The token American

[Magus Perde]

First of all I would like to introduce myself to this forum, but there is no hello thread or did I just miss it? (Yet another warning perhaps that time moves on and leaves us GOM in its' wake without a backwards glance).

Anyway, a moan is probably totally incorrect etiquette for my initial post but there is something that has been bothering me about my TV lately and, specifically, the programs broadcast upon it.

I'll get to the point. Why is it that the BBC, ITV and other mainstream channels, now only buy TV from program makers who seem to think that a program (any program) lacks gravitas unless any 'expert' contained within same is an American?

As a some time university lecturer, I would be the first to concede that IQ's in the UK have indeed not only apparently declined slightly over the last decade or so, but have rather taken quite a tumble from a sheer cliff face without even trying to grapple a hold on the way down (a ride on any mode of public transport frequented by the under 25's should be sufficient to prove the case beyond question - listen for the gutteral monosyllables) but surely there are still some British experts left somewhere who are able to give us a reasonable and balanced explanation of a thing? In fact, I know there are! Not only that, but the UK is still a world leader in many, many fields (you would probably be very surprised). The fact still remains however that program makers will ignore the 'British' leaders in the field and find an obscure American who once knew someone who worked in that field (he thinks, possibly, or was it something else?). Oh hell, who cares! Not the program makers that's for sure - so long as the 'expert' has an American accent, it's a wrap!

Whilst I have nothing against our ex-colonial cousins, I do tire of hearing a mid atlantic drawl when, quite frankly, I would rather listen to the dulcet tones of say a middle England accent, or maybe a strong westcountry twang or even perhaps the sing song lilt of the Welsh - all are infinitely preferable to me since I relate far better to these than American.

I guess the answer is that we are, as usual, catering to the lowest common denominator and the fact of the matter is that the program makers are all likely to be under 25 (even more likely, those very same people you see on public transport) and have been brought up on a diet of 'everything American'. To them I guess it's the 'norm' and they probably don't even realise they're doing it.

[Peter Goodey]

I rather suspect that a large part of the problem is the shortage of genuinely original productions. So many seem to be co-productions with some American outfit (if you've managed to stick with it, it's worth checking the credits at the end) or else simply bought-in American productions dubbed with a British English commentary.

[Fulhamster]

I tend to agree with Peter. We apparently even call them programs rather than programmes! :-)

[Magus Perde]

You see, even I am doing it - arrgh! In my defence though, I have spent so long writing 'programs' for the web and dealing with transatlantic webmaster forums that I forget myself.

And this is really the nub of the thing I suppose (I was being careful not to write 'I guess' there again). Insidious by its' nature, it is how language evolves whether we like it or not.

And although I too see the good sense in Peters reasoning and certainly agree with the lack of original programming (for that read thought!) on the part of the programme makers, I do wonder if that is entirely correct.

Unquestionably we, as a nation, do seem to be buying in more television (no doubt because we are, it seems, these days incapable of making good television) but I noticed this on Channel 4 news yesterday where members of the public were being stopped and questioned on whether Charles Clarke should resign. Of the three interviewees shown, one was American. Now obviously I don't know how many people were stopped in total and neither do I know, if it were a large number of people, how many of those interviews were suitable for broadcast, but surely it is not beyond the wit of a TV news reporter to find 'Ein Englander' in England! The only conclusion I was left with was that the decision to include an American in the report was intentional.

A further example is that of the local news in the South West of blighty where I reside. Sometime last week there was an item on the fishing fleet in this part of the country. As part of this report, an interview was conducted with a representative of either the National Farmers Union or possibly some other official body (sad to say my memory is that of a GOM these days). It gives me no cheer to state that the said representaitve was, again, American.

Both the local news and Channel 4 news are British programmes yet each exhibit this peculiar behaviour? Is it becoming endemic? Will we ever reach the stage where our great, great grandchildren speak with a dreadful Ameriglish accent? Perish the thought!!

[peter nicholl]

Hi Magus, Any friend of Jethro Tull is a friend of mine. Welcome, you are right about British experts, this forum is full of them:D . And, not only about Family History! For example some kind soul may well point out (see Grocer's Apostrophe) that
leaves us GOM in its' wake without a backwards glance).. should read "... in its wake without a backward glance ...) Backward or Backwards for an adverb, but only Backward for an adjective. Then later when you return to the thread you will wonder how it has anything to do with the original post. But again Welcome and stick with it, it's theraputic|shakehead
Peter

[peter nicholl]

Hi Magus, again, Just read your new post. The answer is quite simple, the Government and others are set to make a great deal of money from the switch to Digital broadcasts. Not only will there be vast profits in the sale of new sets, but to speed the change over Analogue programmes are so much rubbish that, poor fools that they are, people will buy early in the vain hope that joining to a pay-per-view satellite station will improve things.|soapbox| Peter