I've an episode of Nikita to watch then I'll try and watch Boardwalk over the next few days - does anyone here watch Nikita?

I've watched pretty much every variation since the original film. Some of them are better than others. I quite like this one, although they've somewhat overcomplicated the plot IMO. Still, I've enjoyed it enough so far to buy a season pass on iTunes...

Jon

Well you can. I still have 12 episodes to watch.

I prefer it to the previous series (though I liked that) - there's a lot less brooding

There was a definite European vibe to the previous series (I don't know much about it's production though), where as this is definitely more mainstream

So, European can't be mainstream? Interesting take.

Mark

European isn't mainstream in the UK by definition, Mark. You might not like that, or disagree with the principle (and perhaps you'd be right), but it's a fact.

I know, but it doesn't mean it can't be.
Saying "it isn't" is a blanket term totally ignoring all that that is.
Just because it's European doesn't automatically make it non-mainstream. Granted, in this instance I'm in agreement.

Mark

So perhaps what's happened here is you've taken issue with Ernie's (possibly misinterpreted, possibly not) stance on the mainstreamness of European things, or television in this case; then I've stepped in to agree with you that it shouldn't be that way, and yet point out that it is?

I think so.
I don't really know.
It's all got a little complicated.
Hasn't it?

Mark

This is a sad assessment. The majority of cable channels rely far too much on output from the USA. There are a few worth watching, but the majority is of such poor quality that it’s barely watchable.

Sky managed to get an exemption from EU rulings that TV channels should have a certain percentage of their output derived from the EU. As a result it has totally failed to produce anything of worth or note since its inception*, relying instead on The Simpsons and other low-grade output to pad its Sky 1,2 & 3 schedules. Sky Atlantic has achieved nothing but the corralling of HBO content for the next few years.

So, for those who will no doubt feel that I am missing the point, I ask you: where is Sky’s Doctor Who equivalent? Where is its EastEnders, its Casualty? Where are those home-grown must watch programmes on Sky One that every one is talking about? Eh? Where?

Answer: there are none. There never have been, and there never will be. As Sky is the channel with the biggest budget, it’s a sad indictment on the cable TV selection that there is very little home grown, quality programming that has not been culled from old BBC and ITV archives.

*I discount Battlestar Galactica here. Even through Sky’s logo featured at the end of each transmitted episode, it does not appear anywhere on the BluRay set I have. I suspect the Sky logo was more of a grace and favour gesture for the cash. I doubt a Sky employee with technical abilities went anywhere near the set.

There's very little in the way of home grown TV that I watch at all, outside the news and Top Gear, the occasional comedy series.
We just don't be able to produce anything that can touch the quality of the US at it's best.
As for no EU produced TV shows - Europe gave us Big Brother.
And don't forget that they inconveniently don't speak English like a normal person, so you're either going to have subtitles or worse, dubbed speech.

As you may know I have to move soon and as the village I am in is in a dip so am considering Freesat. Spoke to Sky about their offerings, (will get their broadband though) too expensive each month for what I usually watch. As I have HD TV's Freesat HD or Freeview HD will suit me pretty well. Though it might take me a while to decide on whether to get Freesat or not. Freeview and HD will be sorted by 2012 so why go to the expense?

Dream Team?

I was only talking about the vibe (loads of meaningful glances and gradual character development previously, the current series is much more direct and plot-based so far)

Most of the TV I watch is Europe based, most of it home-grown German.

The worst crud here seems to be the imported American comedy shows, they are really dreadful at the moment. As the American stuff has to be dubbed anyway, we get a lot of other European programmes as well, as whether it is dubbed from English or some other language doesn't make any difference.

The only thing worse than the American shows are the reality shows.

I think the only programme I actually "watch", as in try and be in front of the TV at a certain time, is Tatort, a long running crime series. Think shows like Morse, Touch of Frost etc. each regional station (equivalent of BBC regions) make their own Tatorts and they alternate each week. Some are better than others, but the stories are often very well made.