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American Televsions Versus the U.K. Telly?

by Liv | Published on September 11th, 2009, 8:37 am | Arts
life_on_mars.jpg

So I am watching Life on Mars last night. No not the U.S. version, but the U.K. version. It's good. Real Good. That fact doesn't surprise me much, as it was a green-lighted project from Julie Gardner before she moved from Wales to L.A. She's the same individual who spawned the remake of Doctor Who. (Which really makes me wonder what's going on because Julie is in LA, and Davies is in L.A... but I'll save that for some other time)

So I've seen the U.S. version, and remarkably the U.K. version is stunningly similar. Almost as if the U.S. writers, just hashed through the words like "Cheeky", "Dodgy", and "Sod" and replaced them with the U.S. equivalent. Even the sets are strikingly the same. So this is when I turn to Shannon and ask:

Why did they need to remake it for the U.S.?

I mean, I think I sort of already know the answer.... but It's worth asking isn't it? It's not one of those story-lines that get lost in translation, it's fundamentally a cop show from the 70's with an ambiguous plot twist of how the main character ends up in the 70s....

So if the answer I already think I know is the answer to my own question, what does that say about Americans, when there are tons of U.K. shows that get "remade" for American audiences, but I'm not aware of any U.S. shows remade for the U.K. (I'm guessing there has to be at least one, doesn't there?)
 
 
A friend of mine got me into "Coupling" several years ago on BBC America. Hilarious stuff! I never bothered to watch the US version, which I heard was awful.
September 11th, 2009, 8:57 am
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Pineview Style
 
Location: A Dumpster Behind McD's
I've always thought that British shows would do well here. Thats the problem though... The British know when to stop and America doesnt.

America wants to own it so they can run it into the ground for 8 thousand seasons. Often that means they have to change formulas and end up altering what makes the show special in the first Place. They also think people will be turned off by British accents. Cause we shur is stoopid 'mericans! :roll: Its why British actors change their accents to American when they are on TV shows here... and there are a LOT!


One of the reasons the UK version of Coupling was so good was because they were able to be a lot more daring, and therefor funny. Also it was brilliantly cast. The American version had all the risky humor cut out, and was made to be too much like "friends". "The Office" (UK) is one of my all time favs. the fact the characters actually change and develop adds to the quality.. and again, the brilliant comic timing simply hasn't been captured by the US version.

I could go on... and on... and on...
"You can't put the civil rights of a minority up for a majority vote."
September 11th, 2009, 9:17 am
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Sanjuro
Expert...on everything...
 
Sanjuro wrote: They also think people will be turned off by British accents. Cause we shur is stoopid 'mericans!


Is it "they think" or "we are"? Would the general population of America, if given the opprotuninty to enjoy the original "Life on Mars" in lieu of the McDonald's version, would it be possible America might adore it as much? Is it us or some executives making decisions for us?
September 11th, 2009, 9:24 am
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
Liv wrote:
Sanjuro wrote: They also think people will be turned off by British accents. Cause we shur is stoopid 'mericans!


Is it "they think" or "we are"? Would the general population of America, if given the opprotuninty to enjoy the original "Life on Mars" in lieu of the McDonald's version, would it be possible America might adore it as much? Is it us or some executives making decisions for us?



Good question. I've never had a problem with accents, but I have heard people in passing say things like they cant understand them etc. It also seems people cant understand British slang... C'mon! How hard is it to figure out really?? Im sure these are the same people that will never properly enjoy "Amilee" because they "dont like reedin dem talkity words at da bottom of da screen". :cry:
September 11th, 2009, 9:36 am
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Sanjuro
Expert...on everything...
 
From personal experience, I think accents and their comprehension is directly related to one's immersion in them.... yet the learning curve is not ver long, if you allow yourself into it. It's that it's almost taboo, or embarrassing in America to slip into anything that seem "foreign" (especially around these parts) which makes it difficult for it to become popular. We as Americans seem to almost refuse the British influence like little kids with their hands on their ears saying "I can't hear you". Which is strikingly similar to some conservatives whom would rather just not rationalize the existence of things they don't like. If we were given the chance, and external culture wasn't so against our American Nationalism, I think we'd find, much as in the way we export America to Europe, we'd import much of it here. There's some sort of American Patriotism, some sort of 'big headedness' where we think we're too good... at least that's how I see it.
September 11th, 2009, 10:00 am
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
Keep an eye out for Sugar Rush I'm sure you'll enjoy it if they dare to put it on in the US

And for an antidote for 'Friends' try "Two pints of lager"
All stupid ideas pass through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is ridiculed. Third, it is ridiculed
September 11th, 2009, 10:08 am
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A Person
 
Location: Slightly west of the Great White North
Looks great... yeah Netflix doesn't even list it.... and I doubt we will get it on air....

We were discussing the taboos of American television the the other day, even suggested the script I had written would never fly in the U.S. because of them.
September 11th, 2009, 10:20 am
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
Bit torrents all the way.
September 11th, 2009, 10:23 am
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Sanjuro
Expert...on everything...
 
Sanjuro wrote:Bit torrents all the way.


.... I know... but, but, but... I'm trying to go straight... I've been good... I haven't downloaded anything illegal in months, maybe even a year.....

...This might make me fall off the wagon...
September 11th, 2009, 10:25 am
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
Pineview Style wrote:A friend of mine got me into "Coupling" several years ago on BBC America. Hilarious stuff! I never bothered to watch the US version, which I heard was awful.


Just watched the first 5 episodes... Very, very funny. Yes, much better than Friends.
December 10th, 2009, 2:20 pm
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
'Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps' is in the same vein, but takes itself a lot less seriously.
December 10th, 2009, 3:52 pm
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A Person
 
Location: Slightly west of the Great White North
So I've been re-watching the U.S. version of life on Mars because I missed a few episodes when it aired, and I'm really missing good tv. I now realize the reason they canceled the show.... they got the car wrong.

In the UK, they used the Granada.... a conscience decision by the writers as the original name of the pilot was Granada. There was a US version of the Ford Granada... it should have been used.
November 14th, 2010, 4:08 pm
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
Gene Hunt's car was a Mk III Cortina GXL not a Granada

Cortina
Image

Granada
Image

A Granada would have been all wrong and out of character. The British Granada was a boring large soft old man's car. The Cortina was the hot car.

Gene Hunt's car
Image
November 14th, 2010, 4:21 pm
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A Person
 
Location: Slightly west of the Great White North
Wow... In the behind-the-scenes they said the script was named "Granada" after the writers first car (I think)....

I never bothered to check what they actually used....

God I love this show... I think I'm going to re-watch the UK version after I finish re-watching the American version....

Love the lines:

"The crackers are made out of people!"

"Those with the greatest intolerance have the greatest fears"

"Is this a cosmic joke everyone decided to play on me and not tell me?"
November 14th, 2010, 7:32 pm
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Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC
I'm a bit surprised if they used of the name 'Granada' for a BBC show. Granada is the name of a commercial British media conglomerate. i.e. the competition.

The show 'The Sweeny' (Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad) used several Ford Granadas
November 14th, 2010, 9:09 pm
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A Person
 
Location: Slightly west of the Great White North
That rings a bell.... Apparently Bowie originally turned them down on the use of "Life on Mars" too... said he didn't want to be affiliated with any crap telly... then he watched it, and gave his blessing.
November 15th, 2010, 5:08 am
User avatar
Liv
I show you something fantastic and you find fault.
 
Location: Greensboro, NC

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