TV Tastebuds

Lately i have spent an awful lot of time on twitter and the majority of that is spent discussing tv. There's no shame in admitting to sitting in front of the box now and again. If you can look past all the guff there are some decent shows out there.
Honestly, i think i watch too much but try to balance my viewing out by reading books and having a life! What shocked me, however, was how little British made programs i watch on a regular basis. Films notwithstanding, it's all shows from across the pond! Shock, horror, how can this be?!!

To be blunt, the Americans just seem to produce the best stuff.
Supernatural is brilliant. I am a fan of the paranormal and sci-fi genre anyway but it seems to have the perfect blend of seriousness and humour. No i am not blind, i have noticed that the lead actors are easy on the eye which helps, obviously.

As a teenager, i loved Buffy, Angel and Dawson's Creek. Admit it, you can't beat a bit of over-analytical teenage angst acted out by beautiful people. And when you are that age, everything is a big deal so it's easy to relate to the on-screen characters portrayed.

Nowadays, my sky planner is filled with shows such as The Secret Circle (witches), Fringe (alternate dimension), Warehouse 13 (mythical artifacts), A Town Called Eureka (random scientific inventions) and Lost Girl (succubus, fae). On top of these there is Terra Nova, where the earth is dying so they send people through a time rift back in the age of the dinosaurs. Plus Haven which is based on a Stephen King book.

Who could forget Teen Wolf? To be fair, it all seems like a metaphor for puberty but never mind. Werewolf myths and legends are interesting and the main character is all in love, which is adorable. Hello, i am a girl, i like romantic mush occasionally!

Also, i cannot wait for the next series of Game of Thrones. Both me and my partner really got into it. Since i hadn't read the books, it constantly surprised me. The casting seemed spot on to me and, basically, the whole 'look' of the show was amazing. Roll on spring when it is back!

There is a pattern emerging here. To be honest, i want to watch things that take me away from reality because, just like when reading a book, it's nice to escape the normal world for a while.

On the other hand, i enjoy Bones, CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Cold Case and Ringer. Who doesn't like a puzzle to solve? Once again, though, they are all so well written and produced. They look good, sound and good and i actually care what happens. Much of the time it's how events unfold that grips me rather than the end result.

Now, since i am addicted to history, it goes without saying that i am drawn to anything set in the past. Jonathan Rhys Myers' performance as Henry VIII in The Tudors was phenomenal. Naturally there were people harping on about inaccuracies but it's not a documentary! All the important facts were correct and, ultimately, the makers brought that period to life. What an awesome series!

The Borgias and Spartacus appealed to me for much the same reason. Sex, intrigue, betrayal - What more do you need? And they're all wrapped up in a snapshot of what life was like for people, around the world, way back when.

The problem, here, is that our schedule is dominated by soaps or reality tv. When i turn on my set i don't want to see actors mimicking reality or groups of randoms sharing a house.
The argument is that soaps tackle important issues but do they? Do gay storylines, for example, imitate real life? To me, no. Everyone is miserable and even if they are happy it doesn't last long. How depressing!!
Programs like Big Brother are alright if you want to watch someone slowly go crazy whilst being trapped with other crazy people. It's just not for me. I have a life in the 'real' world so if i want to see that I'll open the door! Plus, who is entertained by a group sitting around doing nothing but moan about one another? I'm just not bothered at all.

That being said, i do sit down every Friday and watch The Bachelor. There's no logical explanation. Maybe it is the fact that all these girls are competing for one man in front of millions but claim it is about finding love! Bizarre yet fascinating. It also brings me endless amusement that Gavin Henson is so clueless. Bless.

Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing on Ice are a must. The littlun and i both find skating and dance fun. Pure and simple. Sometimes the contestants are so bad it's hilarious or they turn out to be really talented. Either way, seeing familiar faces out of their comfort zone is intriguing.

I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here is another one. If it clashes with anything else i am not devastated to miss the action though. The trials draw in viewers I'm sure. We all possess a morbid streak that feels a modicum of satisfaction seeing them suffer. There is no way i would even consider doing half of it but, then, money is a great motivator. Who knows?!

Britain should, however, be given credit for Merlin (BBC1) and Camelot (Channel 4). Again there is the presence of myth and magic which, as i've mentioned before, entices me. Mostly, though, i think a large portion of us are enthralled by the story of King Arthur and Camelot etc. At the centre of the legend is an ideal we would all like to believe in.

So, having gone through what tickles my tv tastebuds, i have come to a shocking realisation - My organizational skills are immense!! How amazing, that around all this fabulous viewing material, i still manage to find time for football, tennis, cricket, cycling, F1 and even a bit of golf!

'My cup runneth over' as they say.

(Thanks to docdenbow.wordpress.com for inspiring this post.)