BBC calls Sherlock a "global phenomenon"

[Carol the Dabbler]

From the Radio Times:

 

 

 

Fans in France, Germany, Russia and on both sides of the Atlantic may already know it, but Sherlock is now officially a global phenomenon.

 

The BBC detective drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman was sold to more broadcasters worldwide last year than any other BBC show – more even than Doctor Who, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 with a simulcast to 94 different countries.

 

Sherlock was licenced in 224 territories around the globe – also including Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Israel, Serbia and Taiwan – according to the BBC's annual report, which was published today.

 

The series was also named as one of the Corporation's biggest domestic successes of the year, after season three was watched by an average audience of 12.8 million in January, drawing an additional 3.2 million requests on iPlayer.

 

 

You can read the entire article here.

 

[besleybean]

Yay for us....well, team Sherlock at least.

[Arcadia]

Cool! I didn't even know there were 224 territories.   (It'd have been funny if it were 221....)

[besleybean]

Brilliant!

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

Cool! I didn't even know there were 224 territories.   (It'd have been funny if it were 221....)

 

We have 1364 members here. We could take three territories over and merge them together.

[Arcadia]

Wouldn't that have to be 4 territories merged into one to make the math come out right?

 

This is extremely important, I think we should get right on it. I volunteer to be in the group that takes over the Bahamas.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

That's too funny...here Sherlock is getting into some real hot water in Serbia and they love the man! They should have had fans locate and rescue him and not Mycroft...what little he did.

[by the sea]

 

We have 1364 members here. We could take three territories over and merge them together.

 

 

We could call the forum a territory and then there would be 225 ... a much nicer number than 224.  If they need a scouting party, I want to go with Arcadia ... or maybe head off on my own to Aruba !  

 

Debbie

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I'm learning to sail so I'll go down with Arcadia too.

[Bendydoodle Cantaloupe]

I'll pack food! I'm good at packing lots of stuff into small spaces!

[Arcadia]

Just let me get my pirate hat and my parrot, and I'll be ready.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Aye! If it's a crew you be wanting.....I have a few braves souls who would be more then willin' ta give it a go. Pirates of the Dark Rose they are. Not sure how many are Sherlockians but I know some aaaarrrrrreeee.

[Arcadia]

Okay then! Second star to the right and straight on til morning!

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Hoist sail!

[by the sea]

Fox ... I have a friend who's selling his sailboat, so if you're up for it ... we can all take off.  Food, funny hats, birds and a proper sailor ... who could ask for anything more ?  Bahamas or Bust !

 

Debbie

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oh boy....if I could only win the lottery! I would need hire a captain. I'm learning but don't have any certification. And I am also saving my pennies for a trip to England and London for some Sherlockian sightseeing. But who knows maybe some day.

[jesskayding]

This is great! I'm glad its doing so well!

[PatB]

Considering the amount of, ahem, stereotyping that went on in The Blind Banker, you have to wonder how it got such a big fanbase in China. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/sherlock-holmes-attracts-69m-viewers-3561710

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

At least Sherlock is never dull and boring nor does it seem that they're worried about political correctness.

[Arcadia]

Maybe they missed that episode? :-D

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Oh look! Episode 2 The Blind Banker. What's it about? Let`s see. Tea pots and a Chinese gang. Nope been there done that dull.

[jesskayding]

Hayyyyyyyy!

 

 

Stereotypes don't just come about out if thin air. They're only offensive when you don't fit the stereotype. & not all stereotypes are bad.

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

Someone blogged this on line. I think it is very beautiful and touching and honors Soo Lin very well.

 

   http://notesfrombakerst.tumblr.com/post/40792285558/the-blind-banker-soo-lin-dots-her-is-with-flowers

[Carol the Dabbler]

A stereotype often (usually?) has some basis in fact.  People have complained about how Shan talks -- well, English is not her first language, and she has a Chinese accent.  Yes, that's a common Western stereotype of Chinese people, and of course not all Chinese people talk that way -- but enough of them do to keep the perception alive.  In the (highly recommended!) movie A Christmas Story, there's a (hilarious) scene set in a Chinese restaurant in the 30's American Midwest.  In the commentary, the director (I believe) said he was worried about having the waiters say things like "Melly Clistmas," so he asked the actors' opinion, and one of them said basically, "Hey, that's how we talk!"  There can be a pretty thin line between honesty and ridicule, but I think the movie's humor comes down firmly on the side of affectionate honesty.

 

The "yellow menace" villains are also a stereotype (remember Ming the Merciless?), but apparently there really are Tongs, and I doubt that they're very nice people.  Is the episode saying that all Chinese are villains?  Hardly -- Soo Lin is in fact their innocent victim.  Political correctness seems to forbid the portrayal of any ethnic villains, ethnic manual laborers, etc.  But not all ethnic people are virtuous doctors and lawyers.  And there really are Chinese acrobats!

 

While Moftiss may have chosen the Chinese theme as a nod to Victorian plotlines, they did not stoop to parody and ridicule.  They simply had Chinese villains in this particular episode.

 

Oddly enough, I've heard no objections to the stereotypical Danish villain in "Last Vow," despite his strong accent and disgusting behavior.

 

[Arcadia]

Errr .... now I KNOW you don't mean the stereotypical Dane has disgusting behavior!!

 

The problem with stereotypes, even if they don't offend, is that they're a lazy way to achieve characterization. Handy, tho.