# Most American TV show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159 "2018-07-02T14:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/1 "2018-07-02T14:31:59Z")
A lot of channels will have Fourth of July themed programming or marathons this Wednesday. If you had to program a TV marathon, what would you pick as the most definitively American TV show? I vote a day of “Price Is Right” reruns. It would be a full cross section of Americans gaudily devoted to shopping and product placement, and what’s more American than that? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/2 "2018-07-02T14:39:35Z")
I’d vote for “[Queen for a Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_for_a_Day)” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/3 "2018-07-02T14:54:03Z")
Toss-up between _ **Gilligan’s Island** _ and _ **Star Trek: TOS** _. The castaways were supposed to be a microcosm of American society, and who else but Kirk could tell others “We come in peace!” and then pull a phaser on them? The two shows mirrored 1960s America perfectly. Runners-up include\*\*\* Leave It to Beaver\*\*\*, _ **Bewitched** _, and _ **Mission: Impossible** _. They allowed others to see us as we see ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/4 "2018-07-02T15:08:50Z")
_[Walker, Texas Ranger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIYZVSElmj4)_ ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/5 "2018-07-02T15:08:55Z")
Hm. The first show that came to mind was “The Andy Griffith Show”, but that’s certainly only one corner of (mostly white) America. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/6 "2018-07-02T15:12:23Z")
The Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/7 "2018-07-02T15:23:01Z")
Not Let’s Make A Deal?:eek: Another vote for ST:TOS. I think it represented the American Values we strive to show. inclusiveness, lack of prejudice\*, fighting for the best ideals, protector of the oppressed. They did the right thing, even when the right thing was hard. They were willing to die to defend those ideals. \*except towards Vulcans. It was OK to call Spock a half-breed freak to his face. I never quite got how that fit in with “we’ve learned not to fear words”. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/8 "2018-07-02T15:32:09Z")
Det. James ‘Jimmy’ McNulty: I got to ask you. If every time Snotboogie would grab the money and run away, why’d you even let him in the game? Snot Boogie’s Friend: What? Det. James ‘Jimmy’ McNulty: If Snotboogie always stole the money, why’d you let him play? Snot Boogie’s Friend: Got to. It’s America, man.[RIGHT]–_The Wire_[/RIGHT] Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/9 "2018-07-02T15:40:16Z")
Of the ones I’ve seen? 24. Preferably a season where they’re going up against middle eastern terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/10 "2018-07-02T15:41:35Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > what would you pick as the most definitively American TV show? We open on: a Brit who honestly can’t believe how a bunch of Americans — this one white, that one black; this one Jewish, that one Muslim — who maybe don’t really know what they’re doing, but sure are trying their hardest to make things better, spend their time fighting Nazis and helping the Apollo mission land on the moon okay and working with everybody else from George Washington to George Lucas, and from Eliot Ness to Elvis Presley; so, LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, I guess? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/11 "2018-07-02T15:47:44Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It was OK to call Spock a half-breed freak to his face. I never quite got how that fit in with “we’ve learned not to fear words”. If you’ll recall, Kirk was deliberately trying to anger Spock in order to free him from the effects of the Berthold-ray spores. Since it worked, it’s safe to assume that was absolutely \*the \*worst insult he could have mustered. If you want to talk about the most accurate portrayal of American life, I suggest **Married … with Children**. I’ve seen the Russian version of it (filmed in Russia with Russian actors), and believe me, it does \*\*not \*\*translate well. It’s one of those “Only in America!” type shows. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/12 "2018-07-02T15:53:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > It’s one of those “Only in America!” type shows. Like _ **Seinfeld** _. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/13 "2018-07-02T15:56:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > If you’ll recall, Kirk was deliberately trying to anger Spock in order to free him from the effects of the Berthold-ray spores. Since it worked, it’s safe to assume that was absolutely \*the \*worst insult he could have mustered. I was thinking of Scotty in “Day of the Dove”. I’m not sure how much of a pass you can give him, despite the alien influence. Obviously, not everyone had their minds altered, otherwise they’d still be there, slicing and dicing for all eternity. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/14 "2018-07-02T15:59:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I was thinking of Scotty in “Day of the Dove”. I’m not sure how much of a pass you can give him, despite the alien influence. Obviously, not everyone had their minds altered, otherwise they’d still be there, slicing and dicing for all eternity. It was made clear in that episode that racial bigotry is “most distasteful.” Even Spock felt it, so yeah, I’ll give Scotty a pass on this one. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/15 "2018-07-02T16:04:16Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > II’ve seen the Russian version of it (filmed in Russia with Russian actors), and believe me, it does \*\*not \*\*translate well. It’s one of those “Only in America!” type shows. I imagine so… there’s a surprisingly fascinating documentary out there that chronicles all the hoops and trouble the producers and writers of “Everybody Loves Raymond” had to go through to adapt it to the Russian market. Based on that, I can totally imagine that just reshooting in Russian wouldn’t go over well. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/16 "2018-07-02T16:23:30Z")
Love, American Style The Greatest American Hero American Idol American Bandstand ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/17 "2018-07-02T16:26:12Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Hm. The first show that came to mind was “The Andy Griffith Show”, but that’s certainly only one corner of (mostly white) America. Agreed. I thought of it too. It certainly is very American, in the sense that it couldn’t be set anywhere but America (though the same could be said of plenty of other shows), and it reflects the way many people like to think of America; but it certainly doesn’t reflect _all_ of America, especially not all of what America is like today. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/18 "2018-07-02T16:30:33Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I imagine so… there’s a surprisingly fascinating documentary out there that chronicles all the hoops and trouble the producers and writers of “Everybody Loves Raymond” had to go through to adapt it to the Russian market. Based on that, I can totally imagine that just reshooting in Russian wouldn’t go over well. What’s weird that some shows translate well and others don’t. I once saw a Spanish or Portuguese version of _ **Bewitched** _ (filmed in Argentina or Brazil; I don’t remember which), and as far as I could tell it was virtually a line-for-line copy of a classic American episode. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/19 "2018-07-02T16:37:36Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Hm. The first show that came to mind was “The Andy Griffith Show”, but that’s certainly only one corner of (mostly white) America. Alternate with episodes of _Leave It To Beaver._ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159/20 "2018-07-02T16:38:21Z")
_ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _, _ **Petticoat Junction** _, and _ **Green Acres** _ are pure Americana. I now find it almost painful to watch the Clampetts as they live in California for nine years and don’t learn a thing, while Oliver and Lisa Douglas took the genre to the realm of the surreal. And I appreciate the Bradleys a lot more, now that I understand the Shady Rest was really a brothel. Only in America! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-american-tv-show/817159.md?page=2)