The Most Popular American Sitcom in China is About Low-Wage Workers

If you were to guess which American sitcom was the most popular among viewers in China, which show would you say it was?

Foreign Policy says that 2 Broke Girls is the most popular U.S. sitcom in China, which shows two young broke people working hard in a restaurant to save up money to open up their own successful business one day — a story concept that’s relatable for the country’s working poor:

First airing in the United States in October 2011, 2 Broke Girls tells the story of Max and Caroline, two 20-something women who wait tables at a diner in New York City while saving to open their own cupcake shop. The show’s first season appeared on Youku, China’s YouTube, in August 2012, and has risen to become the most popular U.S. sitcom on the site, with over 81 million views.

Perhaps Chinese viewers prefer 2 Broke Girls because they can empathize with the characters, who work hard for low pay. In 2012, the average Chinese took home a little less than $4,000 of income, according to official figures. One fan commented on Weibo, China’s Twitter, that she wanted to be like Max and Caroline. “Although they are poor,” she wrote, “They work hard together to achieve a shared dream.”

While wages are much higher in China’s urban areas, the country’s income gap and the rising cost of living have many worried that hard work will not translate into success, or even security. For these people, 2 Broke Girls represents the dream of a meritocracy. One Weibo user wrote that she felt 2 Broke Girls was about girls “at the lowest tiers of society” pursuing their dreams “with bravery and determination.” Millions of Chinese, especially university students and recent graduates facing a tough job market, admire the protagonists’ optimism and positive attitude in the face of adversity.

[Thanks to Caroline for the story link!]

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