Way to Russia Talk Lounge

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:31 pm Post subject: Russian Television

Maybe it's the references to The Simpsons, but I am curious what tv programs are popular in Russia. I really did not watch much tv there, just BCC for news. Is the Simsons a big hit like it is here? I think reality shows are becoming very popular. In Estonia I did watch some Estonian tv and saw a reality show and a game show. What do people like to watch in Russia? Do they get Surviver for example? For the record I am not a big tv viewer. I like the Sopranos and Six Feet Under, both of which are HBO.

Camrade · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:40 am Post subject:

The Simpsons are the real hit in Russia but now they're out of rotation unfortunately.
In Russia there are lots of simpsons fans. I used to watch it and that was cool Smile

cyndy22 · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:25 am Post subject:

That's funny to me. I guess humour transcends cultural boundaries. I know my father, my husband and even my 8 yer old son love the Simsons. As I type this, my son Alex is in fact watching a re-run episode. I like that he gets the jokes, though some people feel it is a questionnable show for children. But I don't think it harms him and like that he gets alot of pleasure watching Homer, Bart and crew. Hope to hear from others not necessrily about the Simpsons but television shows in Russia. Thanks Comrade!

Intourist · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:

I think there were and are people who appreciate the Simpsons, but for a long time (and perhaps even stil) it was shown as an afternoon cartoon as if for children. The Simpsons obviously isn't a kids' cartoon. And it certainly was never anywhere near in popularity that it had in the US. A lo9t of the cultural references are completely lost in translation.

Cyndy kind of got it right about Talk Shows and Gameshows. There are some Russian domestic series, but they're for the most part poor quality and weak plots. Some are popular like Menti, but long-running series are practically non-existent. More popular are gameshows like 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire" or "Weakest Link" or "Jeopardy" (which is called 'Svoya Igra' here). Reality shows have been big hits as well. Big Brother is going on right now, and The Candidate is starting later this week with a local Moscow mini-oligarch taking Trump's role (Arkady Novikov).

One thing I like about Russian TV is the number of feature films they show. You can usually find more than a couple of good Hollywood or French films on any weekend night. During the week, too, actually, some of the smaller stations show a film everynight at 9pm. Makes up for the lack of original programming, I guess.

My two kopeks,
Intourist

cyndy22 · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:10 pm Post subject:

What about sports? Are soccer, hockey games etc. broadcasted?
In the states we pay for cable and NESN (THE SPORTS NETWORK).
My husband couldn't live without it!

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

football (soccer) is very popular in russia, obviously. I know there's a broadcast sports channel in St Petersburg now. I think very few people know and watch american football and baseball. I guess that is true of any country but the US.

Camrade · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:33 pm Post subject:

We have channel "Sport" and "7TV" which show only sport events
but american football as well as baseball are not popular however some people like it Smile

Soccer is the most popular kind of sport in Russia, then goes Ice hockey (quite many NHL players moved to russian hockey league after lockout in the U.S. - Jaromir Jagr for example) and then basketball... and then winter sports such as figure skating and so on Smile

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

Most russians and russian imigrants here in America would not understand American fascination with baseball. Every time I see baseball game on TV, it seems very long and boring where not much is happening. You see a guy standing there for a long time with a bat trying to catch the ball, spitting all the time. Then after 20-25 of trying to catch it, he runs. But it's very little action for a lot of waiting. Even the immigrants that live here for 15 and more years don't get into baseball. I guess unless one's dad brings into games and that becomes some kind of nostalgic memory for you, it is just not interesting.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:05 am Post subject:

I know baseball is a very American sport. I think Japan is getting into it and of course in Latin American countries like Dominican Republic it's very popular. Of course soccer is extremely popular there too. I grew up playing baseball and my parents are baseball fans. My husband has not missed opening day at Fenway Park in Boston since he was 8 years old! He is a die hard crazy Sox fan. I too find the game slow and boring at times but not when I see The Sox play at Fenway. Live sports is nothing like tv. You of course have the crowd and the ambiance of the stadium etc. And the rivalry between NY Yankees fans and Boston Red Sox fans is legendary and very exciting. I have never been to Yankee Stadium so I am really looking forward to it.

Camrade · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:39 am Post subject:

-Homer, use the for...
-The Force ?
-No, the fork ! Use the fork !!! (с) The Simpsons

Laughing