Comments on: Stephen Fry in America

By: Bobbie Battisson

Bobbie Battisson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:54:26 +0000

I was disappointed in Fry’s take on Washington State, he did not show the Rockies Mount Ranier – Mount Baker, Mount St Helens or the Olympics, he just concentrated on Pike Place and drug taking and suicides. Washington State derserves better coverage.

By: Tammy Benton

Tammy Benton — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:47:01 +0000

I was extremely disappointed with the portrayal Stephen Fry game Missouri in his Stephen Fry in America series. The only thing he televised about Missouri was a group of homeless people and some old dilapidated buildings in downtown St. Louis.
I am American and my fiance’ is English and even he (having been to Missouri where I am from) was shocked that Stephen Fry chose to only show homeless people and old beat up buildings while driving right past the Gateway Arch…the gateway to the west…with it’s impressive museum located underneath it and didn’t even introduce this monument to his viewers.
Not to mention St. Louis has a great music scene in an area called Soulard where some brilliant blues bands originate from, a beautiful art gallery, history museum, one of the best rated free zoos…the St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park, and was the home of the 1904 Worlds Fair.
Again, I was extremely disappointed that out of all of that and so much more that Missouri and St. Louis have to offer he chose to only show the homeless and a few dilapidated buildings. Shame really as I think many viewers in the UK would really like to get a true glimpse of what America has to offer.

By: Nigel Fishwick

Nigel Fishwick — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:48:37 +0000

I think I’d have preferred something like a six-month run of half-hour long episodes. I’m sure they must have shot enough footage for a longer run.

Something more along the lines of Entertainment USA (sans Jonathan King, of course) might have been preferable.

By: Relugus

Relugus — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:49:04 +0000

The “Main-iac” moment was unfortunate, though it was an example of how the British sense of humour does not go over well with some Americans.

I’m glad Fry does not adopt the smug “ironic” tone of so many British journalists and travellers. His genuine interest in people is one of the strengths of this show.

The BBC’s insistence on only 6 episodes is the problem here. What is it with British TV executives that makes them think everything has to be compressed into 6 episodes?
I want to visit Morgan Freeman’s club. :-)

By: David B

David B — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:00:39 +0000

To use Fry’s witty and charming phrase: “arse dribble”.

By: Zokko

Zokko — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:52:13 +0000

Brilliant series. Fry’s visit to the body farm was the most uncomfortable viewing experience I’ve had in years.

By: Jerry Steele

Jerry Steele — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:20:50 +0000

I missed the first episode, but on hearing he was driving around in a black cab, I immediately thought : “Around the World with Alan Partridge In A Bullnose On The Left”.

The 2nd episode was mildly diverting though. Good Sunday evening fare, I’d say…

By: Paul Gatenby

Paul Gatenby — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:52:00 +0000

This series woefully misuses Stephen Fry’s talents. Rather than let him pitch up in some part of America and then just let him talk, intelligently and amusingly, we see him in a series of vignettes that really tell us very little about America, it’s history and the people who live there.

Instead; here’s the Mason – Dixon line. Right here.
Stephen gets a haircut, finds out the name of the haircut.
There’s a bear up a tree.

There are too many celebrity-fronted factual programmes on television. What next, Griff Rhys Jones on Anger?

By: Mark H Wilkinson

Mark H Wilkinson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:06:57 +0000

Funny thing about the premise: Fry’s 1997 novel “Making History” features a tweedy Cambridge student who experiences an alternative universe version of his life in which his parents moved to the US and he ended up at Princeton.

I’d say Stephen’s been wondering about “Steve” for quite a while now.