BWW Column: The British (Television) Invasion You Didn't Know Was Happening

Twenty years ago, British television was essentially unknown to Americans. Without streaming services like Netflix, or platforms like YouTube, it was virtually impossible to watch any shows from across the pond. Now, thanks to the Internet, British television has found its way into American homes in many different ways.

The first sign of British influence on US television came in the form of remakes. Shows like AMERICAN IDOL, DANCING WITH THE STARS, and THE OFFICE were all based on UK versions. This type of influence is the least obvious, mainly because most US audiences may not even realize the show is a remake. Before Netflix carried the UK version, many fans of the office THE OFFICE were unaware of the Ricky Gervais-led British original. Remakes allow American writers and producers to put their own spin on already popular television shows, while making them more accessible for US audiences.

The British model of television is quite different from ours: they have much shorter seasons, often times around six-13 episodes per season, sometimes even as little as three (looking at you, SHERLOCK)! Meanwhile, across the pond, American television shows typically have 22-25 episodes per season, spanning the time from September to May. Fewer episodes means not as good, right? In most cases, wrong! Although they have fewer episodes to satisfy audiences with, British television makes up for that in the production and content quality of their shows. Since they don't have to worry about spitting out 22 episodes a year, UK television shows can spend more time writing and creating the best show possible. The quality is evident in series such as DOWNTON ABBEY, SHERLOCK, DOCTOR WHO, CALL THE MIDWIFE and more.

The British format does so well, that streaming services and cable networks have modeled their seasons after those in the UK. Most all Netflix shows have 10-13 episodes and many HBO, AMC, and FX dramas have around nine-13 episodes per season. This allows for shows like BREAKING BAD and FARGO to spend much more time on all aspects of shooting; creating a more cinematic experience for each episode. It's no wonder that cable networks and streaming services have begun to take over award shows that used to be dominated by the broadcast networks.

Not only has American television followed the British's lead, it has also begun broadcasting original British shows on American networks. PBS's MASTERPIECE airs shows like DOWNTON ABBEY and SHERLOCK for American audiences who would not be able to watch otherwise. British television has gotten much more popular in the US and now the lag time between airing in the UK and the US is virtually non-existent. The internet has played a big part in that, because US audiences do not want shows to be spoiled via social media.

Another big influence on American television is the British talk show format. The BBC talk show, THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW is famous for having all of its guests out at the same time, instead of one by one. This way, the three to four personalities have a chance to not only interact with the host, but with each other, allowing for more comedic moments and surprises. Segments from THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW began to receive so much attention thanks to YouTube and BBC America that US networks began to take notice. When Craig Ferguson stepped down as host of THE LATE LATE SHOW he was replaced by James Corden, a Tony-winning British comedian and actor, known in the UK for roles on British sitcoms and talk shows. When Corden began his stint as THE LATE LATE SHOW host, he also had all of his guests come out to talk at the same time. This introduces American audiences to a newer, more engaging talk show format that is virtually brand new in the States.

On the other hand, one big reason that British television has yet to completely captivate US audiences is the cultural divide. Many British shows, comedies especially, have a style of humor or refer to specifically Britsh cultural events that most Americans struggle to relate. However, with the growing interconnectivity, thanks to the internet and social media, Americans and British audiences are becoming more alike than ever. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next five years, the amount of British television and media doubles here in the United States.

I, on the one hand, am incredibly glad British television is gaining in popularity in America. Not only do I see new episodes of SHERLOCK the same day it airs in the UK, but I can also talk to more people about THE IT CROWD, a show I love so much that has become increasingly more popular thanks to it being on Netflix! (Fun fact, NBC almost remade THE IT CROWD with original cast member Richard Ayoade and new addition Joel McHale, but it fell through). I just hope soon I can talk to all of my friends about DOCTOR WHO, LUTHER, and BIG FAT QUIZ OF THE YEAR, the same way I talk about NEW GIRL, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

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DOCTOR WHO and THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW Photo Credit: © BBC WORLDWIDE LIMITED

DOWNTON ABBEY Photo Credit: Courtesy of (C) Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2015 for MASTERPIECE

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