of such blatant disregard for my time? Those seconds spent fast-forwarding manually at every episode of every show would mount to a lifetime if I allowed it to continue unchecked. Roku-san, I know you would rather have died in glorious battle, bravely, for the worthy cause. Thank you my old friend. I will wait a suitable period of mourning before upgrading to the Roku 3.

I have made frequent trips to Netflix on recent days, hoping that on some machine, some piece of technology, the darkness has not spread. My computer, my PlayStation, even the Xbox and the Wii - they have all forsaken me. The app on my phone doesn't even work now. None of the captions match up with the voices and I can't figure out what's happening and just trying to watch an episode of Parks and Rec is brutal. I'm just saying.

Heaving a sigh, I resort to Amazon, re-watching Newsroom and Downton. There still remains in me a hope. I cannot accept that Netflix has been entirely corrupted. Perhaps they will bring back the credit skipping feature. Maybe they had a good reason to force me to do it myself, like contracts with people or something with money, I don't know. I wish I did know. But would knowing make the pain ease? Would Netflix reverting to old, antiquated practices like playing all the openings of shows ever hurt less? I can't say.

Turning my back on such an old ally completely would be foolish. Perhaps I will give Netflix some time. Time to reevaluate, time to think, time to fix the problems. In spite of these recent trials, I still love Netflix. It was a savior in a time of crisis. It was a friend. It was there for me when I needed something... someone...

And after all, Netflix knows far too much about my view habits for me to ever walk away compl

{Edit: Hope has decided to come back to the circle of Netflix. She is really quite happy with the arrangements and is in no way under duress. She certainly isn't being forced to watch the opening credits for House of Cards, over and over, until she can appreciate the cinematic beauty and complexity. Nor is she being encouraged to atone for her recent outburst or decimation of a set-top streaming hardware box. Not at all. Carry on. Remember: Start your one-month free trial of Netflix anytime!* *New customers only.}

http://ow.ly/Teno5

Top 10 Fall TV Shows (That I Plan to Watch and Why You Should Too)

These are in no particular order. The reasons listed are my own, and I don't expect anyone else to share them. Feel free to ask on Twitter if you have any questions. All premier dates are for the US. For times, check the internet to make sure you get the right one for your timezone.

Caskett

Castle:
Premiers Sept. 21st, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Fun, lovable, Nathan Fillion, Caskett.
Not only is the probably the best murder mystery show being produced in the US, it's got humor and intelligence. Plus, as I have mentioned, Nathan Fillion. That's really all you should need.

Supernatural:
Premiers Oct. 7th, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Scary, fun, SamDeanCas, practical ghost hunting advice.
This is a bit more for younger fans, but honestly if you started watching this when it first aired about a decade ago, you're probably in your 20s at least. This show has a mostly rabid fandom, and is actually fun to watch most of the time. I recommend catching up on Netflix just in case you want to know what's actually going on. Otherwise, tune in just for the eye candy and fun. Salt and burn people!

The Blacklist:
Premiers Oct. 1st, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Clever, Dark, James Spader's voice.
This show is also available on Netflix for catching up on the first two seasons. It probably gets the award for most lovable bad guy, who might not be bad, but still... It's twisty fun, and who can resist seeing the criminals they deal with each week? The underlying story about fathers, daughters and the fate of the free world is pretty gripping as well.

AHS Hotel:
Premiers Oct. 7th, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Horror, Lady Gaga, Innovation.
The last few seasons of AHS have been a bit hit-or-miss for me, but I honestly can't stop watching them. They are all beautiful to watch and the story lines are at least trying to be original while still giving enough familiar imagery to tug at your sense of nostalgia. This year, there will be a great setting in the haunted hotel, and hopefully a great cast including Kathy Bates. It's a bit of a "cross your fingers and hope this iteration is good" show, but worth checking out the first few episodes.

Criminal Minds:
Premiers Sept. 30th, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Intelligent, Lovable Characters, Great Murders, Garcia.
For those of you who haven't seen CM, it's got all the seasons on Netflix now, so get to work! This is by far one of the best shows, right up there with Murder, She Wrote and Quincy for staying power. A sometimes rotating cast, great story lines and murders to solve, this one is a must watch every year. Unless they got rid of Hotch or Garcia, then I'd be done.

Scandal:
Premieres Sept. 24th, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Hidden secrets, wine, love triangles, Mellie Grant.
You know when you find a show that infuriates you but you can't stop watching? That's what Scandal is for me. Watch the first four seasons on Netflix before jumping in for season 5 because this is not an easy to follow plot. Everyone is lying about everything to everybody else and it is just fabulous. Plus I always feel like I should be drinking wine when I watch Olivia and her white-hat turned slightly grey-er hat adventures. She has a passion for red, and I like to be sympathetic.

We are Scorpion.

Scorpion:
Premieres Sept. 21st, 2015
Reasons to Watch - Fast-paced, Sylvester, flashy, Ralph, Walter's sister.
This show. I seriously don't have words to describe why you need to watch it, you just do. It's so great and a little Magnum PI-ish and just fun. They do big things, they have the amazing Robert Patrick, they have the adorable kid, this show just has everything. You should do everyone a favor and watch the second season.

How to Get Away with Murder:
Premieres Sept. 24th 2015
Reasons to Watch - The girl from The Killing, dark secrets, murder plots, fast rewinds, Frank.
Frank is by far the most interesting part of this show. Well, and the girl from The Killing. We may actually get to find out "Who murdered Rosie Larsen?" this time around! The first season is up on Netflix, and it's by the same creator of Scandal. You can count on the tough as nails African-American goddess to be at the center, this time in the form of Viola Davis.

The Librarians:
Premieres Nov. 1st, 2015
Librarians, action, Christian Kane.
Reasons to Watch - Based of the popular TNT movie franchise "The Librarian: Quest for the Spear", et al. This has a fun cast, cute special effects and encourages reading. I can't imagine a better use for a television show. It also has the yummy and amazing Christian Kane, who you may have seen in Leverage. He is paired with several people including the somehow-in-this-show Rebecca Romijn, who I hope is not coming back for season 2. She wasn't great.

NCIS:
Premieres Sept. 22nd, 2015
Reason to Watch - Gibbs.
We all have to know what happened! I have to be honest, I'll probably stop watching this show completely if they kill off Gibbs. I can't stand Bishop, and Tim and Tony are fine, but they can't support the show alone. They could just make it a show about Abby, that's I'd watch. ffMaybe if they brought back Ziva... but anyway, this is all on Netflix as well, and worth the watch.

The best friendship on TV

Honorary Mentions:

Person of Interest
I've already written a whole thing about that show, so go look that up on my blog here.
Doctor Who

Don't act like you aren't excited!

Obviously I'm taking for granted here that you are already watching the Doctor, since it already premiered. If not, address that before continuing with the list.
Sherlock BBC
This should be coming back for a Christmas Special this year, and a new season in 2016. You're silly if you don't watch.
The League/South Park
These are just personal faves, but I understand they aren't for everyone. Check them out if you like funny and occasionally dirty jokes. Or if you want to stay at the EBDBBnB.

Austrailian TV and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

I have to say, right off the bat, I'm slightly obsessed with this show. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is everything I love about TV. It's fun, its sassy, it's interesting, its clever and it just is always awesome all the time. They deal with everything from women's issues, LGBTQ+ issues, abortion all the way to murder, dancing, guns, and magic. Plus the lead actress is a mature woman, not some tiny starlet who can't act. #Phryne for life. So why don't more people know about it?

Well, first it probably doesn't help that it's Australian. Americans are used to getting their imported amazing TV from the UK, and while Australia is a former colony (just like US get it?) they don't use the same means of dispersion. So, Downton Abbey, which I love, gets prime viewing on PBS. Australia's amazing shows are relegated to Netflix/Amazon/wherever, which takes a million years to update. You can watch Doctor Who almost the day it comes out, but good luck finding Danger 5. Australia is a bit of a red-headed step-child in terms of it's television.

Change comes from within. We should encourage and support shows like Miss Fisher however we can. Buy DVDs, give it great ratings on Netflix, write to them, email them, visit their websites, whatever it takes! They somehow do not have a twitter, but they do have a Facebook page. If you have US Netflix all three seasons are currently streaming. Give a go. If you love it as much as we love other things like Inspector Lewis or Endeavour, let's show Australia we care!

You'll never go a whole day without saying it.

If you're anything like me, you have a problem. Netflix is just addictive. You watch, you binge, you can't tear yourself away. Sometimes, you know what you feel like watching. Sometimes you let Netflix do the choosing. Occasionally, magic happens.

I was minding my own business Tuesday night. Watching some IT Crowd. It was supposed to be taken down on September 1st but it was still up and I thought I should watch as much as possible before it went away because I love that show. I also love Black Books and Father Ted, in case you were wondering. Yes, Graham Linehan is a genius. We will do a whole thing on why the BBC is god at some point, just not right now. Anyway, my Netflix gave me the "We're having trouble accessing these titles right now" bit. So I turned Netflix off and then back on again.

When it popped back up, there was a new selection, Person of Interest. I was vaguely aware of this being a thing, had no real interest in it. I really dislike Jim Caviezel's face usually. I read the little blurb. I had nothing else pressing to watch other than Moss and Roy, so I figured why not give one episode a try?

Cut to 16-ish hours later, I have finished the first season. I take a break for sleeping and eating and then I am right back in. The plot contains elements I am fiercely passionate about in the real world and Jim Caviezel's face isn't as bad as I initially thought. I am now finished with season 3, and season 4 will be coming to Netflix on the 22nd I believe. Season 5 will be airing sometime in the next 12 months.

If you have concerns about privacy and government surveillance, this is a great show. If you have a desire for 'superhero-esque' rescues and stunts, you will be enthralled. There's also Camryn Manheim and some other recognizable character actors in key roles. It has hackers, NYC, e-interrogation, technology, a great mix of stuff. Created in part by J.J. Abrams, which gives it that fun "lens flairy" look without actually being lens flairy.

I usually judge TV shows by how many episodes I have to fast-forward through. If I have to skip through more than half of them, it's not worth watching. The less skipping required, the better. This gets an 8/10 for watch-ability. I only had to fast forward through 10 episodes out of 3 seasons so far. And even with that, I stopped to catch the important plot points. They do a good job about moving the story forward in each episode, weaving things in, making you impatient to get to the end while still allowing you to enjoy (most) of the journey. It's a solid offering if you're bored. Plus the show is rumored to be wrapping up after this. If you end up loving it, you have a chance to catch up before it starts again mid-season.

Just my two cents!