Vote for Britain’s Best Political Sitcom – 2012

Today is the day that most Americans either thought would never get here or couldn’t get here fast enough — Election Day 2012. While America goes to the polls to elect the next President of the United States (POTUS), it’s time to spend about $3 billion less than was spent on this year’s Presidential election and to virtually open up the right to vote to the entire world and determine Britain’s Best Political Sitcom of all-time.

Unlike the U.S. election, the object here is to vote early and vote often as the polls never close. Unlike official polling places, the virtual election poll encourages you to try and influence your fellow registered or un-registered voters through posted comments as to either who they should vote for the first time around or maybe change their vote the second time through. Remember, virtual polls don’t close so feel free to vote today, vote tomorrow and feel free to forward to ensure a 100% turnout.

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Candidate #1 – Yes Minister

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgDxvaCsZMI

Yes Minister, the 80’s British sitcom which is set primarily in the private office of a British Cabinet minister in the fictional Department for Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, follows the ministerial career of The Rt Hon Jim Hacker MP, played by Paul Eddington (Good Neighbors). His various struggles to formulate and enact legislation or effect departmental changes are opposed by the British Home Civil Service, in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Nigel Hawthorne. His Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley, played by Derek Fowlds, is usually caught between the two. Both created and written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, this series is so brilliantly done that it is probably more relevant today than when it premiered some 30+ years ago.

Candidate #2 – The Thick of It

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeZoORdsib8

Forever to be described as the 21st century’s answer to its 1980’s predecessor, Yes Minister, The Thick of It is equally a brilliant. Highlighting the struggles and conflicts between politicians, party spin doctors, advisers, civil servants and the media, the series centers on the fictitious Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship which supposedly came out of the Prime Minister’s desire for a “joined-up government”. Peter Capaldi is perfection as Malcolm Tucker, Number 10’s highly aggressive and domineering enforcer. Many of the episodes featured story lines that not only mirrored reality but, in some cases, actually predicted real-life policies, events and/or scandals. Interestingly, creator/writer/director Armando Iannucci originally conceived of the modern political satire after arguing the case for Yes Minister in BBC Two’s 2004 Best British Sitcom poll.

So, vote early, vote often and, remember, if you don’t vote you can’t complain about the outcome tomorrow….