16 out of 16 people found the following review helpful:

superb............................................

williamsgwynfa from , 10th October, 2008

This dvd series is superb. Stephen Fry turns his attention, wit and insight in to unearthing the real America as he travels across the continent in his black taxicab. Stephen's account of his adventures is filled with his unique humour, insight and warmth in this fabulous tv series. Stephen Fry has always loved America, in fact he came very close to being born there. Here, his fascination for the country and its people sees him embarking on an epic journey across America, visiting each of its 50 states to discover how such a huge diversity of people, cultures, languages, beliefs and landscapes combine to create such a remarkable nation. Starting on the eastern seaboard, Stephen zig-zags across the country in his London taxicab, talking to its hospitable citizens, listening to its music, visiting its landmarks, viewing small-town life and America's breath-taking landscapes - following wherever his curiosity leads him. Stephen meets a collection of remarkable individuals - American icons and unsung local heroes alike. He starts his epic journey on the east coast stopping in every state from Maine to Hawaii. En route he discovers the South Side of Chicago with blues legend Buddy Guy, catches up with Morgan Freeman in Mississippi, strides around with Ted Turner on his Montana ranch, marches with Zulus in New Orleans' Mardi Gras, and drums with the Sioux Nation in South Dakota. Stephen also joins a Georgia family for thanksgiving, 'picks' with Bluegrass hillbillies, and finds himself in a Tennessee garden full of dead bodies. Whether in a club for failed gangsters (the bullet holes are real) or celebrating Halloween in Salem (is there anywhere better?), Stephen is welcomed by the people of America - mayors, sheriffs, newspaper editors, park rangers, teachers and hobos, bringing to life the oddities and splendours of each locale. A celebration of the magnificent and the eccentric, the beautiful and the strange, Stephen Fry in America is our travel guide to this extraordinary country. Well worth watching.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent, but marred

Atlantic from , 18th July, 2009

I'm working my way through the Blu-ray version of this excellent series. First of all, it's shot in excellent hi-def (for the most part), and to be able to see it in such quality makes me pleased to have missed out on the original standard def when it was shown on TV. Fry visits some wonderful places, both on and off the beaten track. The visit to the Body Farm is particularly poignant. There are some good belly laughs along the way too. But, but ..... it's marred. Most noticeable, throughout, is just awful sound. Fry's voiceover is very horribly distorted, as though the needles were peaking way into the red. Not just the voiceover, but most of the live sound is also jarringly distorted. Added to this is the vision distortion, in which, in all indoor scenes, it looks like the camera is struggling to cope with insufficient light, and adding much graininess to the picture - more light, less gain please. In addition to the audio and visual difficulties I was also often frustrated by the brief and rushed attention some of the subject matter received. The USA is just too big to 'do' in just a handful of episodes, moreso if you're attempting to cram in every single state. All in all, yes, you can't go wrong with Fry; his humour, sensitivity and eloquence are perfect for this vehicle, but the good in the series is offset by the poor technical production. The latter loses it half of its marks, and another half goes due to the frenetic pace. So two stars from me.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Ups and Downs

sambuca2907 from from Surrey, UK, 26th February, 2009

1st of all I enjoyed this series! Stephen Fry is great and he does go through every state in 6 long episodes. The reason for the such low rating is the way the regions are summerised - for example - the whole of California summerised by a drugs bust, China town in San Fran... and a visit to the guy who designed the ipod...?!? Was quite disappointed in that way! Other than that - a great watch. Make up your own mind!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

STEPHEN FRY IN AMERICA

A Customer from Beverley, 28th November, 2008

CAUGHT MOST OF THIS SERIES ON TV, BUT ENJOYED IT SO MUCH WANTED TO SEE THE ONES I MISSED. STEPHEN FRY AS ALWAYS IS ENTERTAINING, WITTY AND INFORMATIVE. EXCELLENT SERIES. THE FULL SET IS ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST.

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stephen does it again

chuzlewit from from grimsby, 27th January, 2010

on watching the latest wonderful dvd from our national treasure i am transported to the way in which mr fry sees the world , with a jaded yet simpathetic veiw of our former colonies . if there is a better person to show us the underbelly of the usa id like to meet him (micheal palin exculded of course).

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Stephen Fry It must be good.

lordflashheart from , 6th May, 2009

Proper Tv as it used to be a bit of humour and some information.

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Entertaining

ruthy from Yorkshire, 15th March, 2009

I didn't catch all of these when they were on tv. What a fabulous series, he meets such amazing people. Great to watch in one go on a nice rainy afternoon !!

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