Monthly Archives: May 2012

Throughout the semester, what always stuck out to me was how much of an auteur’s medium British television is compared to American television. Television in general is considered a writer’s medium compared to film, but it is still a very … Continue reading →

After spending a semester studying British television, I think I was most surprised about the fact that the industry and production side of things are so remarkably different than in the United States, yet ultimately the creative product is not … Continue reading →

Your final ratings update of the semester: Britain’s Got Talent crushed The Voice this weekend.

I came into the semester not having had very much experience with British television, and it seemed that experience was what I needed to grow in my appreciation of television from our friends across the pond. The more I watched … Continue reading →

This course was a great foray into understanding and enjoying British television, but in many ways, I thought it was even more interesting as a cultural study. TV, as the main populist form of entertainment in most countries, as it … Continue reading →

I have always had a lot invested within British culture…half of my relatives live in London, my mom grew up there, and by default I have a second passport that allows me to be a EU citizen. I remember growing … Continue reading →

Guess what, ratings are now falling for The Voice, and some are saying it’s because the judges are too nice. They just can’t make up their minds. Also, Channel 4 has ordered a full series of Ricky Gervais’s Derek.

Here’s another comparison of UK and US TV, this one sparked by the Homeland finale. (Warning: If you haven’t watched Homeland yet and don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read this)

This could be pretty damn cool….http://collider.com/daniel-radcliffe-jon-hamm-miniseries/163524/

All I knew before I came into this class was that somewhere overseas there was a network called the BBC. I didn’t even know there was more than one! American television was my life and until this semester had never … Continue reading →

I have to admit that I originally darted into this class because I needed another elective to complete and fulfill my major requirements. I essentially new very little to nothing about British television, and therefore had basically no expectations for … Continue reading →

Coming into this class, my favorite television shows were all American series – Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Lost, Friday Night Lights, and The Wire. The important common characteristic among these dramas was there serial nature. This “cinematized television” where … Continue reading →

The main distinguishing factor of British television for me was its unique scheduling practices. Shows aren’t on at the same time every day, and with the short-run seasons sometimes appearing with breaks of multiple years, you can never really expect … Continue reading →

I think what strikes me the most about British TV–what ultimately is the most defining to me–is the way in which a series can be ended simply because the writer/creator feels he or she has no story left to tell. … Continue reading →