I won't include anime or animated television in my list.
I have a huge list and I am sure I will forget many.
New Zealand shows:
Shortland Street is a five day a week local soap set in a hospital. Its routine watching in this house and is just wonderful. It had a good story this year and last with a serial killer. Although, I kinda thought the conclusion to the serial killer story sucked a bit.
Outrageous Fortune is an excellent show that has so far lasted three seasons. It has some rather crappy moments, but thats cheap resources really. Overall, though when its on its routine viewing.
Theres a few other kiwi shops that deserve a mention, Marlin's Place, Jackson Wharf, Plainclothes, Gloss and a few others.
Australia:
Home and Away - Its a soap and always has plenty of drama and some terrific moments.
McLoed's Daughters - While its gone on for way too long, for the first three series it was routine viewing with strong storylines.
Underbelly - Wow this is a fantastic look into the Melbourne mafiaish/gangster world. And it looks at what happened over about an eight year reign where many deaths occurs. Australia should be very proud of this series.
Other mentions are Flying Doctors, Water Rats, Blue Heelers in its peak, Murder Call and Police Rescue.
Great Britain:
Coronation Street - Its routine viewing here in New Zealand, and has phenomenal acting and always has strong storylines. Characters have been on the show for years and it will always be a favourite here.
Bad Girls - Why was this show cancelled? This show was amazing, always strong storylines, not the most realistic of shows but just phenomenal storytelling.
The Lakes - OMG when this show was on television here it was just incredible. Dramatic, realistic absolutely great. Just amazing storytelling.
Other shows: Casualty, Poirot, Midsomer Murders, The Bill, Miss Marple (New series and old), Inspector Morse, At Home with the Braithwaites, Hustle, Mr. Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Fawlty Towers, A Touch of Frost, Inspector Lynley, Absolutely Fabulous (The early series) and so much more. Not to mention the British make fabulous tv movies and mini-series.
America:
Bah I can't be bothered typing much more but I love Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, ER (the early series), Chicago Hope, The Golden Girls (amazing), Project Runway, Americas Next Top Model, Dynasty, Dallas, Tour of Duty, Men in Trees, Cold Case and various others.
Its amazing really, I am sure I have forgotten so many great British, Australian and American television series, but that always seems to happen when you are asked what your favourites are.
I always think we here in New Zealand are very fortunate, in that the free to air channels get the best of British, American and Australian television. Australia gets American but they don't seem to be a big for British series and America while it probably has such series on cable and satellite systems it doubtful that the majority of them have seen many British tv series or even Australian series.
