The World Beyond BetterMost > Anything Goes
Why does the US do remakes?
Jeff Wrangler:
David: "It's Boo-KAY!" ;D
"Coupling" was an absolute bomb in its U.S. remake.
Never saw either British or U.S. versions of "Queer as Folk." For one thing, I won't pay for anything other than basic cable service--there's quite enough to watch on that alone, thank you very much. For another, from what I read of the show, the premise and characters seemed so removed from my own life as a gay man that it genuinely didn't interest me. And I don't feel obligated to support a show just because it's "gay."
This week's--Dec. 11--issue of The New Yorker actually has a very thoughtful commentary on the British vs. American versions of "The Office," the strengths and weaknesses of both, why some aspects of the British version just wouldn't "play" in the U.S. I'm sorry I can't provide a link--maybe someone who's more cyber-savvy than I am can do that. I've never seen the British version and I'm not particularly a fan of the American version, either--it's just what's "on" to fill the dead airspace in the half an hour after "My Name is Earl" before I change the channel to "C.S.I." ;D
David:
Sure thing Mrs. Bucket LOL
Jeff, I can't watch the "Office" because I find the guy in it so annoying. Steve Carrel? Acting or not, he strikes me as a real jerk. I don't waste my time watching shows with annoying characters.
Now CSI however.... I love that show. The Vegas one that is. All the characters are likeable. Although Sarah gets on my nerves sometimes. I hate the fact she and Gil are now involved.
Now if we could just get them to write a plot where our two favorite CSI boys get drunk and wake up naked in bed together......
mvansand76:
--- Quote from: DavidinHartford on December 13, 2006, 10:36:32 am ---Now CSI however.... I love that show. The Vegas one that is. All the characters are likeable. Although Sarah gets on my nerves sometimes. I hate the fact she and Gil are now involved.
--- End quote ---
:o Aaaaah SPOILER....!!! I didn't know that yet! We're a bit behind her in Holland...
David:
--- Quote from: mvansand76 on December 13, 2006, 10:46:19 am --- :o Aaaaah SPOILER....!!! I didn't know that yet! We're a bit behind her in Holland...
--- End quote ---
MEEP! Oops! Sorry bout that! I didn't know y'all were a season behind us.
At least I think they are together. They don't really go there. I've just picked up subtle things said between them. So I suppose I could be wrong. You'll have to decide when you catch up.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 13, 2006, 10:25:33 am ---This week's--Dec. 11--issue of The New Yorker actually has a very thoughtful commentary on the British vs. American versions of "The Office," the strengths and weaknesses of both, why some aspects of the British version just wouldn't "play" in the U.S. I'm sorry I can't provide a link--maybe someone who's more cyber-savvy than I am can do that. I've never seen the British version and I'm not particularly a fan of the American version, either--it's just what's "on" to fill the dead airspace in the half an hour after "My Name is Earl" before I change the channel to "C.S.I." ;D
--- End quote ---
I LOVE "The Office." It's probably my favorite TV show. So original! So hilarious! So cringe-inducing!
And it's a perfect complement to "My Name is Earl," which is probably my second-favorite show -- both are really funny in completely different ways. And now that the lineup also includes "30 Rock," which can be kind of funny, and "Scrubs," which I've never been a big fan of but is sometimes good, it's worth watching TV on Thursday nights.
I read that New Yorker piece last night. I looked for it just now on the New Yorker site, but the site already has next week's articles up (they change every week). Anyway, what it said was that in the first season the American version simply remade the same episodes as the British version. But the British one was only 12 episodes long, so the Americans eventually had to try new things, and at that point, according to the New Yorker writer, it got much better. I guess American office culture is enough different from British office culture that it worked better for an American audience with a different tone and different types of characters. For example, according to the article, the boss in the British version was very class-conscious, whereas the American boss is not -- because Americans generally don't acknowledge the existence of class (ha ha).
Apparently there are Canadian, French and German versions of "The Office" now, too.
Here is a Slate story on the subject:
http://www.slate.com/id/2135824/
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