Impromptus today is a “London journal” — Part I. I talk a little about the BBC, that source of perpetual heartache and outrage. A reader writes, “Because of their Middle East coverage, I refer to them as ‘HaBibiC.’” Made me laugh. It also reminded me of that recent O’Keefe sting: The guys, those “Muslim Brothers,” say that they once called NPR “National Palestinian Radio.” The NPR execs laugh appreciatively, with one saying how much she likes the nickname.
Our reader further writes, “The people who claim to be feminist and pro-gay” — i.e., the crew at the BBC — “oppose the one country in the Middle East that does not subjugate women and persecute gays. What does that tell you?” Plenty.
Before I leave the subject of the BBC, let me say something I intend to note in tomorrow’s Impromptus — something in the BBC’s favor: They have, among their correspondents and personalities, many men and women who aren’t . . . who aren’t . . . um, Hollywood material. Looks-wise. I like that. These people wouldn’t be allowed within 500 miles of American television. Some of them might not even get character jobs on sitcoms.
Anyway, more later . . .
And Top Gear is a fine program. So is James May's Toy Stories.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFox News is much fairer than the Beeb...but also clumsier, shoutier, more given to junk news, and lousy with pretty-boys and bottle blondes.
If an American news channel were to imitate the BBC in terms of tone, seriousness, commitment to hard news with true global coverage, and openness to putting people in front to the camera who have more ordinary/natural/diverse looks and accents...
...if it could do most or all of that, but leave behind the BBC's lefty-bubble biases, I would actually make time to watch cable news again. (I haven't for years.)
But would enough other Americans watch? One could only hope they would.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYay! A new Impromptus! Heading over now....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNever mind. My favorite nickname is "Canadian Brainwashing Corporation" for the CBC. Works for BBC too.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe only thing good about BBCA is Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Top Gear. I'll watch L&O:UK if nothing else is on, and Life on Mars wasn't horrible. All the rest is rubbish.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's not just the anchors. A lot of the actors on BBC shows would never stand a chance in Hollywood, either. Oh sure, there are exceptions, but most you wouldn't glance at twice if you saw them on the street...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'd been trying to solve the riddle, which Middle Eastern country doesn't "subjugate women or persecute gays"? and was having no luck. Then I realized I was only thinking of Arab countries. The quiz is a snap the moment you include Israel.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf the Beeb lost its government support (A tax on all TVs) they might start to resemble Fox News. I wouldn't mind. British newspapers are far funkier than the US versions and seem to be surviving.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"And Top Gear is a fine program."
It's a fun show if you can get by their anti-America pot shots.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTorchwood is a great series, with classically solid sci-fi writing, that courageously challenges the gender stereotypes and mores of 20 years ago. But the recent episodes "Children of Earth" were of particular interest. They really laid bare the insane paranoia of the left, what they really think their fellow citizens and leaders would behave in a crisis. No sarcasm: it's quite enlightening, if disturbing.
Dr. Who, the classic series just as much as the new, helps one appreciate the innocent yet megalomaniacal self-adulation of liberalism. Here you have a 700 year-old super genius who has played a pivotal role in the history of countless alien civilizations, who has quite literally seen the universe unfold from the beginning and fall apart at the end. It's uncanny: his views on everything from sports to politics to dorm-room philosophy are perfectly synchronous with the conventional wisdom of the BBC establishment.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, an American network with with the BBC's format/Fox News content would be a clear winner. I could stop getting all the news from the net.
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