not sure about being enchanted by some tv shows, but yeah some people would still want to visit US, in land mass this big there is always something interesting to see (culture really ain't the draw for the US). these days I just keep explaining to them all the humiliation they would be exposed and hence they change plans accordingly. so will we. world is a beautiful place, too big to cover it properly in a lifetime.

go where it's exotic (this ain't US), where you are actually welcomed (again not US), experience traditional culture (what? seeing how shamefully native indians were/are treated? no thank you) and so on. if you are into big cities, european and asian places are way more interesting and intense anyway.