America Page 2

Quote: DaButt @ December 31 2008, 1:43 AM GMT

Untrue. BBC America is a cable network and isn't broadcast over the free airwaves, so any editing is done because BBC America wants to do so; the government isn't involved. There's plenty of nudity, sex and profanity on non-network shows - just look at Dexter, The Sopranos, Deadwood, etc.

Americans would "get" most British humor, I'd imagine. Shows like Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served and Keeping Up Appearances air here all the time. The only stuff that would go over an American's had would be references to UK-centric celebrities, places or events. Most Americans wouldn't know anything about chavs, football/rugby/cricket, UK politicians, media personalities, etc.

Severe accents and slang would also drive away many viewers, in my opinion.

P.S. Justin Webb sounds like a twat.

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Is true, but not worth a big ol roll of it, BBCamerica edits to keep the FCC (federal something something) off.

I met Justin Webb, he was just too funny. A twat........... NO!!!

Quote: Blobster @ December 31 2008, 2:29 AM GMT

It's been said elsewhere on this site, but a key difference lies in the overall pyche of the two nations - in the UK we resent material success to a large degree, and identify deeply with the bold but essentially unsuccessful attempts to leave the humdrum world behind - we don't really believe the successful world is attainable, and as long as our friends, family and even our enemies don't escape our world, we love them all the more for it and laugh along with them.

In America, everyone believes in the American dream, and many are convinced that it is attainable. There are some very admirable things that come from this "can do" spirit, but I'm not certain that good comedy is one of them - at least not the type of comedy that appeals so naturally to the British audience.

Being a Brit in the USA I think I straddle both worlds. In some respects, you just have to "tune" your comedy receiver to different frequencies, depending on whether you are watching UK or US based comedy.

Then again, nobody knows nothin', right?

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I straddle many worlds. Canada, land called america and the rez. belive me when I write that the rez is a whole different world. I have some understanding and agree on that frequency thing you speak of blobster.

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 12:53 PM GMT

I met Justin Webb, he was just too funny. A twat........... NO!!!

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Is he new to the internet?

Quote: Marc P @ December 31 2008, 12:54 PM GMT

Is he new to the internet?

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I do not know. He was the Washington DC editor for BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 12:53 PM GMT

BBCamerica edits to keep the FCC (federal something something) off.

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Again, absolutely untrue. The FCC is not editing the shows. BBC America is editing the shows in order to insert commercials and make money.

BBCA could air its shows uncut, but how would it survive without the commercial revenue? We don't pay license fees, so it would have to become a subscription channel in order to be economically viable.

While we're at it, why don't we read a few of Mr. Webb's words that you failed to include. They change the context slightly:

America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry, a place lacking in respect for evidence based knowledge.

I know that is how it is portrayed because I have done my bit to paint that picture

Quote: DaButt @ December 31 2008, 4:42 PM GMT

Again, absolutely untrue. The FCC is not editing the shows. BBC America is editing the shows in order to insert commercials and make money.

BBCA could air its shows uncut, but how would it survive without the commercial revenue? We don't pay license fees, so it would have to become a subscription channel in order to be economically viable.

While we're at it, why don't we read a few of Mr. Webb's words that you failed to include. They change the context slightly:

America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry, a place lacking in respect for evidence based knowledge.

I know that is how it is portrayed because I have done my bit to paint that picture

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Okay there Dabutt, maybe it is the complaints they fear........editing out particular parts because of content is not for advertising.

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 5:14 PM GMT

Okay there Dabutt, maybe it is the complaints they fear........editing out particular parts because of content is not for advertising.

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There is no reason for BBCA to make a single edit to any of their shows before they air in the United States. Nudity, sex, drugs, profanity - they are all allowed on cable channels. Any edits they make are not demanded by - nor made in fear of - the government. The shows are edited in order to cram commercials into programs that originally had none.

Quote: DaButt @ December 31 2008, 5:24 PM GMT

There is no reason for BBCA to make a single edit to any of their shows before they air in the United States. Nudity, sex, drugs, profanity - they are all allowed on cable channels. Any edits they make are not demanded by - nor made in fear of - the government. The shows are edited in order to cram commercials into programs that originally had none.

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I disagree, so there!

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 5:29 PM GMT

I disagree, so there!

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Believe what you'd like, but facts are facts, even when they don't meet your expectations.

Quote: DaButt @ December 31 2008, 5:42 PM GMT

Believe what you'd like, but facts are facts, even when they don't meet your expectations.

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Oh really there Dabutt..whose facts?

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 6:18 PM GMT

Oh really there Dabutt..whose facts?

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That ones that are easily verifiable by tuning through the hundreds of cable channels which feature nudity, profanity, sexual activity, etc.

Or you can take Wikipedia's word for it:

Cable television, on the other hand, is not bound by FCC rules and can show whatever material their executives think is suitable. While cable channels that rely on advertising still do not show nudity during primetime hours, nudity is often shown on premium cable channels such as Showtime and HBO. FX is one of the few commercially dependent cable channels that features nudity in its programming (notably the controversial Nip/Tuck). Discovery and other documentary-related channels may show nudity in a journalistic context, such as that of indigenous people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudity_in_American_television

I'm not arguing for the sake of argument, I'm pointing out that you are disseminating information that is clearly and absolutely untrue.

I have to agree with DaButt.. and not because we stand in the same country either! I think the FCC is a very misunderstood entity... they cannot censor anything, they are simply the administrators of licensed bandwidth used for public transmission - a dinosaur bureacracy created when TV and Radio were new.

The so called decency standards are so subjective that they are a joke - ask Howard Stern - who can say that word A is acceptable, but that word B crosses some fixed line? Lunacy. If you don't like it, change the channel.

As for BBC America - I don't believe they censor anything for the market - as DaButt points out they are carried on Cable, which despite the Religious Right's wishes is NOT subject to FCC regulations.

I have a friend that works for BBC America in New York City.... I will ask her to weigh in.

So - you guys from the States. Who do you submit your work to?

Quote: Marc P @ December 31 2008, 12:54 PM GMT

Is he new to the internet?

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F**king Hell Marc...

Quote: Blobster @ December 31 2008, 6:34 PM GMT

I have to agree with DaButt.. and not because we stand in the same country either! I think the FCC is a very misunderstood entity... they cannot censor anything, they are simply the administrators of licensed bandwidth used for public transmission - a dinosaur bureacracy created when TV and Radio were new.

The so called decency standards are so subjective that they are a joke - ask Howard Stern - who can say that word A is acceptable, but that word B crosses some fixed line? Lunacy. If you don't like it, change the channel.

As for BBC America - I don't believe they censor anything for the market - as DaButt points out they are carried on Cable, which despite the Religious Right's wishes is NOT subject to FCC regulations.

I have a friend that works for BBC America in New York City.... I will ask her to weigh in.

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I have watched programs that have had content removed. Maybe it is not the fcc but they do remove content.I was told that it was and is because of complaints. I found that strolling on the bbcamerica discussion forum.

Yes, do find out from that person........please and thank you!!

Oh and I am not american or from america.

Quote: Dr Mato @ December 31 2008, 7:09 PM GMT

I have watched programs that have had content removed. Maybe it is not the fcc but they do remove content.I was told that it was and is because of complaints. I found that strolling on the bbcamerica discussion forum.

Yes, do find out from that person........please and thank you!!

Oh and I am not american or from america.

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Also I submit to a publisher.