UK Ratings of US and UK TV Drama's

1. Identify TV Drama’s which achieved the highest viewer ratings

British Drama: Doctor Who (11.57 Million)
American Drama: Glee and CSI (1.1 Million)

2. By researching reviews and awards, or from your own viewing experience, explain why you think some TV Drama’s got higher viewer ratings than others.

The highest viewer rating UK drama on my list was Doctor Who. The series is very well known by all generations as it has been running on and off since 1963 and been through ten doctors and over ten sidekicks. It has something for all ages and it is a very Britain focused Drama which makes it more interesting for British viewers as they can relate to some of the scenes. One review of the 27th December 2009 episode (where David Tennant, the tenth Doctor dies and regenerates into Matt Smith, the new doctor) was from the Telegraph:
“Witty, infectious and wearing its heart on its sleeve, this was a barnstorming hour of family entertainment.” – Andrew Pettie.
Some of the awards given to Doctor who in the last four years are as follows:
- Tennant won Best Actor (2006)
- Piper won Best Actress (2006)
- Doctor Who won Best-Loved Drama (2006)
Edinburgh Television Festival voted Doctor Who as the best program of the year in 2007 and in 2008

The highest viewer rating US drama on my list was CSI and Glee. Glee is newer, only airing in January 2010 so I will expand on this Drama. The Drama was quite well received in the UK, being one of the highest in viewer ratings along with CSI. Glee is about a singing club made up of misfits, the high school is American and so has the relevant stereotype American clubs like the cheerleaders (cherios), American football team and so on. The members of these other clubs start joining the Glee club in later episodes for various reasons but shows that the teenagers are breaking out of their stereotypes. One review of the first episode when it was released in Britain is as follows:
“Practically every character is a cliché – the bullying games teacher, the picked-on camp kid, and the budget-fixated head – but then that's the whole point, and it's written, performed and directed with the same zest as if it were all in earnest.” – Brain Viner.
Glee has not had any awards in the UK because it is so new, but in America is has been given a variety of awards including: “Favorite New TV Comedy”, "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series", and the “Diversity Award”

Shot List

1. Long/Medium shots of the area (Location One)
2. Tracking shot of Main character walking down street, camera pans as he walks past.
3. Long still shot of Main character walking into the house.
4. Low angle shot of feet on the floor in the living room.
5. Tracking close up shot of hand on banister.
6. Close up over the shoulder of sink.
7. Medium/Close up shots of bathroom and objects in the bathroom.
8. Shot of mirror, pan down to close up shot of hands coming over the camera.
9. Over the shoulder shot showing the Main character in the mirror (Location Two)
10. Mix of outside and inside shots looking at the location, Long/medium/short (jerky, unstable shots)
11. Still long shot showing back and side of Second character.
12. Close up of feet standing next to car, maybe standing on a cigarette.
13. Low angle camera, Pan up to torch (smooth steady shots)
14. Scene change to Main character, multiple angle shots of Main character in the house.
15. Scene change, Medium shot of Second character getting a phone call, (Camera behind Second character, very slow zoom)
16. Scene change to Main character, close up of hands, fast pan up to his face when he hears something.
17. Distant light on Main characters face, close up.
18.Tracking shots, still, pans, zooms, lots of angled choppy shots of the Main character running around the location and hiding from the Second character.
19. Smooth shots of Second character looking for Main character. Some long tracking, still and pan shots.
20. POV or over the shoulder shot of the Main character, Second character finding the Main character, Close up of Second character’s feet, jerky pan up to torch. Scene end.

Character Traits

Main Character:

- Slightly OCD (very neat)
- Family man
- Business/working man
- Responsible and Dedicated (to family)
- Quite wealthy

The Main character has a good life in the first part of the opening but it changes and in the second part of the opening he is homeless and being chased by the second character for reasons the audience don’t know. If the film continued it would be how he came to that point in his life and why everything changed.


Second Character:

- Professional
- Quite wealthy
- Impassive and unemotional when working

The Second character is an unknown; the audience don’t know why he is chasing the Main character other than what the Main character reveals in the Voiceover. Not much is shown about the Second character in the opening; the audience only sees the back or side of him which makes him mysterious and enigmatic.

Location Two

Location One

Costumes and Props

Perfume Advert Marked Assessment