A remake too far?

[MasterMike]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6335037.stm

I'd LOVE to see the American reaction if we did some British remakes of Friends, Arrested Development, and the like. I once watched a pilot Americanised Red Dward, and looked on heartbroken as I watched American actors destroy my favourite characters.

Why do people feel the need to do this? America has some fine comedies - and so does the UK. Why do Americans need things "Americanised"?

 

[MasterMike]

Its because the original was rubbish, it was too pretentious for me. Everyone says its great but i just can't get into it, i see the jokes but its just not funny.

I can understand people not liking The Office, but "pretentious" is certainly not a word I'd use to describe it.

 

[MasterMike]

The original The Office was fantastically dry but it would have gone stale after a 3rd series (the christmas specials were great but it reached the crux of what the show had to offer) however with the american version it's onto Season 3 and going strong. They've stretched out the Jim and Pam (Tim and Dawn) storyline way too far though but I guess they're saving their obvious get-together until the finale.

I sort of agree - I DO like the US Office, I suppose I'm just a bit bitter that some of our greatest comedy of recent years has been turned into a US product

Ricky Gervais has always been adverse to making third series of things - he even made a reference to the fact in his "Animals" standup.

In the first, you establish your idea, in the second, it takes off, in the third ... well, I think that's his fear. My favourite comedy of all time, Spaced, only has two series. I'd like to see another, but am simultaneously worried that it would be compromised by it.

 

[MasterMike]

I think that's a cowardly, if the idea works and has enough material it can easily last more than 2 seasons. Especially with our concept of "seasons" thats like 6 episodes. The season 1 of the US office has more episodes than the entire UK Office run put together, yet in season 3 it is Still funny.

I think "cowardly" is a bit harsh. The US is a different audience altogether. I don't think Ricky Gervais is a coward, just rather clever.

 

[MasterMike]

or ran out of ideas.

Funny is funny, no matter what the audience (you can't say the UK can't stand long running shows, look at all the soaps). Surely he will get a uber bump in pay should he write a 3rd series seeing how well the first 2 did. So its not financially, its not the audience, I can't think of anything else really.

I can say that what I consider greater-than-average comedy, such as The Office, has a limited audience and therefore a limited lifespan. Soaps are made for the common denominator and that is therefore moot.

Ricky Gervais has written for the US office. Also, the US one has a team of writers, as opposed to Ricky Gervais' writing setup of himself and Steve Merchant.

He would certainly get a lot of money if he did a third series here - but I have always respected Ricky Gervais in that money is not his driving factor. He has turned down million dollar advertising contracts. He is not a sellout.

 

[MasterMike]

Still...12 episodes + Christmas specials is like half a US season.

David E Kelly wrote 5 seasons of Ally McBeal, 22 episodes a season, 45 mins each, 90% of that he wrote it solely by himself, only the latter seasons other writers came in, he also wrote The Practice at the same time, that was 2 shows co-currently at 45mins each weekly.

I don't think he is being clever in limiting it to 2 seasons, i think he just don't have the materials to do it. Simple as that, if he had lots of good ideas, why wouldn't he make more? Unless he know they suck.

May I say that I think Ally McBeale is utter rubbish? Although, as far as 22-episode-season US series go, I am a fan of Scrubs.

I utterly, utterly disagree with you on him running out of ideas. It's simply a British mindset. You've completely ignored that I told you that he HAS written for the US office (and it was great), and I fully believe he could write another series of the UK one if he so wished. He has, instead, decided to go on to Extras which has lasted two series (rumour has it there *may* be enough room for a third), and is currently concentrating on his standup. He has pretty much brought podcasting into the public eye (I'm not talking about your net-savvy users who have known about podcasting for years, but I haven't heard another podcast be so repeatedly referenced in the news and world media), and has plans to move into drama.

 

[MasterMike]

Like I said, it's a difference in mindset for the populace that the show is aiming for. For a long time, six episodes has been the standard for a series in this country.