Although Bad Girls is filmed in England, The USA & Canada have a major impact on the characters.

In Episode 4, Crystal sings "Amazing Grace" which is the most famous Hymn in the history of Music, and while I'm mentioning this, I would have loved to have seen Dominic's, Helen's & Jim's face at the end of the scene and if they felt "Guilty" about what happened.

In Episode 5, Shell & Denny joke around while deciding what song to sing at Rachel's Funeral and the suggest "Like A Virgin" by Madonna should be played but in the long run she sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Broadway Play "Man Of La Mancha". Then at Spencer's Wake, Shell sings "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cindy Lauper, and "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston written by Dolly Parton.

In Episode 9, Nikki talks about how she would love to move to San Francisco, and start a new life.

In future Episodes there are references to Shania Twain when Di goes Line Dancing, Bodybags is reading a European Edition of a book by Danielle Steele who is next to Nora Roberts a popular US Romance Novelist.

In Series One, one of the Extras wears a Sweatshirt that says USA, and also Dawn sneaks Nikki a Mars Bar into her cell, while Lorna smuggles drugs using a Smarties Tube but I'm not sure if these two candies are by US or British Companies.

The Two Julies talk about going to America to find Julie J's kids, and Kris Yates younger sister Milly, goes to stay in Canada with relatives but is brought back.

Also, I've noticed that at least three characters on Coronation St., have moved to Canada to start a new life.

Florrie Lindsay who moved to Canada after reconciling with her estranged husband.

Linda & Ivan Cheveski who moved to Canada as well in the 1960's.

Nick Tisley, the eldest son of Gail & The late Brian Tisley who I think works as a Mechanic there but I could be wrong, could anyone let me know please?

If anybody else can remember North American references, please continue.

This song is actually from the musical Carousel, not Man of La Mancha. Carousel is almost more quintessentially American than Man of La Mancha, because it's Rogers & Hammerstein, and because the story takes place in the US (unlike MoLM, which takes place in Spain, obviously).

I think the American references are interesting, and some are actually pretty subtle. In S1E2, Shell wears a cowboy hat on her way to karaoke (which we never do get to see, in all the 8 seasons--oh, wait, unless, don't we see Tina sing I Will Survive at karaoke in S8?).

What do you think the American references are about? If I had to put forth a theory, I'd think perhaps it has something to do with the American emphasis on law & order, and our very regressive prison system and long sentences etc etc. We're like the worst at punishing crime, so perhaps showing all these bits of American culture is a way of showing American influence in general, and thus implying American influence on the prison system in the UK.

That's just a theory though--any other ideas?

You're absolutely right about everything you said. I'm sorry that I made a mistake about "Man Of La Mancha". I was watching a clip from the Ed Sullivan Show featuring actor Richard Kiley (who also played Paddy in The Thorn Birds) performing it on TV.

Oh, You may not know this but 2008 marks the 30th Anniversary of "I Will Survive" which is still one of the most successful disco songs of all time. Gloria Gaynor was on "Don't Forget The Lyrics" the other night to help out a contestant.

Thanks for your input, I value it alot.

Oh fantastic, a really good item posted by tamla and interesting ideas floated by Abzug. I'd add Karen's reference for more time to read her Patricia Cornwall novel, by which I take it is the Kay Scarpetta series and Yvonne listening to Bruce Springsteen in her headphones while Virginia O'Kane was being murdered.

My take is that it shows the pervasive American influence on Brit culture for good or bad.

It might be the case that those seeing these from the other side of the pond may perhaps have a more romantic view of it than those already there which Abzug's point may reflect on. Similarly, you see in Series 5, Barbara's reference to the 'I Claudius' TV series which was a high point of Brit TV which has sadly degenerated to the talent show/ reality TV formula except for worthy exceptions.

Nikki's enthusiasm for San Francisco seems to be very resonant, as if this is her perception of the ultimate acceptance of gay culture on a very profound nature which seems to be at odds with her being, in reality, pretty Middle england, an interesting paradox.

Series/Season 1, Episode 10, after Monica is freed the girls sings the American disco classic, 'I Will Survive', by Gloria Gaynor.

toniM

Yeah, and here's some other fun facts.

Although he is British, Bodybag talked about Cliff Richard in Series 1, Episode 3, who was referred to in an interview about Olivia Newton-John about he was the "Elvis Presley Of England", and of course Colin dressing up like Elvis for their Birthday Party was also a fun US reference.

Barbara Hunt & The Reverend Mills, talked about where Barbara was going to live after her release and she talked about Soho and going out dancing. Henry talked about putting on his Disco Shoes, which would have been cute.

Oh, here's something else you may not know. England made history by being the location for Rock's first major scandal way before Jerry Lee Lewis married his cousin Myra.

In 1956, Bill Haley & The Comets went to England to do a series of shows who were probably best known for performing Rock Around The Clock. They were singing, and a couple jump on stage and start dancing, a Cop throws them off the stage, the kids rioted and tore the place apart and as a result, Bill's credibility was damaged to the point of no return.

He went from Rock 'N Roll Status to obscurity and according to his son, he never got Royalties from the song. That's kind of sad considering that it was featured in American Graffiti, as well as the first Season aka Series of Happy Days.

And if we flip that (shall we?) we see that the influence of britain on american culture has not been pervasive enough. <G> Though every once in awhile some of us do discover gems such as "Bad Girls," e.g. So, generally, I would say the influence flowing the other way across the pond, from britain to here where any form of culture, popular or otherwise, is concerned, has, most generally, been very good. I know it's provided an oasis of sanity for me for one.

Aww, thank you my dear Jeanna, for putting in a few kind words on behalf of we poor benighted Brits and our tatterdemalion culture :tongueout which, like that of many another nation, has been adulterated by the all-pervasive influence of America!<G>

There was once a journalist, American I believe, who wrote that British tv was "the least worst television in the world". He was right when he wrote that, many years ago, and he's still right today. IMO of course.
If I may address Richard's comment that British tv has "sadly degenerated"
into a diet of talent/reality shows. Not so, with respect, not really - somewhat of a sweeping generalisation. Of course we do have those awful programmes but there's still plenty of other, reasonable stuff to watch, and there are certainly other, wonderful things being produced here. The "worthy exceptions" you write of are worthy of the least worst tv in the world, but I don't think they are nearly as rare as Richard seem to suggest.

As regards Nikki's hankering to live in San Francisco - well, she would doubtless have read and seen (as have we all, here) that San Francisco is/was the magnet for gays and lesbians the world over. Similarly, she'll perhaps have read Armistead Maupin's books, and watched 'Tales of the City' (which, although set in San Francisco was actually made, (the interiors anyway) by good old Channel 4, here in England). Writing this, and just as an aside, it occurs to me to wonder why, if Nikki was so mad keen, she didn't move there before she was banged up for killing a copper? She certainly has not a cat in hell's chance of being granted a visa/work permit/whatever is required now that she has a criminal record!

If I may now set the record straight, regarding one or two of tamla's remarks. Mars Bars and Smarties are British sweets! Mars Bars were first made in 1932 and Smarties first appeared in 1937.
'Amazing Grace' was written by an Englishman, John Newton in 1772. He was a slave trader who wrote the words when he realised the appalling and horrendous thing he was doing. Yes, of course it belongs to the world now, but it was, in fact, penned by an Englishman. :)
tamla also made mention of Soho and Barbara's wish to live there. I confess I have no recollection of this as I only ever watch Series 1 - 3, but Soho is an area of London. It's right in the centre of London, and lies roughly between Oxford Street, Regent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. Soho's chief historic claim to fame I suppose, is as the home of numerous sex shops, strip clubs, and various other 'demi-monde' activities. But people do live there - remember Glenda Jackson's and George Segal's Soho sin-bin in "A Touch of Class"? Soho is also the base of the UK film industry. It's also the heart of London's gay community - you'll perhaps remember the appalling casualties when the gay pub "Admiral Duncan" in Old Compton Street, Soho was nail-bombed in a homophobic attack in 1999.

To finish - I think that 'Bad Girls' displayed very little American influence, apart from that which has seeped into our everyday lives - the odd word or phrase perhaps. 'Bad Girls', to make a wince-making remark, took no prisoners. The dialogue, the slang, the allusions/references are, so far as I can see, absolutely and uncompromisingly British, and if one didn't get them, well, one didn't get them. Isn't this why a glossary was needed when the show was aired in the US?

I do hope everyone will take this response in the spirit in which it's intended, ie with tongue in cheek - sort of..... :crazy . Best regards to all, Pat.

This is a tentative first post <G> It's only my opinion,but I think any U.S. references are just asides/coincidental. We live in a Global Village, there were other 'cultural influences' too! This was a series written by British writers about girls/women incarcerated in a British women's prison. The chief influence behind these writings I venture to suggest, was provided by the late Chris Tchiakovsky - herself an ex-prisoner turned author and tireless campaigner for rights and services for women in prisons in the U.K. And it was this most important primary source material that enabled the Shed writers to imbue Bad Girls with such authenticity.

Phew, :eek well that's post no1 done and dusted - I hope my views haven't upset/offended anyone. If they have, please believe it was not intentional. :)

That would have been critic Milton Shulman. He wrote that in 1991!

As for the rest, I'm with sister American Jeanna. I new twat about Bristish history and culture...nothing like a "least worst" aka " one of the best ever" tv shows to fix that.

Witless, very interesting all the American influences which were actually English.

SoHo in Manhattan gets it's name from South of Houston Street and was originally associated with the arts, but is now a destination for shopping and downtown scene. Has nothing to do with London's Soho.

Of course it was! Thank you solitasolano. When one gets to my age the memory tends to fade a bit.... :rolleyes:

Thanks also for the info on 'your' SoHo, I don't think I knew that.

So folks I would just like to thank you all for your input regarding North American Influences.

What alot of people may not remember is that Britain has had just as much of an influence on the USA way before the Idol Franchise or even Dancing With The Stars or even America's Got Talent.

Were it not for "Man About The House", "Till Death Do Us Part", as well as "Keeping It In The Family", shows like "Three's Company, All In The Family, and Too Close For Comfort, may not have ever existed on US Soil.

Also, in Series 8 we see Lou Stoke in a Strip Bar where she's listening to N.E.R.D. whose member Pharrell Williams is next to Jermaine Dupri, David Foster & Timbaland one of America's Hottest Record Producers.

Here's some of the people he's worked with

Jay Z. (Give It To Me)
The Backstreet Boys (The Call Neptunes Remix)
Britney Spears (Toxic)
Gwen Stefani (Hollaback Girl)
Snoop Dog (Beautiful & Drop It Like It's Hot which became his first Number One Pop Hit)
Busta Rhymes (Light Your Ass On Fire)

Yet, he along with Timbaland are probably best known for helping to take Justin Timberlake and turn him from a Boy Band Icon to a Blue Eyed Soul Superstar.

Also, let's remember that N'Sync & The Backstreet Boys were big stars in Europe way before they hit the big time on US Soil.

Another North American Influence took place in Episode 2, Series 1.

The Two Julies are dancing in their cell to a song that sounded alot like a Phil Spector Production.

He of course, made history by becoming the first successful "acknowledged" producer in Rock Music, whose probably best known for his Wall Of Sound when he mixed Classical Instruments into Rock 'N Roll.

During his most creative time between 1960-1964 he worked with an amazing array of stars.

The Ronnettes, The Crystal, Bobby Sox & The Blue Jeans, Ike & Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers are probably the best known.

He also collaborated with Ellie Greenwich and her Ex-Husband Jeff Barry as songwriters, and Jeff would later co-write "I Honestly Love You" for Olivia Newton John with the late Peter Allen.

He also would later work with The Beatles on one of their last Albums "Let It Be".

... the slight irony with the Phil Spector reference is he could well be experiencing life the other side of the bars whilst watching reruns of the two Julies dancing on Bad Girls production! LOL :innocent

:rofl

Interestingly the tune that the Julies are dancing to in the original ITV version is the Bert Kaempfert composition 'A Swinging Safari', a sample of which can be heard here : http://www.last.fm/music/Bert+Kaempfert/_/...afari?autostart
- a German influence perhaps? :)

On the other hand it was also recorded by Billy Vaughn in the US where it reached #13 on the Billboard charts in 1962 - according to Wiki let me hasten to add, I'm not speaking from memory! :D

Does that appear on the Music thread, in the List of tunes for S1-3? A new factoid! :D