Brits in Hollywood: a Look into the American appetite for British television
American openness to British ideas is recognition that the world has become a smaller place. It was stated that there is much less US arrogance about what might and might not work and that audiences don’t care if it was originally a UK show – they will watch any good television.
Yet it’s not always so simple to break British talent into the US. For instance, Who Do You Think You Are? was first sold to a US channel four years ago, but it initially failed to make any progress. Eventually, it was aired after a popular US television and movie personality helped the show take off in the United States. It has been noted that the case with Who Do You Think You Are? demonstrates the difference between British and American television – in Britain, a good format can sell itself while in America, shows usually have to have somebody famous on board as well.
