Aarrgh! Yet another Brit show gets the US treatment!

[FlashHarry]

In addition to an American version of "Coupling," some genius is going to develop an American version of "Office"--one of the funniest shows on TV. After seeing how ABC totally dumbed-down and sanitized their version of Robbie Coltrane's "Cracker," I don't have much hope for these shows.

The only US versions of UK shows that I can think of that actually worked are "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son."

[Archae]

1. I'm still furious about...

When Fox stuck a fucking CAR CHASE into Dr Who. :mad:

[thermodynamic]

10. Blame the British for that, actually

Dunno how much influence FOX had as it was a joint adventure between FOX, Universal Pictures, and the BBC, but the only thing non-American about it was the writer - who is British!

It felt like real Doctor Who, but the plot was a little too screwy for my taste, and I can handle even the worst the original BBC offered (except for "Delta and the Bannermen" and 3/4ths of the 7th Doctor era stories). And the car chase was pretty naff as well.

[Az]

17. And the eternal question Why did they put the Tardis in a bubble?

Because they could.

They privatized the production arm of the BBC. Its all about image and marketting. Givem time. They will dumb down the UK eventually too.

[AnnabelLee]

2. Can you imagine

the American version of Father Ted? All of that delicious humor would be sanitized out of it.

[greenlantern]

3. American office? Hated it.

I agree, the show will probably suck.

The thing that makes the office so good, and funny, is that it is supposed to be a documentary, so the humour actually come from personal foibles and social gaffes. too often American sit-coms rely on a 'wacky' mix of characters, and incredulous plot-enhancers, Like someone getting a pet monkey, or a run in with a 'celebrity'.

The only way I can see it working is if it is on HBO and doesn't have to fit the demands of network TV. "the Larry sanders" show comes to mind as an outstanding comedy series, but i don't think it's british. If it's not on HBO (or aanother cable channel), it will just be another s(h)itcom and won't last too long.

Say, if you like the office, Check out "I'm Alan Partridge". It's about a guy who has lost his BBC talkshow (This show was like a talk-show, but at the end it would always blow up in his face-it's called "Knowing Me-Knowing you, with Alan Partridge"). Classic pathetic character, yet you feel no sympathy for him. Good stuff.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi greenlantern!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FlashHarry]

6. They've talked about adding a laugh track to "Office."

How stupid is that?

[blondeatlast]

8. A laugh track? To a fake documentary?

:puke: again

[Kamika]

13. im sure its good if HBO does it

Will be interesting to see it, but if they add laugh tracks ill :puke:

[Astarho]

5. John Cleese once said

they wanted to do an American version of Fawlty Towers without Basil Fawlty.

[cosmicdot]

11. they did do an American version - "Payne"

"Payne" starring John Larroquette.
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-435/


don't Americans have any originality? something must be repressing the creative process or the process is good ol'boyed itself to death ... or 'not opening doors'

I'd rather have them spend the money on something else; and just show us the originals

or I could just watch repeats repeats repeats of the same repeats repeats repeats

[Nailzberg]

12. It's not a lack creativity here in the states.

There are plenty of creative writers and producers that have ideas and want to make them. American TV and film studios only see the bottom line. And it's far easier to raid British TV for proven concepts than it is to put their money and trust into an original script or idea. So buy the rights, rework the show, and hope it works. It ususally doesn't. Same shit with the movies. All the working writers in Hollywood these days are re-writers. Every movie is an remake it seems.
Some days I just want to throw my TV out thw window. But I keep it around for "Family Guy".

[blondeatlast]

7. I'll keep watching BBC America.

My source for most news and entertainment; even the decorating shows are far superior to their American counterparts.

Cripes--not the "Office?!"

:puke:

[thermodynamic]

9. Three's comany

It's all amusing, since "Coupling" is just a more interesting version of "Friends"...

That's not deragatory, as "Coupling" is far better!

[CBHagman]

14. I enjoy "Coupling," but...

...dread seeing what the U.S. version will be.

By the way, my PBS station has taken to promoting "Coupling" as being similar to "Friends." :eyes:

Does everything need a pop culture seal of approval? Would any of us watch anything that we HADN'T seen before? It's like those &@#$! video box blurbs which invariably refer to one or two films each star has made. As though we would say, "Oh, I won't watch that; I haven't seen him in anything before!"

[komplex]

16. Coupling is just a lame ripoff of Friends...

Unlike Coupling, Friends was at one time original.

How do you get a anti-TV snobs to like a typical sit com?
Add British accents.

I'm sure if the BBC created a cartoon show taking place in Shirefield with the father working at a Nuclear Power Plant you will all say that the Simpsons are not as original or sophisticated as this show.

We won't even talk about the overt racism in Da Ali G show.

[FlashHarry]

18. Wow. You're right.

Two whole original American shows that don't suck! Don't get me wrong; I love American TV, especially Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm.


Interesting article on the subject from the

[Loonman]

15. You know, I thought "men behaving badly" was pretty funny

Too bad Rob Schneider is a total idiot.