['Tos]

Okay, silly title. Still, we've been talking about this a little in the Introduction thread, how Everwood has a lot of international fans and is still on internationally when it isn't on in North America at all anymore. Lucky international fans!

What do you think it is about Everwood that appeals to so many people, international or otherwise? That even though it's technically about a small town in America, it reaches fans in big towns and small towns all over the world?

And for those international fans, let us know what first brought you to the show, what made you want to watch it.

Yeah, not an exciting topic, but I thought it was worthy of its own thread.

[Blue Valentine]

uhm i saw a promo in tv and the voice said about it something like ''a little jewel from america''and it seemed good, than the title too was pretty curious for me...

['Tos]

Originally Posted by Blue Valentine (View Post) uhm i saw a promo in tv and the voice said about it something like ''a little jewel from america''and it seemed good, than the title too was pretty curious for me...

Thanks for your input, Fabio.

The show seemed well liked in Italy from some of the posts you've made. What do you think people like about the show there?

[Blue Valentine]

Originally Posted by 'Tos (View Post) Thanks for your input, Fabio. The show seemed well liked in Italy from some of the posts you've made. What do you think people like about the show there?

i think because it was different from others shows, it was serious to be a teen drama...i mean,my mother watched it too...than take a show like 90210,what can it teach to you??nothing....

['Tos]

Originally Posted by Blue Valentine (View Post) i think because it was different from others shows, it was serious to be a teen drama...i mean,my mother watched it too...than take a show like 90210,what can it teach to you??nothing....

I think that's exactly it, Fabio. I'm glad people all over the world have been able to notice how different Everwood is from the typical teen show.

That's great that your mother watched too! Family watching a family show, nice!

[Abomasum]

What do you think it is about Everwood that appeals to so many people, international or otherwise? That even though it's technically about a small town in America, it reaches fans in big towns and small towns all over the world?
I think the reason why Everwood appeals to people all over the world regardless of their own surroundings is that Everwood doesn't truly focus on what life in a small town, USA is like. Certainly, the town's menatlity is portrayed and adds to the show's character, but it has not much to do with the story this show is telling. I like to think of Everwood as utterly human; most of all and in a brilliant, outstanding way it portrays human nature, it's all made of feelings, universal feelings that we all know so well no matter where we live, it also portrays characters who are real, with perfectly realistic depth - this show is so focussed on the people and their feelings and it's so good at it that it speaks to everybody in the same way, may they know what life in a small town or even just in the USA is like or not.
However, although I basically just said that Everwood, the town, was more of a well-chosen background to what truly matters in this show, I obviously still see the significance of this scenery. It's just that, speaking as someone whose jaw dropped several times about the goings-on in this little town which are so far from what I've grown up with, it's interesting to see, definitely, but it's not the appeal of the show to me.. Did any of this even make sense? I'm pretty tired.

And for those international fans, let us know what first brought you to the show, what made you want to watch it.
An excited Dutch girl.

['Tos]

Originally Posted by Leo I think the reason why Everwood appeals to people all over the world regardless of their own surroundings is that Everwood doesn't truly focus on what life in a small town, USA is like. Certainly, the town's menatlity is portrayed and adds to the show's character, but it has not much to do with the story this show is telling. I like to think of Everwood as utterly human; most of all and in a brilliant, outstanding way it portrays human nature, it's all made of feelings, universal feelings that we all know so well no matter where we live, it also portrays characters who are real, with perfectly realistic depth - this show is so focussed on the people and their feelings and it's so good at it that it speaks to everybody in the same way, may they know what life in a small town or even just in the USA is like or not.

Oh, that's well said, Leo. I like that. Portraying human nature and real characters.

I may as well give my own little answer since this thread is so active (hee), but I think the family aspect has a lot to do with why the show is so popular internationally. Family is obviously hugely important in North America, but I think it may be even more highly valued in other parts of the world? Where families stay together longer and such? So, I think people can really buy into how much the show places an importance on family. You don't see that family focus on TV as much as you used to. Plus, it's not a cutesy message about family or anything, it's mostly the real struggles families go through, as well as the good that comes from a functioning family.

/trying to get the world record for saying "family" the most in a single paragraph.

[everwoodfan52]

Did any of this even make sense? I'm pretty tired.

This made perfect sense, Leo. This show appeals to everyone all over the world...for the same reasons. All decent people have the same values..and basically the same interests. Family interactions, love, conflict are all universal. It doesn't matter where you're from. This is what people want to see. Of course, when a show portrays all of this as well as Everwood did...the international appeal is greater.

An excited Dutch girl

Was this a friend?


Tos, was part of the appeal for you the fact that the 2 leading stars are Canadian?

[Abomasum]

Originally Posted by 'Tos (View Post) Oh, that's well said, Leo. I like that. Portraying human nature and real characters.

Thank you.

I may as well give my own little answer since this thread is so active (hee), but I think the family aspect has a lot to do with why the show is so popular internationally. Family is obviously hugely important in North America, but I think it may be even more highly valued in other parts of the world? Where families stay together longer and such? So, I think people can really buy into how much the show places an importance on family. You don't see that family focus on TV as much as you used to. Plus, it's not a cutesy message about family or anything, it's mostly the real struggles families go through, as well as the good that comes from a functioning family.

That's an interesting and definitely true point. Family is something that concerns nearly everybody in one way or another and this aspect probably did draw many a viewer's attention to the show.
I believe in Germany family is not as highly valued as in North America, though. Don't take this at face value, because it's been a while since I informed myself about this and I may be mistaken, but as far as I remember, there has been a huge decline in the birth rate. On average, a German family is extremely small, it has much less than two children (1.4 or something? I don't quite remember.) and many young people decide not to have children at all. Also, I believe I heard that people in Germany feel pretty lonely these days, though, so maybe that's why family dynamics on TV draw so much attention, because natually people do wish to have that.

/trying to get the world record for saying "family" the most in a single paragraph.

Hee, I'm sure you'll get it.

Originally Posted by everwoodfan52 (View Post) This made perfect sense, Leo. This show appeals to everyone all over the world...for the same reasons. All decent people have the same values..and basically the same interests. Family interactions, love, conflict are all universal. It doesn't matter where you're from. This is what people want to see. Of course, when a show portrays all of this as well as Everwood did...the interanational appeal is greater.

Well said.
Glad it made sense, too.

Was this a friend?

Yes, I considered her a friend. Although we never met in person, we've been in close contact on the internet for several years. But I haven't heard from her in five years or probably more...

['Tos]

Originally Posted by Betty This made perfect sense, Leo. This show appeals to everyone all over the world...for the same reasons. All decent people have the same values..and basically the same interests. Family interactions, love, conflict are all universal. It doesn't matter where you're from. This is what people want to see. Of course, when a show portrays all of this as well as Everwood did...the international appeal is greater.

Perfectly put, Betty.

Tos, was part of the appeal for you the fact that the 2 leading stars are Canadian?

No, I didn't even know they were Canadian when I started watching, heh. It's pretty cool now, though.

Originally Posted by Leo That's an interesting and definitely true point. Family is something that concerns nearly everybody in one way or another and this aspect probably did draw many a viewer's attention to the show. I believe in Germany family is not as highly valued as in North America, though. Don't take this at face value, because it's been a while since I informed myself about this and I may be mistaken, but as far as I remember, there has been a huge decline in the birth rate. On average, a German family is extremely small, it has much less than two children (1.4 or something? I don't quite remember.) and many young people decide not to have children at all. Also, I believe I heard that people in Germany feel pretty lonely these days, though, so maybe that's why family dynamics on TV draw so much attention, because natually people do wish to have that.

I think that's happening in a lot of places and within a lot of cultures now. Which allows for that wish fulfillment appeal for the family aspect. I know Berlanti talked about the Andy/Ephram relationship as a kind of wish fulfillment too, that a lot of fathers and sons can go their whole entire lives without connecting to each other in a true and emotional way, so there's definitely wish fulfillment there too.

[ShadowMagist]

Tv.com UK gets around to discussing the show! They start talking about it around the 25 minute mark. Interesting points all around. They like it much better than Brothers and Sisters(this part was funny). Give it a listen:

TV.com UK Podcast: Treme & Everwood - TV.com

[everwoodfan52]

Originally Posted by ShadowMagist (View Post) Tv.com UK gets around to discussing the show! They start talking about it around the 25 minute mark. Interesting points all around. They like it much better than Brothers and Sisters(this part was funny). Give it a listen: TV.com UK Podcast: Treme & Everwood - TV.com

Thanks so much for this, Shadow. I listened to the whole thing. Wasn't crazy for the guy's opinion, but the female commentator seemed to really like Everwood.. Very interesting to listen to the two of them.

['Tos]

That was quite amusing. Maybe it's the accents, though, those are always fun!

I think the guy is probably right that there's not a lot of surprises in the first episode, but, I liked that. That's the point to me. It's nothing complicated, it's a fairly simple story to start and that's why I think people fell in love with the show first thing. The surprises come later, like Harold knowing Doctor Brown or Julia being the one to cheat or Harold being the one to perform the abortion. The surprises do come. I hope he'll enjoy them when they do, since he said he'd keep watching.

But, yeah, I liked the female's opinion a lot more too like you, Betty. She should start posting here! She really liked Andy Brown and all the other characters.

I also really liked that comment someone had about it looking like a mushy, family drama from the outside, but once you actually start watching, it's not. The mushyness is totally balanced by a lot of darkness and the sweet moments are earned. I liked that point, because I do think the show still has a perception from those who have never watched it that it's too sugary and cheesy and light, but as we all well know, that's not even remotely true and more often than not it's probably too dark if anything instead of too light!

Thanks, shadow! I enjoyed that.

[ForVanAngel]

Nice thread.

First of all: So many people? Compared to nothing maybe, but Everwood didn't have that much fans, so so many is very relativ. By the way: Everwood is not broadcasted anymore in Germany, it was kicked out some days or a week ago. There are many, many American television shows that are successful in f.e. Germany, I can't really tell you which that are, because what means success: Many people watching the show on television, or many people talking about that show in forums (that meaning: They can watch it from dvd, and the ratings don't matter). But that doesn't mean in any way that I dislike this topic/question, just wanted to say, that for me it's nothing unusual, that American shows are watched by many German people, like Gilmore Girls or Smallville or Buffy and so on. But I will try to answer your question, don't worry.


What do you think it is about Everwood that appeals to so many people, international or otherwise? That even though it's technically about a small town in America, it reaches fans in big towns and small towns all over the world?

I think one of the best reasons is, that the people / the characters or Everwood are "real" meaning, they are not as over the top as in other shows, and the environment is more believable than let's just simply say "The O.C.". This is a show about rich kids. Of course it's not necessarily bad or I wouldn't watch it because it's about a total different life style, but I think Everwood speaks to normal people, the average viewer maybe, they talk about many topics that other shows don't even consider, but also not in a highly moral way like "7th Heaven", it's the mixture. There is the love story, the accident, the father-son conflict, the doctor duell, the living with a loss of a loved one, the music, the small town atmosphere and the beautiful snowy mountains of beautiful Colorado (or Utah, however ), the show is not about beeing cool or having the greatest over the top storylines, it's has a heart. Thats what I think, that's what people like, the quality, the well written characters. Of course there are a lot of other good or great drama shows out there, but Everwood has its own charme.

I hope that answers your question, one opinion from Austria.


Ah, one more question. Okay.

And for those international fans, let us know what first brought you to the show, what made you want to watch it.

Me? International! Donno. As once told, I watched "Glory Days" on Austran television, and then watched Everwood by accident, realized in my great mind, that the girl could be the same and it was and I watched the show, and I liked it, and I watched it every day and that was my story how I got to watch it. I started around Episode 2.05 I think, that must have been it, I think, though I didn't catch the whole Colin thing in the first run. But that was 2005 or 2006, today it is much easier, I know almost every show, and watch out for new pilots and so on, if there will ever be a new Everwood, I'll defintely know it from the beginning.


And thanks for the Podcast theme, I'll dl it and then listed to it tomorrow. I hope I understand everything, this british accent could be a little bit more difficult than the regular American English. No, a simple thanks doesn't do it here! ShadowMagist, you get a hug from me! BE + SFU sounds also very interesting, since I'm planing to watch that show and love SFU.



About the podcast:

That was that. Thanks again for that link. I listened to it, but the 2 Brits talked about Charlie Sheen for the first 30 minutes or so, skipped that after some minutes. Had no probs understanding everything. But the two are a bit tiring, they talk and talk into each other, over each other, on and on. And I don’t really understand what the point is for a let’s say over 30 year old man to tell me what he thinks about Everwood? After the pilot? That’s it! Of course he thinks there are stereo types or no surprises, I’m not saying that older people can’t enjoy it, but it’s more likely that people his age rather watch adult shows. And what’s a stereo type anyway? Characters have to be some way. If they are just average everything, they are boring. The woman is right, I like her, the guy has no real idea what he’s talking about, he’s kinda annoying. Of course if you have seen some similar shows it’s hard to find new things good, cos you always compare. And if you don’t like family drama or teenage drama, you should not watch that. They were talking about the hilarious scene, when Ephram woke up from his Amy dream and checking under his blanket/bedspread (actually never had to use that word before). That was strange, not to say not Everwood like. From what I’ve heard (I listened into another episode), they do watch a pilot and then talk about it. Pointless. I’d rather read someone’s opinion on any ramdom internet page than listening to that podcast again.

['Tos]

Thanks for your input, Matthias. (My name is Grant, by the way. I think you asked that in another thread and I forgot to reply.)

I think one of the best reasons is, that the people / the characters or Everwood are "real" meaning, they are not as over the top as in other shows, and the environment is more believable than let's just simply say "The O.C.". This is a show about rich kids. Of course it's not necessarily bad or I wouldn't watch it because it's about a total different life style, but I think Everwood speaks to normal people, the average viewer maybe, they talk about many topics that other shows don't even consider, but also not in a highly moral way like "7th Heaven", it's the mixture. There is the love story, the accident, the father-son conflict, the doctor duell, the living with a loss of a loved one, the music, the small town atmosphere and the beautiful snowy mountains of beautiful Colorado (or Utah, however ), the show is not about beeing cool or having the greatest over the top storylines, it's has a heart. Thats what I think, that's what people like, the quality, the well written characters. Of course there are a lot of other good or great drama shows out there, but Everwood has its own charme. I hope that answers your question, one opinion from Austria.

Definitely answers it! I agree, that the show speaks to normal people. I think we can all relate to the situations or the characters fairly easy, even if we haven't been through some of their circumstances, because they seem like real, normal people. And the heart. One of my personal favourite aspects about the show!