While watching my weekly dose of the Fab 5 I saw an ad that made me want to scream really loud: the Series Premier episode of "Coupling". I had heard that this was coming, but I was afraid of the results...my fears were verified.
Some background: "Coupling" is a very successful situation comedy on the BBC (can be seen locally in the 'States on BBC America). Some would call it a rip-off of "Friends". It features three men and three women dealing w/ life, romance, and relationships. There the similarity ends. The writing is ten times better and the actors know how to...well, act. Each character is incredibly complex. It's great...
Now for the Americanized version: the pilot episode was patterned after the first episode of the British version (same writer). Of course many things had to be changed for American (ie shallow, short-attention spanned, and for the most part dim) audiences. Many of the best lines were re-written, however quite a few remained - unfortunately, their context was destroyed.
Since the BBC only makes six episodes a season (they don't have huge corporate sponsors like American networks do) this will mean that there will have to be at least seven original episodes written. I might watch them, but I shudder to think of the results.
If you've never seen the British version or "Friends" you might find it funny. If you've seen "Friends" you might think of it as a cheap rip-off. However, if you've seen the British version you will see it as I do: another great show from oversees ruined by American producers.
-Ferret
"Even worse than the treatment Iron Chef got..."
Some background: "Coupling" is a very successful situation comedy on the BBC (can be seen locally in the 'States on BBC America). Some would call it a rip-off of "Friends". It features three men and three women dealing w/ life, romance, and relationships. There the similarity ends. The writing is ten times better and the actors know how to...well, act. Each character is incredibly complex. It's great...
Now for the Americanized version: the pilot episode was patterned after the first episode of the British version (same writer). Of course many things had to be changed for American (ie shallow, short-attention spanned, and for the most part dim) audiences. Many of the best lines were re-written, however quite a few remained - unfortunately, their context was destroyed.
Since the BBC only makes six episodes a season (they don't have huge corporate sponsors like American networks do) this will mean that there will have to be at least seven original episodes written. I might watch them, but I shudder to think of the results.
If you've never seen the British version or "Friends" you might find it funny. If you've seen "Friends" you might think of it as a cheap rip-off. However, if you've seen the British version you will see it as I do: another great show from oversees ruined by American producers.
-Ferret
"Even worse than the treatment Iron Chef got..."
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