Finding Jersey Shore a little too tasteless for your entertainment needs? Is the American market a bit stale these days? Yes, there are gems like Mad Men and Dexter, but what are our instant gratification brains to do between the torturous season breaks? Thankfully, the internet age has expanded our horizons of media consumption.
Just this year, I have been graced with a variety of British entertainment. Thanks to Hulu - the streamed comedic show, Misfits, sparked a curiosity in me for British media - and I am so glad for that.
If you're an average youtube surfing individual, you probably have a familiarity with British Youtubers and shows like Quite Interesting. You've probably seen Shaun of the Dead and perhaps Wallace and Gromit - and if you haven't, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?
I digress, there's obviously a good bit of entertainment you've enjoyed that wasn't made by our home brewed Hollywood.
However, we tend to forget to explore the options with our frantic lifestyles and hard to break routines. So, let me do the work for you. Let me present a starter package into your BBC initiation.
Let me start with the show that got my interest going:
Doctor Who
Secret Diary of a Call Girl
If you became a fan of Rose Tyler and her sweet personality, say goodbye to those memories. Billie Piper's portrayal of Belle de Jour will show you what a versatile actress she is.
The episodes are short and it's easy to binge on a season in one sitting. It's a humorously light tale of Belle's journey as a high class prostitute in London as she juggles her professional and personal life with secrecy intact. Have fun! - Just...don't watch this with your parents.
The Friday Night Project:
So after you've gone and got your share of getting to know British actors - and you've already become of fan of riffing shows like Quite Interesting, you can go ahead and check out this show. I can't relate it to any American shows and that's why I love it so much. The animated hosts, Alan Carr and Justin Lee Curtis (among other hosts in previous series) interview and play amusing games with their special guest throughout the night. Now if you've watched the above, you'll defiantly enjoy the ones guest starring David Ternnant, Billie Piper, Catherine Tate, and whoever else [Jon Barrowmannnn!]
Now once you've dived into this rabbit hole, good luck, cause there's a butt-load of material to cover after this. If you become fan of these particular actors and comedians, you've got a bunch of show/clip hopping hours to take care of from Chatty Man to Nevermind the Buzzcocks. It's all a good lot of fun. ;)
Enjoy!
-Jay Emma
