View Full Version : The US just needs to air British Shows NOT remake them!
Once again, I have had jammed down my throat that the US *sucks* at remaking British shows. Respects to the Second season of The Office aside (the British series was still better the the US first) I am continually amazed at how the US dumbs down the easiest. i just got done watching an import of The Weakest Link (the Dr. Who special) and despite being the same set and the same star (Ann Richards) the English version moves faster, is crueler, and had supremely better questions. US media does a fine job on it's own (occasionally) but why do we have to remake everything instead of enjoying the origionals?
Jason Arthur
04-05-2007, 11:13 PM
I have to watch Brittish shows with subtitles. Otherwise I have trouble following them.
The US version of the Office is far funnier to me. Jim and Pam are far more likeable than their Brit equivalants. And the Dwight character is a different kind of funny on the US version, though the Brit version of that character is equally funny.
Tonight's episode of the Office was BRILLIANT! The look on Jim's face toward the end of the episode when he saw Dwight and Angela making out. Classic.
-- J
secondrater
04-05-2007, 11:33 PM
My wife and I were talking about this the other day...like how the british Who's Line is it Anyway was way better than the Norh American-zed Wayne Brady showcase.
I couldn't watch the American Office at first, especially when it started and followed the British storylines fairly closely. I don't mind the second seaon as much, I'll watch an occasional episode. However, as funny as I find Steve Carell, he can't replace the painful-to-watch smarminess that ricky gervais portrayed.
Paul Sanderson
04-05-2007, 11:38 PM
The Brits do most things in this area better.
Moonrider
04-05-2007, 11:49 PM
I wonder what happens if the US try to remake Black Adder? :D
If Hollywood ever do a remake of Shaun of The Dead then that's the last straw.
Imboden
04-05-2007, 11:56 PM
Yeah, and while we're at it, lets piss and moan about stealing "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son", too!
America sucks! America sucks!
Yeah, and while we're at it, lets piss and moan about stealing "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son", too!
America sucks! America sucks!
Yes, dear, there are exceptions. My point is that we almost never see British TV on US stations unless it's been redone...usually VERY poorly. The worst of this has to have been Coupling which was actually shot-for-shot identical...just with worse actors..
DoctorWHO
04-06-2007, 12:04 AM
They can't make Black Adder without the BBC's permission and Rowan Atkinson's approval. But hey....Bean got US'd....so I guess it's possible.
Even Doctor Who got westernized...less we forget (or try too) the Fox TV movie they made. Poor Faulty Towers got the taste of american rip off as well with "Payne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payne_%28TV_series%29) " starring John Larroquette
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:05 AM
Yeah, and while we're at it, lets piss and moan about stealing "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son", too!
America sucks! America sucks!
wow...I'm not trying to bash America at all! I just some think things are better left alone.
but "Payne" (the Fawlty Towers remake) was pretty atrocious :)
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:06 AM
yeah, I forgot about Coupling. There was a poorly executed translation!
They can't make Black Adder without the BBC's permission and Rowan Atkinson's approval. But hey....Bean got US'd....so I guess it's possible.
Even Doctor Who got westernized...less we forget (or try too) the Fox TV movie they made. Poor Faulty Towers got the taste of american rip off as well with "Payne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payne_%28TV_series%29) " starring John Larroquette
Actually, it got done before that by Bea Aurthur in a series called "Amanda's" which was also a shot-for-shot remake.
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:08 AM
They can't make Black Adder without the BBC's permission and Rowan Atkinson's approval. But hey....Bean got US'd....so I guess it's possible.
Even Doctor Who got westernized...less we forget (or try too) the Fox TV movie they made. Poor Faulty Towers got the taste of american rip off as well with "Payne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payne_%28TV_series%29) " starring John Larroquette
I was too late on my own "Payne" reference :laugh:
I remember being excited about the Dr. Who Fox movie...but can't recall if I liked it or not.
They should never touch Black Adder
They can't make Black Adder without the BBC's permission and Rowan Atkinson's approval. But hey....Bean got US'd....so I guess it's possible.
They've all been done with permission...I doubt any of these have been outright stolen...though i could be wrong. But it would be better and cheaper to show the real shows instead.
I was too late on my own "Payne" reference :laugh:
I remember being excited about the Dr. Who Fox movie...but can't recall if I liked it or not.
They should never touch Black Adder
Mercifully, i missed the Fox Who.
Moonrider
04-06-2007, 12:10 AM
They can't make Black Adder without the BBC's permission and Rowan Atkinson's approval. But hey....Bean got US'd....so I guess it's possible.
But how would they make it work? US history is boring. :laugh:
I'll take exception to that statement. US history is short...but far from boring.
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:12 AM
But how would they make it work? US history is boring. :laugh:
and they could never air a woman consuming a turnip that resembles a penis on american televison!
and they could never air a woman consuming a turnip that resembles a penis on american televison!
Sigh.
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:15 AM
Sigh.
someday...someday :p
you'd think years of Springer would have everyone desensitized by now!
DoctorWHO
04-06-2007, 12:15 AM
But how would they make it work? US history is boring. :laugh:
No doubt they'd make Black Adder Donald Trump's butler or some snooty office executive trying to take over a company. (Waits to see this idea be stolen by American writers and be done.) :laugh:
secondrater
04-06-2007, 12:18 AM
No doubt they'd make Black Adder Donald Trump's butler or some snooty office executive trying to take over a company. (Waits to see this idea be stolen by American writers and be done.) :laugh:
Donald Trump's butler! I like the way you think, you sir!
Pure Gold!
TAP_LEGION
04-06-2007, 12:25 AM
American audiences wouldnt know what to do with the original versions...The original Office was 100 times better than the American version...I'd imagine people here would have a stroke if they saw League of Gentlmen or The Mighty Booooooosh.
Paul Sanderson
04-06-2007, 12:50 AM
Yeah, and while we're at it, lets piss and moan about stealing "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son", too!
America sucks! America sucks!
It does, actually :laugh: :nyah:
Just kidding :har:
Eliseu Gouveia
04-06-2007, 01:27 AM
I hated, HATED, HATED! the US version of Coupling, itīs not funny at all!
Buckyrig
04-06-2007, 01:53 AM
Let's see the British come up with Charles In Charge.
Didn't think so.
Case closed.
GIGAFATTIMON
04-06-2007, 02:04 AM
The list of British Shows remade by the US (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_TV_shows_remade_for_the_American_m arket) is way longer than I expected
But we've remade some of yours too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._television_series_remade_for_the_Brit ish_market)
A special loathing remains for the likes of Brighton Belles and The Upper Hand
Buckyrig
04-06-2007, 02:09 AM
Good Lord! What would possess someone to remake Who's The Boss?
I still can't figure out why anyone ever watched the original. :confused:
American audiences wouldnt know what to do with the original versions...The original Office was 100 times better than the American version...I'd imagine people here would have a stroke if they saw League of Gentlmen or The Mighty Booooooosh.
TRUE!
Hell, just the fact that on Torchwood they had a discussion about "fuck-buddies" would get a should boycotted here.
I hated, HATED, HATED! the US version of Coupling, itīs not funny at all!
And the rest of the viewing population agreed with you.
The list of British Shows remade by the US (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_TV_shows_remade_for_the_American_m arket) is way longer than I expected
But we've remade some of yours too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._television_series_remade_for_the_Brit ish_market)
A special loathing remains for the likes of Brighton Belles and The Upper Hand
Only to backpeddle my origional statement slightly, i DO understand wanting to remake so many "reality" shows in order to make them more accessible to the "local" audience. But all the fictional shows would be better served here. And while i know All in the Family and Sanford and Son were BRILLIANT in the US, like the Office, they went a lot longer than their Brit counterparts and eventually came into their own...quickly in the former case. Coupling on the other hand should have just been put on NBC primetime as is.
THE ROPERS?!? What stupidity was THAT? PLEASE tell me someone got fired for that bastardization of primetime air.
Screeny
04-06-2007, 12:40 PM
You may or may not be surprised to hear that this works both ways - there have been a few notable comedy 'translations' this side of the pond that have transferred equally badly. The two most embarrassing ones being 'The Brighton Belles' - an enormously feeble version of 'The Golden Girls' and another shitefest whose name escapes me which was supposed to be the Brit version of 'Who's the Boss'. Evidently, a great deal is lost in the translation of the 'situation' and the comedy value usually stems from the fact that it is appropriate to either American or British nuances. Try & cross things over and it is a recipe for comeidic disaster.
edit - sorry Giga, I missed your previous post, but it only serves to prove how crap The Brighton Belles & the Upper Hand actually were... :har:
Nitecrawlah2
04-06-2007, 12:56 PM
American audiences wouldnt know what to do with the original versions...The original Office was 100 times better than the American version...[/I]
While I'm certainly not bashing your opinion, I tend to hear this comment a lot. I've seen both shows, and I love them both. In my opinion, both are great, and the American counterpart has now definitely come to its own and is still pretty good. If it's so bad, why is it so popular and successful? At the very least, I'm glad Ricky Gervais stuck around to produce the show and maintain some semblance of the original. I wonder if a lot of people who make that initial comment have even bothered to watch both shows, or whether they like hearing themselves say stuff like that.
Hey Screeny, did you guys ever have a remake of Mr. Belvedere, where some crass young American "dude" served as butler to some well to do British family?
Screeny
04-06-2007, 01:30 PM
Hey Screeny, did you guys ever have a remake of Mr. Belvedere, where some crass young American "dude" served as butler to some well to do British family?
I'm happy to say that, to my recollection, this wasn't done - an American butler you say? In a British household? The very thought of it nearly made my monocle fall out! :har: :p
Comix Obsession
04-06-2007, 02:10 PM
TRUE!
Hell, just the fact that on Torchwood they had a discussion about "fuck-buddies" would get a should boycotted here.
You know, I really had no idea American TV was so strict about the content in it's TV shows. It can't be that bad, surely? I mean, it must come down to the individual channels, right?
HBO, for example, is constantly pushing the boundaries, and over here in the UK, we are lapping up the shows from the US in that area.
But I do agree with your original comments, they do dumb-down these shows, and we are lucky in that we know only the originals over here. The American Office is doing pretty well over here, though.
GIGAFATTIMON
04-06-2007, 02:31 PM
I don't know what it is about the British audience that makes us more accepting of US show than America is of ours.
Who knows if that's even really the case. Perhaps if major US networks aired them they would be surprised that the US audience is more open than they think.
I hope as many Americans as possible have had the Chance to appreciate such shows as Inspector Morse, Jeeves and Wooster, Sharpe, Hornblower, and Sherlock Holmes.
I know that my TV viewing would be drastically reduced without the likes of Lost, CSIs, Battlestar, My Name is Earl and the like, not to mention the classics like, Columbo, Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, Cheers and Frasier.
JamieRoberts
04-06-2007, 02:35 PM
HBO is a premium station, though. Unless I misunderstood when it was explained to me (possibly, as I was drunk), your basic US TV channels don't allow bad language, violence over a certain level, and sex. At any time. Like, they show The Big Lebowski and Scarface at 10am on (I forget the name of that damn channel, I watched it loads a couple of years ago) but they're so heavily edited, they lose about 30-40 minutes from the running time.
But then, if you pay extra for channels, anything goes. Fuck it, you paid for it.
JamieRoberts
04-06-2007, 02:37 PM
I know that my TV viewing would be drastically reduced without the likes of Lost, CSIs, Battlestar, My Name is Earl and the like, not to mention the classics like, Columbo, Seinfeld, Larry Sanders, Cheers and Frasier.
I'm a Virgin Media customer. Imagine my joy when 50% of the shows I watch disappeared back up Murdoch's arse (via Branson's).
HBO is a premium station, though. Unless I misunderstood when it was explained to me (possibly, as I was drunk), your basic US TV channels don't allow bad language, violence over a certain level, and sex. At any time. Like, they show The Big Lebowski and Scarface at 10am on (I forget the name of that damn channel, I watched it loads a couple of years ago) but they're so heavily edited, they lose about 30-40 minutes from the running time.
But then, if you pay extra for channels, anything goes. Fuck it, you paid for it.
Correct. HBO costs money above and beyond normal cable rates. And yes, they're mostly a free for all.
You know, I really had no idea American TV was so strict about the content in it's TV shows. It can't be that bad, surely? I mean, it must come down to the individual channels, right?
HBO, for example, is constantly pushing the boundaries, and over here in the UK, we are lapping up the shows from the US in that area.
But I do agree with your original comments, they do dumb-down these shows, and we are lucky in that we know only the originals over here. The American Office is doing pretty well over here, though.
It's only getting worse too. TV is getting dumber and dumber and more and more generic on whole. Tehre ARE gleams of light, but not near enough.
GIGAFATTIMON
04-06-2007, 02:42 PM
I'm a Virgin Media customer. Imagine my joy when 50% of the shows I watch disappeared back up Murdoch's arse (via Branson's).Never mind, they're all released on DVD eventually, and until they are, Virgin media is also a broadband company no? Wink! Wink!
spider
04-06-2007, 02:46 PM
I can understand to an extent why it's done, I mean everything I know about Mr Belvedere is from Family guy references and I doubt anyone outside the UK would know what a chav is.
Is little britain aired in the US? It's huge here.
I can understand to an extent why it's done, I mean everything I know about Mr Belvedere is from Family guy references and I doubt anyone outside the UK would know what a chav is.
Is little britain aired in the US? It's huge here.
Not in my neighborhood.
Buckyrig
04-06-2007, 03:09 PM
Not in my neighborhood.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
The very concept that you have a neighborhood is hilarious.
JamieRoberts
04-06-2007, 03:20 PM
Little Britain is slightly less funny than watching your new pet puppy splattered all over the driveway by a car, then looking up to see your dad getting out of the driver's side, drunk and wearing a dress.
Imboden
04-06-2007, 03:34 PM
Good Lord! What would possess someone to remake Who's The Boss?
I still can't figure out why anyone ever watched the original. :confused:
Three words:
Young
Alyssa
Milano
Bam!
Buckyrig
04-06-2007, 03:43 PM
Three words:
Young
Alyssa
Milano
Bam!
So, you have all the Charmed DVDs then? :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
The very concept that you have a neighborhood is hilarious.
Back off Buck-tooth or my 'peeps and I is gonna have to roll ya.
So, you have all the Charmed DVDs then? :laugh:
Hell yes!
spider
04-06-2007, 05:38 PM
Little Britain is slightly less funny than watching your new pet puppy splattered all over the driveway by a car, then looking up to see your dad getting out of the driver's side, drunk and wearing a dress.
Well it's probably not that bad but it's certainly overrated.
Comix Obsession
04-06-2007, 07:41 PM
Little Britain is slightly less funny than watching your new pet puppy splattered all over the driveway by a car, then looking up to see your dad getting out of the driver's side, drunk and wearing a dress.
:laugh:
AA Gill?
compton
04-07-2007, 07:58 AM
Little Britain is slightly less funny than watching your new pet puppy splattered all over the driveway by a car, then looking up to see your dad getting out of the driver's side, drunk and wearing a dress.
I must have missed that episode. is your dad also a retarded guy in a wheel chair?
SDulaney
04-07-2007, 08:14 PM
Little Britain got a little "cult" buzz over here thanks to airing on the BBC America channel. It has it's moments but I think people were glad to find something airing other than Ground Force reruns. Right now they're showing the same Who's Line Is It episodes that ran on Comedy Central before Stile got the Drew Carey Show gig. (What's Josie Lawrence up to these days anyway?)
I'd like to think a few recent BBC hits would've translated well, but seeing how they screwed up Men Behaving Badly and Coupling I cringe at the thought of a US Father Ted or Keeping Up Appearances. All In The Family and Sanford and Son at least had Norman Lear riding herd over them to take elements that would translate to US audiences and didn't rely on rewriting British scripts for the whole initial season. Men Behaving Badly (US) is a textbook virtual textbook on how not translate a sit-com. (They're too unpleasant...make them nicer. You know, one having a girlfriend kills the swinging bachelor roommate thing. And he's too uptight. Let's dump those characters and focus on Rob Schnider until we recast the roommate.)
Moonrider
04-08-2007, 11:09 PM
No doubt they'd make Black Adder Donald Trump's butler or some snooty office executive trying to take over a company. (Waits to see this idea be stolen by American writers and be done.) :laugh:
You know this actually sounds a bit like Mr. Belvedere. Only evil.
Gav Heryng
04-11-2007, 10:24 AM
The Weakest Link (the Dr. Who special) and despite being the same set and the same star (Ann Richards)
Who?!!
Dis
Ron Phillips
04-11-2007, 10:44 AM
Kep touched upon it for a moment, but if American television followed British standards, we'd lose all our favorite shows after half a season. What's the life expectancy of a TV show on British television? One eleven episode series, maybe double that over 2 series years.
Of course that would probably get rid of a lot of the dead series we keep churning out.
Also, to take into consideration, the average American viewer wouldn't understand the British equivalents, even if they had gotten to see them. Hollywood produces for the masses, not the eclectically informed.
i disagree, i think people can handle it, but we'll never know as long as all we're fed is crap.
Nitecrawlah2
04-11-2007, 11:56 AM
So British television is more intellectual? Aren't the differences in the television productions really in cultural nuances that only the respective audiences, living in said referenced cultures, would really understand? Obviously, there are always general jokes and subject matter that appeals to all. Like any foreign product, however, there's always going to be something lost in translation.
It's funny you mention the UK method of producing shows, Ron. Seems to me stateside television producers are taking note and dropping tons of shows mid-season :laugh: .
So British television is more intellectual?
On whole, yes, I believe they are. A thousand exceptions, so don't bother listing them. but here's the reason:
Their production cycle favors creativity over ratings. At an average of 13 shows per series (season for those of us in the states) the creator is not obligated to fluff the line-up and instead can focus on the goods. Likewise, the actors are not monopolized and can go off and explore their craft in dramatically different ways in the off season. It means that every episode counts.
In the US, the typical show has 26 episodes of which at least half are fluff (LOST, anyone?). There have been a few shows/networks in the last few years who have leaned more towards the British model (USA, TNT and Sci-Fi come to mind) with split seasons...or short ones that seem to get a better bang for their limited buck and more shows count and less shows are filler for the ad revenue only.
A MAJOR boon to the quality of American TV would be for more series/networks to adopt shorter schedules, therefore allowing more diversity in the marketplace.
I know, I'm a heathen.
Buckyrig
04-11-2007, 01:54 PM
I thought 22 episodes was pretty much the standard these days.
Nitecrawlah2
04-11-2007, 02:15 PM
On whole, yes, I believe they are. A thousand exceptions, so don't bother listing them. but here's the reason:
Their production cycle favors creativity over ratings. At an average of 13 shows per series (season for those of us in the states) the creator is not obligated to fluff the line-up and instead can focus on the goods. Likewise, the actors are not monopolized and can go off and explore their craft in dramatically different ways in the off season. It means that every episode counts.
In the US, the typical show has 26 episodes of which at least half are fluff (LOST, anyone?). There have been a few shows/networks in the last few years who have leaned more towards the British model (USA, TNT and Sci-Fi come to mind) with split seasons...or short ones that seem to get a better bang for their limited buck and more shows count and less shows are filler for the ad revenue only.
A MAJOR boon to the quality of American TV would be for more series/networks to adopt shorter schedules, therefore allowing more diversity in the marketplace.
I know, I'm a heathen.
I'm in total agreement with your post. Shorter seasons allow for less fluff and more efficient "payoff" writing in television. It also allows the networks to, ideally, run two hot properties in a season and make more money on the ad revenue than one show drawn out with 2 months of repeats.
However, I don't think this makes British television more "intellectual." For creators, it should certainly allow for more creativity and diversity on television, just as long as executives are willing to take the risks and chances in producing these shows. I'm sure the Brits have as much trash on the tele as we do here :) .
spider
04-11-2007, 03:22 PM
Has Peep show ever aired in the US?
Great observational humor in the vein of The Office, and Ricky Gervais said it's one of his favorite shows.
DemolitionSamurai
04-11-2007, 03:29 PM
Somebody here mentioned The Mighty Boosh earlier in this thread. Is this show actually any good? Somebody suggested that I watch the Old Gregg episode and so I did and it was so fucking terrible. There wasn't a single legitimate joke for the first half, and then the second half was just a rip-off of Dave Chappelle doing Rick James and saying "mangina." There were a few decent jokes, enough to make me wonder if it was just a bad episode, but I'd rather have more input before taking the chance.
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