When I emigrated to the USA I came from a culture that ate up everything the promised land had to offer, Film and TV wise.
UK television is filled with American sitcoms & dramas with some good, some bad. Friends being probably the most popular sitcom to grace the screen, it was a hit with the British and American public alike. No, Britain did not re-make it and call it 'Mates', We called it 'Coupling' instead and in an interesting ironic twist, 'Coupling' got re-made in the US. So in effect American TV re-made a show it originally thought up. (Don't feel bad, I'm sure Britain has done it too). So yes, these six characters all in the same apartment building in New York City (the series was actually filmed in Burbank, California) having little adventures, sitting in a coffee shop, being quick witted and one was called 'Chandler Bing' was appealing to audiences all over the western world. So it began, Friends was like The Beatles in terms of opening the floodgates. We started to get shows like Frasier, ER, NYPD Blue, Two and A Half Men, Fresh Prince Of Bel Air and My Wife And Kids (mun). Britain, in effect, knows more about American pop culture than America knows about Britain. America's knowledge of British pop culture is very sketchy.
Asking random people in America what they knew about Britain their replies were:
"The Queen lives there, doesn't he?"
"Britain, that's somewhere in Russia right? Aren't they all Communists?"
"Britain? Bunch o' Limeys! George Harrison kicked them all out! OOH-RAH!"
"Oh! I know about Britain! It's near England!"
"Britain!? We won the war for them, the ungrateful sons of bitches! How do they repay us? by shitting Oil in the Gulf! Last time I ever eat an English muffin!"
"Britain? Well they were the band the Beatles could have been!"
"Britain? Don't you mean England? They speak our language over there! That's pretty cool!"
So, yeah, very sketchy indeed! But US TV has a lot more money to pump into TV shows. They have large teams of writers for their sitcoms and generally a season (series in Britain) lasts about 24 episodes and it's not uncommon for sitcoms to run up to 11 seasons. Friends itself had 10. Frasier had 11.
In some cases a lot of these long seasons and episodes per season eventually run out of steam with their material. In some opinions, Friends definitely started doing this in its fifth season but it lasted another 5 seasons before it had its big finale. Same could be said about Frasier. Opinion is divided on it. Indeed, the only reason it lasts as long as it does is due to its attractive production values. American TV is, for lack of a better word, Loud. Bright lights and colours....sorry colors....attract the American viewer and it "looks" like it's going to be a fun show.
British TV sitcoms on the other hand has relatively low production values, especially at the BBC. Sitcoms generally have 6 episodes per series (season in America) and to the American viewer look quite dull and washed out. Hence why they're not widely popular in the US. American TV = Bright Colors, Optimistic, Fun, Good Times. Whereas British TV = Washed Out, Dull, Depressing.
Another thing I've noticed is that British sitcoms usually have a tinge of sadness in them. Sometimes a lot of sadness. American sitcoms are usually all fun and games and nothing bad happens. Like my Wife is always saying when I show her a British show "If he dies at the end this is not cute" America LOVES cute but I've got news for you America. Life isn't always cute.
I suppose Britain likes to portray a little bit of realism and negativity in its programs due to Britain being stereotyped as a negative country overall. It's always raining and foggy and cold, women in Britain are ugly because they wear no make up, the food is bloody horrible and everybody says "Cheerio, Old Chap!"
But with our sitcoms being so short. We can cram in quality. Fawlty Towers is still regarded as one of the funniest sitcoms ever produced in Britain and that only ran 12 episodes 2 series, 6 episodes each. Last series being in 1979. Only Fools & Horses is another massive BBC success. It was 6 episodes a series, 7 series in all with 18 Christmas Specials. Blackadder, again, 6 episodes a series, 4 series in all. Still a massively popular sitcom.
So I do urge Americans to take a closer look at British sitcoms and shows when they do appear. Even buy yourself some DVD's. You won't be disappointed. Here are some suggestions on what you should look for.
Only Fools & Horses
BBC 1981 - 2003
Starring: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Lennard Pearce, Buster Merryfield
Probably the most popular sitcom in Britain. Follow the adventures of the Trotter family and their friends in Peckham, South London as they wheel and deal their way through life. You may have to look up some of the London slang but once you get the hang of it, You're laughing!
Fawlty Towers
BBC 1975 - 1979
Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth, Andrew Sachs
Another British favourite. Watch the adventures of Torquay Hotelier Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil and their staff Polly and Manuel, the Spanish waiter. as they deal with the everyday stresses of running a hotel in the English Riviera.
One Foot In The Grave
BBC 1990 - 2000
Starring: Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Angus Deayton, Janine Duvitski
Poor Victor Meldrew. Retired from his job after 25 years and replaced by a box. He doesn't believe it. Whatever will he do now? Watch as he goes from one disaster to the next in this hilarious sitcom.
Doc Martin
ITV 2004 - Present
Starring: Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz
This show is more of a comedy drama. Follow the life of London Surgeon turned GP (General Practitioner) Doctor Martin Ellingham (Clunes) as he leaves London's fast paced life and moves to the beautiful, scenic and sleepy village of Portwenn in North Cornwall, frustrated by the locals interfering he finds some awkward solace in a relationship with the village schoolteacher Louisa Glasson (Catz). Currently, series 8 is in production.
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