THE BRITISH REALLY ARE COMING?
What has happened to American taste? Us Brits have always had a "special relationship" with our American cousins, but their media usually only showed us as odd exaggerations (Dick Van Dyke's "cockerney" in Mary Poppins), motherly benevolents (Mary Poppins again), fruitcake eccentrics (Monty Python), ripe for affectionate parody (Austin Powers), barer of outdated sitcoms (Are You Being Served?), or playing venomous snakes (Die Hard).
But not now.
Perhaps in response to our support post-9/11, attitudes have changed dramatically. The British have always done well in America with historical epics and costume drama, from Ghandi to Shakespeare In Love. The Yanks also have a fondness for English Roses like Kate Winslett or legends such as Judi Dench or Michael Caine.
But US television was always less receptive to Anglo charms. Sure, a Brit may win the occassional Emmy with an expensive costume drama or mini-series, but seasonal network television ran to its own beat.
What a difference five years makes. I think we have a lot to thank BBC America for. The channel has opened the eyes of many Americans to British television and Ricky Gervais' The Office became a breakthrough hit. Gervais and writing partner Stephen Merchant went on executive produce the US Office (now a comedy collossus in the States) and the well-regarded HBO/BBC sitcom Extras.
English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen followed a similar path, finding an audience for his Ali G character on HBO. Da Ali G Show quickly entranced US audiences with its edgy humour and made Cohen's other creation, racist Kazakhstan reporter Borat, into a phenomenon. Borat transferred to film in 2006... and ruled the world.
Americans are now taking us seriously. The Harry Potter and Lord Of The Rings movies showcased a lot of British talent to American executives. After playing Gandalph, Sir Ian McKellen saw a huge resurgence of interest, leading to the X-Men franchise with Patrick Stewart (and Brian Cox in X-Men 2), as did Orlando Bloom.
Rings star Dominic Monaghan bagged a role in smash-hit series Lost, together with Londoner Naveen Andrews. Brits Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Henry Ian Cusick also joined the cast in season two as Mr Eko and Desmond, respectively.
Recently, former Doctor Who Christopher Ecclestone won a role in the latest US hit -- superhero drama Heroes. He even gets to keep his accent. There was a time when Americans thought we all spoke cut-glass Queen's English. Regional accents were just something the Pythons did for comic effect.
James Callis, who plays Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica, is British (the accent is the giveaway), but did you know Jamie Bamber, who plays Apollo, is also from these shores? Talking of good accents, British comedian Hugh Laurie has found unparalleled success Stateside thanks to a spot-on US accent as a curmudgeonly doctor in House.
More recently, Extras co-star Ashley Jensen got herself a recurring role in Ugly Betty. Just yesterday, ex-EastEnders saucepot Michelle Ryan beat off native competition to secure herself the lead in a Bionic Woman remake.
I'm actually amazed the fashion for British stars hasn't reached Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane. Oh wait, Nicolette Sheridan has a British passport, so she passes muster (by the skin of her polished teeth!)
Yes, make no mistake about it, the Yanks LOVE us now! Comedians Steve Coogan and Simon Pegg both get geek love across the pond. Coogan's US career has been more down than up (80 Days Around The World failed, leading to a cameo in Night At The Museum), but he should breakout in The Professionals with Ben Stiller.
Meanwhile, Pegg got a lot of critical praise in the States with his "rom-com-zom" Shaun Of The Dead, leading to a Mission Impossible III role. He's poised for another hit with action cop pastiche Hot Fuzz. Indeed, Pegg's movie output also suggests Yanks finally realize British cinema can be more than just corsets and gangsters. Both Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz refuse to make concessions to Middle America in their depictions of everyday English life.
It's also worth remembering that Brit director Neil Marshall's The Descent bettered every American horror of 2006, while Severence continued the horror-comedy goodwill earned by Shaun's zombies. Incidentally, it was Britain that started the current wave of zombies flicks with Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later.
But whatever happened to all our bad guy roles? We were Hollywood's villains of choice ever since Alan Rickman locked horns with Bruce Willis in 1987's Die Hard. Jeremy Irons continued the Die Hard tradition as late as 1995. The fourth Die Hard film, out this year, now has Americans causing mischief...
You see, after September 11th, America's looking to the real-world for its bad guys, best exemplified by the proliferation of Middle Eastern terrorists in action drama 24. If there are any British villains, we play them in our own movies (see Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise).
In 24's sixth season British actor Carlo Rota even gets to help all-American hero Jack Bauer from inside CTU. But Brits can also be the heroes themselves in big American movies, not just hammy creeps or quirky sidekicks. Daniel Craig re-licensed James Bond to BAFTA-nominated effect recently and Clive Owen has been the hero in Sin City, Children Of Men and Shoot 'Em Up later this year.
Even dainty Keira Knightley and Kate Beckinsale get to kick ass/arse in Domino, Underworld and Van Helsing! Jason Statham looks set to take the brainless action crown from Van Damme and Seagal soon, thanks to high-octane guff like The Transporter and Crank.
But the best example of British talent taking charge on US turf (and winning) can be found in Batman Begins. The stagnant superhero franchsie was left for dead after 1997's atrocious Batman & Robin, but was totally reinvigorated by its British stars (Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy) and talented director (Christopher Nolan). Welsh TV star Ioan Gruffudd even pulled on superhero spandex in Fantastic Four shortly afterwards.
And you know what -- cinemas most popular (and profitable) hero of recent years is 100% British. Yes, that's right, wily pirate Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates Of The Caribbean!
Erm, who's played by American Johnny Depp. But he based it on Keith Richards, so it still counts...
