^ His show is still shown occasionally on PBS. Besides that, he has been pop culture icon for years (American wise).
LemonCookie said: I would like to think the japanese are interested in a lot more things than you and me like to think.
The same could be said in reverse. Since some of Japanese are surprised at how much of their media is known to Americans.
What I am thinking is. He would seem rather "obscure" to anyone outside of the US, and I do wonder what interest they have in him. I personally always loved his art and how quickly he just created something with a few strokes.
It was the way he narrated his instruction that made him well known. I have to admit I wondered if he was stoned the first time I saw him. Also, there weren't so many channels back then, so if cartoons or a Godzilla movie weren't on at 1PM on a Saturday, it was Bob Ross or Roy Underhill