--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, certainly I think American…" description: "\"Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.\" — Graham Norton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png" --- # Well, certainly I think American television is - that's… ![“Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.” quote by Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png) > “Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.” [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He distinguishes between American TV and other formats, implying a cultural hierarchy. **In simple terms:** American TV is seen as the standard. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural bias in media labeling. Themes media culture television Mood critical reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - media analysis - television studies - cultural critique Key Concepts cultural hierarchy national identity Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling affect perception of foreign media? - What defines “proper” television? A Different Perspective Not all viewers share this view; other countries produce quality TV. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-television/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We can put television in its proper light by supposing that Gutenberg's great invention had been directed at printing only comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hutchins-2/we-can-put-television-in-its-proper-light-by-supposing-that-gutenberg/) Robert M Hutchins > [The American television industry is a Darwinian environment where success is usually measured in inches, not yards. That is, for most TV media, audiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/the-american-television-industry-is-a-darwinian-environment-where/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [The days of television as we knew it growing up are over. You have a bigger, wider world audience on the Internet, larger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/the-days-of-television-as-we-knew-it-growing-up-are-over-you-have-a/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [I think the reality is Michael Jackson's humanity is so deep, the implications and inferences of his art so monumentally and magnificently global, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-think-the-reality-is-michael-jackson-s-humanity-is-so-deep-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Even though I'm English, I've all my life been heavily exposed to American television and culture in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/even-though-i-m-english-i-ve-all-my-life-been-heavily-exposed-to/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [The best of American television is thought-provoking, original, brilliant, exciting - from 'The Sopranos' on, whether it's 'The Wire' or 'Breaking Bad' or 'House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/the-best-of-american-television-is-thought-provoking-original/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I'm not seeing tough questions asked on American television. I'm not seeing those correspondents that would question those in power. It's like a club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-ramos/i-m-not-seeing-tough-questions-asked-on-american-television-i-m-not/) [Jorge Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-ramos/) > [I didn't watch a lot of American television growing up. I just liked to read a lot and watch movies - movies, movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-didn-t-watch-a-lot-of-american-television-growing-up-i-just-liked/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind being one of them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-james-collier/there-s-definitely-a-wave-of-brits-doing-great-work-on-american/) [Rob James-Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-james-collier/) > [I think American television changed world television in its reinvention of the series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-think-american-television-changed-world-television-in-its/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy. It is unrelenting; the news, the stock-exchange reports, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/laughter-on-american-television-has-taken-the-place-of-the-chorus-in/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Unlike any other player on the board, the press has no oversight, no mandate, few penalties, and even fewer consequences. Because there are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-sanchez/unlike-any-other-player-on-the-board-the-press-has-no-oversight-no/) Matt Sanchez > [The good thing is that I really think that American television is in kind of a second golden age. Even though there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-good-thing-is-that-i-really-think-that-american-television-is-in/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [What I can say that's different in American television... in Britain, they wouldn't cancel something after a couple of episodes. In the States they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/what-i-can-say-that-s-different-in-american-television-in-britain/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [ The only time I was really surprised was the reaction to the \[shoot dedicated to the\] BP oil \[spill in 2010\]. I didn't expect… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/the-only-time-i-was-really-surprised-was-the-reaction-to-the-shoot/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) ## More by Graham Norton > [If it was possible for me to adopt, I probably would, but no one's going to let me adopt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/if-it-was-possible-for-me-to-adopt-i-probably-would-but-no-one-s/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I am really bad at actually interviewing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-am-really-bad-at-actually-interviewing-people/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I loved Lucille Ball growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-loved-lucille-ball-growing-up/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I've heard other gay people say when they were growing up they felt 'foreign.' Growing up, I was able to label these feelings as:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-ve-heard-other-gay-people-say-when-they-were-growing-up-they-felt/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [Do I have more depth than I'm given credit for? No!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/do-i-have-more-depth-than-i-m-given-credit-for-no/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I always say I'd rather be miserable by myself than unhappy in a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-always-say-i-d-rather-be-miserable-by-myself-than-unhappy-in-a/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [The BBC will always be attacked by whoever is in government. It is that George Bush thing of 'If you're not with us you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/the-bbc-will-always-be-attacked-by-whoever-is-in-government-it-is/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [My mobile rang around lunchtime one day, and it was George Michael. He wanted to come in on Friday. We were like, 'okay, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/my-mobile-rang-around-lunchtime-one-day-and-it-was-george-michael-he/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I've so exceeded what I ever wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-ve-so-exceeded-what-i-ever-wanted-to-do/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I bet Maurice Gibb's heart monitor was singing the tune of Stayin' Alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-bet-maurice-gibb-s-heart-monitor-was-singing-the-tune-of-stayin/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [It sounds deeply shallow, but for brief spells every member of the public can be fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/it-sounds-deeply-shallow-but-for-brief-spells-every-member-of-the/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I think the word is adult!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-think-the-word-is-adult/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [Where I get bored is when I show up for a shoot and they want me to wear a feather boa. Too obvious a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/where-i-get-bored-is-when-i-show-up-for-a-shoot-and-they-want-me-to/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [In my experience the difference between a straight and a bisexual is about four pints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/in-my-experience-the-difference-between-a-straight-and-a-bisexual-is/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [I don't think I've got bad taste. I've got no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/i-don-t-think-i-ve-got-bad-taste-i-ve-got-no-taste/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) [Explore all 59 Graham Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) ## More American television quotes > [The American television industry is a Darwinian environment where success is usually measured in inches, not yards. That is, for most TV media, audiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/the-american-television-industry-is-a-darwinian-environment-where/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [What I can say that's different in American television... in Britain, they wouldn't cancel something after a couple of episodes. In the States they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/what-i-can-say-that-s-different-in-american-television-in-britain/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [The good thing is that I really think that American television is in kind of a second golden age. Even though there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/the-good-thing-is-that-i-really-think-that-american-television-is-in/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [Unlike any other player on the board, the press has no oversight, no mandate, few penalties, and even fewer consequences. Because there are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-sanchez/unlike-any-other-player-on-the-board-the-press-has-no-oversight-no/) Matt Sanchez > [Laughter on American television has taken the place of the chorus in Greek tragedy. It is unrelenting; the news, the stock-exchange reports, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/laughter-on-american-television-has-taken-the-place-of-the-chorus-in/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [I think American television changed world television in its reinvention of the series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fellowes/i-think-american-television-changed-world-television-in-its/) [Julian Fellowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fellowes/) > [There's definitely a wave of Brits doing great work on American television, and I wouldn't mind being one of them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-james-collier/there-s-definitely-a-wave-of-brits-doing-great-work-on-american/) [Rob James-Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-james-collier/) > [I didn't watch a lot of American television growing up. I just liked to read a lot and watch movies - movies, movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-didn-t-watch-a-lot-of-american-television-growing-up-i-just-liked/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I'm not seeing tough questions asked on American television. I'm not seeing those correspondents that would question those in power. It's like a club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-ramos/i-m-not-seeing-tough-questions-asked-on-american-television-i-m-not/) [Jorge Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-ramos/) > [The best of American television is thought-provoking, original, brilliant, exciting - from 'The Sopranos' on, whether it's 'The Wire' or 'Breaking Bad' or 'House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/the-best-of-american-television-is-thought-provoking-original/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Even though I'm English, I've all my life been heavily exposed to American television and culture in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/even-though-i-m-english-i-ve-all-my-life-been-heavily-exposed-to/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [I think the reality is Michael Jackson's humanity is so deep, the implications and inferences of his art so monumentally and magnificently global, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-think-the-reality-is-michael-jackson-s-humanity-is-so-deep-the/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [The days of television as we knew it growing up are over. You have a bigger, wider world audience on the Internet, larger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/the-days-of-television-as-we-knew-it-growing-up-are-over-you-have-a/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [ The only time I was really surprised was the reaction to the \[shoot dedicated to the\] BP oil \[spill in 2010\]. I didn't expect… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/the-only-time-i-was-really-surprised-was-the-reaction-to-the-shoot/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) > [Most Europeans like the American manner of living. They've been exposed to the U.S. through American television shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wolders/most-europeans-like-the-american-manner-of-living-they-ve-been/) [Robert Wolders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wolders/) [Browse all 44 American television quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-television/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Graham Norton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American television" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/999/graham-norton-11498_american-television_well-certainly-i-think-american-televisi_192977.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, certainly I think American television is - that's proper TV.” — Graham Norton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Graham Norton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Well, certainly I think American television...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/well-certainly-i-think-american-television-is-that-s-proper-tv/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```