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© Robin Kelly 1997 - 2003
© Robin Kelly 1997 - 2003
© Robin Kelly 1997 - 2003
This page is dedicated to shows with quality writing. If you want to buy more than one item then please come back here to click the link
The following few items aren't available from Amazon.co.uk, so they're linked to Amazon.com instead. Note that you will need a multi-region DVD player to play DVDs from America.
If you want to convert the prices try the Currency Converter which will open in a new window.
Malcolm in the Middle
1
This first season made it an instant classic and it has very interesting commentary from the writing staff, etc.
Mad About You
1
The early seasons had some great moments when the show was pre-baby and Seinfeld-lite.
My So-Called Life
Complete
My So-Called Life re-invented the teen drama and made it something adults could watch and admit to watching without shame. Created by Winnie Holzman, it's acknowledged as a classic.
Once and Again
1
Once and Again has the legendary Winnie Holzman writing for it but the non-Winnie eps are quite good too.
Sports Night
Complete
Aaron Sorkin was for a time writing this and the West Wing, proving it isn't only David E Kelley who's a mad overtalented bastard. Bitterness aside I was a fan of Sports Night based on the scripts alone and it's great that the series is now available.
Absolutely Fabulous
1 To 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Inspired by a French and Saunders sketch this has become one of the most beloved sitcoms of recent years.
Alan Partridge
1
This first series on DVD is essential viewing
Blackadder
Complete | 1 | 2| 3 | 4 |
Written by the two most successful British comedy writers of recent times this is classic comedy.
Black Books
1 |
Written by stand-up Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan, co-writer of Father Ted
Butterflies
1
This is arguably Carla Lane's finest moment.
Dad's Army - The Very Best
1 | 2
Not many sitcoms reach national institution status but this is one them.
Coupling
1 | 2
Steven Moffat not only does funny but startlingly clever plots.
Family Guy
1
This sitcom has a talking dog who people understand, a talking baby who no-one understands, it frequently breaks rules of logic but somehow it manages to be very funny.
Father Ted
Complete
Some say this is the greatest UK TV sitcom ever.
Fawlty Towers
Complete
Frequently called the greatest sitcom of all time.
Friends
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Even the dodgy season is still better than most sitcoms. While the focus has been on the actors and their looks, it's all about the characters and the writing.
Futurama
1
Unfortunately it has to live in the shadow of the Simpsons and suffer comparisions with it but it's quite good in it's own right.
Good Life, The
4
Written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey this hasn't dated at all. Strong characters and truthful situtions. A classic.
Hancock - Best of
1 |
Originally a classic radio series, Galton and Simpson adapted it for TV.
League of Gentleman
1| 2 |
Frequently called a 'cult classic'.
The Likely Lads - Best of
1
This is spoken of in revered tones but it was before my time to be honest.
Monty Python's Flying Circus - The Best Of
1
"Say no more, nudge, nudge, wink, wink"'; "He's pining for the fjords!" and what about...ahem. Next!
Men Behaving Badly
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Last Orders
Originally a not very good book, Simon Nye has written a modern classic which captured the zeitgeist and even spawned a bizarre new food brand: "Chips Behaving Badly". The first series features Harry Enfield and he says that if he wasn't in it it wouldn't have got made and if he didn't leave it wouldn't have been a success. Personally, I quite like the first series.
The Office
1
This is now the biggest selling non-movie DVD of all time. The Brentmeister General joins the pantheon of great comedy characters.
One Foot In The Grave - The Best of
1
Personally I'm waiting for the complete collection as David Renwick is a genius but those not similarly obsessed will find the 'best of' more than adequate.
Only Fools And Horses
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Contains the best remembered comic moments of all time, although it does improve as the years go by. (He said diplomatically avoiding slagging off the early series).
Open All Hours
1 |
Roy Clarke is a great writer but the lead character's stutter is bit annoying.
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
1 |
Talking about favourites is perhaps silly but objectively speaking Phoenix Nights is the the best written recent British comedy. Some may prefer the Office or Alan Partridge but this is 'the business', in my view and well worth studying.
Porridge
1 |
2
A comedy classic that's highly recommended.
Red Dwarf
1 |
Red Dwarf is funny at times and the space sci-fi stuff is cool I suppose. OK, I admit I'm not a fan but other people like it a lot so...oh, I don't know,. make up your own mind.
Rising Damp
1
Eric Chappell is boss and Rising Damp is just one of his excellent comedies. Very few '70s sitcoms have stood the test of time but this one has, mostly.
Royle Family, The
1 | 2 | 3 |
Opinion on this does divide the nation and some even claim that the series doesn't justify the hype. I disagree. I didn't think it was something I would be interested in and watched it reluctantly but soon became a fan.
The Simpsons
1 | 2 |
The best sitcom ever. Full stop.
South Park
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
While the show has provoked a lot of controversy, it's easy to overlook Trey Parker's brilliant consistent writing. And more importantly the show always has something to say.
Spaced
1 | 2 |
Quality single-camera Channel 4 sitcom, written by the leads which means you get good characters. There are allusions a plenty for film buffs to spot.
Steptoe And Son - The Best Of
1| 2 |
Personally I'm waiting for the complete version but for those not obsessed the 'best of' will do.
Thin Blue Line, The
Complete
Ben Elton's sitcom doesn't move the genre forward and is quite traditional and that has earned it inappropriate opprobrium. It's well written and funny and that's all that should matter.
The Two Ronnies - The Best of
1 |
The most beloved and popular sketch show of all time
The Young Ones
1 |
To be honest this doesn't quite stand the test of time but it was a huge success and still has some great moments.
24
Complete
Fall 2001's biggest critical success.
Ally McBeal
1a | 1b | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b | 4a | 4b |5a | 5b |
David E Kelley is a fine example of the authorial voice at work in US television. While the focus has been bizarrely on the weight of the leads, it's sucess is due to the quirky, sparky and thought-provoking writing.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
1| 2| 3 |
The first two are the original classic ITV series and the third is the hugely sucessful BBC revival.
Bad Girls
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
This is quality UK popular drama.
Band of Brothers
Complete|
High production values and quality writing make this epic a must-see.
Bob and Rose
Complete|
From the writer of Queer as Folk, a brave venture for ITV, it was a ratings flop but a huge critical success. Quality writing.
Boys from the Blackstuff
Complete|
The classic series by Alan Bleasdale
Buffy
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
It may be for young people, it may be fantasy, it may be ignored by the Emmy commitees for those reasons but it is amongst the best-written shows ever.
The Camomile Lawn
Complete|
I don't usually like costume drama but this was rather good. Quality writing.
Cold Feet
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Hugely popular ITV comedy drama.
CSI - Crime Scene Investigation
1|
While it has a nice style there is enough substance in the writing.
Fanny and Alexander
Complete|
Classic TV series from legendary writer-director Ingmar Bergman.
Linda Green
1|
While the early Sex and the City comparisions are not entirely unfounded, it did develop into something more uniquely wonderful.
Our Friends in the North
Complete
Classic TV series.
Pride and Prejudice
Complete|
Hugely popular Andrew Davies adaptation. Bloke gets his shirt wet, nation goes mad.
Queer as Folk
1| 2 |
Controversial for its honest depiction of gay men and its bizarre lack of depiction of black people, it's still quality writing.
Roots
Complete|
Classic TV series.
Sex and the City
1 | 2 | 3 |
This is quality US popular comedy-drama, although sometimes it plays like an audience sitcom without the audience.
The Sopranos
1| 2 | 3 |
The best drama series ever. Full stop. DVD sales in America alone pay for the production of the series.
This Life
1|
Capturing the zetigeist, the low viewing figues make it a 'cult' and the quality writing make it a 'classic'.
The West Wing
1|
Ostensibly it's about US politics but in reality it's about ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges.
Widows
1| 2 |
Lynda La Plante made her breakthrough with this very popular quality series.