British v American TV - Page 7

**DTravel** · December 6th, 2010, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penfold007

Oh dear, there seems to be a break every five minutes, two if there's a caution and it seems to be mostly aimed at men who either can't get it up or can't pee

.

They advertise perscription medication and spend half the advert advising of side effects.

There's a long dissertation explaining US TV Nielsen Ratings and advertisers targeting demographics but in this case it boils down to, advertisers think that the main audience for racing is men who can't get it up or pee.

As for the listing of side effects, that's a law here in the US. It wasn't very long ago that advertising prescription drugs to the public was not allowed. When the law was changed to allow it, one of the strings attached was requiring "full disclosure" including side effects discovered during testing. The same "fine print" appears in print ads for the drugs as well.

**DTravel** · December 6th, 2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTravel

The first two episodes of the US version have aired on The History Channel. (Why that channel? I have no clue.) With the caveat that it is not always possible to tell how good a show will be from just the first two episodes, my initial impression is that they are trying too hard to be like the UK original (right down to some of the establishing and setting shots

) and there's no chemistry yet between the presenters. But there is potential if they can loosen up and start enjoying their jobs (and trashing cars

). (And it was kinda fun watching them running around a Georgia town in a Viper being hunted down by an Army Cobra attack helicopter.

They lost.

See my sig.)

Apologies for quoting myself but I just saw the third episode of the US Top Gear. They may be learning as they bent

an old, solid steel framed Cadillac Coupe de Ville racing it around an off-road track with a trunk full of moonshine.

penfold007 · December 6th, 2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTravel

There's a long dissertation explaining US TV Nielsen Ratings and advertisers targeting demographics but in this case it boils down to, advertisers think that the main audience for racing is men who can't get it up or pee.

I sort of guessed the race fan demographic would be skewed towards old blokes that drink a lot of Budweiser ...

Fortunately I can still do both of those things, so don't need any perscription flowmax (what a great name for medicine to make you pee) or cialis for daily use. Yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTravel

As for the listing of side effects, that's a law here in the US. It wasn't very long ago that advertising prescription drugs to the public was not allowed. When the law was changed to allow it, one of the strings attached was requiring "full disclosure" including side effects discovered during testing. The same "fine print" appears in print ads for the drugs as well.

I understand the rationale - we don't allow advertising for prescription medication on TV at all here, the point being that it is prescription only so the doctor decides what is best to treat the patient.

I shouldn't really complain about US adverts, it's not like I'm paying to watch and it's only thanks to some nice Americans that I can.

**squigg58** · December 6th, 2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTravel

And it was kinda fun watching them running around a Georgia town in a Viper being hunted down by an Army Cobra attack helicopter.

They lost.

Just watched that bit ... and it was fun. I guessed they'd lose as I couldn't see the military boys being too happy if an attack helicopter couldn't take out a car!

**trailmaster** · February 4th, 2016, 11:34 AM

American t.v. was the best in the 1950's and 1960's. It was mostly westerns, police crime, variety shows, 30 minute comedy shows ( called situation comedies ). Even the cartoons on Saturdays were great. There was not much British t.v. that I know of in that period. British t.v. did not start until the 1970's with this very popular show Masterpiece Theater. This show was shown on public television of Channel 11 and lasted for decades. It showed mostly period dramas and comedies. I think one of the all time favorites was: Upstairs, Downstairs.
Then later another British series started called "Mystery" which ran for several more decades.

Riley Owain · July 18th, 2016, 06:31 PM

Let say for some reason you could only watch sitcoms from either the United States or from the United Kingdom.

So which would you choose ?
Would you choose to only watch British sitcoms and never again watch American sitcoms. Or would you choose to only watch American sitcoms and never watch British sitcoms again ?

I would choose to only watch British sitcoms. As i prefer British comedy to American comedy. And most of my favorite sitcoms are British.

**Sir Honkers** · July 18th, 2016, 10:14 PM

Well if it was a stark either or...I'd also choose Brit comedies, but that's not to say that the Americans can't make funny shows if they make the effort. Mad TV and Seinfeld were pure comedic genius

**snowy25** · July 18th, 2016, 10:48 PM

It would depend on when the cut off point was. If its old sitcoms then it would be British as I think they were b far the best during the 80's and early 90's. However if its now then it would probably be American as our sitcoms tend to be piss poor these days.

**CARLTON BROWN** · July 18th, 2016, 11:02 PM

I'm sorry to say that there's not a great deal on TV that amuses me these days, regardless of where it's made. This also goes for movies. The golden days of shows like Fawlty Towers are long gone

**snowy25** · July 18th, 2016, 11:10 PM

Yes sadly tv execs are not willing to take risks like they did in the old days. I think also with the way of the world they are also worried about upsetting one group or another and so do sod all. I think if you look at Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses for example they would likely never be commissioned these days for fear of upsetting someone.

View Poll Results: wfw
British Sitcoms	20	71.43%
American Sitcoms	8	28.57%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

July 18th, 2016, 06:31 PM	#66
Riley Owain Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 131 Thanks: 0 Thanked 948 Times in 112 Posts	American sitcoms or British sitcoms Let say for some reason you could only watch sitcoms from either the United States or from the United Kingdom. So which would you choose ? Would you choose to only watch British sitcoms and never again watch American sitcoms. Or would you choose to only watch American sitcoms and never watch British sitcoms again ? I would choose to only watch British sitcoms. As i prefer British comedy to American comedy. And most of my favorite sitcoms are British.

February 4th, 2016, 11:34 AM	#65
trailmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 59,905 Thanks: 1,329,115 Thanked 707,294 Times in 60,079 Posts	American t.v. was the best in the 1950's and 1960's. It was mostly westerns, police crime, variety shows, 30 minute comedy shows ( called situation comedies ). Even the cartoons on Saturdays were great. There was not much British t.v. that I know of in that period. British t.v. did not start until the 1970's with this very popular show Masterpiece Theater. This show was shown on public television of Channel 11 and lasted for decades. It showed mostly period dramas and comedies. I think one of the all time favorites was: Upstairs, Downstairs. Then later another British series started called "Mystery" which ran for several more decades.

July 18th, 2016, 10:14 PM	#67
Sir Honkers Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Land Of Glorious Leader Posts: 30,354 Thanks: 286,908 Thanked 386,324 Times in 30,311 Posts	Well if it was a stark either or...I'd also choose Brit comedies, but that's not to say that the Americans can't make funny shows if they make the effort. Mad TV and Seinfeld were pure comedic genius

July 18th, 2016, 10:48 PM	#68
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	It would depend on when the cut off point was. If its old sitcoms then it would be British as I think they were b far the best during the 80's and early 90's. However if its now then it would probably be American as our sitcoms tend to be piss poor these days.

July 18th, 2016, 11:02 PM	#69
CARLTON BROWN Grand Vizier Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ruraltania Posts: 3,219 Thanks: 35,669 Thanked 35,621 Times in 3,211 Posts	I'm sorry to say that there's not a great deal on TV that amuses me these days, regardless of where it's made. This also goes for movies. The golden days of shows like Fawlty Towers are long gone

July 18th, 2016, 11:10 PM	#70
snowy25 Vintage Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 6,664 Thanked 23,144 Times in 2,260 Posts	Yes sadly tv execs are not willing to take risks like they did in the old days. I think also with the way of the world they are also worried about upsetting one group or another and so do sod all. I think if you look at Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses for example they would likely never be commissioned these days for fear of upsetting someone.