American TV: Morons Ruining Great British Shows?

[FredGarvin]

"Coupling" was inspired by the American show "Friends" but the Brits were clever enough to know they had to make it "British." Then, the American producers tried to copy the copy, evidently not realizing that the American version of Coupling was ALREADY DONE!

I agree. The first time I watched coupling, the first thing I thought was "this is another Friends." However, I liked Coupling much more than Friends. The humor was better, the timing was better...all in all I think it was a better show. I rarely laugh out loud watching Friends (and regularly cringe at scenes). I laughed all the time at Coupling though.

I have never quite been able to put my finger on it when it comes to British humor. I am sure it has something to do with the combination of an expected European "uppity-ness" (not meant as a put down) and funny comedy combining to give something that is greater/funnier than it's parts. When Americans do comedy, we're expected to be rude, childish, etc... so when we do the same things, sometimes the humor just doesn't have the same impact. Just a theory on my part though. I had better stop trying to analyze this stuff.

I must say that my original rant was at the pure, blazenly in your face copying of foreign shows by American producers. How is it they can get away with it? I guess it's the same reason Hollywood can copy so many foreign movies and get away with it.

 

[Astronuc]

I must say that my original rant was at the pure, blazenly in your face copying of foreign shows by American producers. How is it they can get away with it? I guess it's the same reason Hollywood can copy so many foreign movies and get away with it.

Well, perhaps worse - remakes with different actors/actresses and the movies made into TV series.

Or TV shows made into movies.

And titles with 'The Movie' in them.

 

[FredGarvin]

I guess it never is a good sign when they feel that it's necessary to remind you that the movie is what you are watching and not the TV show.

 

[Chi Meson]

Sturgeon's Law: "90% of everything is crud"

Taken from an interview where the interviewer said that 90% of science fiction was crud. To which Ted Sturgeon replied, "Sure, 90% of science fiction is crud. That's because 90% of everything is crud."

I think that I agree with that (or, I agree with at least 90% of that).