Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Not only the most surprising member of the expatriate English posse, Marianne Jean-Baptiste is also one of the most talented. Born and raised in London, she stars as the no-nonsense FBI agent Vivian Johnson in "Without a Trace." In each episode, as the crack team of missing persons investigators races against their 72-hour deadline, Jean-Baptiste brings seriousness of purpose and meticulous attention to this unique procedural drama -- approaching the role not only as a black woman but as a driven New York City detective. (To picture the magnitude of this task, imagine Whoopi Goldberg playing a Scotland Yard police inspector on BBC).

Michael Palin

In a world wracked by violence, intolerance and terrified airline passengers, Michael Palin offers a breath of fresh Himalayan air: Not only is his program (er, programme), "Palin's Travels," a splendid foray into the planet's most exotic realms -- it has also placed this Monty Python veteran among the Top 10 Explorers of All Time, according to Wanderlust magazine. And "explorer" is an apt word for him, a man who packs his comic timing and well-mannered demeanor along with his suits and spats. By far the most affable of this bunch -- and the most worldly, pardon the pun -- Palin has evolved from a sophomoric sketch comedian to one of the most respected pop anthropologists on the tube. His miniseries don't exactly pull in the ratings, but we'd like to applaud him with a hearty "Good on ya, mate."

Craig Ferguson

Unpredictable and zany, Craig Ferguson is like a machine designed to spit out catchphrases ("naughty donkey," "strangely attractive pizza delivery boy"). Ever since his tour of Scotland's alternative comedy circuit (under the stage name "Bing Hitler"), Ferguson has spent his years working through the ranks of Hollywood, and now he has his own talk show. Don't let the "Late Late" part of the "Late Late Show" fool you: Ferguson performs a full monty of gags and gaffs, from impersonations of Larry King to jabs at Bob Barker (who films "The Price Is Right" next door to Ferguson's studio). Thanks to his reckless Scottish abandon, Ferguson has gotten into plenty of trouble (knocking a nearby Manhattan Starbucks for its alleged hooker problem, badmouthing FOX News and the city of Toronto, and upsetting his own network, for refusing to wear a tie), but Ferguson keeps on laughing. And it's hard to knock a guy who talked about the recent death of his father on national television -- and wrote his own intro song. And sings it.