Tom Constantine
Chief HJU News Editor
I've been thinking about making this for a while and after Keith posted on Facebook about Misfits, thought I should make it now considering I have a bit of free time (dying in bed with a cold).
Basically, this is just a list of shows that probably never much been heard of outside of the UK, but don't think that the quality is anything but brilliant.
Recently just finished airing in the UK, a regular tagline for Misfits is Heroes with ASBOs(a British term for a type of probation). A gang of law breaking youths get caught in an electric storm and gain superpowers. The characters have no intention of using them for good or bad, but rather see them as a bane on their already crummy lives. The show is sharp, funny and something totally fresh.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODl-kAhVsXY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODl-kAhVsXY[/ame]
Darkplace is a show that never got aired in the 80s and has now been released, with video commentary of the creator and the actors. Set in a hospital in Romford (funnily enough where I'm from), Darkplace is haunted by demons, spirits and supernatural creatures. The entire show is a paraody, however it is portrayed as being a real show. Easily one of my favourite comedies ever and has some of the best and memorable lines of any show (and one song).
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmJWVc1RGY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmJWVc1RGY[/ame]
So the world is populated by superheroes, so what do four friends do together in England after a day of crime fighting? Go to the pub of course. The trailer says it far better than I think I can describe.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3zpMTKvvgk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3zpMTKvvgk[/ame]
Guy meets girl, they move in together under the pretense they're a couple, not forgetting to show in their crazy friends. Meet the ultimate geek show and consequently what made Simon Pegg the star he is today and also allowing Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz to be made. Nearly every other line has some kind of reference to comic, movie, book, anything. It's hard to keep up. One of the best comedies of all time.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZnsOZsA7_4&feature=PlayList&p=50BBEF4520307576&index=6"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZnsOZsA7[/ame]
Nathan Barley is a nu age media guy, who just happens to be a complete dickhead and only one person in the show actually realizes this and tries to keep his cool whenever he meets him.The humour is quite subtle in this and has lots of cameos from shows listed here.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAtfptV6CU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAtfptV6CU[/ame]
Look Around You is a parody of BBC GCSE revision videos they used to show at 3am-6am in the 80s. Each episode is made to seem correct and serious, however the facts are obviously very bogus and random.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eVN55NEREo&feature=PlayList&p=D53C52973A681677&index=5"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eVN55NEREo&feature=PlayList&p=D53C52973A681677&index=5[/ame]
Ever wonder what would happen to contestants of Big Brother during a zombie apoylapse? Well now you can find out. Even has cameos from previous real housemates and the shows actual host.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQjq639WPiU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQjq639WPiU[/ame]
A vampire, a werewolf and a ghost live together. No really, it's not a joke, this what the show is about. Trying to live like regular humans, but their real nature sometimes takes over. Second season is airing very soon.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgNBT_0hSs&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgNBT_0hSs&feature=related[/ame]
Get run over, wake up in the 60s with no real idea of how to get home. Start of a bad day for DI Sam Tyler. Funny, confusing and overall entertaining to try to understand what's really going on.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhffuKpgVyM&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhffuKpgVyM&feature=related[/ame]
Basically, this is just a list of shows that probably never much been heard of outside of the UK, but don't think that the quality is anything but brilliant.
Misfits
Recently just finished airing in the UK, a regular tagline for Misfits is Heroes with ASBOs(a British term for a type of probation). A gang of law breaking youths get caught in an electric storm and gain superpowers. The characters have no intention of using them for good or bad, but rather see them as a bane on their already crummy lives. The show is sharp, funny and something totally fresh.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODl-kAhVsXY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODl-kAhVsXY[/ame]
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Darkplace is a show that never got aired in the 80s and has now been released, with video commentary of the creator and the actors. Set in a hospital in Romford (funnily enough where I'm from), Darkplace is haunted by demons, spirits and supernatural creatures. The entire show is a paraody, however it is portrayed as being a real show. Easily one of my favourite comedies ever and has some of the best and memorable lines of any show (and one song).
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmJWVc1RGY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjmJWVc1RGY[/ame]
No Heroics
So the world is populated by superheroes, so what do four friends do together in England after a day of crime fighting? Go to the pub of course. The trailer says it far better than I think I can describe.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3zpMTKvvgk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3zpMTKvvgk[/ame]
Spaced
Guy meets girl, they move in together under the pretense they're a couple, not forgetting to show in their crazy friends. Meet the ultimate geek show and consequently what made Simon Pegg the star he is today and also allowing Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz to be made. Nearly every other line has some kind of reference to comic, movie, book, anything. It's hard to keep up. One of the best comedies of all time.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZnsOZsA7_4&feature=PlayList&p=50BBEF4520307576&index=6"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZnsOZsA7[/ame]
Nathan Barley
Nathan Barley is a nu age media guy, who just happens to be a complete dickhead and only one person in the show actually realizes this and tries to keep his cool whenever he meets him.The humour is quite subtle in this and has lots of cameos from shows listed here.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAtfptV6CU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAtfptV6CU[/ame]
Look Around You
Look Around You is a parody of BBC GCSE revision videos they used to show at 3am-6am in the 80s. Each episode is made to seem correct and serious, however the facts are obviously very bogus and random.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eVN55NEREo&feature=PlayList&p=D53C52973A681677&index=5"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eVN55NEREo&feature=PlayList&p=D53C52973A681677&index=5[/ame]
Dead Set
Ever wonder what would happen to contestants of Big Brother during a zombie apoylapse? Well now you can find out. Even has cameos from previous real housemates and the shows actual host.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQjq639WPiU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQjq639WPiU[/ame]
Being Human
A vampire, a werewolf and a ghost live together. No really, it's not a joke, this what the show is about. Trying to live like regular humans, but their real nature sometimes takes over. Second season is airing very soon.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgNBT_0hSs&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgNBT_0hSs&feature=related[/ame]
Life on Mars
Get run over, wake up in the 60s with no real idea of how to get home. Start of a bad day for DI Sam Tyler. Funny, confusing and overall entertaining to try to understand what's really going on.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhffuKpgVyM&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhffuKpgVyM&feature=related[/ame]
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