For those who have fallen to the charms of British programming, or perhaps for British expats yearning for a bit of dry, comic wit from their home country, the BBC America offers the perfect solution. Viewers can watch their favorite English programs without having to weather the not so sunny British weather; a simple satellite TV connection gets the job done. Here's a look at just some of what this channel (be sure to check out the HD version) has to offer.
Being Human: The craze for things that go bump in the night, vampires, whose cool exteriors and dashing aplomb have made ladies all over the world swoon, ghosts, shape shifters and the like extends into this show about three supernatural roommates and pals who share a flat in Bristol, England.
Annie is a ghost who was killed in a terrible accident before her wedding; she remains attached to her ex, who has since moved on and taken to a girl whom Annie deems trashy. George is a werewolf; each month he turns into a wolf and he feels an inordinate amount of guilt about it. Mitchell is a vampire who has taken to mainstreaming, or living without taking human lives if he can. As he works in a hospital, he has access to an ample supply of blood. While the premise may seem somewhat off kilter, the show manages to be compelling, funny and even deeply human. It's a buddy show, in the end.
Little Britain: A man sports a dress and keeps calling himself a lady even though he's obviously not. Another bad, balder, chubbier dresses up in tight leather hot pants and prides himself for being the only open gay citizen of a very small town, even though he's very obviously not. Little Britain is a two man comedy show that pokes fun of all British life and social mores. It's akin to Saturday Night Live, without the huge ensemble cast, and it is arguably even funnier than its American counterpart. It's quirky, witty, and ridiculous. This is one comedy show you don't want to miss; be sure to catch the hijinks in HD.
The Office: This is the original version of the Office, not the American one starring lanky Steve Carrell. Ricky Gervais plays the boss and main character of the show. He presides over a paper supplies company outside of London. The staff are catty and odd and the boss is at times ingratiating and pathetic; the Office is one show you won't want to miss.
Torchwood: This is a science fiction show which is actually a spinoff of the popular Doctor Who. In it, the Children of Earth have to battle to save mankind. The Torchwood Institute is an organization, a clandestine one, which was founded to combat alien threats to Earth. The institute is based in Cardiff and that's where a variety of other worldly creatures end up from all corners of the universe; the staff at the Cardiff institute have to decide who's a threat and who's not. Watch this one in HD to soak in all that alien goodness.
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