In conversations concerning American television abroad, conflict arises regarding the impact of American culture on countries without a strong means of autonomous media production. These discussions are usually confined to developing nations; however, Americanization still remains relevant to those nations who have a developed media industry. This thesis further examines the dynamic relationship between two media powerhouses, the United States and Great Britain. The purpose of this project is to explore how British television works with American television and popular culture in ways that do not interrupt the cultural education television provides.
Beginning with a short history of the importation of programs between both countries, the thesis elaborates on the significance of television and comedy to culture. This history of media importation helps to set up how particular programs play with Americanness in ways that help to reassert a sense of Britishness. Using Andy Medhurst’s A National Joke, this project examines how television comedy is able to communicate, reassert, and redefine British identities. The shows chosen, Peep Show (2003- ) and Goodness Gracious Me (1998-2001) are two comedies that play such a role in renegotiating and redefining Britishness, by deconstructing the notion of identity as well as emphasizing Britishness through the representation of Americanness. Between Peep Show’s utilization of an American character as a means to differentiate British from American and Goodness Gracious Me’s use of familiar American formats to emphasize the impact of American television on British culture, both pinpoint the issues relevant to discussing contemporary British identity and through the lens of comedy provide a space for these issues to be deconstructed and challenged.