Just as American movies and music dominate world markets, so too, does our television. This is particularly true for our English-speaking cousins in the UK/Ireland, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand. In fact, American shows, ranging from
The Walking Dead to
The Big Bang Theory have found huge audiences in those countries. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their shows in the United States. The American preference for television produced in this country means that programs even from other English-speaking countries have a difficult time finding an audience here. It doesn't help that Americans are often confused by English accents, dialects, and idioms from other parts of the world
—in 2011, for example, British singer Cheryl Cole was reportedly fired as judge from the US version of
The X Factor because producers feared American audiences wouldn't be able to understand her
Geordie accent. And while some non-American shows have achieved US success (e.g.
Downton Abbey), most of the television from these countries is largely unknown to American viewers.
For this reflection, choose one show from each of the three different English-speaking regions (UK/Ireland, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand), then watch and write about them. In your analysis, examine the differences and similarities between our countries, such as tone, language, subject matter, and humor. Finally, consider if the shows you watched have any potential for mainstream success in America. Why or why not?
Note: Broadcasting standards in these countries are different than those in the United States, so you may find more profanity, violence, even nudity, in some shows.
Australia & New Zealand:
- The Almighty Johnsons (2011, TV3) [Netflix]
- The Blue Rose (2013, TV3) [YouTube]
- Cleverman (2016, ABC) [Netflix]
- Glitch (2015, ABC) [YouTube]
- The Kettering Incident (2016, Soho) [Amazon]
- Kiss Bang Love (2016, Seven Network) [YouTube]
- New Zealand's Next Top Model (2009, TV3) [YouTube]
- Please Like Me (2013, ABC2) [Hulu]
- Project Runway: Australia (Arena, 2008) [YouTube]
- Puberty Blues (2012, Network Ten) [YouTube]
- Seven Periods with Mr. Gormsby (2005, TVNZ) [YouTube]
- Utopia (AKA Dreamland) (2014, ABC) [Netflix]
Canada:
- Bomb Girls (2012, Global) [Netflix]
- Degrassi: Next Class (2016, Family Channel) [Netflix]
- Heartland (CBC, 2007) [Netflix]
- Lost Girl (2010, Showcase) [Netflix]
- Mr. D (2012, CBC) [YouTube]
- Project Runway: Canada (2007, Global) [YouTube]
- Schitt's Creek (CBC, 2015) [Amazon]
United Kingdom & Ireland:
- Black Mirror (2011, Channel 4) [Netflix]
- Broadchurch (2013, ITV) [Netflix]
- Catastrophe (2015, Channel 4) [Amazon]
- The Fall (2013, RTÉ One) [Netflix]
- Fresh Meat (2011, Channel 4) [Netflix]
- The Inbetweeners (2008, E4) [Netflix]
- Miranda (2009, BBC Two) [Hulu]
- Moone Boy (2012, Sky1) [Hulu]
- Nigella Express (2007, BBC) [YouTube]
- The Only Way is Essex (2010, ITV2) [Hulu]
- Peaky Blinders (2013, BBC Two) [Netflix]
- Poldark (2015, BBC) [Amazon]
- Sherlock (2010, BBC) [Netflix]
- Skins (2007, E4) [YouTube]
Required:
- Must be in MLA Style
- Must be two full pages in length
Due: Fr 9.16
