TheTVDB.com

What it says on the tin.

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=79554&lid=7
A great comedy centered around a hacky horror writer and the TV show he 'wrote, directed and starred in' in the eighties.
It features egotistical interviews with the cast and crew (who all consider the show to be a classic) and the episodes themselves, which were filmed in the producer's garage, featuring horrific dialogue, ropey special effects and generally poor production values.

http://youtu.be/Vc6dt0rFddA - Garth Marenghi reading from one of his books.

http://youtu.be/Ygkqd7YiHy4 - An example of the show within a show

Trivia - the show was actually very expensive to produce, due to the attention to detail with regards to the old cameras.

Recommended for fans of Look Around You, Mighty Boosh, Police Squad.

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I'm so mainstream that anything I post will probably get people rolling their eyes. Regardless, anyone with kids absolutely should look at Disney's Recess: http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=71780&lid=7.

Anyone into woodworking should look at Woodsmith Shop: http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=143421&lid=7. It's the only home improvement or woodworking show that my dad watches anymore, which means it's good.

America's Test Kitchen is probably the single most useful cooking show on TV. I think it's relatively mainstream since it's on PBS, but even some of my foodie friends haven't watched it. http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=80297&lid=7

Hopefully even though many people will probably have heard of these, they might be discovered by someone else who had never heard of them.

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OZ - one of the best series I ever saw.

Reboot I frigging loved as a child. I had little figures and everything. (free with some sort of cereal in the UK!)
I remember Recess as well!
OZ I have heard good things about, thats yet another recommendation which should push it up my list.

As far as more shows go, I'd like to direct you to Marion and Geoff http://thetvdb.com/?tab=series&id=72066&lid=7
A bittersweet tale of a lonely cab driver called Keith with some bizarre thoughts. It's a monologue of sorts, and is both understatedly amusing and sad at the same time. He constantly attempts to put a positive spin on his seperation, the fact his kids don't really want to see him, and his general well being. Short, ten minute episodes. Marion is his ex wife, and Geoff the man who is now with her.
http://youtu.be/NVZBtJnXo9k

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Everything by Ai Yazawa is a must. I recommend starting off with Nana to get a feel for her work and they types of characters she creates then watch either Paradise Kiss or Gokinjo Monogatari. Gokinjo Monogatari actually takes place many many years before its spinoff series Paradise Kiss, but there isn't any harm in watching them in the wrong order. Starting with Paradise Kiss and seeing a glimpse of some of the guest characters from Gokinjo Monogatari made me want to watch Gokinjo Monogatari immediately afterwards which I previously had little interest in at all. Anyway, Ai does a great job at creating very interesting worlds and amazing characters to fill them with. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

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Very interested I'll give some of these a go I think.

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MAL | trakt

The how and the why of the stumbling upon of this forum is now no longer in my memory core, but I lurked, prodded, poked around, and read for a few days and then went on a quest based on the link above; which also lead me to become a member if not for the least bit just to say how much I've enjoyed the series even though I've yet to get the wifey on board.
Thank you good sir!

And I would also like to recommend Burning Love which is a web only series, but quite funny.
http://screen.yahoo.com/burning-love/