306 replies to this topic

[Feckless]

A thread devoted to TV shows made outside the huge, wealthy country that dominates world television production. Yes, all non-Canadian TV can be discussed here.
I'm particularly interested in British television, since I'm always surprised at how popular it is in the US (I'm from New Zealand myself, if this seems oddly worded). I would have thought that Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Office, and so forth would seem as strange and esoteric to Americans as the mysteries of the Kabbalah. Er, bad example. Anyway, Americans seem to love British TV, from nerds devoted to Dr Who to J. Michael Straczynski recommending Fawlty Towers as the definitive TV comedy. This is despite the difficulty in accessing it. I believe that none of the US TV networks play British shows, and they can only be accessed via cable, DVD, or shady characters at the back of theme pubs.
Recently not just individual shows (or "programmes") but the whole structure of British TV has been praised. It's true that in the UK, one does not usually watch three episodes of a splendid programme, only to have it cancelled by a executive with a hair-trigger approach to ratings. Even if the programme performs poorly, all the produced episodes are usually shown. More subtly, programmes do not usually drag on past their use-by dates. It's not unusual for a programme to be popular, critically praised... and only last twelve episodes.
Applying the British model to the US would be challenging, though. Eliminating all advertising and funding shows through compulsory TV-watching license fees would be hard enough, but that really is the reason why British TV executives are more relaxed about ratings than their American counterparts.
Perhaps even worse, and harder to import into the US, is the attitude of British TV executives to science fiction and fantasy. They like it fine, provided that it doesn't cost them much money and all the violence and sex is removed to make it suitable for children. Because programmes about space aliens, witches, demons, and what-not must be for the kiddies, right?

[becca656]

You can't have this discussion without mentioning the PBS 'Brit-coms', most notably 'Are You being Served?' and 'Keeping Up Appearances' to mention a couple. Although 'Served' is terribly dated - what was it? mid-70's? - it still was a hoot, especially when the Queen came by the store and they're all hanging out the upstairs window to see her.

Also the late, lamented 'Two Fat Ladies'. I really miss those two horribly, especially given some of the crap that Food Network has chosen to show in their place. That show not only gave me some excellent recipes, but an opportunity to see different parts of GB that I wouldn't otherwise have seen - almost like a travelogue.

[dorabelle]

It used to be that to see any British 'programmes' here in the U.S., you had to watch PBS (public broadcasting). They'd show Benny Hill, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, British mysteries, etc. Now cable stations have really taken up the baton, as it were, especially A & E and BBCAmerica. I have issues with BBCAmerica (where's my EastEnders, ya bastards? You got me hooked on the cheesy goodness and then pulled the plug!) but in general I think it's a good thing.

The one thing I think is really funny, though, is that here in the U.S., the general impression used to be (or still is?) that "British TV is so much better than American TV". Well, uh...no, it's just that no US network is going to pay loads of money to import crap. We just get the highlights.

[Jenn]

Perhaps even worse, and harder to import into the US, is the attitude of British TV executives to science fiction and fantasy. They like it fine, provided that it doesn't cost them much money and all the violence and sex is removed to make it suitable for children. Because programmes about space aliens, witches, demons, and what-not must be for the kiddies, right?

I don't know. Sapphire and Steel is pretty scary stuff and that was made for children. Do you guys get that in the U.S.?

The one thing I think is really funny, though, is that here in the U.S., the general impression used to be (or still is?) that "British TV is so much better than American TV". Well, uh...no, it's just that no US network is going to pay loads of money to import crap. We just get the highlights.

It's the same here in the U.K. The argument a while back was that American T.V. was much better than ours - e.g. Friends, Frasier, E.R. Each country tends to get the others' highlights.

[dalek]

I grew up watching british comedies and The Prisoner on pbs. My parents were fans so tehy'd let me and my brother stay up to watch shows like Monty Python and Fawlty Towers.

I was also fond of The Good Neighbors (I think it was the Good Life in the UK), Bless Me Father, Butterflies, Solo and Ripping Yarns.

Being an SF geek, I happily watched Dr. Who (first on WOR and later on 3 different pbs stations), Blake's 7 and the Omega Factor.

Sometimes watching the UK or Australian imports was just a question of seeing something that wasn't quite "same old same old" such as watching Taggert or Bergerac or Water Rats or Murder Call instead of the US police shows.

[nicepebbles]

I love British TV. Love it I tell you. The British do it better. (I should put that on a T-shirt! Don't steal my idea. LOL) Coupling was a much better Friends. Even it's worse episode is better than Friends and I loved Friends.

  don't think this is true on the whole. There certainly is a segment of Americans (myself included) that enjoy British TV shows, but a large segment of the population "doesn't get" British comedy and would be bored to tears by British dramas (not enough shootings, car chases and explosions).

ITA. I used to think I was kinda weird because at like 12 and 13 I was ROTFLMAO at Are You Being Served?, Keeping Up Appearances, and Benny Hill. I also love Absolutely Fabolous, Vicar of Dibley, Fawlty Tower and Coupling. And the Office.

It's true that in the UK, one does not usually watch three episodes of a splendid programme, only to have it cancelled by a executive with a hair-trigger approach to ratings. Even if the programme performs poorly, all the produced episodes are usually shown. More subtly, programmes do not usually drag on past their use-by dates. It's not unusual for a programme to be popular, critically praised... and only last twelve episodes.

US Execs need to learn from them about not having a trigger-happy finger just itching to pull the damn plug on great shows.

[Shelwood]

Of course, those people would probably almost never run across a British show since they would never watch PBS, BBCAmerica or A&E.

And that's also why British shows are considered more "sophisticated humor" than American shows, regardless of content. Benny Hill can be all about women with big boobs, and a show can have running jokes about pussies, but because they are on PBS, it's okay, because that makes them intellectual. People who would feel American sitcoms are beneath them will watch Britcoms on PBS, BBCA or A&E.

By the same token, Japanese anime is classed as children's programming in the US, regardless of content, because they are cartoons and are shown on the networks and in the timeslots aimed at kids.

[mom2tee]

I don't think this is true on the whole. There certainly is a segment of Americans (myself included) that enjoy British TV shows, but a large segment of the population "doesn't get" British comedy

Oh this is SO true. My parents and I are true anglophiles (love the culture, the heritage, have visited the British Isles, etc). I can remember when hubby and I were dating 10 years ago, watching Keeping Up Appearances with my parents. Poor hubby ... we are DYING laughing and I look over and ... deadpan. Didn't get it, couldn't keep up, etc.

But me? Bring on the funny.

[payndz]

" Heh. I am British and Keeping Up Appearances leaves me deadpan too.

Now, something like One Foot In The Grave or Drop The Dead Donkey or The Day Today or The League Of Gentlemen, on the other hand...

[EnglishMuffin]

It's true that in the UK, one does not usually watch three episodes of a splendid programme, only to have it cancelled by a executive with a hair-trigger approach to ratings.

True, but it's becoming more common for shows to be rescheduled to the dead of night, or for half a series to be postponed for a long time, because of poor ratings.

Eliminating all advertising and funding shows through compulsory TV-watching license fees would be hard enough, but that really is the reason why British TV executives are more relaxed about ratings than their American counterparts.

Only the BBC is funded by the licence fee (two terrestrial channels, about six digital ones, and the BBC radio stations). The other channels are funded by advertising. Ratings are important to all channels, although not in quite such a mad way as in the US.

Heh. I am British and Keeping Up Appearances leaves me deadpan too.

Hee. Ditto.

People have already mentioned a few British sitcoms, in particular the cosy ones like Keeping Up Appearances and the classics like Fawlty Towers, but do you get to see the really interesting stuff like Brass Eye across the Atlantic?

[dalek]

PBS generally goes with what its viewers like and what it thinks would be popular, since it has to fundraise around those shows. I seem to recall WLIW would sometimes run a new (to the US) show and ask viewers to vote. I suspect the edgier, more avant garde stuff is not getting picked up. I seem to recall WGBH airing Father Ted and pulling it after one or two episodes due to protests.

And of course we mostly get the UK, Canadian, or Australian stuff because it's in english. There's a whole world of other tv, but a significant portion of americans are allegergic to both subtitles and dubbing. When my cable company carried the International channel, I happily watched the HK TV series of Fist of Fury starring Donnie Yen, which was dubbed. And I sometimes watch international mystery on WMHZ, which has subtitled programming from Italy, Germany, Sweden, and Finland. I'm rather fond of the Martin Beck mysteries.

[senor coconut]

I grew up on Canadian and British TV. The only American shows I saw as a kid were reruns of the Muppets, reruns of Mork and Mindy, and Family Ties. My dad, Mr. UK, of course was the world's biggest fan of Dr. Who and Blake's 7. We actually agreed on Red Dwarf, though. He for the sci-fi quality and me for the hot Chris Barrie.

I tried to get into Neighbours. I really did. For me, it was all about Todd. Todd, Todd, Todd, Todd. But, alas, Hot Todd does not a show make. This, of course, was a looooooooooong time ago (1991).

Now, of course, I love Spooks and Coupling.

Coupling is waaaaay better than Friends to me, but I am also British.

Let us not close this post without a mention of Blackadder. And I am sure Cal331 will be in here to agree with me.

[gemini617]

How people respond to Britcoms is a good gauge of their sense of humor. Anyone who doesn't like Monty Python is right out. My dad is a big redneck, and he loves Are You Being Served?. He even minces around like Mr Humphries. You'd think that he wouldn't like or get it, but he's crazy about Britcoms!

I sometimes have difficulty understanding, but I love Hamish Macbeth.
Robert Carlyle is yummy! Jock the Westie is adorable!

[selkie]

Way back when, Trio was owned by the CBC, and used to air a lot of Canadian dramas with the odd venture into non-BBC UK and Australian programming. Degrassi classic, North of 60, Madison, Street Legal, Airport, etc. Whatever that v. popular rural Australian police drama is called.

Then they wrecked the channel by turning it into some weird pop culture deal and I never found anything interesting to watch on there after that.

[dalek]

I'm very fond of 'Allo 'allo, the first season of which is now available on dvd. I know it's low comedy, but it still cracks me up.

And of course Blackadder is fantastic. Also loved the original British Cracker, a dramedy called Shades, Mulberry and Waiting for God.

Don't know why more Canadian stuff doesn't end up on U.S. tv. Loved Due South. Sometimes used to watch ENG when Lifetime briefly picked it up. I think half of CBS's Crimetime after primetime the first couple years was Candian made. i'm prettysure Night Heat was.

[xii]

Heh. I am British and Keeping Up Appearances leaves me deadpan too.

Seriously. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me. I have a few favorite classic Brit shows, but I got over that "British TV is sooooooo much better than U.S. TV" phase many years ago. They churn out their fair share of dreck, proportionally.

I get a chuckle out of the fact that my mom watches every Britcom PBS puts in front of her, no matter how painfully awful it is, and thinks its fabulous, because it's British, you know, so it must be brilliant. Meanwhile, she wouldn't be caught dead watching an equally awful American sitcom.

[TheSmell]

I have two questions for Brits regarding their television shows: How many channels does the average citizen have on their television? Do American shows air on a regular cable channel.

I have an Australian friend who recently visited me and she was surprised by how many channels we get in America. She also told me that when a current show is airing in America, Australians don't get to see those episodes for a few months. I was just wondering if it's the same in Britain, also.

It's a bit odd how some British people think Americans really like their shows. Not many Americans watch British imports and when we try to remake a British television show it usually flops, an exception being All in the Family which was a spin off of Till Death Us Do Part (trivia: The British "meathead" was played by the father-in-law of the current Prime Minister). The only other British remake that I can think of that was mildly successful in America was "Cosby" -- a remake of One Foot in The Grave. "Cosby" only lasted a few seasons, getting mediocre ratings. Can anyone think of any other Brit remakes that worked well here?

As for foreign shows I liked, I can't forget how much I enjoyed AYBS? and Mr. Bean when I was younger. However, I recently saw AYBS? on PBS and was very disappointed by how unfunny I found it and it was even an episode I remembered watching when I was younger.

[VTDuchess]

Can anyone think of any other Brit remakes that worked well here?

Sanford and Son was a remake of this really strange program called Steptoe (?) and Son. My mum loved it but the dad on it really frightened me. He looked like he'd been stuck under a collapsed building in the East End since the Blitz.

[Andrew's Mommy]

Whatever that v. popular rural Australian police drama is called

If you're talking about the one with Detective PJ Hasham set in "Mt Thomas", it's Blue Heelers.

And you're about to start suffering McLeods' Daughters. Set in another small country town ("Gungellan").

Here in Oz we have a knack for setting our dramas in small towns. American TV is all NY or LA or LV etc, here we make up fictional towns that have such high crime, tragedy and disaster rates no person in their right mind would want to live there.

[Twistie]

Sanford and Son was a remake of this really strange program called Steptoe (?) and Son. My mum loved it but the dad on it really frightened me. He looked like he'd been stuck under a collapsed building in the East End since the Blitz.

Damn! I can't remember his name. Wilfred something. He also played Paul McCartney's grandfather in A Hard Day's Night. One of the running gags of Steptoe and Son was that in every episode, someone would tell Steptoe 'you're a dirty old man'. In AHDN, everyone kept talking about how clean he was. Hee!

I know the attempt to do an American version of Red Dwarf was a hideous disaster. OTOH, Robert Llewellyn got to keep the better Kryten costume and started using it in the British version <G>.

I definitely agree with those of you who would rather do almost anything in the world than sit through an episode of Keeping Up Appearences or Are You Being Served. But sit me down with Monty Python's Flying Circus, Red Dwarf, Coupling, Manchild (Hey! I keep getting to see Anthony Head with his clothes off! What more could I possibly ask for?), 'Allo 'Allo, Spooks, Cracker, My Family...well, I do like a fair number of shows from across the pond.

American shows that make the leap to British TV debut later there than they do here in the US. When I went to London on a vacation several years ago, we found Buffy the Vampire Slayer on tv one night, and it was from the previous season.

Oh! I saw another show during that trip that I've always remembered except that I don't recall the title. It starred Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders and was set during the French Revolution. JS was the haughty but dim noblewoman and DF was her buxom, conniving, morally flexible maid. I remember laughing like an insane woman, and I'd love to know what the show was called. Can anyone help me?

[skittl3862]

And that's also why British shows are considered more "sophisticated humor" than American shows, regardless of content. Benny Hill can be all about women with big boobs, and a show can have running jokes about pussies, but because they are on PBS, it's okay, because that makes them intellectual

Well, you have to admit that jokes about big boobs and pussies do sound more pleasant with a proper British accent.

I love Absolutely Fabulous and the Blackadder, and I used to watch some of the shows on PBS, but usually, it's so hard to find them on American TV. Unless you have BBCAmerica, the British comedies on basic cable are never advertised and usually air at the least opportune times. Like Ab Fab at 2am Monday mornings on Oxygen.

[payndz]

I have two questions for Brits regarding their television shows: How many channels does the average citizen have on their television? Do American shows air on a regular cable channel.

There are five 'terrestrial' (ie, free to air) channels, which anyone can get - BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel Four and Five. Yes, we have that much imagination when it comes to naming our TV stations. The first four are available throughout the UK - Five (the most recent addition) is more limited. I can only get it via cable, and I'm in what would be considered an affluent part of the country.

Then there are the 'freeview' channels, which are available without subscription if you have a basic digital TV box. This gives you BBC Three ('cutting edge' - ie, often crap) and BBC Four (highbrow), ITV2 (repeats, more or less) plus a random assortment of home shopping, travel, news and low-rent entertainment (say hello ABC1, home of General Hospital!) channels, and the BBC's digital radio stations if you don't have a DAB radio.

Beyond that, you have to start paying. The top rated cable/satellite channels outside sport and movies (usually available via freeview if you buy a decoder card) are Rupert Murdoch's Sky One, or 'Sky Onc' according to its current horrid logo (top US shows: The Simpsons, the Stargates, 24, Nip/Tuck, Enterprise, Galactica, various ghastly reality shows, etc), and Living (top US shows: Charmed - yes, Charmed is this channel's biggest hit! - CSI, CSI: Miami, Will & Grace, even more ghastly reality shows, etc).

Right now, there are more cable/satellite channels than I can count, or would even want to see. My basic NTL cable package gives me some 40 channels, maybe three of which I ever actually watch. Stupid bundling. Sadly, the UK's Sci-Fi Channel is not the same as the US Sci-Fi Channel, so we don't get all those 'fantastic' monster movies like 'Mansquito'. :p

[Kev]

One of my favorite Britcoms was Chef. I loved that show and even have a few eps I bought on VHS.

Another successful American remake of a Brit show was Three's Company (I can't remember what show it was based on, maybe Man About the House?).

Does anyone else watch Latin telenovelas? Sometimes I come across them on one of the Spanish language channels and I'm hooked. It's just so over the top. I know enough Spanish to understand about half of what they're saying but I would watch even if I didn't understand a word.

eta: Forty channels? Try 300, that's how many I have right now.

Edited by Kev, Apr 19, 2005 @ 7:47 PM.

[Divaah46]

Even the stupid Brit-coms, like "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Are You Being Served?" are still better than any American equivalent. AYBS brings the class structure into the store staff interplay, what with Ms. Brahms being told she's "dead common" and Captain Peacock acting all snootypants. KUA would never work here, because instead of Hyacinth being the focus, it would be Onslow and Daisy being scared of her or Liz and Emmet hiding from her. America just won't have unlikable protagonists as sitcom leads. Dabney Coleman would have been HUGE on the BBC.
As for drama, Mystery! does it better. Poirot, Holmes, Mrs. Bradley, Cadfael...anything starring Robson Green...put them against a Law & Order or a CSI and they'll come out ahead every time.

[FlyMaraNZ]

Yes, we have that much imagination when it comes to naming our TV stations.

Ahh so thats where we get our lack of imagination when naming TV channels comes from. New Zealand's channels: One, 2, 3, C4 and Prime (although in my household it is '5').

[atholbrose]

My favorite British comedy ever is "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin". Of course, I haven't seen it since I was a kid -- PBS'll show "Are You Being Served" and "Keeping Up Appearances" 'til the tapes run out, but they seem to never go back to shows they showed before. The first two seasons are out on VHS, but not the third, and every time I hear a rumor of a DVD release it never pans out.

I just remember watching it long after the rest of the house had gone to bed, trying so hard to keep in laughter. My mom came to find out why I was making so much noise. The only other thing that's made me laugh so hard I woke other people up was Shirley Jackson's "Life Among the Savages".

[skittl3862]

Does anyone else watch Latin telenovelas? Sometimes I come across them on one of the Spanish language channels and I'm hooked. It's just so over the top. I know enough Spanish to understand about half of what they're saying but I would watch even if I didn't understand a word.

I LOVE telenovelas! I took 5 years of Spanish, but I'm not that great at keeping up with the dialogue, so I turn on the closed captioning and read along. And other than the character actors, the majority of of the people on them are so much more gorgeous than anyone on American soaps.

[mtvcdm]

Really, the only experiences I have with foreign TV are when an American channel decides to import something- MXC, Hey! Spring of Trivia, Iron Chef, Robot Wars, Who Dares Wins (Australia), and all your assorted anime. And I'm not sure whether Univision- my market's designated Spanish channel- is done in the U.S. or Mexico.

That said, there's one show I've always wondered about, from France, called 'Fort Boyard'. From how I hear it, it's Fear Factor before Fear Factor came along. Is that an accurate description?