The Book Group

The Book Group ran its original episodes back in 2002 on Channel 4 in the UK (Just 12 episode!). Yet, its found new life on Netflicks and Hulu, too.. for many of us Americans who love British TV.

Its a smart comedy. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like Clare. Yet, all she wants in a real friend. And then when she becomes a best friend..well, its not all she'd hoped for. Its a complicated comedy about people.  Each character is unique and you really want to get to know them.

Kenny pining for Clare.

Rory McCann played wheel chair bound Kenny in this show who is now Sandor Clegane on Game of Thrones.

Michelle Gomez as Janice. My favorite moments are when she's interviewing people in the mirror. In real life she's married to Jack Davenport who is on Smash.

STORYLINE: American Clare Pettengill, newly arrived in Glasgow, starts up a book group in order to make some new friends. The group consists of three unhappy European football wives, a pretentious drug-addict student, a closet-homosexual football enthusiast, and a kind and gentle struggling author in a wheelchair. Each week they meet to read and discuss a new book, which always affects or influences each of the group's lives in some way.

Anne Dudek played Clare who you might have seen in Covert Affairs.

James Lance played two characters on the show. Barney in the earlier episodes was quite the interesting ladies man, but he too had his flaws. Annie Griffin wrote and directed the show. This is some of her earlier work, but she definitely knew about contemporary relationships. And she still does with comedies like Fresh Meat. James Lance is a gem of an actor. He played Kirby in last season's UK's Being Human.

• Clare: [After reading The Little Engine That Could] Barney, did you think that little engine was going to make it up that mountain?
• Barney: Hmm, yes I did, Clare. After all, its an american book.

I only saw the first three episodes, but, so far, this show is perfect in just about every way.
The dialogue is hilarious without getting all up in your face about it, and the characters are flawed and weird and lovable. My absolute favorite thing about it is that they either lack the awareness to notice or just do not give a crap about how bizarre their new friends are. It is the greatest thing to watch.-Hug a Cat

tumblr