From what I've seen on the boards everyone seems to toss off a bit too much about American television while ignoring the home grown stuff. I've set to tape the series of The Americans but beyond that stick to British stuff. Currently The Fall on BBC2 is excellent. Line of Duty on BBC2 was excellent. Broadchurch on ITV was excellent and Scott and Bailey is bloody brilliant. All British. Just saying like. There's some good stuff on terrestrial.
My favourite at the mo is .... New Tricks Got the DVDs for my birthday so working our way through them
I struggle to wade through the guff on British television to find the good stuff. If I manage to accidentally flick on the BBC and see Will-I-Am in some X Factor style talent show I am immediately overcome with thoughts of defenestrating the television because I am actually paying a license for such ****e, and I won't go near ITV with a barge pole; low-brow Female facing trash. Channel 4 usually has the best terrestrial content if you are savvy enough to switch off whenever Gok Wan or 'Get your septic fanny out live' is on.
American telly is mostly rubbish. The ability to act is second to how good looking the actor is. Good British shows: Life on Mars, Sherlock, Red Riding, State of Play, Luther, The Thick of It, Black Mirror etc.
Saturday night television is **** across the board though, it's the night they put all the rubbish on. There's some good stuff on in the week, another one is Top Boy on C4, think a second series is coming on soon.
Did you see State of Play Jip? Well worth buying the boxset if you haven't. Or download it illegally as seems to be the way these days. Amazing British cast. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362192/
I liked Foyle's War. The only downside was his 'jolly hockeysticks' driver. Quite enjoyed the second lot as well set just after the war.
The Fall is good, but even that has Gillian Anderson , from the x files, in it just so they can sell it to the yanks