We still have a tradition certainly in English television; it's faded a bit in the last five years, but we still have a tradition where the important thing is the quality and the challenging nature of the programming.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I have a deep respect for the fundamentals of television, the traditions of it, even, but I don't have any reverence for it.
We've had American TV shows in Britain for years and that hasn't affected our culture at all.
The BBC fulfils a wonderful cultural function. Maybe the problem is that it feels it needs to be everything to everybody.
And I grew up watching all the British ones so when you hear that from an early age, it makes it much easier than you guys who don't grow up with Australian television or British television.
American shows can go on for 20 years. I respond more to the British format. Three seasons is a long run for them to tell a story.
There is a tendency around the world today to copy TV culture. And that is not always a virtue.
We had everything from the BBC on our TV, so British drama seems very close to home.
With the advent of cable and such, you guys are calling it the golden age of TV in terms of the writing and stuff. But it's like different branches of a big tree that TV has become.
In every area, we seem to have thrown everything away and embraced reality television. It's nauseating, programme after programme.
There's no tradition today except initials, 'CSI,' 'NCIS,' all the rest. Even with reruns today, people don't know there was a 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' or 'Andy Griffith,' or 'Cheers.'