Hi Bob,

maybe I am the first to leave an entry here. I believe in a blog there should always be something to discuss. So my idea is, why are US series so much more successful in the world than series from other countries?
Would be glad to see some posts on this topic here.

Best

Lutz

 

Just thought I'd respond. While I agree with one poster that American series generally have larger budgets and are more prolific and of course American series have a reputation for quality and for being commercially successful which I'm sure makes it easier to sell them abroad, there are a lot of very successful exports from other countries. For example Dr Who, Red Dwarf and the Mystery series form England, There are a number of successful exports from Japan, most of them are Anime but their popularity has grown exponentially. Canada has a lot of successful exports as well and in fact many american television series (such as much of the Stargate series, are made in Canada but have American companies funding them I believe. The magnificent Highlander tv series was also filmed primarily in Canada I believe. One great all Canadian export is the utterly amazing DA VINCI'S INQUEST starring the totally brilliant Nicholas Campbell. I think things are changing and as more and more people from around the world get better and better at what used to be America's most consistently superior export, competition will grow. Of course You tube and similar sites may well meld with regular television soon as well so a series made by a guy in a basement in Lithuania may well be competition for CIS Miami soon. I hope so actually since I'm about to play a major character in a professionally produced web series. :) Nonetheless I do think folks will still flock to see the big budget shows and keep actors like Mr. Picardo employed for a long time to come.

 

To put it simply - in the US you have a larger audience, bigger budgets, and a more established culture for TV fiction than anywhere else in the world.
 

With my limited knowledge of the entertainment industry and this discussion being old I will take a bite. I think the previous poster is right that this is one of the things that Americans do best. Although the entertainment industry is our industry, people don't see it as the machine it is. This is our export. Belgium does chocolate, France does wine, we do tv.

I have heard folks from other countries ask this before. We rarely hear news or tv from other countries (not to the degree we should) but we like to stick to our own.
Psychologically, we are creatures of habit. We like to see the same people, and the same storylines, but with new material. We want everything new of the same. Not only in tv but in our cars, houses, and products. That is why there are 50+ varieties of ketchup and oatmeal.
I imagine this proves to be a particular challenge to producers to come up with something new enough that we like it, but not so unusual that we don't. We love the group of actors that we have. We want them to do different things. But not to much to freak us out.

That being said. I think Americans are starting to want a taste of something new. The BBC is starting to be broadcast more. More Americans are watching it. Several years ago we wouldn't of heard of it.

The Spike channel is now broadcasting obstacle/gladiator type game shows from Japan that are getting popular that we could probably never do here due to lawsuit issues.

I wouldn't be surprised it if it totally different in 10-15 years. With the internet being the great equalizer, we may be discovering things from other countries that we didn't know we liked.
 

Sir, I wonder where I have to press in order to view your photos? If you need any help with the codes, just let me know.
Your admirer,
T.
 

where's the piccy?
no kudos until i see a pic!!!
im kidding
but i think you forgot the pic

hugs i still think you are awesome
 

I don't see a pic, either. :o(
 

Hi Everybody..I am Bob Picardo's my space administrator..my name is Pat and please dont hesititate to ask me any questions you may have...You can view Bob's pixs off his profile just click under his picture where it says "pics" I will be uploading new ones soon

Thanks!!
 

Are you a hologram that resembles him programed to be his administrator?
 

Hi Everybody..I am Bob Picardo's my space administrator..my name is Pat and please dont hesititate to ask me any questions you may have...You can view Bob's pixs off his profile just click under his picture where it says "pics" I will be uploading new ones soon

Thanks!!
 

Does the good doctor ever actually read the comments on this site?
 

I just either crawled out from under a rock or a computer lab (you figure which is more likely ;) anyway - on the main comments thread/page I saw multiple references to problems Bob is having with the JumpCon people - I thought he was supposed to be in Boston - I am missing something here? (that is the reason for the "under the rock" reference)

Is the JumpCon people having "organizational problems" or what did they do to Bob? (give him a raw deal or change the "deal" on him...) ?

... is the Jump Con organization not exactly a well tuned machine like the Creation people are?

I sense there are "issues" here... did I miss a blog or entire thread about this?
 

Come on Bright boy give it your best shot, CALL IT A GIFT,Don't you know anything.