3. Merchant Has Creative Control
Merchant has been directing quality TV for years now with The Office and Extras (and even his first and currently only feature Cemetery Junction), yet he has always had Ricky Gervais to fall back on as his long=time directing partner. Hello Ladies gives him the opportunity to work alone on the directing of the show, and it has to be said he does a great job. The form each episode takes on is largely testament to the great writing, but the way in which the scenes and overall arc of the story is handled in a gifted fashion I've rarely seen in American situational comedies. Quite often, things are forgotten and left behind in favour of new and funnier situations in US shows (I am looking at you American Office, How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory), but Merchant maintains the same themes and story threads throughout the series a rare thing in the comedy world these days due to the complacency that creeps in trying to get a new laugh or the shallow condescending treatment of supposed 'short attention span' audiences. Sure, the show is in its infancy, but if it can continue in the same consistent vein as it has done, then HBO (who from an outsider looking in, clearly make the greatest American TV) could be on to a long-time favourite.