[Batty]

So ... lately.. I've been watching more and more British TV shows. I find that I like the storylines, the actors,the writing/dialogue and the overall interactions between the characters to be ever the more appealing to me. xD;

For example, the show Being Human. Originally, it was aired in the UK. America decided to make its own, and compared to the original, its terrible!

So what do you guys think?

Have you watched any British TV shows? If you have, how do they compare, in your opinion, to some of the American shows you've seen?

[johnny]

I'm moving this to the Television section, as this clearly belongs there. (:

[Echo-chan713]

Same thing with Skins originally aired in UK, then America took it and it battled with the parents and it was on the borderline of being banned by the FCC (Federal Censorship Corporations). I've seen them both and the American Skins seemed a little bit more darker than the British version.

The reason I think why when Americans takes foreign shows and make it their version but keeping it in the original plotlines are very difficult since the two Censorship corporations are very different from each other in their morals and values.

In American, it's alright if we disembowled someone, decapitate them, blow their brains out, all of those violent acts but God forbid if a postion other than missionary can affect a child life negatively. So open about violence, restriction on sex.

In Europe, it's alright if the postions are out of the terms we live by like doggy styles, blowjobs (I'm not listing them all, but you know what I mean), and God forbids if someone gets shot out of revenge. So open about sex, restriction on violence.

English shows are more open to the real world type of things like teens will go out partying, get drunk, have sex, take drugs, etc. It's a rebellion process that kids go through at some point.

American shows are the more glamorized worlds and WOULD think that the world is perfect, expecting that their teens will be in their rooms, studying, go to school, and be a good child when in the underworld part is the drinking, drugs, and sex; and that what makes parents fear for is if their children watch a show like Skins they'll end up be junkies later on which isn't the case at all.

American parents are really fearfull and don't blame themselves for letting your child to watch (British-gone-American) Skins they blame the corporartions for their problems. Show are based on to entertain us, not teach us about the norms and what you should do in public and how to act.

[Batty]

Johnny;; Thanks. xD; I'm clearly absent minded tonight. ><;

Holy hell, Echo. Quite a rant, there! xD;

I agree with a lot of that. But, heres the thing--- Some British TV shows are EXACTLY like the ones we have here, in America. Yes, sex is over exploited, so is death, and violence. But heres the thing. Some British TV shows are EXACTLY like the ones we have here. I mean, take Torchwood.

The SECOND episode was about a being that survived off orgasmic energy. They showed the woman who was possessed by said being, Shagging the hell out of all these men and women. Sometimes, the UK has no shame. xD And I absolutely love it. But its done in a... tasteful.. fashion?

I guess I was gearing the discussion to be more about effects, how the shows differ in style. Which people think has more.. gyahhh.. whats the word... uhm.. personality? Like, which would you rather watch?

[Echo-chan713]

I got that info from a doctumentary XD

[.rousium]

I love British telly!

But..I like the American Office better then the original version.

Have you watched Little Britain? Holy hell..and As Time Goes By? Totally in love with Judy Dench. I don't care if she's old enough to be my grandmother..heck I want her to be my grandmother! :P

/goes back to writing her paper...in a corner...sadly..

Oh! And the show My Hero! AHHH! LOOOVEE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu9hmYs1amY

❤ ❤ ❤

[johnny]

No problem at all. xD

Now that my modly duties are finished with in this thread, I can post an actual response!:

I do wish I'd seen these shows that are direct adaptations of the British versions, like Skins and Being Human, but I haven't. So my opinion comes from the experience I have with British shows in general:

For some reason - and I can't begin to tell you why this is - I find that British shows do have more personality and originality that American shows. I guess I could theorize that shows/networks have to pander to viewers because they rely entirely on commercials, so the status quo never changes. With the success of CSI, suddenly every show on American networks is murder/mystery-styled. Doesn't matter if it's a murder, a bank robbing, a disease, a court case... there's still that element of mystery, because that's what networks assume people want to watch. They don't take chances anymore.

On the other side, British shows are allowed to be more creative, take more chances, and push more envelopes because they don't quite have the "pander to the viewer" mindset that TV in America does.

[Taradiddle]

I don't even watch British shows that often, but I hate it when we do American remakes. If the original was so great, why not just show that here? Why the Hell do we have to take someone else's idea and do it all over? It's lazy, I think. But that could just be me.

[Phidori]

I never watched much British television but with the way I've been becoming a bit bored with American TV, I might start. O=

[Quiet Man Cometh]

My mom and I watch piles of the older shows. We both like murder mysteries but since so much of the north american shows are fixated on action and suspece and drama it gets tiring. We instead go with the Brit stuff like "Midsomer Murders" and occasionaly "New Tricks." Not to mention the situational comedy stuff like "Keeping Up Appearances." :D

[CupcakeDolly]

I used to watch PBS with my dad all the time, and all of the British shows that came along with it. I find that overall British TV is a little behind as far as making their shows look pretty, but the stories, acting, and writing are all excellent. America is forced to sexy up television to keep the attention of all of us idiots, thus it ends up leaving something to be desired.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

The theme to Midsomer Murders is played on a theramin. That's funky. ;)

[Booga]

The only british show I've ever watched was Britains got talent. I guess that counts for something. :P

[Echo-chan713]

The only shows I watch at BBC was "You Are What you Eat" and on occasions "How Clean is your House?"

[Jack Pillow Button]

I prefer British TV series SO much more than American ones. Mostly because of the way they pronounce the words, and the feeling you get by watching the series. Micfits and Skins are the favorites c:

[Batty]

I like British TV better, too. xD;

I'm getting so sick and tired of American crap. ><