So I'm making the most of my two weeks off...

[denorios]

I'm catching up on some new shows I never quite got around to watching, namely The Philanthropist and Lie To Me. But first off, a question.

Is there a dearth of male American lead actors or something? I only say this because, well...Dominic West in The Wire - English; Tim Roth in Lie To Me - English; James Purefoy in The Philanthropist - English

Comments

[sideshow_meg]

Ahh, 'The White Man's Burden'. I did a race and racism module this year and The White Man's Burden was the basis for half of it. Bloody thing.

[hestia8]

There's an interesting article on Racialicious about it - I was reading earlier, I'd never heard of the show.

http://www.racialicious.com/2009/07/07/horndog-billionaire-the-philanthropist-sullies-a-good-mans-name/

Also re British actors - The Wire also had Idris Elba and that guy from Queer as Folk whose name I have forgotten right now. Also Mr Olga Soskonva in Heroes (the one who plays Mohinder). Lennie James was in Jericho. It does seem a bit odd sometimes. They always tend to do interviews saying that the parts are better, but that just leads me into the 'American tv is better' argument, which I try not to get into, because I disagree. Quite loudly. ;)

I read a thing a while ago that said Psych was Monk (I think) done as comedy, and The Mentalist was Psych done as drama, haha. There are a lot of unconventional crime-solving dramas atm.

[denorios]

That article outlines quite a lot of the things that I felt watching The Philanthropist. I mean, I watched it mainly 'cause, you know, James Purefoy, but it really does deal in absolute stereotypes - noble African doctor, corrupt government officials, only people able to get things done are drug dealers, gung-ho ignorant American DEA officers. It is incredibly patronising and deceptively racist. I may give it another chance, but if it continues in this vein I don't think I'll have to wait long for it to be canned.

[denorios]

I don't necessarily think US TV is better - just that there's more money, more support and more of it. I think British TV tends to be a bit more thoughtful and less glamourous, but that doesn't make it worse, just different. But, sadly, you don't get world famous starring in British shows, they don't usually act as stepping stones to bigger and better (?) things, ie. movies, in the way that US TV often does.

And re the British actors - I don't have a problem with them appearing in US shows as opposed to British shows - they're actors, they get offered a good part, they take it. I'm just surprised that there are so many lead parts being offered to non-American actors, not just supporting roles, but headline roles.

[mellaithwen]

I feel incredibly stupid that I did not know lapaglia was australian :O

mmm mentalist and psych for the win. I haven't been able to catch up with lie to me so I've crossed it off the list *le sigh*

((also, to annoy you in your own journal to which I apologise, if I set up a reel_startrek comm (wherein you pick a prompt of a movie and then write it with star trek etc) would you read the entries or maybe take part? I'm trying to see if there's interest as it's a lot of work if no one is lol))

[denorios]

I'd certainly read the entries, as far as taking part goes, I'm not sure. I've never been very good with prompts or drabbles - my creativity tends to come in bursts whilst are sadly few and far between. But I'd be willing to try!

[rottinghedge]

I don't think people are getting bored of traditional cop shows, but off-beat crime-solving techniques add an interesting and entertaining touch to the show and I think that's what draw people in.

Ooh I've never heard of Lie To Me so thanks for introducing it to me! I just watched the pilot and loved it. Though I'm pretty busy with school now so I'll probably just keep the show in mind and watch it every now and then when I'm free.

[taraljc]

Lie to Me makes me V. V. HAPPY.

[denorios]

Well, I've watched two eps so far today and I'm loving it!

[taraljc]

LOKER NEEDS HUGS.