I have to confess that I absolutely love British comedies. Hyacinth telling Richard to watch out for the pedestrians (two blocks away, no less!) is just as funny to me the first time I see it as it is the tenth. I can watch Keeping Up Appearances over and over, and never get tired of that show. (More on that series later…)
I have chosen to highlight the Waiting for God series because I think that a lot of us who live here in the States have “sort of missed it.” I believe that PBS showed it years ago, and quite frankly, if I saw it then, I didn’t stay with it. Now that I understand the premise of the show, I find it a wonderful way to spend time watching TV. (I must admit that I have not been swept away with any of the current reality shows……. so I don’t know who is dancing with the “stars,” or who is being hired to work for The Donald, or who can sing with even more “stars.”) Both Season One and Season Two of Waiting for God are now available…. And I can’t wait for the rest of the seasons to be released.
The show takes place in a retirement community where Diana Trent (played beautifully by Stephanie Cole), plans on living out her remaining years. Diana is a woman whose life has included all sorts of adventures… she chose her free-wheeling career, while still having a “daughter of sorts” when she was in town visiting her niece. Diana isn’t cynical or acid-tongued…… she is even more than those words can describe!
Tom Ballard (played wonderfully by Graham Crowden), on the other hand, had a stable, quiet life, and doesn’t seem at all upset by having his son (read: daughter-in-law!) place him at the retirement community. Tom sometimes goes to a world within his head, and sometimes has problems differentiating between his two worlds.
Fortunately for us, Tom and Diana are immediate neighbors, so any time they are outside in their little garden areas, they see each other. This series is very BRITISH….. but not at all mysterious. The only mystery involved is how I missed it when PBS showed it! (Season Three and Season Four have finally been released!)
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
Susan says
Hi there. I’ve just gotten interested in the cozy mysteries of Joanne Fluke. I read the Peach Cobbler Murder and I loved it so I have just ordered the whole series. I am also a big fan of British TV and movies. I have been a member of NetFlix for a couple of months and I just discovered that they have a wide range of British TV DVDs available. Just thought I would pass it along. You have a great web site! Thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Susan…. I am glad you found the site. I hope that you can discover new authors… and read them in chronological order!
As you have probably noticed, I love British TV… (I really have got to put some more series on my TV and Movie page….Bramwell… that’s the next one…)
Thanks, again… Danna
teresa says
I already have been a fan of your book lists. Now I am a fan of your movie lists! Like your family, we have gotten tired of the fare served on television and cable, and we have been using our local library to watch old mystery, western, adventure, and comedy favorites. Your list had some of ours, but it also had some new ones we are definitely trying out!
Thanks!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Teresa, I absolutely love the old 1940/1950 movies! I follow Hollywood actors who were making great movies way before I was even born! Claudette Colbert, William Powell, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Myrna Loy… my list goes on and on, and then on and on….
MARY E. says
I love your mystery site and am so glad I found it. I haven’t been able to figure out what ‘make a link’ means and neither have my other family members who are far more technological than I. I’m sorry about that. This is the best mystery site that I have seen (and I have it and many others in my Favorites list.) Please keep on writing! Thanks for all the information on the new books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Welcome to the site, Mary E! My husband has encouraged me to seek out links… which in this case, is simply the address of my site, which, when clicked on, takes you directly to my site.
(I’m glad you’re enjoying the site!)
Melinda says
Funny show! Can suggest One Foot in the Grave also, another British comedy series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Melinda, thanks! I think our PBS station airs One Foot in the Grave. I used to see about a minute of it when I watched “my” Keeping Up Appearances.
Donna says
My new favorite Britcom is The Old Guys. It features the actor who played Hyacinth’s husband as a widower who has to move in with his best friend, a much divorced eccentric. It is the funniest show I’ve seen in ages! I hope they are making more seasons, there are only two or three right now. Also love As Time Goes By, Keeping Up Appearances, Last of the Summer Wine, and Are You Being Served. (We have an excellent PBS station here.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Donna, your PBS does indeed sound excellent. Ours devotes only one hour each Saturday night to air the same British sitcoms over and over. Of course, I shouldn’t complain since they do air the Masterpiece episodes whenever the “national” PBS schedule has them.
Kathy says
I have been watching an older Brit sitcom called ‘Allo, ‘Alli which makes me laugh out loud. Also the movie the Trouble With Harry.
Kathy says
Sorry: it’s ‘Allo, ‘Allo
Autocorrect – Aarrrgghh!