Americanisation of BBC Radio 4

[DracoM]

Is it just me, or are there more serials by, journalists from, 'experts' from, comics hawking, topics about America and its citizens than I can remember for a long time?

Seems to me to be a growing trend, which, given USA role in current global politics etc etc, does not seem entirely well deserved.

Except, of course, the apparently pressing commercial imperative for the BBC to export 'abroad' to raise revenue.

[jayne lee wilson]

Is it just me, or are there more serials by, journalists from, 'experts' from, comics hawking, topics about America and its citizens than I can remember for a long time?

Seems to me to be a growing trend, which, given USA role in current global politics etc etc, does not seem entirely well deserved.

Except, of course, the apparently pressing commercial imperative for the BBC to export 'abroad' to raise revenue.

Probably due to the appalled fascination in observers of recent political and social developments in the USA (not all bad - NB the increasing numbers of young female & ethnic minority senators, and those inspired to run for office next time etc...) - so one could say deserved, if often grimly.

The UK has brought the same kind of attention upon itself, because of....The Big B-Beast...
....bafflement, mockery and - what on earth will happen next...?

[teamsaint]

Oh, I thought nobody cared about us any more ?

Even the friendly dutch have written us off.

( How will it all affect the Bosman ruling though ?)

[jayne lee wilson]

This was amusing & insightful...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/12/un-big-mess-how-rest-of-europe-views-brexit

Un Big Mess ...

[doversoul1]

Is it just me, or are there more serials by, journalists from, 'experts' from, comics hawking, topics about America and its citizens than I can remember for a long time?

Seems to me to be a growing trend, which, given USA role in current global politics etc etc, does not seem entirely well deserved.

Except, of course, the apparently pressing commercial imperative for the BBC to export 'abroad' to raise revenue.

I have noticed this in The Guardian Review (weekly). There seem to be far more main articles about US related topics, non-fictions by US authors, fictions by US authors or about lives in the US than any British topics, authors etc. I find this most annoying.

[Conchis]

Yes, I have noticed this, too. A female presenter (whose name escapes me) with a bizarre transatlantic accent presenting one of the news magazine programmes.

Justin Webb on the Today programme (which I don't listen to any more, along with many others) got a rep for never questioning or prodding his American interviewees.

A truly awful man called Joe Queenan used to pop up on R4 arts programmes but he seems to have disappeared.

[eighthobstruction]

Is it just me, or are there more serials by, journalists from, 'experts' from, comics hawking, topics about America and its citizens than I can remember for a long time?

Seems to me to be a growing trend, which, given USA role in current global politics etc etc, does not seem entirely well deserved.

Except, of course, the apparently pressing commercial imperative for the BBC to export 'abroad' to raise revenue.

....absolutely 100% definitely....every second expert on Elizabethan England an American....every other expert on Womans Hour....90% of items on Josie Longs Short Cuts....85% of whingers on Soul Music....55.7% of sentimental tosh about....well very little....37.3% of expert academics on Thinking Allowed.... i.e not a fan....

....slightly different topic: 3years ago I used to listen to just about anything/everything between 0900-0945....now regularly turn off - too much arty mush talk, vague back scratching and slapping....shove it up yer artists only Gwyneth Williams, glad you've retired....????

[Serial_Apologist]

I do, however, have to say that many of the Americans brought on radio to pronounce on matters economic and /or cultural, are often professors, scientists, lecturers, conservationists and even climate change experts, who are right on the ball for their wisdoms - which suggests to me that they may well be escapees from an American intellectual climate that once was but now is virtually dead.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Don’t just blame the Americans. There’s a 100% British comedy that’s doing the R4 rounds at present, which is completely unfunny. It’s called ReincarNathan, and I don’t know it was allowed to be broadcast on a reputable nation channel.

Or is it just me?

[Bryn]

Don’t just blame the Americans. There’s a 100% British comedy that’s doing the R4 rounds at present, which is completely unfunny. It’s called ReincarNathan, and I don’t know it was allowed to be broadcast on a reputable nation channel.

Or is it just me?

A severe waste of some very funny comedy stars in cameo roles, to my ears.

[Maclintick]

....absolutely 100% definitely....every second expert on Elisabethan England an American....every other expert on Womans Hour....90% of items on Josie Longs Short Cuts....85% of whingers on Soul Music....55.7% of sentimental tosh about....well very little....37.3% of expert academics on Thinking Allowed.... i.e not a fan....

....slightly different topic: 3years ago I used to listen to just about anything/everything between 0900-0945....now regularly turn off - too much arty mush talk, vague back scratching and slapping....shove it up yer artists only Gwyneth Williams, glad you've retired....????

Wouldn't entirely agree with the above analysis (?) but do feel that there's often a cultural cringe towards the USA on R4, which manifests itself in excessive deference in respect of Hollywood, American sub-culture, values & societal trends -- prime example being the "Public Philosopher" Michael Sandel series, which takes an audience of über-ignorant, privileged international know-nothing undergrads at LSE, Harvard or wherever, to kneel at the feet of an all-knowing Prof. Sandel, who then guides them towards an ultra-conservative, economically-liberal, not so say alt-right agenda..

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, I have noticed this, too. A female presenter (whose name escapes me) with a bizarre transatlantic accent presenting one of the news magazine programmes.

Justin Webb on the Today programme (which I don't listen to any more, along with many others) got a rep for never questioning or prodding his American interviewees.

A truly awful man called Joe Queenan used to pop up on R4 arts programmes but he seems to have disappeared.

You could try some of his articles here....

https://muckrack.com/joe-queenan/articles

I've usually enjoyed his various cultural/film analyses in the Guardian Friday Film & Music Review ...
Each to her own but he's OK by me...

[greenilex]

I suppose brexiteers have a tendency to look west...certainly both Trump and Putin have an interest in detaching the UK from its current moorings.

Culturally US academia is very closely tied with UK, and in terms of popular music we are virtually the same market. So although I understand the irritation expressed above, things seem unlikely to change...

[MrGongGong]

It's a distraction
along the lines of

"look..................................... a squirrel!"

But probably good that we get a bit more familiar with our new masters

[LMcD]

[QUOTE=MrGongGong;724524]It's a distraction
along the lines of

"look..................................... a squirrel!"

But probably good that we get a bit more familiar with our new masters [/QUOTE]

…by touring Northern Ireland and certain Tory-held constituencies?