American TV Blows

Not really, but when i compare it to the shows in this post, then yes, it does. The problem with American TV is the "beating a dead horse" scenario, in which studio execs and producers try to milk once popular shows and drive them completely into the ground. Heroes anyone? Should've stopped while you were ahead. It's like Michael Jordan's career. He had the right idea when he retired the first two times, go out on top of the game. But then he came back and failed miserably, much like American TV.

The following list of shows didn't succumb to this downfall. They created masterpieces and stopped before it got ridiculous.

1. Summer Heights High (Australia)
Total episodes made: 8 (yes, eight)

Summer Heights High was created by Chris Lilley (who also stars in the show, three times. I'll explain.) Lilley's mockumentary style show takes place in an Australian High School. The show follows three characters: Jonah Takalua (a year 8 student that loves breakdancing and fucking shit up), Ja'mie King (a 16 year old prissy little stuck up schoolgirl) and Mr G. (head of the theatre department at the school) . . . all three characters are played by Chris Lilley!

With only EIGHT episodes ever made, it's amazing that it made such an impact on not just myself but everyone who has come in contact with it. Here's a few clips from the show.

Jonah Takalua:


68IOU1 hahaha classic line




2. Trailer Park Boys (Canadia)
Total episodes made: 55 (Over the course of 7 seasons, that's about 8 episodes per season)

Trailer Park Boys is another mockumentary style show that follows the lives of residents in a Nova Scotia trailer park. The main characters are Ricky (a not-so-smart ex con that loves "dope"), Julian (the smarter, less idiotic voice of reason) and Bubbles (a near down syndrome coke bottle glasses wearing cat lover). All three strive for a get rich quick scheme and often pertains to selling dope or robbery.

Never Cry Shitwolf:


My autographed picture from Laheigh and Randy



3. The Office (UK)
Total episodes made: 14 (two seasons of 6 each, 2 special episodes, and a movie)

Before Steve Carrell invaded US households staring in the American version of the office, Ricky Gervais created this classic British mockumentary. Long before Dwight Shrute and Jim Halpert were butting heads, their English counterparts Gareth Keenan and Tim Canterbury were at each others throats too. Ricky Gervais was a smart man, even though his character (much like Steve Carrell's) was a complete idiot. Gervais stopped production of The Office after just 14 episodes citing that "it's done" and did not want to ruin the show by dragging it on. Instead, he sold the rights to American TV and made a fortune off of it.

Gareth was Milk Monitor