[littlejerryseinfeld]

on behalf of my fellow 'yanks, i would like to extend my thanks to BBC America, and the creators of 'the office'. this has to be the best tv show i've ever seen.

and i don't even like tv.

now i hear word that the creators are developing an 'americanized' version of the show.

i know there's a lot of brits on this board, so i would like to ask: will u.s. network tv destroy the show? what changes do you see happening? what american actors will get the parts?

what i do know so far: that the show will take place in trenton, NJ. that steve correll ('the daily show'), will play david brent.

help me fill in the rest.

nov 16 - dvd release of seasons 1&2, plus the christmas special. get on it.

[Despondent]

Ummm, haven't seen it.

But I've started watching Smallville this season, and I like it. Last week it had The Flash as an adolescent. Interesting premise, and full of mystery the series seems to be.

[Chefelf]

I have somehow missed it, though I've heard quite a bit about it. Any BBC comedy is okay in my book. They start off with my approval then have to earn my hatred. It's like the opposite of American TV.

Moving this to "The Lobby". There's a whole world of Chefelf.com Night Life out there, my friend.

[Chyld]

If we are in any doubt as to whether Americanising it will ruin it, lets do a short comparison:

Britain: Red Dwarf
America: Friends

Britain: "Matilda", an amazing book by Roald Dahl
America: The film of the same, more crap than a sewage farm.

I rest my case.

[Jane Sherwood]

After experiencing just a small sample of Americanized versions of great British entertainment, this is all I have to say:

"NOOOOOO! NO, YOU'RE KILLING IT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LEAVE IT ALONE! LEAVE IT ALOOOOOONE!"

(*sobs uncontrollably while pounding on her head and ripping at her hair and eyes like a madwoman*)

That about sums it up.

[Stongbah]

If we are in any doubt as to whether Americanising it will ruin it, lets do a short comparison:

Britain: Red Dwarf
America: Friends

Isn't Red Dwarf a science fiction show and isn't Friends based off Coupling?

[Chefelf]

I've never understood the need for the Americans to remake British shows or vice versa. Why not just play the original show?

American Red Dwarf = :yuck:
American Coupling = :yuck:
British Coupling = :|
British Queer Eye = :yuck:
American Queer Eye = :yuck:

[Chyld]

Isn't Red Dwarf a science fiction show and isn't Friends based off Coupling?

I see "amazing sitcom" and "lame sitcom", personally.

[electricprune]

on behalf of my fellow 'yanks, i would like to extend my thanks to BBC America, and the creators of 'the office'.  this has to be the best tv show i've ever seen. 

and i don't even like tv.

now i hear word that the creators are developing an 'americanized' version of the show.

i know there's a lot of brits on this board, so i would like to ask:  will u.s. network tv destroy the show?  what changes do you see happening?  what american actors will get the parts?

I just rented season 1 at my local video store (I'm a yank as well). Wow, it is brilliant. The "inappropriate" comments/situations are hilarious. Ricky Gervais is brilliant as the spazzy, annoying boss. And "Gareth" played by Mackenzie Crook is pretty awesome as well.

Yeah, I can't picture an American version being nearly as good. In general, I think British shows tend to be a lot more subdued and a lot less "flashy" than American tv shows. I think American TV often tries too hard to be sensationalistic.

As far as American casting, DJ Qualls, the dude who starred in "The New Guy" and "Road Trip" might make a good Gareth.

This post has been edited by electricprune: 27 October 2004 - 05:36 PM

[Just your average movie goer]

British Coupling = :|

Oh wow! People here are familiar with the original Coupling! I love that show so much. It is by far the funniest series I have ever seen.

I'm glad I haven't seen the Americanised version though. I think American comedy is generally dumbed down. I don't know why (well, maybe I do but I'm too diplomatic to say anything ).

[Jane Sherwood]

I'm not sure how many episodes made it, but I remember seeing the first episode of the Americanized Coupling, then immediately flipping over to BBCA to watch the real one.

I think my previous post makes it obvious which I prefer. I just don't understand why [other] Americans feel the need emulate other countries' success at something when they always screw it up so badly.

This post has been edited by Jane Sherwood: 28 October 2004 - 11:04 AM

[Just your average movie goer]

For me, never seeing the American version, I just can't imagine any actors who could pull off the characters and their antics. I think the British accents also suit the delivery of the lines better as well.

And can anyone imagine somebody else playing Jeff besides the incomparable Richard Coyle?

[civilian_number_two]

The sadness is not that Americans couldn't do it; it's that they could. And don't.

What I really don't get: ok, so people don't like subtitles. That's why you remade THE RING rather than release it. OK. But these Brits, they speak English! Just buy it, and release it! Grr....

Production companies are just looking for excuses to stay in business.

PS I too have seen an episode of COUPLING, the British one. I haven't seen the American one, but I know no studio in America could pull off what I saw. I have seen some of the American QUEER AS FOLK, and none of the British. I can saay without hesitation the British one's better.

[Jane Sherwood]

I'm not so sure about those kinds of shows. I've seen both the British and American What Not to Wear and Trading Spaces and such, and...well, I hate them both.

[littlejerryseinfeld]

I'm glad I haven't seen the Americanised version though.  I think American comedy is generally dumbed down.  I don't know why (well, maybe I do but I'm too diplomatic to say anything ).

ouch... not everyone here is trailer trash, JYAMG.

there are plenty of educated people here, we just don't watch a lot of tv. i saw that office won an emmy, and had to find out what it was - i've always been partial to british humor (you got two coconuts and you're banging 'em togetha!).

tv always aims for the lowest common denominator, that's why 'the office' is so refreshing - it assumes that you're smart enough to 'get it'.

david brent for prime minister.