A Google Alert jump into my inbox just now for Little Britain USA, one of my favorite shows of the last 6 months. The alert linked to the story “As season ends, networks can learn from cable”, which I quickly clicked on, and was horrified to see the following:

HBO had a bigger hit-and-miss ratio with the superb animated series “The Life and Times of Tim,” and the woefully unfunny “Little Britain USA.”

Woefully unfunny?

Aside from two reoccurring characters on the show that I found to be unfunny, the rest was side splitting hilarious. Like “I was laughing so hard I was crying” funny. Now, to turn the tables, I found The Life and Times of Tim to be enjoyable but it lost steam by then end of the season.

Ok, let’s continue on:

…FX had an uncommon bomb of its own in “Testees”…

WHAT!?? A bomb?!?

I admit that the show did not bat 1000%, but a bomb it was not. The humor was crude, sometimes things were just plain creepy – which was part of the magic – but in no way was it a bomb.

HBO imported the comedy “Summer Heights High” from Australia and it was funnier than some of its originals.

Really? You are joking right?

After watching the imported version, I was annoyed. Fingernails on a chalkboard annoyed. Someone breaking wind on an elevator annoyed. Screaming kids running around breaking your fine china and crystal ware while the parents look on thinking its cute annoyed.

The imported version was just bad as compared to the original. HBO took a funny series and butchered it in the hopes of making a U.S. friendly version.

HBO’s one-note (and yes, that one note is pretty funny) “Eastbound & Down” split opinions on whether HBO’s programming was too inconsistent.

Well, at least we agree on Eastbound & Down.

All this makes me ask, what did I miss? Really. Is my sense of humor that warped that only equally warped programming is interesting to me but not to the rest of the world?

This news is even better than finding out Little Britain USA will be back for a second season – The Kids in the Hall will be back for an 8 episode miniseries, but the show will not be sketch comedy.  

“It’ll be an eight-episode arc with a narrative running through it and we will play all the characters but it won’t be sketch, it’ll be a single narrative miniseries. Probably the closest thing to it will probably be something like (the defunct cult British series) ‘League of Gentlemen,’ which I think was brilliant. So I hope it will be close to that.”says Dave Foley, Kids in the Hall member.

No word on when the show will be aired, but stilll…Rock on!

First off, an most importantly, you can now pre-order the 1st season of Little Britain USA (HBO series), which comes out 1/19/09.

I had called this one of the 4 shows that you are not watching (but should be) and I stand by that claim.  In a number of ways the show reminded me of “Kids in the Hall” but more…  polished.

I know this version really split critics – some loved it, some passionately hated it – but if you do have an offbeat sense of humor you need to watch!

And just because you may need a good laugh…

and…this one is *GREAT*

Well, it looks like Little Britain USA is airing on the BBC over in the U.K. and it’s causing a bit of a stir. Roughly 400 people lodged decency complains due to one of their skits about two body builders. Apparently some children saw the clips and, well, you know the story… Parents got all up in arms… Not only that, gay rights’ groups describing the program as “offensive” despite one of the cast members being openly gay.

Just to make sure we are all on the same page when talking the ‘obnoxious’ clip, take a look below. i don’t know how long it will be up so take a view as soon as you can. (Warning: this is not safe for work)

I guess my reason to live may now be in question.  There is quite a bit of confusion over Little Britain USA and the contract for a second season.  It sounds like there may not be one.  Yesterday, after news came out of the UK that HBO renewed the series, some in the press decided to confirm the facts by calling HBO directly.

Tobe Becker, HBO spokesperson, said she “had no information about another season of the ribald comedy series”

While a press blackout could be in place during contract finalization, which I doubt, it seems odd the HBO wouldn’t know about their own show catalog… 

Maybe I was wrong to get so excited!  I hope that this doesn’t turn out to be nothing more than a rumor.

Ah, yes, this gives a ray of hope to my day…. the proverbial something to live for.

Despite mixed reviews, Little Britain USA will be coming back for a second season on HBO.  As this is in my “six shows you are not watching but should be” category, this is outstanding news.

Details are lacking at this point, and I wouldn’t expect to see new shows for about a year, but it really does give fans something to look forward to.

Network TV (NBC / ABC / CBS) station are limited in their ability to develop outstanding comedy for a number of reasons. Development deals are not usually given to “new” ideas that don’t fit a target audience; FCC regulations dictate what is “offensive”, and executives often listen to the person(s) paying the bill (advertiser) as to what they want their products align to.

While Cable TV stations depend on advertisements, in some cases, for income, DVD sales and digital distribution are becoming the large revenue generation methods. Tack on the fact that FCC does not carry a big stick due to the fact that people are paying a subscription fee and you have production companies will take more risk with their programming. The results – hilarious TV.

Ok, so what are the four shows you are not watching but should be?

Testees 

• The show is about two friends who work as human test subjects at product testing facility – who knew you could become a woman due to radiation exposure.

Little Britain USA