Miriam Margolis in America

In some parts of US virtually everyone seems to belong to a church. Some of these churches are quite weird, and the association with religion and guns is bizarre. If you don't attend church you are regarded with suspicion and may be ostracized. Neighours might ask "which church do you belong to?" It is just not acceptable to say "no church"

I asked a friend why everyone in America is so religious, and she said that, in the absence of social care, the church fills the supporting role [as did ours years ago] and people are very dependent on it. It worries me, the way that everyone there seems to feel that everything is in Gods hands; it devolves people of responsibility imo.

I enjoyed these programmes. Something I hadn’t realised was that American Summer Camp was so nationalistic. I was moved by the young male adult leader who talked about meeting a man who had become a role model for him as he came from a single mother family.

The whole programme fascinated me. Obviously Miriam had a camera crew with her but appeared to be driving herself. I don’t think I would be brave enough to do that in America. I enjoy her unusual personality but agree I didn’t warm to her coarseness in Marigold Hotel.

This programme has passed me by (I will make a note to try to catch it next time it is on). I would like to see a programme where instead of sending a celebrity off for a trip the programme makers take someone who has no experience of travel and other cultures and film their reactions

Loving it! She gets people to talk and explain their attitudes wonderfully, although I do wonder if she could get away with being quite so forthright without a camera crew there.

Fabulous Miriam she says it as it is, just my sort of gal.

She speaks beautifully/clearly too I can hear every word she says.

I saw her giving a talk about audio books at our local library and she was lovely. Very entertaining, no bad language and she signed autographs for everyone. She also read a chapter from Alice in Wonderland quite beautifully.

If you read up on Miriam you will find she is a caring woman and life couldn't have been easy for a lesbian in a relationship in the sixties, what ever her faults she has been in a relationship for fifty years . I remember hearing her speak of her childhood ,some years ago, an only child and had a lot to live up to.

BlueBelle please watch the programmes. You truly won't regret it. It's a very different Miriam. Honest and hard on herself but with excellent ruminations and consideration of herself and also the US.

I agree Tegan. We obviously become prejudiced over our lives but we have to be alive to our prejudices and work to get over them.

Just remember, all of these programmes are edited like mad. I mean, it surprised me, having seen her in the Marigold Hotel programme, to see her driving across America [albeit going the wrong way up a one way street; how did the camera crew let that happen ?]. I think we're all prejudiced; I know I am and it concerns me. But I think it's better to be prejudiced and have an awareness that you are than think that you're not, when you probably are.

Oh it wasn’t just about farting i m not afraid of farting or even talking about it I just totally disliked her whole take on not caring about anyone else's feelings I like eccentric people I also admire strong women and some outspokenness but her approach was so rude, it was her opinion so piss off if you don’t agree with me approach that has totally put me off, it’s true I haven’t watched this so maybe shouldn’t comment but she was so foul I m not sure I could ever warm to her even if she is thought provoking Her intelligence has been marred for me by her ‘ say whatever I want and if it offends someone that’s their problem approach

I agree Anniebach. She's really got me thinking. There's much more to her persona than the obvious. Grans who've refused to watch because she talks about farting are missing an extremely thought provoking programme. I'm seriously impressed by her.

She draws viewers else she wouldn't have this American programme

Then you are missing a treat!

I would have liked to watch this programme but was put off by the idea of Miriam Margolyes. Her foul mouthed comments on the China episode of Marigold Hotel made me ashamed to be British especially when I saw the sideways shocked looks of young Chinese men when they heard her language. She seems to have no respect for the fact that it is our television license which pays for her jollies. Nothing would make me watch her ever again.

She is honest about her predjudices Kitty , I like that

Exactly. Annie! I found her open minded despite her assertion of being very prejudiced.

I watched it despite myself. I disliked her in Marigold. I wish I could get dh to watch it

Wanting to try to understand is good

Margolis is coming over , so far, in a different light because she is still opinionated and obviously has kept the 'take me as you find me and if you don't like what you see , well tough titty' attitude but she is wanting to try to understand the view from the other side , trying to assess if her preconceived thoughts and views are fair or judgemental.

An example would be the American Summer Camp where she was totally 'anti' even the thought of it and to be honest I thought she was rude to the staff but eventually she made the effort to engage with them and ' spoke to, not at' the children and she had a change of view.

It is a different programme altogether to the Marigold and it is interesting to follow her engaging in the preconceived areas and ideas a lot of people have of American Society such as Gun Crime, Gangs, Summer Camp, The American Dream etc.

She always talks about farts , but she is a intelligent, caring and amusing,

We are loving this series which is showing a side of America that we have preconceptions about in a different light. Miriam seems to be able to get both sides to open up and I needed tissues just as she did.

Do give her another try BlueBelle . I thought she was quite vulgar (with all her talk of farting etc) in Marigold but I am really warming to her and seeing a very different side in this series. As Anniebach said she is rather eccentric.

Just imagine if they put Miriam Margoyles and Ann Widdicombe together!

BlueBell, she is the same as she is in interviews, she is rather eccentric and I rather like eccentrics ?