The 8 Best Shows You’ve Never Seen

It’s pretty easy to find foreign films and even easier to find foreign bands, but when it comes to TV, the same does not hold true.

It seems rather odd that most other countries, especially the English-speaking ones, regularly air American shows, but not with American broadcasting.  Most American TV studios insist on retooling good/successful shows from abroad instead of simply airing them here. Sometimes the U.S. version comes out OK (as in Sanford and Son, All In The Family, The Office, Three’s Company) but most of time, they end up being atrocious (Kath & Kim, Viva Laughlin, Coupling). Those show are so bad you’ve probably never even heard of them, let alone actually watched them.

clever tweet whilst in the air

It may be even harder to make a good remake than a good sequel or a movie-to-TV/TV-to-movie adaptation.

But if you go to Australia or England, you’ll find scores of American shows on their airwaves.  I’m not sure if it has more to with the American audience or the studios’ perception of the American audience. But I think it’s a shame that most of us are missing out on some quality television because of the country we live in.

But thanks to the internet, the world of foreign television is open to a brand new audience and here is my list of the best the rest of the world has to offer. All these shows are currently airing and/or still in production.

1. Hustle (United Kingdom, BBC, 2004)

For fans of the Oceans 11 Franchise, Leverage, The Sting, Prison Break

I must thank AMC for introducing me to  this show and sparking my interest in foreign TV. They aired a few of their episodes and helped produce 2 seasons along with the BBC.

Hustle revolves around a series of con artists who specialize in the dying art of the long con. They are led by Mickie Bricks (played by Adrian Lester). You might recognize Jamie Murray from her portrayal of Lilah on Dexter.

These grifters have their own sense of morality and follow a certain code:

You can’t cheat an honest man.

They take on marks who are despicable, have wronged many others, and generally have gotten away with their misdeeds thus far. The shows usually start off with a reason to con their target. The gang then sets up the long con and take you along with them.  They often break the fourth wall (in a clever way, not cheesy, like in Saved By The Bell) and explain different aspects of the confidence game.

The group spends a lot of time at Eddie’s Bar where they rarely ever pay for drinks.  One recurring theme of the show is to trick the owner of the bar, aptly named Eddie, with a short con.  This usually foreshadows the method in which the long con is played out.

Much like watching a magician perform his tricks, I spend an awful lot of time trying to figure out what’s going on behind the scenes. Often the show will purposely mislead the audience and not reveal certain aspects of the job until the end of the show.

There are only two negative things about this show:

• There are only 6 episodes per season. British TV seasons tend to be shorter and often are only 6 episodes.  This is due to lower budgets and shows have smaller staff.  This fosters a higher quality season.
• It glamorizes crime and much like The Real Hustle leads to con game fantasies.

This show has six seasons under its belt and presumably the seventh will air next January. The show might sound similar to Leverage and although not technically a remake, it is close.  Leverage is a good show…until you compare it to Hustle.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

2. How Not To Live  Your Life (United Kingdom, BBC Three, 2007)

For fans of It’s Always Sunny In Philadephia, Better Off Ted, Worst Week

This is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.  It is also one of the most vulgar.  There’s no FCC to regulate the airwaves outside the U.S. and with this series it shows.  The show centers around Don (played by the show’s creator Dan Clarke) who has “bad luck and even worse instincts.”

Dan’s lack of inhibitions and his inability to interact with others in a normal fashion lead him to numerous awkward situations.  Whenever he’s confronted with one of these predicaments, the audience gets to see several things not to do:

• 4 ways you shouldn’t turn up on your first day at work
• 5 pick-up lines you shouldn’t use
• 5 bad reasons for not seeing someone again
• 4 things not to do to annoying teenagers
• 5 things you shouldn’t do when you have someone round for dinner
• Language you should avoid around children
• 4 things you hope your neighbor doesn’t say
• 6 things Don shouldn’t say

Each season is supported by a female roommate who happens to be romantically just out of Don’s reach.  Dan has an odd fascination with his dead grandmother’s robe and writes some of the most inappropriate (yet funny) songs.  Then there’s Eddie,  Don’s grandmother’s caretaker, who also takes care of Don in a similar manner.

The humor in the show is not what I consider typical British comedy.  It’s not as harsh, obvious, and nor as in-your-face as other shows I’ve seen.  This is also more accessible than most. So far two seasons has been produced and aired by BBC Three with a third season to air this September.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

3. Outrageous Fortune (New Zealand, TV3, 2005)

For fans of Six Feet Under, Weeds, and the drama in Arrested Development and  It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

After watching the British show Honest, I discovered that it was based on a show from New Zealand, Outrageous Fortune. It is the longest running show made in New Zealand and most of the cast & crew are native Kiwis. It is technically a “dramedy”  and it tackles many sensitive issues, but they do it without an overwhelming degree of being earnest.  It does border on being a soap opera, but the writing is much too good for that.

The premise of the show is a family of criminals, The Wests, whose matriarch Cheryl urges her family to go straight and make an honest living after her husband Wolfe,  is sent to jail. She tries to keep her family together (and out of trouble with the law) and it often ends up being similar to a game of Lights Out.

The line between morality and family values is often blurred and seemingly non-existent and is the cause for much of the conflict, and thus, storyline, in the show.  Upon first glance the family appears rather dysfunctional, but there is a love and loyalty that lies deep within the Wests.

Like most shows that have been on the air for a while, the fifth season saw a decline in quality writing and an increase in absurdity.  Hopefully the sixth (and final) season will end on a high point.

Of note: Rob Thomas retooled the show last year for an American audience, but it was not picked up.  A second attempt has been made and is set to air this summer on ABC called Scoundrels.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

4. Being Human (United Kingdom, BBC Three, 2008)

For fans of True Blood, Heroes, Moonlight, a grown-up and less romantic Twilight

Being Human is a show about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost who all live together in a house. This show lies somewhere in between Twilight and True Blood, but much closer to True Blood, on the spectrum of vampirical fantasy.

I read about the show and I wasn’t too keen on it since it sounded kinda like a scripted supernatural Real World type thing, but I wanted to see Adrian Lester (from Hustle) is another role.  So I watched the pilot and realized I was wrong.  The show speaks on more than one level.  Each character attempts to find normalcy when they have a condition that keeps causing conflict, whether it’s the constant craving for blood, an inner monster that shows up consistently, or the feeling of being invisible & unnoticed.

I’m in the middle of the second season now and while the episodes aren’t as compelling as the pilot or first season; however, I am hooked by the overlying arc and am looking forward to seeing how this season ends and will anxiously await the third.

Of note: SyFy is airing a remake of the series this summer.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

5. Being Erica (Canada, CBC, 2008)

For fans of Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, the drama of My Name Is Earl

The lone Canadian show on the list. And this is one I’m alittle ashamed to like, especially considering I found out it recently started airing on SOAPnet here in the U.S.

This show could have easily been developed by Bryan Fuller.  He’s the producer/writer for such under-appreciated shows like Pushing Dasies, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, and the first season of Heroes.

Erin Karpluk stars as Erica, a single thirty-something, who feels life is passing her by.  Her younger sister is married.  Her best friend has a new baby.  And she is unfulfilled and has given up on her dream of becoming a novelist.

In trying to find out what is wrong with her, she stumbles across Dr. Tom, who promises to help her with dealing with her biggest regrets.  Dr Tom sends her back in time to deal with this regrets. Although she can go back in time to makes things better, the only thing that usually changes is her perception of the past event and her mindset that her past doesn’t have to dictate her future.

Each episode of the first season gives up a glimpse at the events that have shaped Erica’s character in the present.  This is show is study in psychology and Dr. Tom spouts out meaning quotes quite often.

The second season ended a few months ago and there is no word on a third season.

website | imdb | wiki | hulu

6. Packed To The Rafters (Australia, Seven Network, 2008)

For fans of a less boring 7th Heaven and Parenthood, the drama of Friends

Packed to the Rafters is a family drama with an amazing ensemble cast.  The show is about a couple, Dave & Julie Rafter, who have just seen their last child leave home, and are looking forward to an empty nest.  Things change quickly in the first episode, and 2 of their 3 kids, including their eldest son’s wife, and Julie’s father comes to live with them.  The youngest moves next door, hence the title of the show.

The show handles all types of social issues, including domestic abuse, drugs, a surprise pregnancy, the loss of a long-time spouse, abortion, and infidelity, as well as how twenty-somethings deal with discovering their ambition and their niche in life, and the risks of being of starting your own business.  The characters are well-developed and believable.

The third season should be some time this summer and it’s one of the few shows outside the U.S. to feature a 20+ episode season.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

7. The IT Crowd (United Kingdom, Channel 4, 2006)

For fans of The Office, Better Off Ted, Monty Python

This show is more in line with traditional British comedy, where the jokes seem contrived, well set-up, and in your face.  But for some reason The IT Crowd pulls it off, perhaps because I’m such a nerd or I can relate to ineffective management featured heavily in the show.

Roy & Moss are the company’s tech support. They find themselves in absurd situations that parody real life situations I’ve found myself in when helping others with their tech problems. Their supervisor, Jen, knows absolutely nothing about tech support, or computers for that matter, but she was able to fake her way into becoming the head of the IT department.

I was excited to find out a fourth season is being produced after an almost two year hiatus.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

8. The Real Hustle (United Kingdom, BBC Three, 2006)

For fans of Hustle, Leverage, The Oceans 11 Franchise, Reality TV Crime

The lone reality show on the list.  I have only recently started watching the show. It began as a spin-off of Hustle and shows actual con artists who dupe the public and, at the same time, teach the audience how to avoid these scams, some of which can be quite devastating. It has even been mentioned as a must-see show on a recent episode of Being Human.

There is an American version with a different set of con artists that airs on TruTV, but it doesn’t have the same feel; I prefer the British team over the U.S. team, especially Apollo.

Another clip about ATM Card Reader scams.

website | imdb | wiki | youtube

Honorable Mention

These shows didn’t quite make the cut since they are no longer airing, but definitely worth checking out.

Corner Gas (Canada, 2004-2009) -  A great show with tons of snarky, dry humor, wit, and sarcasm.  It’s similar to Seinfeld in that the show is essential about nothing, but the characters and the way the story lines come together are entertaining and provide quite a bit of comedy.

Life On Mars (United Kingdom, 2006-2007) – Apparently I was one of the few who enjoyed the U.S. remake, but it pales in comparison to the original, especially when it comes to how the series ended.  The U.S. version basically took the original scripts and recast them with American actors.  A spin-off, Ashes to Ashes, is currently airing its third season.