Brits Do It Better [Newz]

What is it about the British media that smacks superior to what we get here in the States? This could be the obsessive Anglophile deep down inside me talking, but years after I thought I’d passed the height of that, I am still always taken in by the UK approach: whether it’s inscrutable crosswords, calling a sporting field a “pitch” (so what is it called when you throw the ball, then?) or the mushy peas…it just works. Well, for me.

So it has come as no great surprise that not long into their full emergence in British popular media – which easily could rehash the repetitive and often shallow mainstream coverage the Brothers receive Stateside – there have already been a few original moments.

A few ways newsBrits have impressed me, after the jump. Wait for it…

1. Goofy stunts. [OK, to be fair, there are definitely some American radio hosts that do this. Also Ellen - but don't we love such DJs and Ellen stuff more than the other mediocrity? Yes. Yes, we do.] BBC Switch put the Boys right to work on their last visit with the sumo wrestling business, but I much preferred the more subtle, English wackiness of Paul O’ Grady teasing the Boys’ upcoming appearance by sending them out on the town with an older, cockney-accented woman who pretty much force fed them jellied eels, all in the name of cultural experience. Heh.

2. Getting to the heart of things. They were followed on a particularly hectic day in their life, and what came through was a far cry from what, say, E! News would have made of it…which would have been some canned sound bites and obnoxious voiceovers. I found the video that BBC Switch’s Sound delivered was intriguing and emotionally unvarnished (for a quick video snapshot) in comparison to the usual.

3. Cutting through the bullsh*t. I am sure some fans would freak out and find it insulting, but to me Popjustice ’s article, in which they blatantly outed the Brothers’ publicity machine “leak” of their UK appearance schedule, was great. It was refreshingly, bitingly, honest (and sincere in spots) and even the crass parts made me laugh out loud. Like this site, I don’t mind playing along with the pop biz as long as you have the integrity not to be its mindless slave ALL of the time. But in the US, when some of us “criticize”, we tend to go too far and lamely hop the Last Train to Snarksville.

Of course, I also loved seeing that entire moment-by-moment promotional schedule. And if they really need more superfan stalkers over there that bad, I am hereby offering my services (call me, Fi – I can do a mean Midlands accent). But it was a cool peek at their job details. I can’t see that coming out here (though I guess it just did – oh, hai, internet).*

We tend to like our magic seamless here in America, a la Disney. I am no real exception. But one of the things I’ve always like about the Jonas boys within and without that system is they do seem so genuine – and at the increasingly rare times when their seams do show, it is refreshing, endearing, non-douchey.

Hmm…maybe these things that are resonating with me about the Brit media these past few days also happen to be things I like about the band, as well.

How convenient.

[Via: JonasBrothersFan.com; JBDaily (YouTube); kmcm1(YouTube); Popjustice]

*UPDATE: The bulk of that posted itinerary has been removed. Darn! It was pretty neat. it included time slots for “grooming”!