The show's nearly over, folks - til the fall. Here are some suggestions to drown out the baying coyotes of TV tundra...

With the start of summer bringing an end to two great television events, that extra time on your hands should mean you can catch up on the shows that have probably passed you by while Jack Bauer’s been saving the world and the world’s been confused as hell by Lost’s well, hell. Now’s the time to discover these other trans-atlantic gems...

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Though it’s now well into its seventh season, Larry David’s superb improvised sitcom is every bit as good as Seinfeld. Playing himself as America’s answer to Victor Meldrew, this is the most excruciatingly funny thing to come across the pond since Woody Allen.

Catch Up Quick: Check out Season 2’s “Trick or Treat” for some great Larry moments.

Mad Men

Having wrapped up three seasons, the critically acclaimed show about the goings on at an ad firm in 1960’s New York is a case of style matching substance. With a great cast, superb attention to detail and a glimpse into changing social standards this is a series actually gaining ratings the longer it goes on.

Catch Up Quick: Season 3’s finale “Shut The Door, Have a Seat” closed several doors and should whet your appetite for Season 4’s new ones opening.

Better Off Ted

Only two seasons in, ABC’s new best sitcom focuses on the workers at Veridian Dynamics, a heartless R&D company who thinks nothing of freezing its own employees to make a quick buck. As quick-fire as Arrested Development, this is one show you might need to catch soon as rumours of cancellation (now the hallmark of a cult TV show) surround it.

Catch Up Quick: At this early stage, probably best to start from the beginning. With only 13 episodes a season that way you can rail against the impending injustice fully informed.

Arrested Development

Okay so here’s one you might actually have seen. With a film in production, there’s no better time though to re-watch or discover anew the best sitcom ever (sorry Gervais and Cleese!). Crammed with a gag-rate-per-minute to rival Airplane!, the show that truly launched Bateman, Cera and Arnett is probably the best thing to happen to TV in decades. Damn Fox!

Catch Up Quick: Although once you start watching you might find yourself sitting through a season in an evening, check out Season 2’s “Sword of Destiny” in which the cast manage to pop a dig at the network’s decision to cut the season down to 18 episodes with a clear but comic message.

Slings and Arrows

Mind you America doesn’t have it all its own way, and this gem from Canada featuring Due South’s Paul Gross manages to be funny and heart warming at the same time. The tale of three frantic seasons of Shakespeare in New Burbage launched Rachel McAdams amongst others and instantly became that best TV show that no-one saw. Funny, touching and utterly convincing, this is probably how theatres – and several governments - should be run.

Catch Up Quick: No, not quick. Settle down with a good bottle of wine and let each episode soak you with it’s delightful humour.

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