What’s your favorite TV program? If you ask a Chinese young man this question, the most likely answer you will get is the name of American TV play series, such as Heroes，Prison Break，Grey's Anatomy，24 Hours，Lost and so on. They are so popular in China now, especially in colleges. There are many American TV play series fans waiting for their favorite play series every week and downloading them as soon as they come out on America’s TV screen. There have many amateurish but diligent caption teams online, translating the series lines into Chinese for people whose English is not good enough. People also discuss their favorite series enthusiastically on the BBS, from the development of the story to the actor’s dress. Compared to this situation is that the Chinese own TV play series aren’t welcomed by young people in China. Why has this happened?

This phenomenon is not without reason and the problem is complex. As a student who has majored in television and film studies, I want to give my explanation.

Firstly, I think the American TV play stories are more interesting and absorbing than Chinese TV play stories. Usually an American TV story is full of suspense and totally beyond your expectation. For example, Prison Break is telling a story that a young man saved his older brother from a unjust death penalty and faught with evil powers in and out of prison. Finally they succeed. The process was devious, adventurous and authentic. But the Chinese TV series are usually awful. Some plays have drifted away from any original true color. Some plays are always stereotyped, not fresh and absorbing. Furthermore, most of the plays are designed for middle aged or elderly people, not fit for young people. Many Chinese TV play series tell audience stories about family relationship and trifles between husband and wife. They are not so interesting.

Secondly, the production of American TV play series is better done than that of the Chinese TV play series. American TV series are showed in seasons. This set is showing, the next set hasn’t been produced. The story setting can change with the audience’s request and advice. While Chinese TV play series are only on show after they have already finished. It’s unchangeable. Additionally, the production cost for American TV play series is much higher than that of the Chinese TV play series, about one million dollar per set. The cost is enough for a whole season show of Chinese TV play series. So watching American TV series, especially those good ones, is just like experiencing contemporary life, which is usually different from life in China of ordinary Chinese people, American TV more colorful and diversified due to the excellent production.

Thirdly, many Chinese students like to use American TV play series to study English. The lines of American TV play series are real English. So many Chinese students watch many play series in order to practice their English listening and speaking skills. And this method is more interesting than reading books or listening to the radio.

In a word, it is reasonable that Chinese young people like watching American TV play series.