Star Trek: The Next Generation - less 'dorky' than the original series, though the first couple of seasons were a bit weak. Give it time, and it matures into one of the better TV shows America has ever produced.

Spaced - a short-but-sweet comedy from the UK, one of Simon Pegg's earlier TV shows. Packed to the gunwales with geeky humour and an interesting cast of lovable weirdos.

Then there's the entire, vast genre of English murder mysteries. Two of the best, and more recent shows are Inspector Morse and the Midsomer Murders.

Doctor Who, in particular the revived series that began in 2005, is pretty awesome if you manage to get into it; there's also the spinoff Torchwood, which has a slightly forgettable first season but a brilliant second one, and plenty of graphic violence and rampant pansexuality throughout.