Comments on: Transatlantic divides in science-fiction

By: Darren

Darren — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:30:54 +0000

I point out that I said in my post ‘the average american’. The ones that most of us meet over here in Europe obviously don’t fit that bill since they are outside of their country. I would suggest that TV executives would happily use foreign material since it would be a lot cheaper than remaking it so that’s where my belief that the ‘average’ or ‘general’ american viewing population is to blame.

I certainly don’t have anything against Americans, average or otherwise, as I haven’t met that many that I have had reason to dislike.

By: Kevin Hall

Kevin Hall — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:11:18 +0000

I can’t see why the Americans can’t understand Torchwood, as some of its content could so easily fit inside any scifi US show over there. I still hope we are getting a series 4 and not a reboot. If it is series 4 and the show has been moved to America that will be fine, but if it’s a bloody remake I will not be watching.

By: vecima

vecima — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:29:37 +0000

Thanks for sticking up for us yanks, James. I was about to fire up off-put response to Darren, but now I can just say that I personally wish we saw more British TV in it’s unadulterated form. I think settings outside the States are refreshing, though I can’t name a single show that I watch on a regular basis set outside the US. I, too, blame the execs.

By: James Rundle

James Rundle — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:18:28 +0000

I suspect it’s more on the part of the executives than the general American public, who tend to get an unfair slating for being unconcerned about the world outside of their borders. Judging by the Americans I know, that generalisation simply isn’t true.

By: Department of Occult Investigation

Department of Occult Investigation — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:58:21 +0000

Is the problem really that American audiences won’t accept anything foreign – or more that American TV executives assume that they won’t? The only British TV drama series that I can think of that’s even been shown at peak viewing time on an American network was “The Avengers” which was as English a show as has ever been made, and the American public had no problems coping with its “alienness”.

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:10:24 +0000

Whilst many of the points made are well argued the fact is that the average american knows nothing and cares even less about the cultures beyond their borders with the possible exceptions of Mexico and Canada where they might go. As a result, they won’t watch anything subtitled and have to mangle everything into a messed up mirror image of themselves.

Everyone else seems to be able to accept American pop culture and stuff from anywhere else for that matter (though too many subtitles can get a bit wearing), but the Americans just refuse.

Personally, I believe if you can’t handle the original then you shouldn’t be allowed to remake it. Look at the abysmal performance of Life on Mars and God only knows what sort of mess they’re going to make of Edge of Darkness.