farmdoc's blog post number 186

My recent favourite TV series include The West Wing, Little Britain, Australian Story, Kath & Kim, Underbelly, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, and The Office. Last Friday, Sweetheart Vivienne and I were having a quiet coffee in Brother Baba Budan when I whispered to her: ‘Do you remember the character Keith in The Office?’ Because across our table was Keith’s dead-ringer – assuming it wasn’t Keith (Ewen Macintosh) himself. Sweetheart Vivienne and I wondered how it’d feel to be a look-alike of a publicly recognised person. Fun, probably, until the novelty waned; and then, progressively, boredom, irritation and finally anger. But if you can, why not exploit the likeness. For example Tina Fey and Sarah Palin. But with them, who first impersonated whom? Regarding likenesses, two series come to mind – The Office and Kath & Kim – that were re-made with American actors for American release. To me that’s an insult not only to the UK and Australia respectively, but also to the US itself for its adjudged inability to tolerate or understand – I don’t know which – non-American cultures. All TV series simultaneously reflect and create culture. So given program Americanisation, it’s unsurprising Americans are, overall, so self-satisfied and xenophobic. But as with Palin and Fey, it’s a chicken-and-egg situation. Interestingly I can’t recall an American series that was de-Americanised for non-American audiences. Therein lies the rub.