Watching Chinese TV is an interesting experience. Unlike in the US where we have telenovela, every single channel is in Chinese. Not that I expect them to accommodate us, we don't have any Chinese channels in the US. But it really hits you how much you are cut off from the world without news when you get email that Thailand (where I am going after this trip) has declared martial law and absolutely no one on the trip knew.
My favorite Chinese show, hands down, is a show called something like "Sing With Me." Basically it's like The Voice except judges vote by deciding to sing along. It's all very dramatic when a judge pushes a button and a microphone comes swinging around and they burst out in song. The interesting part is how much they have taken form American TV vs how much they have added. They have shows that are literally The Voice China, but once they find a good idea they take it to a whole new level. It results in a whole group of American students talking about the great Chinese television rather than some of the less appealing aspects of China like extreme inequality or lack of human rights. Well played China, well played.
Caroline Rothrock
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