Half Decent Television That Isn't Exactly Class Options

[IANdrewDiceClay]

Couldnt really think of a good enough title, so I hope everyone understands. I'm not asking for shite like Just a Gigalo and I'm not asking for staples of enjoyment such as Bottom. I'm asking what telly you used to like which falls somewhere in between. Not shit, but not great. Three star programming, that wouldnt be fit for UK Gold, but still decent enough to youtube it.

Basically a thread just to say how much I liked Brush Strokes. You never hear about. I used to love watching it when I was a young lad. The opening titles were brilliant. It made you say "god, he's a hard working bloke, who just needs a break". He's everyones friend, always smiling, with a nice soundtrack to go over the efforts at pleasing his friends. He steals crisps, he opens his arms out for women who walk past him. Kids and women like him. He gives police women kisses on the cheek, because he understands they are just doing their job, as he is. Life is hard, but Jacko doesnt want life to be any more tough. A great bloke.

Playing the Field as well. It had football and shagging. As a 13 year old, thats the life you dreamed of. Had an all star cast as well. James Nesbitt, Ricky Thomlinson, Debra Stephenson. Good show.

This post has been edited by The_BarbarIAN: Mar 10 2012, 14:52

[BiffingtonClyro]

I would have to say a show like Game on, featuring the aforementioned Samantha Janus. The first series is a watchable sitcom thanks to Ben Chaplin's performance. Whenever I watch it I get a really weird cosy feeling (that sounds fucking cheesy) and I just feel like i'm transported back to a simpler time. Not a great show but for me it has a certain charm. Plus it had Samantha Janus prancing about with barely anything on.

[Arch Stanton]

I've always enjoyed Room 101, from the Nick Hancock days, through Merton's quality reign and even now, under Frank Skinner and with an update to the format, it's still a pretty good early evening light comedy show. Not ground-breaking or the kind of thing I'd normally bother to rave about, but having watched a bit last night it was the first thing that popped into my head when I read the thread title.

[Devon Malcolm]

Yeah, Brush Strokes was alright. Certainly better than fucking Mulberry. "THE MULBERRY WAAAY!" Fuck off Karl Howman.

Elmo was the star turn but it was a pleasant surprise when Eric turned up in the great The Smoking Room. It also had one of the great sitcom themes.

I liked Common As Muck. Went a bit shit in the second series but it was pretty funny and had a reliable British TV cast.

[Magnum]

I was always a big fan of Jimmy Nail's self-penned vanity projects, namely Spender and Crocodile Shoes. Spender first aired when I was about 10 and never seemed to be repeated, so the only thing I could really remember about it were the credits featuring manky posters of Jimmy on a wall and a ridiculously catchy theme tune. I managed to acquire a bootleg DVD of the full series a few years ago, and it featured some hilarious moments including Spender chasing a metro train all the way along the tracks between Jesmond and Haymarket in order to catch a rapist.

I was a bit older when Crocodile Shoes came out, so I remembered a bit more of it when I unexpectedly found the entire first series on VHS for £2.99 in the HMV bargain bin while I was at uni. Jimmy Nail always seemed to have it written into his contract that, whenever other characters would hear his high pitched, nasal falsetto in song for the first time, they'd have to either make comments like "E's got the voice of an angel, he 'as", or just stand there in awe. There were a few pleasant surprises upon rewatching it though, the most memorable of which was Richard Hillman shagging Alex Kingston in it.

[Cobra1000]

I would have to say a show like Game on, featuring the aforementioned Samantha Janus. The first series is a watchable sitcom thanks to Ben Chaplin's performance. Whenever I watch it I get a really weird cosy feeling (that sounds fucking cheesy) and I just feel like i'm transported back to a simpler time. Not a great show but for me it has a certain charm. Plus it had Samantha Janus prancing about with barely anything on.

might i just add Tune!

[Astro Hollywood]

Brush Strokes always makes me think of this fantastic entry from the Law of the Playground site, that collates stuff you did and said at school and that.

The character of Elmo hilariously opened his own wine bar, creatively named "Elmo Putney's Wine Bar". Thus, any place where more than one fat person congregated became known as Elmo Putney's Wine Bar.

Brilliantly, if you Google image search for Elmo Putney, you get a bunch of pictures of women flexing their muscles or carrying men, because some Flickr guy who's apparently into that goes by that name. I hope it's the real one.

This post has been edited by Astro Hollywood: Mar 10 2012, 15:41

[lostprophet_y2j]

Playing the Field as well. It had football and shagging. As a 13 year old, thats the life you dreamed of. Had an all star cast as well. James Nesbitt, Ricky Thomlinson, Debra Stephenson. Good show.

I think i must be about the same age as you cos that sums up my opinion on Playing The Field perfectly.

I have to disagree with Game On cos i think it's class. I still regularly watch all 3 series on dvd.

[BiffingtonClyro]

Playing the Field as well. It had football and shagging. As a 13 year old, thats the life you dreamed of. Had an all star cast as well. James Nesbitt, Ricky Thomlinson, Debra Stephenson. Good show.

I think i must be about the same age as you cos that sums up my opinion on Playing The Field perfectly.

I have to disagree with Game On cos i think it's class. I still regularly watch all 3 series on dvd.

I would think Game On was excellent if series two and three were up to the standard of series 1. They're not in my opinion. The show lost alot when Ben Chaplin left, he really was a terrific performer in it, especially when he started having the breakdown whilst performing with his band!

[CleetusVanDamme]

Prison Break fits the bill, for me. It wasn't that good, but there was always enough going on to keep me interested. And the awesomeness of T-Bag and Mahone was good enough to cancel out all the shite.

[Halitosis Romant...]

Was never a big Brush Strokes fan, but yeah, Howard Lew Lewis was a star turn. Remember how he referred to his wine bar as a "bisto"? Loved that he showed up in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves AND Maid Marian.

[patdfb]

Loved that he showed up in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves AND Maid Marian.

Always a killer in a pub quiz that, it has come up a few times this way because they are sneaky pretentious bastards up here.. 'Some one was on Eggheads you know'.. clearly this makes all the difference???

[air_raid]

Game On was awesome, I think far too good / "widely thought of as good" to meet Ian's criteria. I loved a bit of Brush Strokes too, pretty much the essential "used to watch with my folks" show, up there with Boon, Londons Burning and one or two others.

I'm unqualified to offer any more suggestions as my taste in TV is terrible. I like Take Me Out.

[JNLister]

Prison Break fits the bill, for me. It wasn't that good, but there was always enough going on to keep me interested. And the awesomeness of T-Bag and Mahone was good enough to cancel out all the shite.

I loved Season 4's "cliffhanger for every ad break" policy.

[Dearly Devoted D...]

A Touch of Frost. Wasn't the best thing in the world, but David Jason could usually carry everyone for 90 minutes or so