Why do you think British shows and specials are so much better then American shows. The productions,

[debm55]

the acting, the costumes, the scenery are so much better. I find myself watching more of the British shows then those from the US. Been watching BBCnews more often also as it gives a more profession look to the news and tells it like it is.

[Walleye]

1. Much better writing too, I practically don't watch anything else but BBC dramas

[debm55]

2. Oh yes, thanks the writing also is so much better.

[Irish_Dem]

3. I have mostly watched and read British movies, TV shows, books since 1975.

Far superior to American stuff.

They have a much longer literature and theatrical history then we do.

And are also much more sophisticated and nuanced than Americans.

[debm55]

5. I think you are so right about that. I really enjoy the series I have watched.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Yes I have always been totally hooked on British books, TV, movies.

Watching Masterpiece Theater was sacred for me!

I used to read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice at least three times a year.
I know it by heart.

[DUgosh]

4. It's all I watch now

They actually have some actors and actresses that look like normal folk.

[debm55]

6. Even the BBC is great at getting news from alll parts of the world.

[Diamond_Dog]

14. +++ agree

[Blue Owl]

7. They often 'smart them up' instead of 'dumb them down' in many cases...

[Diamond_Dog]

16. +++agree

[Ocelot II]

8. It might have to do at least in part with funding.

The BBC is partly supported by user fees paid annually by all users, which support its radio, tv, and online services; it does not rely entirely on advertising as in the US. In the US the shows depend on advertising, so tv writers have to pander to advertisers - if a show won't attract advertising revenue it won't be carried. As a result the writers write US shows for the masses who buy stuff. This is also why PBS' shows are better than network shows - they don't rely on mass advertising.

That said, some of the Netflix and Amazon Prime series produced in the US are very good - but there again, the funding comes from user fees, not advertising.

If you don't mind subtitles, the Scandinavian countries have created some really terrific mystery series, some even better than the British stuff.

And don't forget that Americans tend to assume British accents are classy (even though some of them are very low-class), so the British shows carry that patina of class that they don't necessarily deserve (e.g., Benny Hill - you know you're drunk when you start thinking Benny Hill is funny).

[debm55]

11. Where would I find the station that carries that? I love mysteries. I thought the shows were British

productions, not necessarily BBC shows. Love Call the Midwife, and All Creatures Great and Small. But I do really like the BBC News. Thanks for the reason, I never thought about the constant use of ads in the media. But I like British produced shows even on Netflix and Prime.

[Ocelot II]

17. Netflix and Amazon Prime carry a lot of Scandinavian mysteries.

From Iceland there's Katla, Trapped, Case, Entrapped and The Valhalla Murders, all on Netflix. One of best series I've ever watched is Occupied, from Norway, on Netflix, which is about Russia's attempt to take over Norway for its oil production - very timely and scary. Borderliner is also very good. Sweden has the Beck and Wallander series (these are on MHZ Choice through Amazon Prime), and Finland has Deadwind and Bordertown. Denmark has Borgen (The Castle), which is a really terrific political series. I loved all these shows.

[debm55]

29. Thanks, I will look to see if my tablet has them.

[Ocelot II]

38. Whatever they carry will be available on your tablet, just as if

it were a tv or a regular computer. Your tablet is just a device for watching whatever Netflix or Amazon offers if you have subscriptions to those services.

[debm55]

43. Thanks Ocelot II

[Phoenix61]

33. ACORN carries a lot of British and Australian shows.

It’s under $60/yr.

[Mr.Bill]

13. Aside from Monty Python,

I just flat don't get British comedy.

[debm55]

18. Did you ever watch Benny Hill? I know British comedy is different. But British specials are special.

Last edited Mon Apr 24, 2023, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

edit note--I added British instead of the word their.

[Mr.Bill]

19. Didn't like Benny Hill.

Just wasn't funny to me.

[Ocelot II]

20. Me neither. Thought it was dumb and tasteless.

[doc03]

22. That's what America loves, dumb and tasteless. nt

[debm55]

23. Yes, he was was, but the Brits liked him.I too thought he was rude, and tasteless. But we have alot

of show that are rude, tasteless and just not interesting to watch. I wish we could have some really good programs to watch instead of 90 day fiancée, The Bachelor. and various cop shows.

[debm55]

42. I never "got" Monty Python. I think I only saw one movie -the Holy Grail. Now my husband is from

Boston and he loves them.

[montanacowboy]

24. LOVE the Scandinavian stuff

It's dark and edgy. I hate subtitles but they are worth it.

[whathehell]

10. I don't agree that they are better

than American TV, overall. I've watched a LOT of Brit TV over the years, and in my experience, they have their share of good and bad, like we do.

[debm55]

12. I thought The Queen was wonderful. I don't see specials like that on US major stations.Like Ocelot

said the closest is PBS, Prime and Netflix. But our major channels are very much lacking in the programs they present.to the public. There is no, how do I say it, something that would make me watch. Reality shows don't do it for me. That's the fault of the major broadcasting networks.

[debm55]

28. Some streaming shows I watch on my tablet are very good. I guess I was referring to the big three

ABC, CBS, and NBC.

[dalton99a]

21. Blue Planet and Blue Planet II.

[debm55]

25. Are they the Scandanavian shows?

[Ocelot II]

26. No, see #17 for those. Blue Planet is a BBC series.

[debm55]

27. Thanks I missed that. I do watch Outlander when it is on. The views of Scotland are breathtaking. I

was shocked that the various scenes showing Paris and North Carolina were all filmed in Scotland. I am one book ahead of the streaming series but it is wonderful and beautiful.It's a time travel story and I have --I hate to say it- a thing for Jamie. Be still my heart.

[First Speaker]

30. Because of Shakespeare...

...for 400 years, his plays have given actors the supreme roles in all of dramatic literature. Learning them has made British actors and actresses hone their skills as nothing else could have. They bring that skill to everything they do, making material that wouldn't otherwise seem all that remarkable shine with an extra light. This manifests itself in every aspect of their dramatic work.

[3catwoman3]

31. IMO, nobody does period dramas better than the Brits.

In addition to factors already mentioned above, I think another element to this is that we are not familiar with most of the actors, so we are not looking at them thinking, "Oh, there's George Clooney pretending to be Lord Grantham."

[Brother Buzz]

32. A lot of the British shows are, like, six episodes a season

Lots of time to tighten up and nail down production value.

[Doc_Technical]

34. British humour is an acquired taste.

[malthaussen]

35. Because, for the most part, we only get to see the best ones.

Bog-average British TV is not any better than average US TV. But we don't see those shows in the US, we only see the best ones they make. I think if the best of US TV shows and series were all one watched, he'd be very impressed with them.

Also, as was pointed out upthread, advertising rules US TV, even news since the networks decided news had to make a profit. So that immediately provides an incentive to least-common-denominator US television.

-- Mal

[debm55]

37. I was talking about the historical dramas and specials that the British productions put out. We

don't have (except for PBC) on our major broadcasting channels. Streaming channels have some, but one is reguired to pay. I watch the Cooking Channel then to watch the various throw back shows and reality shows. on the major channels . Thing about Roots and the aclaim it received.

[Aristus]

36. British Equity usually requires some level of training and ability in their actors.

In the U.S., anyone can just jaunt off to Hollywood and hope for their big break. No need for a background in theater, training in the craft of acting, or really, any kind of talent, as long as you have good looks or something like that that can be monetized.

Don't get me wrong, there are some great American actors out there with natural talent. But talent should best be brought out with proper training and some kind of apprenticeship in theater, improv, or indie film.

There's a reason British and Commonwealth actors tend to be better at doing regional accents and things than American actors, and I think that reason is a deeper level of training.

[Alpeduez21]

39. Benny Hill? No thanks.

I do like BBC news you actually get news instead of politics, politics, politics.

[Ocelot II]

40. Benny Hill died more than 30 years ago, in 1992, and the show ended in 1989.

It was sexist slapstick, not at all funny (at least to me), but it's certainly not typical of today's British TV shows.

[debm55]

41. Agree. But I never got Monty Python either. I guess British humor escapes me. I did watch a couple

of episodes of Benny Hill, it was cringe worthy. I also thought it was canned laughter, because to me it wasn't funny.