The BEST episodes of Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe
Every episode of Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe!
Screenwipe is a television programme about television programmes; the cost, the surprising amount of work and bureaucracy involved, how programmes are selected for broadcast, and, usually scathing, analysis of specific programmes and genres. Brooker often pays particular attention to more obscure channels on satellite, freeview and cable, such as those dedicated to gambling, shopping, horoscopes, and pornography. He explores the probable effects of television in society, and how often programmes can create in the viewer feelings of inadequacy, depression, fear, and anxiety. To balance things, usually one segment of each show is dedicated to positive reviews, with analysis on why the style and content is so absorbing.
#1 - Screenwipe USA
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/17/2006
Screenwipe USA. In this USA special, Brooker goes in depth into American TV and compares the main differences between British and American Television. He reviews American soap operas, American reality crime shows, To Catch a Predator and The Wire. Lewis Black talks about his experiences with television.
#2 - Children's Television
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/16/2008
Brooker focuses on children's television from past to present, and even has a go at being a children's TV presenter on Toonattik. He reviews Johnny Ball Games, In The Night Garden, Yo Gabba Gabba! and LazyTown. Kirsten O'Brien talks about ChuckleVision and Andy Nyman talks about The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson. The end of the episode includes a tribute to Bagpuss creator Oliver Postgate who had died the previous week.
#3 - Episode 5
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/2007
Brooker looks into TV elimination shows and he creates his own to demonstrate how they can be edited to distort the truth. He reviews Pete's P.A. and Any Dream Will Do.
#4 - TV Advertising
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/25/2008
Brooker talks about television advertising; the guidelines, its history and how they work. He reviews Mad Men. Tim Key recites another poem.
#5 - Episode 4
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/10/2006
Brooker goes in depth into how you can get an idea on TV. He reviews TV consumer shows, Hollyoaks and Dragons' Den. A spoof voice commentary from the director of The Mint is supplied (by Adam Buxton).
#6 - TV Writing
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/2/2008
In this slightly extended episode, Brooker is joined by some of the best TV writers in the business today. They talk about how they started out and how they go about writing a television show. Featured in this episode are; Russell T Davies, Paul Abbott, Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Graham Linehan and Tony Jordan.
#7 - Episode 4
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/2007
Brooker talks about television that is aimed at today's youth. He reviews My Super Sweet 16, America's Next Top Model and The Tudors. Matt Berry about television theme tunes, especially those of Ronnie Hazelhurst.
#8 - Episode 4
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/26/2007
Brooker talks about how video and editing techniques and technology have improved over time. He reviews Primeval and The Sex Inspectors. Stewart Lee talks about how the perception of teenagers on TV has changed over the years. Grace Dent talks about love storylines in soap operas.
#9 - Episode 1
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/18/2008
Brooker discusses the notion of people complaining about television. He reviews Britannia High, Paul Ross's Big Black Book of Horror. Liza Tarbuck talks about Tales of the Riverbank.
#10 - Episode 2
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2007
Brooker talks about the decline of the ending credits on TV programmes. He reviews Ann Widdecombe Versus Prostitution, Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Street Doctor. Richard Herring talks about Big Cook, Little Cook.
#11 - Television News
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2007
In this television news special, Brooker talks about the need to entertain on the news and also the rise of 24-hour news. Adam Curtis talks about the rise and fall of the television journalist.
#12 - Screenwipe USA
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/17/2006
Screenwipe USA. In this USA special, Brooker goes in depth into American TV and compares the main differences between British and American Television. He reviews American soap operas, American reality crime shows, To Catch a Predator and The Wire. Lewis Black talks about his experiences with television.
#13 - Episode 2
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/12/2007
Brooker discusses what TV ratings are and how they work. He reviews 24, video games not getting as much respect as television and Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway. Gia Milinovich talks about video on the web.
#14 - Episode 3
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/19/2007
Brooker discusses what it's like to be the "talent" on a TV show. He reviews shows aimed at men; Ross Kemp on Gangs, Top Gear and Britain's Hardest. He also reviews courtroom reality show The Verdict. Reginald D Hunter talks about British TV from an American perspective.
#15 - Episode 3
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/3/2006
Brooker discusses TV scaremongering thanks to 24-hour news and reconstruction programmes. He reviews Music channels and TV makeover shows. Simon Farnaby talks about Last of the Summer Wine.
#16 - Episode 1
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/5/2007
Brooker talks about the guidelines that TV has to adhere to. He reviews Celebrity Big Brother 5, Psychic Private Eyes and Battlestar Galactica. Doug Stanhope gives his views on television.
#17 - Episode 1
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2007
Brooker looks into the lies TV tells us. He reviews Heroes, Have I Been Here Before? and The X Factor. Nicholas Parsons talks about Saturday night entertainment.
#18 - Documentaries
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/9/2008
Brooker talks about the change in direction that modern day documentaries have taken. He launches his own mission documentary; "Konnie's Great British Wee", fronted by Konnie Huq. He reviews Miss Naked Beauty and Jamie's Ministry of Food.
#19 - Episode 1
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/20/2006
Brooker talks about the actual cost of making simple TV and how TV companies claw the money back from phone in shows. He also discusses the different types of TV presenters as well as reviewing The Jeremy Kyle Show and The Apprentice. Robert Popper talks about his dislike for the TV show Star Quality.
#20 - Episode 2
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/27/2006
Brooker talks about the process of actually getting an idea onto TV. He reviews 24, Deal or No Deal and breakfast TV and he discusses TV giving itself a pat on the back. Dr Ben Goldacre discusses "bad" science on television.