French Television

I don't think this will the be only time I will write on this subject. Once I watch more, I will surely come up with new theories on French TV. For the moment, this is what I've gathered.

1. Les informations

The news are the easiest to follow when watching French TV. The announcers articulate their words, talk at a moderate pace, and there are images accompanying what is being said. Plus it's good to understand what is going on in France and the world. As somewhat of a news nerd, I even read the daily headlines of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle online to see what is happening in my home state. (Today's top story is on recycling: when is it good and when is it a nuisance? http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2009/01/26/featured_story/01top_01-26-09.txt)

2. Les jeux

French game shows are also rather comprehensible, when they resemble American ones. I've gotten into the habit of catching À prendre ou à laisser (Deal or No Deal) and La roue de la fortune (Wheel of Fortune) on TF1. However, it seems like both the hosts and the contestants are goofier in France than they are in the states. On La roue de la fortune, there is even a dog on the set who just kind of sits there quietly as the short middle-ages host flirts with the women contestants and jokes with tall skanky French version of Vanna White. Je ne comprends pas.

3. Les séries françaises

These are harder to follow because the dialog passes very quickly between the different characters. And of course these series are French, meaning they're trippier and quirkier than American TV series. A popular show apparently is Plus belle la vie on France 3, which seems more like a soap opera than a primetime drama. My host mother described it as "bête", but still watched it anyway.

4. Les séries américaines

Contrary to popular belief, I find American series dubbed in French as one of the hardest things to watch. Growing up a bit hard of hearing, I've developed a dependence on watching people's mouths when they speak. As a result, I have an ability to read lips. Therefore, when watching Friends or Grey's Anatomy on French TV, I get lost in the mélange of the actor's lips speaking English while hearing French instead spit out. It's like I'm "listening" to it in two different languages at the same time, making it difficult to pay attention to one or the other. It's rather unfortunate, especially since dubbed American shows and movies are so popular here.