Introduction

2/19/2012

Introduction

Dear Reader,

We reached an era where TV series are coming off of the Hollywood conveyor belt in a speed which equals the reproduction of rabbits. Between Monday and Friday, the network programs offer a vast selection of sit-coms, dramas, mystery thrillers, and crime stories from which one can choose as one’s heart desires. These shows implanted themselves into our everyday lives, compelling us to lose ourselves in the fantasy world of fictional characters.

The innumerable fan pages and communities based on these franchises are the testaments of how much impact these popular shows have on us. Millions of fans from all over the world are waiting enthralled every week to find out what is going to happen to their favorites. However, besides learning about newest plots, they inadvertently get glimpses into the American culture. As a Hungarian girl who never set foot to the New World, I have not even realized how many misconceptions I had about the U.S. until I started learning about it in university. That was the point when I started thinking about the global effect of TV series and how their portrayal of seeming reality comes so far from the facts.

In this blog, I am going to go behind the scenes of fantasy which many non-natives take for granted and search for the facts to erase all our misconceptions. As New York is an especially popular premise in these shows, the first few posts will explore the lives of both fictional and real New Yorkers.

In the meantime, enjoy the unreality!