06-15-2003, 06:17 AM
In any discussions about the quality of British TV I've had with Americans i've always pointed out that if there's one thing we Brits can do well - its drama. And that's what I truly believed - until my local PBS station started showing some. Now when I watch them, all I can think is that they are really badly acted, very very camp, and no where near as good as I remember them.
For example there is a show called Murder In Mind. I remember watching it back home - for thsoe who dont know its a series of stories in which a set of different an (allegedly) popular British actors make a 1 hour show in which someone gets murdered and someone else gets away with it. I liked it - you got to see people play roles you dont normally see them in (Rob Brydon being one of my favorites - the man who along with Chris Morris and Steve Coogan came up with Alan Partridge) - and that was ok because he made it funny. But the other four I've watched have been hilarious. Last night for example Michael Greco (Beppe from Eastenders) was on it - and it was a terrible plot that was terribly acted and was incredibly cheesy and camp. The only impact it made on my friends who were round watching it was the fact that Greco swore, and he and the woman on it (the hot one from The Bill) had sex in which you could see her breasts - on Network TV! Oh the rudeness!
Anyway - I watch alot of the old shows on PBS - Inspector Morse, Bergerac (ok I apologise for this), A Touch Of Frost - and I have come to the conclusion that what I thought was gripping drama is in fact - well - camp. Which would explain why I've had this scenario occur 3 or 4 times -
"Oh I'm not gay - I'm British"
"Oh I see...."
Am I wrong? Is British drama really that good or have I been tainted by these over-produced polished fantasy dramas they have on over here? Or are, in fact, all British actors camper than Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served? (also on PBS)?
For example there is a show called Murder In Mind. I remember watching it back home - for thsoe who dont know its a series of stories in which a set of different an (allegedly) popular British actors make a 1 hour show in which someone gets murdered and someone else gets away with it. I liked it - you got to see people play roles you dont normally see them in (Rob Brydon being one of my favorites - the man who along with Chris Morris and Steve Coogan came up with Alan Partridge) - and that was ok because he made it funny. But the other four I've watched have been hilarious. Last night for example Michael Greco (Beppe from Eastenders) was on it - and it was a terrible plot that was terribly acted and was incredibly cheesy and camp. The only impact it made on my friends who were round watching it was the fact that Greco swore, and he and the woman on it (the hot one from The Bill) had sex in which you could see her breasts - on Network TV! Oh the rudeness!
Anyway - I watch alot of the old shows on PBS - Inspector Morse, Bergerac (ok I apologise for this), A Touch Of Frost - and I have come to the conclusion that what I thought was gripping drama is in fact - well - camp. Which would explain why I've had this scenario occur 3 or 4 times -
"Oh I'm not gay - I'm British"
"Oh I see...."
Am I wrong? Is British drama really that good or have I been tainted by these over-produced polished fantasy dramas they have on over here? Or are, in fact, all British actors camper than Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served? (also on PBS)?