4 ms·

I wonder how difference between TV show productions affects this. Broadcoast TV shows in America are expected to run 22 episodes a year. In the Thick of It has

I wonder how difference between TV show productions affects this. Broadcoast TV shows in America are expected to run 22 episodes a year. In the Thick of It has made about that many episodes over 7.5 years. I don't think you can get people to watch that much biting satire in such a small time period. But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters. If not good, at least some humanity.

M2Ys4U 12y ago
>But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters. If not good, at least some humanity. What's more human than trying and failing (or being beaten by the system)?
- sanoli 12y ago
  >What's more human than ______________? Fill in the blank. Different cultures have different conceptions of what's more human, or what kind of drama moves them most.
ZenoArrow 12y ago
> But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters. If not good, at least some humanity. Perhaps it's a misunderstanding, but when British people "take the piss" they're not trying to suggest someone is subhuman, it's more often than not just playing with the absurdity in everyday life. It's not done with malice in mind, we "take the piss" of ourselves as much as we do others. It's partly a freedom thing too, you can slag off your mate to his face, and they'll do the same back to you, because you know you don't mean it. You really need to be comfortable with someone to do that though, wouldn't recommend it as an ice breaker. ;-) Here's one American who gets it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU7L3D8Ndqo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU7L3D8Ndqo
- laumars 12y ago
  I did once read a comment somewhere that said it's a British quirk to insult those you like while being friendly to those you dislike. I could see how this might seem absurd to an outsider looking in. But, being English, it's definitely an observable idiosyncrasy for myself and my circle of friends.
  - Swizec 12y ago
    I think that in the US this is primarily a male trait. Guys are supposed to make fun of their guy friends. But you'll never see girls doing the same to each other. The cool ones will do it to/with their guy friends.
    - 1_player 12y ago
      I've read somewhere that there's no real appreciation and respect between two men unless they make fun of each other.
      - bruceb 12y ago
        You are worse than a youtube commenter. Edit: down voted... I guess some didn't get the joke
        mhurron 12y ago
        Don't worry about it. You still have valid things to say.
        corobo 12y ago
        Nah it just didn't work for what you were aiming at, going about insulting random people is just that. People reading have no idea if you guys are buds or not so it registers as a legit complaint about the parent's comment quality. Are you American by chance?
    - dropit_sphere 12y ago
jonnathanson 12y ago
"But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters." I used to work in TV series development. One of the ongoing legends in the TV development business is how every American TV exec loves Fawlty Towers, and even though everyone's tried to adapt it for American TV, none of their attempts has been successful. The reason being that American audiences need the protagonist to be "likable," and making the John Cleese character "likable" totally saps the comedic power of the show. I suspect there's more to it than that. Fawlty Towers plays to some decidedly more British cultural issues surrounding class and social climbing. Also, it's really freaking hard to find someone who can fill Cleese's shoes. Nevertheless, the likability issue is a big one.
- joshuapants 12y ago
  Maybe I'm weird but I found Basil to be likable. He's like a more competent, better-spoken Homer Simpson.
- dmolony 12y ago
  But Basil is totally likeable. He's very reasonable, but the world (and his wife) always conspires against him. His only real fault is his class consciousness, but show me a Brit without any of that.
  - mhurron 12y ago
    Basil Fawlty is many things, but I wouldn't say reasonable is one of them.
- TylerE 12y ago
  Is that really true? See, for instance, House: MD.
  - dagw 12y ago
    House is smart, confident, funny, always right and always wins in the end (well almost) against the 'idiots' that surround him. Even when he seems to suffer setbacks they are always minor and he always twists the world to his will to get out of them. The destruction and pain he inflicts on the world never touch him. I think a lot of people like House, not necessarily as someone they'd want to work with, but as someone they'd want to be like.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
agumonkey 12y ago
I think it's been mocked a bit in Community. One character was utterly fond of short British TV shows that would end abruptly after 6 episodes, while American shows would be milked seasons after seasons.
- rhino369 12y ago
  6 seasons and a movie!
rikkus 12y ago
A good example of 'seeing the good in people' is the difference between The Office and its US version. The former is bleak and even the supposedly 'nice' characters are quite unpleasant in their own ways. In the US version, everyone's good at heart. Except Ryan.

M2Ys4U 12y ago

>But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters. If not good, at least some humanity. What's more human than trying and failing (or being beaten by the system)?

sanoli 12y ago
>What's more human than ______________? Fill in the blank. Different cultures have different conceptions of what's more human, or what kind of drama moves them most.

ZenoArrow 12y ago

> But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters. If not good, at least some humanity. Perhaps it's a misunderstanding, but when British people "take the piss" they're not trying to suggest someone is subhuman, it's more often than not just playing with the absurdity in everyday life. It's not done with malice in mind, we "take the piss" of ourselves as much as we do others. It's partly a freedom thing too, you can slag off your mate to his face, and they'll do the same back to you, because you know you don't mean it. You really need to be comfortable with someone to do that though, wouldn't recommend it as an ice breaker. ;-) Here's one American who gets it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU7L3D8Ndqo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU7L3D8Ndqo

laumars 12y ago
I did once read a comment somewhere that said it's a British quirk to insult those you like while being friendly to those you dislike. I could see how this might seem absurd to an outsider looking in. But, being English, it's definitely an observable idiosyncrasy for myself and my circle of friends.
- Swizec 12y ago
  I think that in the US this is primarily a male trait. Guys are supposed to make fun of their guy friends. But you'll never see girls doing the same to each other. The cool ones will do it to/with their guy friends.
  - 1_player 12y ago
    I've read somewhere that there's no real appreciation and respect between two men unless they make fun of each other.
    - bruceb 12y ago
      You are worse than a youtube commenter. Edit: down voted... I guess some didn't get the joke
      - mhurron 12y ago
        Don't worry about it. You still have valid things to say.
      - corobo 12y ago
        Nah it just didn't work for what you were aiming at, going about insulting random people is just that. People reading have no idea if you guys are buds or not so it registers as a legit complaint about the parent's comment quality. Are you American by chance?
  - dropit_sphere 12y ago

jonnathanson 12y ago

"But I think in the end, American audiences want to see the good in people, especially the main characters." I used to work in TV series development. One of the ongoing legends in the TV development business is how every American TV exec loves Fawlty Towers, and even though everyone's tried to adapt it for American TV, none of their attempts has been successful. The reason being that American audiences need the protagonist to be "likable," and making the John Cleese character "likable" totally saps the comedic power of the show. I suspect there's more to it than that. Fawlty Towers plays to some decidedly more British cultural issues surrounding class and social climbing. Also, it's really freaking hard to find someone who can fill Cleese's shoes. Nevertheless, the likability issue is a big one.

joshuapants 12y ago
Maybe I'm weird but I found Basil to be likable. He's like a more competent, better-spoken Homer Simpson.
dmolony 12y ago
But Basil is totally likeable. He's very reasonable, but the world (and his wife) always conspires against him. His only real fault is his class consciousness, but show me a Brit without any of that.
- mhurron 12y ago
  Basil Fawlty is many things, but I wouldn't say reasonable is one of them.
TylerE 12y ago
Is that really true? See, for instance, House: MD.
- dagw 12y ago
  House is smart, confident, funny, always right and always wins in the end (well almost) against the 'idiots' that surround him. Even when he seems to suffer setbacks they are always minor and he always twists the world to his will to get out of them. The destruction and pain he inflicts on the world never touch him. I think a lot of people like House, not necessarily as someone they'd want to work with, but as someone they'd want to be like.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

agumonkey 12y ago

I think it's been mocked a bit in Community. One character was utterly fond of short British TV shows that would end abruptly after 6 episodes, while American shows would be milked seasons after seasons.

rhino369 12y ago
6 seasons and a movie!

rikkus 12y ago

A good example of 'seeing the good in people' is the difference between The Office and its US version. The former is bleak and even the supposedly 'nice' characters are quite unpleasant in their own ways. In the US version, everyone's good at heart. Except Ryan.