The Yuks Are Coming

If you live in America and watch PBS, you probably identify with the French.

Well, I didn't mean that to come out so "Red State/Blue State." What I meant to say was that, like the French with their incessant outcry against American cultural imperialism, PBS watchers probably share the impression that we're undergoing creeping cultural recolonization from foreign shores.

But in this case, the foreign shores are British. For decades, it seems we've imported a stream of British television -- I, Claudius; All Creatures Great and Small; Upstairs Downstairs; Are You Being Served?; Keeping Up Appearances; Ballykissangel -- it never seems to stop. But perhaps that's why people watch PBS -- to get their British TV fix -- and, thus, celebrate the influx of cultural imperialism.

Well, last week, America's Comedy Central fired a shot in defense of American cultural independence from the Crown. It signed a deal with Britain's state-owned television network, Channel 4, allowing Channel 4 to syndicate its hit "fake news" show The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Channel 4 will use the Daily Show to strengthen the lineup on its new digital channel, "More4." The Daily Show features comedian Jon Stewart in the role of a "fake news anchorman" who reviews the day's headlines, poking fun at current events and the pundits who interpret them on the "real" news shows.

In recent years, The Daily Show has scored some amazing successes: a handful of Emmys and a Presidential "I'm running" announcement by Sen. John Edwards -- the show even had a hand in removing CNN nemesis Crossfire from the airwaves.

It should be noted that the wildly popular show has also had its share of blunders. For example, in March, Stewart accused General Electric (NYSE:GE) subsidiary NBC of "outing" an Iraqi judge assigned to the Saddam Hussein trial. It turned out that the judge's identity was already public knowledge. But in the half-joking words of several "real journalist" visitors to the show, "most young Americans get their news" from Jon Stewart.

Although landing this syndication deal is a coup for Channel 4, it's also part of a long relationship with Comedy Central parent Viacom (NYSE:VIA). Viacom imported Channel 4's Big Brother to run on its U.S. CBS network. The "reality television" series is now in its sixth season. Another Channel 4 import, Graham Norton, ran on Comedy Central last year but has since been canceled.

Today, it seems the cultural flow is finally reaching a state of equalization. Other American favorites, from 24 to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, regularly air on U.K. television. In addition to The Daily Show, Channel 4 is also rebroadcasting Disney (NYSE:DIS) subsidiary ABC's Lost, and soon, News Corp. (NYSE:NWS) subsidiary FX's 30 Days. Finally, Britain will have its own moment of Zen.

Fool contributor Rich Smith does not own shares of any company named above.