Matt Forde. The Thick of It is a British comedy television series that satirises the inner workings of British government.Written and directed by Armando Iannucci, it was first broadcast for two short series on BBC Four in 2005, initially with a small cast focusing on a government minister, his advisers and their party's spin-doctor. We’d be remiss not to use it as an educational tool.—Deirdre Kaye, Original Run: 1979-1986 Milch’s vision of the West presented civility coming to an area that was still incredibly wild. Partly Political Broadcast is a weekly comedy podcast dissecting the previous week's political news. The West Wing (1999-2006) This one set the bar for all political TV shows that came afterward.Aaron Sorkin's famously idealistic series about the … Still, even the so-called “villains” of the series occasionally demonstrate moments of redemption. The UK version is currently on Netflix, and at under 12 hours for the entire series, is easily binge-able.—Mark Rabinowitz, Original Run: 2013-present Moreover, since Cylons look like humans, there’s the ever-present paranoia that they have already infiltrated the ranks. This clash created one of HBO’s greatest anti-heros with Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen. Where the commentary lands hardest is on the scary amounts of money being poured into political campaigns thanks to the awful Citizens United court case. Political Comedy Shows. By its third season, Boardwalk Empire found its voice, finally living up to the promise of its Scorsese-directed premiere.—Sean Gandert, Original Run: 2013- present Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau is no stranger to televised political satire thanks to his still-brilliant HBO series Tanner ‘88, which followed the campaign of a potential Democratic Presidential candidate and his staff. Donnerstags | ab 22:45 Uhr. Watch Season 6 Now on Netflix. Spend your Thursdays with the podcast called 'the perfect combination of silly, intelligent, cynical and charming' by Entertainment Weekly Frequency … There’s definitely iconoclasm in that, but if anybody went back to watch the show without knowing this, they may be jarred to find out how little Bush’s personality, and politics, play into the show. Bolstered by a phenomenal, charismatic group of actors, Borgen is the perfect program for the political junkie in your life. Watch trailers & learn more. The outcome of which was often diabolical, on both personal and political levels. Because the series takes place far away from the hustle and bustle of D.C., its relationship to politics may initially seem tenuous at best. Fans of the show, which is soon heading into its sixth season, have long since suspended all forms of disbelief so they can continue to enjoy Kerry Washington’s performance as lawyer and “D.C. Their task: Keep America safe by building the bomb to beat all bombs—the nuclear bomb. With Ben Platt, Zoey Deutch, Lucy Boynton, Julia Schlaepfer. Supremely confident in execution, The Honourable Woman is a masterpiece of political intrigue.—Mark Rozeman, Original Run: 2005-2006 fixer” Olivia Pope, and the messy world that she inhabits. Interspersed with the central familial and high school narratives are flash-forwards in the form of a faux documentary from 2049, in which various talking heads (including some older versions of modern-day characters) act as a sort of Greek chorus, indirectly commenting on how the events of the show shaped the President they know today. Dark political comedy set in the corridors of British government Homepage. For his more recent effort, Trudeau turned his attention to the other side of the aisle with this Amazon comedy about four Republican senators that share a rented home in D.C. Unfortunately, this did not sit so well with many of his countrymen, and Caesar, as anyone who read Shakespeare knows, met a tragic end. Nothing goes according to plan, though, as they face opposition from other politicians in their own party and scandals that threaten their livelihoods. Failed endorsements. In 1943, at the height of World War II, in the middle of nowhere, at a made-up address, an entire Army base was built for the housing and employing of America’s leading scientists and their families. Here are the top five political comedies on TV right now. In that regard, Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of the admittedly kitschy 1970s space opera of the same name does what all the best sci-fi should do—it amplifies highly relatable or complex issues and emotions using the prism of the fantastical. British political comedy television series‎ (1 C, 11 P) D British political drama television series‎ (1 C, 20 P) Pages in category "British political television series" The following 13 pages are in this category, out of 13 total. Political talk shows, or late-night shows as some call it, are a cornerstone of the American way of life nowadays. As with Aaron Sorkin’s beloved drama, the behind the scenes dealings of the government provide some startling insight into the compromises and strong arming that often has to happen for anything to get done. On this show, as happens so often in politics, the ends often justified the means. The struggles behind the scenes of the show (the series had three showrunners during its short run) did it no favors as it dropped quickly in the ratings, making a complete waste of a brilliant cast, including Donald Sutherland as Allen’s chief political rival.—Robert Ham, Original Run: 2016-present Whether it was a rogue faction secretly breaking off to form their own firm, or the constant plotting for power and control, no series captured office politics quite the same way. Its “tits and dragons” reputation among non-fans is completely unwarranted. Beau Willimon’s series is actually an adaptation of a BBC mini-series (originally three four-episode minis: House of Cards, To Play the King and The Final Cut, themselves adaptations of novels by Michael Dobbs) starring the late, great Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart, chief whip of the conservative party. It’s often stated that the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica offered a more incisive portrayal of a post-9/11 America than most TV dramas set in the “real” world. As Paste’s politics editor Shane Ryan wrote earlier this year when we declared it the best show of 2016 so far, “it nails American politics—the amount of corruption and incompetence, along with a thick web of conflicting interests, which makes it impossible for anything real to be accomplished. When it hit its stride—whether it be President Bartlet’s barn-burning monologue in “Two Cathedrals” or Richard Schiff’s silently heartbreaking work in the Christmas-themed “In Excelsis Deo”—it was the stuff of TV history. Season Six focused on Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) run for political office and drew the curtain back on the fundraising and glad handling it takes to win an election. Quirky, Irreverent. Perennial Emmy nominee Claire Danes’ go-for-broke performance as bipolar CIA operative Carrie Mathison is a sight to behold. This real-world basis and resonance ensures that Game of Thrones is never just “tits and dragons.” More accurately, it’s an astute look at our own political past and present, with breasts and winged beasts deceptively sprinkled on top.—Brogan Morris, Original Run: 1990 Few shows offer as deep a look into the outcomes of American politics as Manhattan did. Being a multicam sitcom, the show never truly delved into the nitty gritty inherent to its political setting, but what it did do brilliantly was thoroughly exploit this unorthodox workplace setting for all manner of storylines, whether it was regarding same sex marriages, HIV or merely the Mayor cheating at golf. With, at most, six days of thought put into most episodes, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone often are able to pull from current headlines for their incredibly witty parodies. The show dived deep into the minutia of campaigns. Working as a somewhat less comedic offshoot of programs like The Thick of It, the show explores how, in the world of politics, the devil is in the details and the slightest faux pas, unchecked source or misplaced bit of intel can spell disaster. Votes: 1,609 A precursor to The Thick of It and, by proxy, Veep, this beloved BBC series finds humor in the strangest of places. Political TV Shows. For one, the kind of wheeling and dealing that can take one from the back benches to the top job is simply more believable in a parliamentary system, and the more overt presence of class politics in the UK makes for more interesting drama. Besides a remarkable opening credits scene set to Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom,” the series also includes tracks by David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, The Cure, New Order, Nena, 10cc and Duran Duran (among many others). Obamas producing comedy series about chaos of Trump administration. Created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy. More Originals. Here’s a sample (there’s so many!) Based on the best-selling historical novel series by Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall stars Mark Rylance, everyone’s favorite award-winning, poetry-spouting thespian, as Thomas Cromwell, the lawyer and statesman who ended up rising through the ranks (via a combination of sheer intelligence and Machiavellian manipulation) to become the right-hand man of King Henry VIII (played here by a post-Homeland Damian Lewis). More importantly, Richardson’s Urquhart is a significantly more delicious character than Spacey’s Frank Underwood. Although set thousands of years ago, the fight for what kind of country you want to live in resonates to this day. But here’s hoping the funniest political show on TV doesn’t stay away from Capitol Hill for too long.—Bonnie Stiernberg, Original Run: 2002-2008 Trudeau and his writers present that with chilling exactitude in the form of a pair of wealthy brothers funding some re-election bids and an heiress who runs a Super PAC for Republican candidates. And, yes—to be fair—any program that opens with The Doctor saying “fuck” is bound to have some appeal.—Mark Rozeman, Original Run: 2013 and other movies with political background or sub-plot. But Murphy Brown was much more than its most known zeitgeist moment. And while, in retrospect, some of the show’s conceptions of politics proved to be little more than wishful thinking, one can only hope the show’s ongoing popularity will convince a whole new generation of politicians and voters to embrace the nobler utopia of Sorkin’s White House.—Mark Rozeman, © 2020 Paste Media Group. The great achievement of David Simon’s stellar HBO series lies in the sheer clarity with which it articulates its despairing vision of the oppressive forces that keep American cities down. Startseite; Sendungen; Videos; Vorschau. Who knew that the true successor to The West Wing would wind up being a sharp political drama from Denmark? The Thick of It is a British comedy television series that satirises the inner workings of British government.Written and directed by Armando Iannucci, it was first broadcast for two short series on BBC Four in 2005, initially with a small cast focusing on a government minister, his advisers and their party's spin-doctor. Due to its quick turnaround, South Park might be the first animated show to be consistently, timely with its political takedowns. But Thick of It would be nothing without the peerless performance of future Doctor Who Peter Capaldi as the Prime Minister’s chief enforcer Malcolm Tucker. Boardwalk Empire isn’t as energetic as other dramas, but its meticulous slow-burn has a depth and beauty to it that’s rarely been matched on the small screen. Although the series never quite recovered from the well-publicized departure of Michael J. While Netflix’s mostly excellent House of Cards is a streaming sensation and the origin of binge-watching, this tale of Machiavellian intrigue in Washington’s halls of power is not even the best version of the story. Accessibility links ... "It's on Like Fat Pat's Thong" — Series 4, Episode 4. It’s a fun, breezy exploration of the emerging class of the British political system and how they balance being young and impulsive while helping aid (or exploit) the country’s leaders. The final season found Peter (Chris Noth) running for President and viewers were treated to the daily grind of a campaign (just how many hands do you have to shake?) With Claire (Caitriona Balfe) being from the 1900s, she has intimate knowledge of the gruesome battles that will occur and ultimately destroy Scotland. Every Sunday, Hasan Minhaj brings an incisive and nuanced perspective to global news, politics and culture in his unique comedy series. A list of the best British comedy Sitcoms on TV. And it only improved over time, as it became less concerned with the minutiae of New Jersey politics in favor of featuring a much more compelling national landscape. Coming Soon. For these reasons, and so many more, we both liked and loved Parks and Recreation.—Amy Amatangelo, Original Run: 2012-present A companion series of sorts to the 1995 series The Politician’s Wife, this three-episode arc brings us into the lives and careers of Aiden Hoynes (former Doctor Who David Tennant) and Freya Gardner (the always amazing Emily Watson), a political power couple in the U.K. with eyes toward taking over 10 Downing Street. Indeed, between debates on women’s rights, immigration or health care, the show does not lionize one side or villainize another. Los Angeles, California, United States About Podcast Throwing Shade is the political comedy podcast hosted by Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi who deliver their fresh takes on pop culture, women's rights, and LGBT rights with hilarity and vulgarity. The first solution that comes to mind are comedy news shows. (Photo by NBC) 200 Best Comedy Series of All Time. Surrounded by her naïve and nervous executive producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud), best friend Frank (Joe Regalbuto), stuffy newsman Jim (Charles Kimbrough) and way-too-cheery Corky (Faith Ford), the series was consistently topical and political, but most importantly always made us laugh.—Amy Amatangelo, Original Run: 2008 During the heart of the Reagan Revolution, ABC found a huge comedy hit in Benson. The series centers on a young East German border patrol guard tasked with going deep undercover as a personal assistant to a high-ranking West Germany General. Watch all you want. This is a list of satirical television news programs with a satirical bent, or parodies of news broadcasts, with either real or fake stories for mainly humorous purposes. See all clips. Original Run: 2012-2014 The show could be dark, but flippantly so, as if every death in the battle between CONTROL and KAOS was just a bump in the road. These great shows will have to wait for another list. A stirring cocktail of conspiracy thriller, political drama and murder-mystery, Paul Abbott’s dynamite 2003 miniseries State of Play stars Life on Mars’s John Simm as Cal McCaffrey, a London journalist tasked with uncovering two (seemingly) unconnected deaths—an alleged drug dealer found shot to death and the young political researcher who appears to have fallen to her death on the London Underground. 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