I want to start by saying this isn't a attempt to state that British TV is always superior than American shows. I think the US tend makes the best dramas. Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad and many more are great examples of utterly brilliant show making. And although personally I think us Brits make slightly better comedies overall, some shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development and Modern Family are fucking hilarious.

What really pisses me off about American TV is the less cerebral stuff. In essence there is nothing wrong with light-entertainment shows. We have plenty of them on this side of the pond, actually plenty of them have been sold to America. But if you compared one of these American remade shows to the British originals you will understand my discontentment.

I'm trying to think of another example so I won't have to admit watching this show ( ) but a good example would be to compare Supernanny to Supernanny USA. Same show, same premise. But the American version has a voice over done by a narrator that sounds like he's taken fifteen ecstasy tablets, it's cameramen are jumping about, using snap-zooms and unnecessary angles and everything else seems to be sensationalised. This description can be given to almost any US light-entertainment show I've ever seen.

The same can be said about other genres of TV. The one that gets to me the most is sensationalism inside documentaries.

I don't think this is a commentary on the differences between the British public and the American as much as it's a commentary on the differences between American TV execs and their British counterparts. I think US television bosses assume their audiences are a lot dumber than they actually are and need these infantile and attention grabbing tactics to keep them interested.

It's one of the reasons I hardly ever watch tv anymore. There's no rest or pauses to watch this or that any longer than 2 seconds max, very annoying.
Plus, almost every USA show seems to be about people arguing and fighting instead of what you'd expect from the title. There was this show about a pawnshop I saw the other day 'hardcore pawn' (indeed...) and it was more about some sort of family feud and bouncers kicking angry customers out of the store than it was about interesting goods.

I mostly agree with the OP, but I'd also like to add my suggestions for the things the Americans do better than anyone. They kick ass at making war films and cowboy films. Films like Apocalype Now, Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and so on are simply excellent. They know how to blow shit up.

How can you talk about the downfall of American television without even mentioning Jersey Shore?

Most of the American TV I've seen seems to be subscription only in the US (as in premium). I think its because they basically don't allow adult TV on their basic tv packages (I don't consider any drama to be adult if there isnt swearing in it, nudity is optional but people in stressed situations swear and its just unwatchable at times when you have serious conflict and everyone is avoiding bad language)

trubble76 wrote:I mostly agree with the OP, but I'd also like to add my suggestions for the things the Americans do better than anyone. They kick ass at making war films and cowboy films. Films like Apocalype Now, Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and so on are simply excellent. They know how to blow shit up.

I agree with you on war films, but Sergio Leone made the best westerns.

One annoying feature of US reality shows and especially shows like "America's Funniest Videos" is that everything is repeated 3-4 times. Either they need to pad out the show or they think that the audience is too stupid to get the joke the first time.

I once watched a Korean gameshow (a Wipeout style show) in which they would literally repeat everything in slow motion, before they'd actually shown the event itself happening. So someone was jumping across an obstacle and just as you were about to see if they made it, they'd cut to a replay, then another and another, and finally back to the original shot. Then the next obstacle and the same thing again. Presumably a cheap way of making 30 seconds of action last much longer.

On those American programmes (police chases, natural disasters, etc), I find that they're shown with far fewer adverts in the UK, so what is a useful summary after the ad break on American TV plays out like the narrator treating you like an idiot by repeating something they've literally just said.

MacIver wrote:I want to start by saying this isn't a attempt to state that British TV is always superior than American shows. I think the US tend makes the best dramas. Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad and many more are great examples of utterly brilliant show making.

Have you seen The Wire? It might be the best show of all.

I've never heard of "Supernanny" and I tend to avoid crappy TV, so I can't really comment on the rest of your post.

I'm With Stupid wrote:

trubble76 wrote:I mostly agree with the OP, but I'd also like to add my suggestions for the things the Americans do better than anyone. They kick ass at making war films and cowboy films. Films like Apocalype Now, Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan, and so on are simply excellent. They know how to blow shit up.

I agree with you on war films, but Sergio Leone made the best westerns.

I suppose it all depends on how you define "best" but I think I can probably agree with you.

I'm With Stupid wrote:
On those American programmes (police chases, natural disasters, etc), I find that they're shown with far fewer adverts in the UK, so what is a useful summary after the ad break on American TV plays out like the narrator treating you like an idiot by repeating something they've literally just said.

See you after the break! - 1 frame - Welcome back!

I can't believe you watch Supernanny. :lol::lol::lol:















(Just teasing)

B.B.C. America.

Bringing light to a dark and barren land.