As we watch television, we sometimes forget that the things we see on American shows might seem odd or make no sense to viewers in other countries. I don't think that's true for 98% of the stuff we have (most things are universal), but I bet there are some differences in cultures or some things that just aren't completely understood or believed.

Anna Pickard of The Guardian set out to find out if some very American scenarios we see on TV all the time actually are true. Do police officers eat donuts all the time? Do women eat ice cream right out of the container when they break up with someone? Do people actually walk down the street carrying groceries in a paper bag?

If you've been to Europe at any time over the last five years, you'll know that the United States isn't particularly popular over there. Besides the fact that they think we act like ugly tourists who don't know that "raw ham and cheese" is called "prosciutto and mozzarella," residents of many European nations aren't big fans of President Bush or his policies.

But they do love our TV. And according to The New York Times, American TV is as popular in Europe as ever, with shows like the Lost, Grey's Anatomy, the various CSIs, House, Monk, and even Six Degrees popping up on primary broadcast channels all over the continent. American TV is so popular that the UK independent Channel Five is starting a new digital channel called Five US, which will show nothing but American programming. The resurgence is due to a combination of higher-quality product from the U.S. and lower production budgets in Europe, says the Times article.

The last time American TV was so popular in the Old Country? The '80s, when the most popular U.S. shows were Dynasty, Dallas, and The Dukes of Hazzard. At least Europeans have better taste these days.

You know things have gotten really bad in Iraq when the chosen form of respite for those living in the area is to watch Dr. Phil on television. It seems that some Iraqis have been watching the show to escape, if only for awhile, the fighting and conflict that still envelopes the country. I don't know how much this actually has to do with Dr. Phil personally, I would think watching anything on television that has nothing to do with war and murder would be a welcome escape for the people living in that country. I'm sure if they showed reruns of Hee Haw they'd tune in to that once a week just to get their minds off the dark reality they face every day. Then again, maybe reruns of Hee Haw would actually result in more fighting. You never really can predict these things.