Guilty Pleasures on TV

[Aruntraveller]

I have just been reading the thread NS started about 'Inside No 9' which seems to have impressed quite a few posters - I've not seen it so I can't comment but I'll try to catch up with it.

However I was thinking more towards the other end of the TV spectrum where lurks some strange programmes that you feel ought to be good but somehow aren't, but aren't worthy of being disposed of as rubbish in the manner of say Judge Judy or Jeremy Kyle.

My entry in this field is Kay Mellors "Girlfriends" which finishes its first run tonight (I doubt there will be a second - although secretly I hope there will be).

I offer this because it started off as a fairly standard comedy drama, but quickly descended, or ascended maybe, into high farce. What with demented grandmother, son on probation with one of those ankle bracelet things,  an avenging wife, an astonishing portrayal of a family argument that just would not happen (gay son, 2 kids by lesbians, living in a  sort of upper middle class commune) husband lost overboard on a cruise ship, heart attack, kitchen fire, stalked by mad woman with knife - or is she? Phew - and I've only skimmed the surface. I am ashamed to say I am addicted.

High art it is not. Enjoyable it is for reasons I can't really define. But I think it is safe to say Kay Mellor has probably damaged her reputation considerably with this and with her preceding effort "Love, Lies & Records" also enjoyable for many of the same reasons!

So what is your guilty pleasure?

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Quincy.

Behind the ham acting, the stories are usually quite good.

[jeremyp]

My latest pleasure - although I don't consider it guilty is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, the BBC America/Netflix series. It has Bart the Holistic Assassin in it. She just assumes she is supposed to kill nearly everybody she meets and she is right.

[Robbie]

I used to watch Quincy many moons ago, loved it.

Haven't seen 'Girlfriends' but did enjoy 'Love, Lies and Records'. Nothing to feel guilty about surely?

[Rhiannon]

Most Haunted. David Wells era especially.

[Nearly Sane]

I liked Deadliest Warrior


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadliest_Warrior

[Gordon]

I enjoyed 'The End of the F***ing World', currently showing on Netflix.

Thought the two young lead actors were excellent.

[Nearly Sane]

Currently Lucifer, though as with most high concept stuff it becomes patchier the longer it goes on.



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer_(TV_series)

[Walter]

The Trivago advert 😘

[Aruntraveller]

I used to watch Quincy many moons ago, loved it.

Haven't seen 'Girlfriends' but did enjoy 'Love, Lies and Records'. Nothing to feel guilty about surely?

Maybe guilty is the wrong word - but you know I could be doing so much more with my time. I mean I could, if I chose to, be watching better television programmes than Girlfriends - but I don't. Still it finished this evening, so I suppose I will just have to wait for the new series of Benidorm to start.......

[Rhiannon]

Maybe guilty is the wrong word - but you know I could be doing so much more with my time. I mean I could, if I chose to, be watching better television programmes than Girlfriends - but I don't. Still it finished this evening, so I suppose I will just have to wait for the new series of Benidorm to start.......

I think the difference here is that most of these posts are about reasonably good telly. Yeah, ok, it’s not highbrow, but it’s passable.

A guilty pleasure is one that is found in utter crap, like Supernoodles or the music of Bros.

Or tv like Most Haunted. Which is utter, utter crap.

[Robbie]

Or Dinner Date or the odious Mr JK.  Seen one, seen 'em all.

Going back to 'Love, Lies and Records', there was a series in the last couple of years called, 'In the Club', about pregnant women and their babies but much more than that. I saw some of it and liked it, easy watching but interesting characters; missed the last episode though. It was in the same style as 'Love, Lies..'.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Does "Howards Way" count?

TBH I only enjoy watching it for the bad clothes & the overacting. Tracey Childs is probably the worst, although Stephen Yardley tries hard. Jan Harvey just walks around being Jan Harvey.

[floo]

I watch the JK show over breakfast! I feel guilty for watching it, the programme can hardly be called a 'pleasure'. I sometimes wonder if the participants are actors as I find it hard to understand how anyone can make such fools of themselves. The show claims to help people, but really it is the 'entertainment' value of people behaving badly, which is why people watch it. I wonder if shows like that should be banned, because the people taking part aren't the brightest cookies in the jar,it is exploiting their vulnerability?

[Robbie]

Yes it is.

I've only seen a few bits here and there. Last time was months ago, I caught the end of the early morning show and Kyle was pontificating about people on benefits and encouraging people to report their neighbours if they thought they were claiming and doing some work at the same time.

I was horrified at the idea of people snooping and telling tales on their neighbours & Kyle has no idea how difficult it is for them to make ends meet on benefits. So I've avoided the show since.

[Gordon]

Just watching episode one of the original Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) I recorded, which the True Entertainment channel (on Virginmedia) are re-running currently. I remember it so well from first time round (in 1969 - I was 16 going on 17) - great theme tune too.

The exterior shots show all the car models I remember from back then: none of which you routinely see today, and and not a mobile phone or computer in sight.

[Aruntraveller]

And on yet another cable channel CBS Drama they are re-running Dynasty. Started this evening. It is amazing how slow paced it is compared with my memory of it. Still Dame Joan hasn't rocked up yet.

[Nearly Sane]

Oddly enough I was watching Joan this evening but in Will and Grace

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Lost in Space.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

On my days off work....Doctors.

(I would never dream of watching the same at work, even on a late lunch break).

[SteveH]

Casualty. It's the most appalling, badly-written tosh, but addictive - like junk food.

[Robbie]

I like Casualty and Holby City. If I'm not around I'll watch on iplayer.
Agree that there is a lot of far fetched stuff but once you accept it's OTT, it's very enjoyable. I love the actors.

Holby is one of those shows where I pick out favourites from time to time. For a long time Ric Griffin was my favourite, then Michael Spence, now Heindrich Hanssen. Jac Naylor is always a favourite!

I don't consider either programme to be a guilty pleasure, they're good.

The other OTT thing is 'Silent Witness'; forensic pathologists running around doing police work and putting themselves in danger. As if. I do enjoy though but haven't seen the latest series, will catch up in due course either on iplayer or when it is (endlessly) repeated on Drama or iTV3. I'm a great Emilia Fox fan.

[floo]

I have always enjoyed Casualty watching from the very first episode, I enjoy Holby City too.

[SteveH]

The thing about 'Casualty' is that no-one ever just goes in, gets their cut finger or sprained ankle seen to, says "thank you very much", and toddles off again - there's always a dramatic back-story. I'm sure real A&E departments aren't like that.

[floo]

The thing about 'Casualty' is that no-one ever just goes in, gets their cut finger or sprained ankle seen to, says "thank you very much", and toddles off again - there's always a dramatic back-story. I'm sure real A&E departments aren't like that.

The solution is simple, don't watch it!