Worst preview ever

[starrylizard]

The Americans have remade life on Mars!! *shudder*
And the American voice-over guy... *shudders more*
I wanted to give it a chance, but so far, I just don't want to even know about it...

Don't believe me, click the link

Someone else is gonna have to watch the show when it comes out and tell me if it's as bad as the preview makes it look. And irony for ya, the two leading actors... not American. Though that might be its saving grace. O_o

And for the record, I'm not poking sticks at the Americans...please don't take offense. I just don't understand the remake thing that keeps happening.

Comments

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe me, neither do we...

My roommate and I are both appalled...I've only seen the promo pic so far, no previews, and I'm almost afraid to click on that link...

Read an article that said the execs saw the pilot and wanted changes made to make it more like the original, so maybe that's a good sign? Still not enough for me, though...

We're kind of hoping this goes the way of "Viva Laughlin!", the remake of Blackpool that never even got aired.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

okay, just watched the preview...

i have no words. why even BOTHER remaking it if they're just going to restage every scene, only do it worse?! Why not just buy the show...

*cries*

That "Sam" really really bothers me. He's the wrong...shape. And his clothes are ghastly.

[/rant]

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

*nods* Word, sista! See previous response. *facepalm*

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Blackpool. Though someone recced it a while back as something I should watch. It always annoys me too, that the British version is shown here on ABC, so maybe 5% of our population will be bothered to watch it, but remake it as an American show and it'll get aired on a commercial station to rave reviews. Bleh!

If you do dare click the link, you can see how they're trying to make it look like the original, but I think that just makes it worse for me. It comes off like a spoof. Oh dear...

I'd sort of rather they totally America-nised it and changed the script to suit the social and political climate of 70's America, because there are a lot of differences there. I'm hoping they might do that, but I won't hold my breath.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

It just blows my mind that they're allowed to follow it *that* closely and call it their own. They stole the freakin' tagline! I wanted them to stay close to the original in spirit, but seeing that preview, I think I'm with you. that article also said they moved it to '72 to get in jokes about the presidential election, so that may be an indication of something more American.

If I was Matthew Graham or one of those guys that waited eight years to sell their baby to the BBC because they didn't want to change it to fit the organization's idea, I would *not* have sold it to *anyone*, let alone Americans with their brilliant track record of adapting British television...:P

(and I'll second the rec for Blackpool. It's such a bizarre concept but somehow it works...)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

I noticed it was '72, and it sounded wrong, but I couldn't remember what year he was sent back to in LoM. That explains it.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Also, OMG it has David Tennant in it. Nobody told me that. Okay, I totally want Blackpool now!! *grabby hands* I'll have to look for it in the ABC store. :)

[hay1ock.livejournal.com]

*blink*
*shudder*

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

*nods*

[charis-kalos.livejournal.com]

Too scared to click on link. Backing away slowly from the whole concept.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

You are very wise indeed, Padawan!

(Oh and by the by, this fic (http://hunterstomb.popullus.net/maja/RealDeal.html) made me think of you for some reason... prob. just cos it's Pastor Jim.)

[charis-kalos.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely story, and I'm so glad you recommended it to me. And very touched that it made you think of me - I'd love to be like Pastor Jim, when I'm older and my skin is worn (although I hope I don't start to lose my hair).

I love lines like: There are other ways to worship the Lord, Dean. After all, Jesus was a fisher of men.”
A hint of the usual spark returned to the green gaze. “Did he like to fish in ponds?”
“Oh yes, he was big on ponds, and picnics too, although that is a little known fact, that only a chosen few are privy to.”

Jesus was big on parties and was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard - I think Dean would like him. (Constantly fighting an urge to pastor the boys - must remember that they're fictional!)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

The story just makes me tear up. It's melancholy, but beautiful and full of hope. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

[looleebelle.livejournal.com]

LOL! Very very wise...

Force is strong in this one... *nods knowingly*

[looleebelle.livejournal.com]

Are you frickin KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*cries*

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

You didn't know that was in the works? The writer's strikes held it up, but I knew it was coming.

AHHHHHHH! O_O

[charlidos.livejournal.com]

I can't see it now, but for me, remakes are very, very rarely any good. I never understood the concept, particularly not when it's already in English! And even less when we're talking such excellent shows (QAF, Cracker, The Office and Life on Mars - not that all the copies are all bad as such, just pointless) to begin with. It's very strange to me. It's not like there aren't enough ideas for original shows going around in the US, surely.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

word!

[heylittleriver.livejournal.com]

Okay, I've not seen Life on Mars yet (as soon as I get spare cash, I will) but geez, ANOTHER REMAKE? (Although, ha! It's got a chick from Home and Away in it!)

And the American voice-over guy... *shudders more*

It made me crack up. Seeing US ads makes me wonder how much TV I'd have actually started watching had I lived over there.


You know they're doing a US version of Kath and Kim? I have absolutely no comprehension of how that's going to work.

[kirei-seimei.livejournal.com]

I think a U.S. adaptation of Kath and Kim will only work if they can identify a few specifically American subcultures and start from there. The biggest diff is that not only did Riley and Turner perform the show, they created it, wrote for it, and (I think) built it from characters they had developed through observation of subcultures in Aus. I don't think it's so much the format that they should have bought, but the station should've perhaps approached U.S comedians/performers/writers with the aim of developing a series in the same vein rather than quote-unquote "remaking".

Does anyone know any Americans (and I mean non-ex-pat Americans, who still live Stateside) who have seen Kath and Kim, and know what they make of it? *is curious*

[heylittleriver.livejournal.com]

I think a U.S. adaptation of Kath and Kim will only work if they can identify a few specifically American subcultures and start from there. The biggest diff is that not only did Riley and Turner perform the show, they created it, wrote for it, and (I think) built it from characters they had developed through observation of subcultures in Aus. I don't think it's so much the format that they should have bought, but the station should've perhaps approached U.S comedians/performers/writers with the aim of developing a series in the same vein rather than quote-unquote "remaking".

Yeah, that was my no comprehension. *g* The Australian one is, for a lot of it, pretty culture specific - funny, but I think there's a lot that wouldn't be got if you're not Australian/live here/stayed for a long while. Maybe instead of 'bogan' stereotypes, it'd be 'white trash'.

I think what it has going for it particularly is that it's made by the same people who 'transferred' Ugly Betty and The Office. Last I heard it's got Selma Blair starring in it.

Does anyone know any Americans (and I mean non-ex-pat Americans, who still live Stateside) who have seen Kath and Kim, and know what they make of it? *is curious*

I sure don't (know if I know). :D *looks around*

[crystalsc.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm American and I've never seen Life on Mars. I didn't care for the preview because it looks like they couldn't decide if they wanted to project it as a drama or a comedy. The voice over is cheesy but we tend to ignore those here because we get them so much.

I like the cast though. I recognized everyone shown from other shows and they're all quite good. Based on that, it has hope. We get tons of shows each season though that only get 1 or 2 eps aired and then they're yanked.

Most actors portrayed in American movies and shows are not Americans. As most of the world loves to hate America, many many actors come here to work.

If the studios were to just buy the English shows and air them here as someone up above mentioned, they'd flop. No one would watch them. I don't know why but they wouldn't. English shows just don't take off well here. I can only think of two channels that play them and they're very niche oriented.

And most Americans don't even know they are remakes of English shows. They just see it as a new show and either enjoy it or don't.

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

And most Americans don't even know they are remakes of English shows. They just see it as a new show and either enjoy it or don't.
Yeah we know that. To a certain extent there's always a divide here in oz too, as I said somewhere above, some people will watch the ABC original version, the others will obliviously watch the remake on the commercial station...if it makes it. But, that is a real marketing failure imo. Surely they could market a British show. *shrugs* They don't even try.

[tipsywitch.livejournal.com]

OK - I watched the clip and my original thought stands...

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

*shrugs*

sorry!