I've been getting all nostalgic again. Trying to think back to those serialised shows that actually made it big. The list, especially those from the US, is actually pretty short. But lets be clear about this. I'm not talking about Star Trek were each episode is a boxed story in itself. I'm also not talking about the X-Files either, which while it has a current theme and a line of site, it's not what I call a serial. So here's my list... while I'm in a list mood.

Murder One

Murder One was created by Stephen (Hill Street Blues) Bochco and was something of a departure of US television in the mid 90's.

Ted Hoffman defends Neil Avedon in a murder trial with more twists than a roller-coaster at Alton Towers (US readers think Six Flags). This show lasted seventeen years (or so it seemed) but ended in something of a damp squib. But then after so many weeks of superb twists and shocks... it was always bound to disappoint (Damon Lindelof and Calton Cuse take note).

Twin Peaks

Need I say more? If so... what would I say. David Lynch's (with others) seminal part surreal, police investigation, part domestic drama this 90's show surpassed all with the "What the heck is going on?" factor.

Laura Palmer's body washes up on a beach near a small Washington state town of Twin Peaks and FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate her strange demise. That's about all you can say without going into the elements, people in woods behind red curtains talking backwards.

Frequently bizarre and with the odd arresting visuals this series had audiences split right down the middle. Is it brilliant or bonkers. Or in my mind, both.

Kingdom Hospital

Inspired by his own car accident, when he was hit by a truck whilst jogging, Steven King's Kingdom Hospital crosses both supernatural, psychological and Khafka-esk realms in a what was the most original and outstanding television programs in a decade.

What shock you most is that this series was actually only made in 2004. For some reason it seems so much older.

Wild Palms

This 1993 series mimicked the ideas of cyberpunk author William Gibson (who also starred in this mini-series) only set them in a far more recognisable setting.

S. W. Zeat from Holland says this about Wild Palms "LA in the near future, Harry Wykoff accepts a job as presidents of a gigantic TV company. Het is confronted with a total new technology called "The New Reality" where three-dimensional TV animated pictures are projected in living rooms all around the world. Harry launches to the top of the company with his career but once there he is caught in a web of intrigues, betrayal and murder. A game of life and death begins..."

I concur, adding... if your nose bleeds and you hear church bells. It could be time to panic.

Also, it was apparently voted the forth worst US television program of all time by the 'Broadcast' magazine. Now, I can't agree with that.