Things we have learnt about the USA in films and TV

[ColinEssex]

73) Dasani bottled water is in fact tap water bottled.

74) The young handsome President is usually a jet fighter pilot as well

75) US roads are 6 lanes in each direction

76) Houses have no garden fence at the front

77) Columbo never investigates violent murderers who could pull a gun and kill him

78) Americans in Hawaii always treat the Hawaiians as if they're stupid (Steve McGarret and Danno in Hawaii five O)

79) The cruise disaster always happens when the cabaret act is singing

80) There's always a captured alien spacecraft at the secret Area 51 base

81) Cruise missiles always hit the correct target (unlike in reality)

82) American refrigerators are the size of a small bedroom and are called Kelvinator

83) The dog in a disaster film always survives.

84) Lassie never died - a kindly old couple always saved him

85) You never saw the Lone Ranger actually making his silver bullets

86) The A Team never actually shot anyone despite using machine guns

87) There's always a smart kid called Shooey in a disater film who comes up with the answer

88) The perpetrator of the disaster always dies (e.g. Richard Chamberlain Towering Inferno)

89) Southern people get in their cars through the windows

Col

 

[FoFa]

Only in American films

Who else makes a film worth watching

 

[selenau837]

Teens who have intercourse during the movie always dies in a horror flick. The virgin usually survives and saves the day!!

 

[lmnop7854]

73) Dasani bottled water is in fact tap water bottled.

Oh come on, Col, you didn't get that from a movie - probably from a documentary, which would mean it is probably true.

74) The young handsome President is usually a jet fighter pilot as well

Yeah - and if we ever get a young, handsome President, he will probably be a jet fighter - then we'll know we are headed for hell in a handbasket....

75) US roads are 6 lanes in each direction

Those are in the big extravaganza movies. See Dukes of Hazzard for the two-lane, barely paved old country road. And in those movies, those roads never have any old guy in a pickup driving 20 miles an hour in front of you.....

76) Houses have no garden fence at the front

Actually, most of them don't. Most houses with fences only fence the back yard.

77) Columbo never investigates violent murderers who could pull a gun and kill him

Or would. You know, he is just such a lovable detective...

78) Americans in Hawaii always treat the Hawaiians as if they're stupid (Steve McGarret and Danno in Hawaii five O)

Ok, that's strictly Hollywood.

79) The cruise disaster always happens when the cabaret act is singing

True - watch out for that when you take your next cruise....

80) There's always a captured alien spacecraft at the secret Area 51 base

Good one, Col- that's something even Americans don't know the truth about.

81) Cruise missiles always hit the correct target (unlike in reality)

Ok, so you know that one isn't true.

82) American refrigerators are the size of a small bedroom and are called Kelvinator

Mine isn't. But everyone in the movies is rich and can afford such a refrigerator. However, the name Kelvinator is true. Can't remember which brand uses that name.

83) The dog in a disaster film always survives.

And you would have them die? That would be the saddest part of the movie!!!

84) Lassie never died - a kindly old couple always saved him

Lassie was quite a resourceful dog. You can't say anything bad about Lassie. The unfortunate thing is that people probably bought a lot of collies back in the day thinking they were all as smart as Lassie. Not so. The collies I have known (purebred) were mean and ornery.

85) You never saw the Lone Ranger actually making his silver bullets

Mail order.

86) The A Team never actually shot anyone despite using machine guns

They were really bad shots. But COOL really bad shots....

87) There's always a smart kid called Shooey in a disater film who comes up with the answer

What movie is that from? Shooey???

88) The perpetrator of the disaster always dies (e.g. Richard Chamberlain Towering Inferno)

Well, of course!!!

89) Southern people get in their cars through the windows

Selena?


Ok, Col, now you are getting off on a tangent. Many on the list of your "American characteristics" are things that obviously don't take place in the real world, and are meant only as entertainment. Just as most of the UK shows I have watched in the past are only for entertainment. So you can't tell me that you UKers are so obtuse as to not be able to see the farse from the real thing, even if you haven't visited here. Can I assume that you are all that dumb?

Lisa

 

[fuzzygeek]

Quote:
67) People in Montana live in a forest and sit round camp fires


Not true - check Jackson Hole.

That's in Wyoming not Montana. To see Montana State University and the beautiful surroundings, see the following (you can rotate the camera):

http://cateye.msu.montana.edu/

 

[Luddite Lad]

10) The police are always eating burgers and coke in their cars

I always thought it was coffee and doughnuts

 

[jsanders]

Only in American films

Movies are made elsewhere?
Wow, the things you learn on this forum.

 

[John Big Booty]

Yes there were, the Aussies still use them

It's true and you'll probably find one of these on the seat

waiting to bite you, right where it hurts

 

[ColinEssex]

73) Dasani bottled water is in fact tap water bottled.

Oh come on, Col, you didn't get that from a movie - probably from a documentary, which would mean it is probably true.

I admit I did slip that one in - but its still true.
Thats why Coca-Cola withdrew it from sale in the UK after a month or so, because we found out it was bottled tap water with too high a content of Bromate which is a carcinogenic
Ref and here

The Americans however are quite happy to pay Coke for tap water with Bromate - I understand its a top seller in the USA

The launch and withdrawal of Dasani in the UK cost Coke around £70 million

Col

 

[lmnop7854]

That's in Wyoming not Montana. To see Montana State University and the beautiful surroundings, see the following (you can rotate the camera):

http://cateye.msu.montana.edu/

Whoops!! My bad!! But thanks for pulling me out!!

Lisa

 

[Rich]

Movies are made elsewhere?
Wow, the things you learn on this forum.

Yes and if you stuck around and listened you'd learn a great deal more

 

[KenHigg]

Yes and if you stuck around and listened you'd learn a great deal more

Yes, like how not to become a malevolent prick...

 

[Rich]

Yes, like how not to become a malevolent prick...

that's bloody disgraceful, even for you

 

[statsman]

Here's one thats always puzzled me on US TV:

Amercians always put their underwear on right after having sex.

You see a couple in bed, its obvious they've just done the dirty deed. They're sharing some pillow talk. The woman has her bra and panties on. The man has on his shorts. After a few moments they start to go at it again.

Wouldn't it make more sense just to stay naked?

 

[statsman]

I did this thread a few years back, but it was lost in the hack, I was asked to repeat it.


18) All phone numbers start "555"


Col

In MOST areas of the US and Canada, the "555" exchange is reserved for use by the local phone company. This is the exchange that's used for their own lines. Example: the billing dept. of your local phone company would be 555-####. The "555" exchange is used in movies and TV so that they don't use a real number (like yours) and you start getting all these calls from people who just watched the show.

 

[FoFa]

Here's one thats always puzzled me on US TV:

Amercians always put their underwear on right after having sex.

You see a couple in bed, its obvious they've just done the dirty deed. They're sharing some pillow talk. The woman has her bra and panties on. The man has on his shorts. After a few moments they start to go at it again.

Wouldn't it make more sense just to stay naked?

Naw, that's a TV thing, so they don't accidentally show anything they are not suppose to. Use your imagination....

 

[statsman]

Naw, that's a TV thing, so they don't accidentally show anything they are not suppose to. Use your imagination....

Yes, but they do it in movies too where you can pretty much show anything you want these days.

 

[Rich]

Yes, but they do it in movies too where you can pretty much show anything you want these days.

But not in front of the children, it's bad for them

 

[FoFa]

Yes, but they do it in movies too where you can pretty much show anything you want these days.

Depends on the rating you are going for. One less boob flash might mean the difference between R and PG13 (just as an example, I don't know for sure how the rating system works).
OR maybe that star didn't want to shoot a nude scene.
Oh dang, who cares!

 

[statsman]

Just wanted to make the point because EVERY show that isn't aimed at kids that I watched last week did this. The only exceptions are when the covers are pulled up or the lady is lying on her stomach.