Wednesday, August 30, 2006
"The Office"
One of the interesting points we covered in yesterday's class was the transfer of international programs, using the "The Office" as an example of a British program becoming "popular" in the United States.
As one person said, the recent Emmy award for "Outstanding Comedy Series" was evidence of its success. But I'm not wholly convinced. The Emmy's are an industry award that recognizes excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy. Each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise.
So does this constitute popularity? I think the awards for this are the "Choice" awards ... right (please correct me if I am wrong on this)? So how popular is this program? Many programs that were considered "good" from an industry perspective have not lasted because the public did not support it and then the economic imperative steps in and the show is pulled.
So, the questions are:
As one person said, the recent Emmy award for "Outstanding Comedy Series" was evidence of its success. But I'm not wholly convinced. The Emmy's are an industry award that recognizes excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy. Each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise.
So does this constitute popularity? I think the awards for this are the "Choice" awards ... right (please correct me if I am wrong on this)? So how popular is this program? Many programs that were considered "good" from an industry perspective have not lasted because the public did not support it and then the economic imperative steps in and the show is pulled.
So, the questions are:
- What changes were made to the British version that allowed the program to adapt to the US situation?
- What does this situation tell us about global-local television dynamic of international television programming?
- What lessons can be learnt from this example to faciliate further transfers of program genres or models between countries?
This example would make an excellent project for the research paper and media exercise for that matter.
What do you think?
Comments:
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Ok so what does this say about a) American culture (or at least the reproduction of it) and b) its ability to easily move across many culture boudnaries compared to say British culture?
Also, what do you mean by "same audience"? Does the demographic transfer across cultures? Further research would shed some light on this research question.
Moreover, is this the same company or a different company that sees a workable model that needs adjusting? More research here would provide more insight from an economic not just cultural perspective.
Also, what do you mean by "same audience"? Does the demographic transfer across cultures? Further research would shed some light on this research question.
Moreover, is this the same company or a different company that sees a workable model that needs adjusting? More research here would provide more insight from an economic not just cultural perspective.
An extended quote from the first comment reveals a little more on the differences ...
Producer Greg Daniels created not a copy but an interpretation that sends up distinctly American work conventions (the staff party at Chili's, the mandated diversity seminar), with a tone that's more satiric and less mordant
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Producer Greg Daniels created not a copy but an interpretation that sends up distinctly American work conventions (the staff party at Chili's, the mandated diversity seminar), with a tone that's more satiric and less mordant
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