British TV: Surprise after surprise

British TV is not all "Downton Abbey" and "Foyle's War," though I did catch a bit of the latter falling asleep during my first night in London.

Only at the end of six busy days were there a few minutes allotted for TV viewing, but that was sufficient time to realize that "Masterpiece Theatre" doesn't quite capture it.

Some of what airs in England would absolutely not meet FCC regulations in the U.S. Much of the rest of it just falls into a category that could be generally described as "not-PC" (politically correct). For example, one program -- similar to "The View" in the U.S -- is titled "Loose Women."

"Loose" is probably a reference to "loose tongues," as in being outspoken about one's opinion. However, we don't need a focus group to tell us that that "Loose Women" as a title would likely not have the same connotation among viewers of "The View." Can you imagine Elisabeth Hasselbeck agreeing to being characterized as a "loose woman," even in jest?

Embarrassing bodies

Another British TV offering, "Embarrassing Bodies," is difficult to describe without being... well... gross.

But I will try.

Guests, both male and female, present with physical complaints of a uro-genital nature, followed by a graphic explanation of their symptoms, followed by a physical examination shown from the vantage point of the clinician. It's the sort of thing that medical residents might see during hospital rounds -- or perhaps ob-gyns in the privacy of their own offices.

As far as I can tell, the newscasts weren't that different from those of the major U.S. networks, though I don't recall ever seeing Diane Sawyer or Katie Couric wearing ruffles. A side comment here... Unfortunately, photos are lacking, but two fashion trends are worth a mention.

The first: Black tights and boots worn with mini-skirts, short-shorts, and even business-casual, Berumuda-style shorts. The second: Thick, colorful scarves, tied like at the neck like plumage, worn with every sort of outfit -- and often with those black tights and boots -- even when outside temps are quite comfortable.

And then, there were these guys.

The photo above is from a program called "Nine out of 10 Cats," which has something to do with guessing poll results. The twins are known collectively as "Jedward." According to Wikipedia, they are Jed and Edward Grimes, an Irish pop duo whose fame originated on the original British version of  "The X-Factor."

Adverts

The commercials -- or "adverts" as they are called in England -- were also quite unique. One, in particular, featured a bouncing ball of raw ground beef, again not an image that would work very well in the U.S., where we really don't like to be reminded where our animal protein comes from.

Wrapping up this post, two things are not in doubt. Certainly, my brief encounter with British TV does not do justice to the full range of viewing options. And, I am equally certain that some of our programs in the U.S. would seem quite odd to our British cousins.

However, on "Downton Abbey," we can agree.