More bad news from the US
Discussion
Americans can't do programmes like this as they like to have their characters to have at least one endearing trait. So the David Brent character will really not be that bad after all, completely ruining the entire ethos of the show.
Even worse tho - "Ving Rhames is Kojak" NOOOOOOOOO!
>> Edited by Yugguy on Wednesday 23 March 10:11
Even worse tho - "Ving Rhames is Kojak" NOOOOOOOOO!
>> Edited by Yugguy on Wednesday 23 March 10:11
One of the problems is that American TV sitcoms just have to have conventionally attractive actors on them.
One of the reasons "The Office" worked so well was because the actors looked like real people who would work in an office in Slough.
In the American version they will inevitably all look like they could walk straight out of the office and into modelling careers....
One of the reasons "The Office" worked so well was because the actors looked like real people who would work in an office in Slough.
In the American version they will inevitably all look like they could walk straight out of the office and into modelling careers....
The real problem I fear is that it will have slapstick humour in it. Americans love slapstick. They love Benny Hill. They bulk of Americans couldn't understand Alan Partridge / Knowing Me, Knowing You, or Brass Eye; it is simply too sophisticated.
On the bright side Seinfeld was a success and is actually funny. If they get The Office to that level it will be good.
Personally I prefer my shows without canned laughter or slapstick.
I'm going to watch the series of course, but having seen the BBC version it will have a great deal to live up to.
On the bright side Seinfeld was a success and is actually funny. If they get The Office to that level it will be good.
Personally I prefer my shows without canned laughter or slapstick.
I'm going to watch the series of course, but having seen the BBC version it will have a great deal to live up to.
Had a Yank from Iowa around for dinner the other evening and got talking about comedy programmes - we tried to explain The Office to her - she just didn't get it, so after dinner we sat her down and showed her the episode with the Brent dance - she thought that was hilarious, but just didn't get the rest of it, thought it was a proper documentary at first as it had no canned laughter.
We also showed her a bit of I'm Alan Partridge and that was met with similar blankness.
Ho hum. Asked what British comedy they get on US TV and she replied, 'Are You Being Served'!!! Noooooooooooooooooo. Though to be fair, they do get Blackadder and she liked that.
We are moving to Iowa in a month or so, so am stocking up on multi-region DVDs as I know I'll spend no time watching the generic drivel that is most US TV - hmm, another buddy cop/CSI show - yes please :freak:
We also showed her a bit of I'm Alan Partridge and that was met with similar blankness.
Ho hum. Asked what British comedy they get on US TV and she replied, 'Are You Being Served'!!! Noooooooooooooooooo. Though to be fair, they do get Blackadder and she liked that.
We are moving to Iowa in a month or so, so am stocking up on multi-region DVDs as I know I'll spend no time watching the generic drivel that is most US TV - hmm, another buddy cop/CSI show - yes please :freak:
sj78 said:
Had a Yank from Iowa around for dinner the other evening and got talking about comedy programmes - we tried to explain The Office to her - she just didn't get it, so after dinner we sat her down and showed her the episode with the Brent dance - she thought that was hilarious, but just didn't get the rest of it, thought it was a proper documentary at first as it had no canned laughter.
We also showed her a bit of I'm Alan Partridge and that was met with similar blankness.
Ho hum. Asked what British comedy they get on US TV and she replied, 'Are You Being Served'!!! Noooooooooooooooooo. Though to be fair, they do get Blackadder and she liked that.
We are moving to Iowa in a month or so, so am stocking up on multi-region DVDs as I know I'll spend no time watching the generic drivel that is most US TV - hmm, another buddy cop/CSI show - yes please :freak:
We get a bit more than that. In fact, we get "BBC on demand" now so that I can get a healthy dose of "Jeffisms" (Giggle loop, giant breast octopus, etc) whenever I want.
ErnestM
PS: The Arts and Entertainment channel over here also carries MI-5 as well, and the kids get Brum and all the other kid oriented stuff.
GavinPearson said:
The real problem I fear is that it will have slapstick humour in it. Americans love slapstick. They love Benny Hill. They bulk of Americans couldn't understand Alan Partridge / Knowing Me, Knowing You, or Brass Eye; it is simply too sophisticated.
Not necessarily-remember Frasier
JagLover said:
The real problem I fear is that it will have slapstick humour in it. Americans love slapstick. They love Benny Hill. They bulk of Americans couldn't understand Alan Partridge / Knowing Me, Knowing You, or Brass Eye; it is simply too sophisticated.
Not necessarily-remember Frasier
Frasier wasn't really that advanced though IMO - yes, the actors may have used a lot of long words, but you could see how the plot was going to go a mile off.
sj78 said:
GavinPearson said:
The real problem I fear is that it will have slapstick humour in it. Americans love slapstick. They love Benny Hill. They bulk of Americans couldn't understand Alan Partridge / Knowing Me, Knowing You, or Brass Eye; it is simply too sophisticated.
Not necessarily-remember Frasier
Frasier wasn't really that advanced though IMO - yes, the actors may have used a lot of long words, but you could see how the plot was going to go a mile off.
Frasier wasn't about the plot it was about the one liners-so it was verbal non slaptick humour
and if we are going too slag off American Comedy how about the Simpsons-At it's peak (a long time ago now) it was one of the greatest comedies ever (if not the greatest)
sj78 said:
Had a Yank from Iowa around for dinner the other evening and got talking about comedy programmes - we tried to explain The Office to her - she just didn't get it, so after dinner we sat her down and showed her the episode with the Brent dance - she thought that was hilarious, but just didn't get the rest of it, thought it was a proper documentary at first as it had no canned laughter.
We also showed her a bit of I'm Alan Partridge and that was met with similar blankness.
Ho hum. Asked what British comedy they get on US TV and she replied, 'Are You Being Served'!!! Noooooooooooooooooo. Though to be fair, they do get Blackadder and she liked that.
We are moving to Iowa in a month or so, so am stocking up on multi-region DVDs as I know I'll spend no time watching the generic drivel that is most US TV - hmm, another buddy cop/CSI show - yes please :freak:
The U.S. is so large that different parts are like "whole other countries". One area will have different people, food, climates, and scenery from another. That said, Iowa is about the most bland, "vanilla" place in the country....try to travel outside there if you get the chance! The food there is absolutely plain and uninspiring, therefore as a Brit, you will feel at home in that respect
jimbeaux said:
The food there is absolutely plain and uninspiring, therefore as a Brit, you will feel at home in that respect
hey!!
Don't slate British food-You can't beat Roast duck and roast vegatables
The American idea of great, interesting, cuisine is to find the hotest babercue sauce possible.
>> Edited by Jaglover on Wednesday 23 March 22:47
sj78 said:
Had a Yank from Iowa around for dinner the other evening and got talking about comedy programmes - we tried to explain The Office to her - she just didn't get it, so after dinner we sat her down and showed her the episode with the Brent dance - she thought that was hilarious, but just didn't get the rest of it, thought it was a proper documentary at first as it had no canned laughter.
We also showed her a bit of I'm Alan Partridge and that was met with similar blankness.
Ho hum. Asked what British comedy they get on US TV and she replied, 'Are You Being Served'!!! Noooooooooooooooooo. Though to be fair, they do get Blackadder and she liked that.
We are moving to Iowa in a month or so, so am stocking up on multi-region DVDs as I know I'll spend no time watching the generic drivel that is most US TV - hmm, another buddy cop/CSI show - yes please :freak:
You need to get yourself the Samsung multi region VCR - the SV5000. Here might be a place to try....
www.phoenixelectronics.com/
Jaglover said:
jimbeaux said:
The food there is absolutely plain and uninspiring, therefore as a Brit, you will feel at home in that respect
hey!!
Don't slate British food-You can't beat Roast duck and roast vegatables
The American idea of great, interesting, cuisine is to find the hotest babercue sauce possible.
>> Edited by Jaglover on Wednesday 23 March 22:47
No, here in Louisiana we will boil the hottest crawfish in the world....then, as to point, other parts of the US will see if they can find a way to tone down the flavor of water....there is no "norm" around the nation, it's across the board. BTW, had roast vegatables in a Gatwick hotel(Le'Meridian?)...EXCELLENT! >> Edited by jimbeaux on Thursday 24th March 01:19
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