20 brilliant TV Brits

JAMIE OLIVER, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

What's brilliant about him:
The bright-eyed bloke headed to Huntington, W.Va., in hopes of overhauling the eating habits of the city pegged by the Center for Disease Control as the ''unhealthiest'' in America armed with nothing more than his good Naked Chef name and a can-do attitude (Uhm... and the support of a huge television network). The chef has given it his best, fighting the naysayers and successfully introducing a trial version of his U.K.-originated healthy eating program to Huntington school cafeterias.

Brit Barometer: 10 out of 10
Apparently, Englishmen who take French fries off the lunch table don't have it easy in West Virginia, but Oliver sticks to his principles.

SIMON COWELL, American Idol

What's brilliant about him:
Unlike the contestants, the poison-tongued judge hasn't had an off night since Idol's debut, delivering solid feedback every week, and that's exactly why we'll be blubbering when he exits the show at the end of this season.

Brit Barometer: 9 out of 10
He always throws his lingo from across-the-pond into his contestant critiques, but one point off because it's called American Idol.

HENRY IAN CUSICK, Lost

What's brilliant about him:
The Peruvian-Scottish actor's character on Lost has been responsible for some of the most compelling scenes on the show. Remember Desmond's wrenching phone call to Penny in Season 4? Taking a cue from Des in that scene, all we can say is that Cusick is simply ''perfect.''

Brit Barometer: 6 out of 10
He's only half Brit, but one bonus point because his character is a former Lance Corporal in the Royal Scots Regiment of the British Army.

HUGH LAURIE, House

What's brilliant about him:
His snarky-yet-tinged-with-affection lines are executed in a tone so likable that we can't help but love House even at his worst. Truly a role only a man born in Oxford can pull off.

Brit Barometer: 8 out of 10
Laurie's interview with Ellen about British slang left us chuffed to bits.

CHARLIE HUNNAM, Sons of Anarchy

What's brilliant about him:
Hunnam's gruff-voiced character on Sons of Anarchy has committed many less-than-noble acts, but we also have a soft spot for Jax, who was seen at the end of season 2 distraught over his son's kidnapping.

Brit Barometer: 3 out of 10
Did you have any idea he was an import? Yea, us neither.

ED WESTWICK, Gossip Girl

What's brilliant about him:
As haughty hottie Chuck, Westwick brings a dose of dapper dysfunctionalism to our favorite scandalous teen drama.

Brit Barometer: 4 out of 10
Westwick has only used his real voice once on the show (when Chuck impersonated Blair's boyfriend Lord Marcus), and that's just not enough.

ARCHIE PANJABI, The Good Wife

What's brilliant about her:
Kalinda Sharma's high-heeled boots and affinity for leather make her a tough investigator to ignore on The Good Wife — not that we'd want to. The enigmatic and analytical character has grown to be a fan favorite and one of ours.

Brit Barometer: 7 out of 10
She may be accent-less on The Good Wife, but extra credit is automatically granted to anyone who was in Bend It Like Beckham (...just because we can).

STEPHEN MOYER, True Blood

What's brilliant about him:
Southern-drawled Bill Compton's charm and intensity is all a lie! Okay, just the Southern drawl part. The rest is alllll Moyer.

Brit Barometer: 2 out of 10
We prefer Moyer's native tongue to his Louisiana speak.

LEN GOODMAN, Dancing With the Stars

What's brilliant about him:
As the second UK-born reality TV show judge on our list, Goodman brings a touch of sanity to the otherwise kooky celebrity dancing show. ...What are we saying? They're all nuts, but that's what makes it so good.

Brit Barometer: 10 out of 10
Have you ever seen an American wear a handkerchief peeking out of his breast pocket every day? DANCMSTR is as British as they come.

TIM ROTH, Lie to Me

What's brilliant about him:
Cynical as he may be, super intuitive Dr. Cal Lightman manages to be both fascinating and captivating, a feat that can only be accomplished by an actor of Roth's caliber.

Brit Barometer: 9 out of 10
We wouldn't rank a guy who plays someone with British Intelligence ties any lower...

ROBERT CARLYLE, Stargate Universe

What's brilliant about him:
Carlyle's character, Dr. Nicholas Rush, is one of the most complex characters on the latest installment of the Stargate franchise. The Scottish actor's ability to make Rush's unique personality appealing makes him a standout on the Syfy show.

Brit Barometer: 8 out of 10
Any guy who played a friend of Jack Bauer's is a friend of ours.

KEVIN MCKIDD, Grey's Anatomy

What's brilliant about him:
McKidd's character, Owen, is in a seemingly endless love triangle with Cristina and Teddy and continues to deal with his PTSD. But it's to his credit that we just can't wait to find out what's next for the troubled surgeon. Our only request is that one (or both) results in a steamy shirtless scene for Dr. McScotty.

Brit Barometer: 10 out of 10
Grr.

GABRIELLE ANWAR, Burn Notice

What's brilliant about her:
In the realm of don't-mess-with-them female characters on TV, Anwar's Fiona ranks up there with the best of them.

Brit Barometer: 8 out of 10
Carries a gun? Check. Still wears high heels? Check. British Badass status: Approved.

EVE BEST, Nurse Jackie

What's brilliant about her:
Jackie couldn't have asked for a more quick-witted confidant than Best's character Dr. Eleanor O'Hara. You could say she's the best. See what we did there...

Brit Barometer: 7 out of 10
High marks for Best for playing a super brainy Brit!

NAVEEN ANDREWS, Lost

What's brilliant about him:
With the curtains closing on the show that has nearly driven us to (oh, so wonderful) madness, we're not sure what post-Lost gigs Andrews has lined up. But the consensus seems to be: Naveen, hurry back to TV land soon.

Brit Barometer: 5 out of 10
Sayid's shady past cost him some points.

JOSEPH FIENNES, Flashforward

What's brilliant about him:
Say what you will about the series, but we're still tuning in to catch Joseph Fiennes. You should do the same — even if it means fast-forwarding through the rest.

Brit Barometer: 2 out of 10
Where's the dreamy lingo that had us lusting in Shakespeare in Love?

PAULA MALCOMSON, Caprica

What's brilliant about her:
Her character's fate is hanging in the balance on the show (taking a dive off of a bridge will do that to you), but we're pulling for her.

Brit Barometer: 6 out of 10
The Irish actress has graced the small screen on some of our favorite shows (Deadwood, anyone?), so call us smitten.

MATTHEW RHYS, Brothers and Sisters

What's brilliant about him:
If you didn't watch the episode of Brothers & Sisters from a few weeks back where Kevin Walker found out a childhood fistfight left a boy paralyzed, you won't truly understand why we're absolutely raving over Rhys.

Brit Barometer: 1 out of 10
The Walkers are as All-American as they come. What a waste of a charming accent.

NATASCHA MCELHONE, Californication

What's brilliant about her:
She holds her own against TV vet David Duchovny as his character's on-and-off girlfriend. Yes, this show is so scandalous, that's about all we can say.

Brit Barometer: 6 out of 10
Three words: Jolly good show.

OWAIN YEOMAN, The Mentalist

What's brilliant about him:
The Mentalist is so much more than your average procedural, due in part to the fleshing out of supporting characters like Yeoman's Wayne Rigsby.

Brit Barometer: 7 out of 10
The more we learn about Yeoman (like his support for PETA), the more smashing he becomes.