The Prisoner : Please america?

STOP BUTCHERING OUR OLD PROGRAMS!!!!

There is a reason why english programs dont translate well into american, we are 2 very diverse and different countries.
Life on mars
Red Dwarf
Fawlty towers
men behaving badly
steptoe and son
upstairs downstairs

to name but a few, dont get me wrong im not trying to start an arguement here, most of my favourite tv shows are american, i just dont think you can take an idea and rewrite it to suit a completely different audience without killing the spirit of the original.

I know who you are! who are ya?

I am from America, and I 100% couldn't agree more. There has not been one single European to American remake television show that has been good. Yes, even the American version of The Office is utter trash. We have came up with some pretty good ideas on our own, leave the English shows to shine where they were created, and don't bring any of them here.


"Boris the Bullet Dodger, bent as the soviet sickle and harder then the hammer that crosses it."

I agree completely, I recently found there was an american version of the sketch show which is exactly the same sketches word for word but with americans, why is that neccisary?! We don't make all the american programmes more brittish we watch them as they are, I have no idea whos idea it is but everyone I've read comments from doesn't believe they should be remade including americans, its so strange

You're selling the rights to enable the remakes, or rather, someone is selling them. Take it up with them, tell them you'll pay them the same amount to not sell the rights to the characters and titles.

"You're selling the rights to enable the remakes, or rather, someone is selling them. Take it up with them, tell them you'll pay them the same amount to not sell the rights to the characters and titles."



Yes, every time I see complaint after complaint after complaint about how the world will end if a British series is remade, I will throw up.

I think that people who can't handle the "thought" that something might air here, should spend their time bidding to stop production.

Bad acting, and bad writing have a way of killing any production, so if everything *will* be as horrifying as the nay-sayers predict, then they have really nothing to fear-the series will be pulled immediately. No audience, no sponsors.

If, however, there is an audience, and the sponsors see fit to keep paying to keep it on the air, then there is always the option of turning off the tv.

I remember the sheer vitriol that appeared in almost every post *before* Life on Mars aired. I happened onto the British episodes that aired on BBC America on my cable line up last summer, and agreed that it was a good show. But to tear my hair out, because "Americans are so stupid" as to air a remake, which will cause a fate worse than deathI just couldn't see why people couldn't make up their own minds when it (gasp!) actually aired.

I think that 80 per cent of what is aired in the U S is not worth watching. But to spend my days and nights posting on those bulletin boards as to why it is a crime to produce those showsjust not worth it.

I, personally, think that the cast of this remake is first-class. So I will give it a chance.

All In the Family was a pretty good show back in the day

>>All In the Family was a pretty good show back in the day

Sanford and Son also.

The US Office is incredibly awesome.

You obviously have no clue as to what is a good show.

The Office is an acquired taste which you don't have. I didn't think the first few episodes I saw were funny, but looking back they were hilarious and I didn't know the characters. To find the Office funny, you need an understanding of the characters and their story. Watch 20 episodes (not recent, they haven't been very good) and see if it is still not a good tv show.

any show that requires you to watch 20 episodes to determine if it's funny or not well

It doesn't take 20 episodes to like the show, it takes 20 episodes to dislike the show.

The Office is a great show, amazingly well written, with great characters and fantastic story telling. If anything The Office has surpassed the British original. It's just a good, funny show. Best comedy on American network TV Right now.

Wanna Read a Funny Yet Poorly Drawn Web Comic? http://www.redneckcomics.8m.com

I think both versions of the Office are a waste of time, but that's just me.

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The US Office is incredibly awesome.

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The US version of The Office is incredibly asinine. The British version is only slightly less asinine.

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There has not been one single European to American remake television show that has been good.

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Life on Mars, Three's Company, Dear John, Sanford and Son, and The Office.

I just named five.

MEGAPODZILLA IS ON THE RAMPAGE!
www.MegaPodzilla.com

Eleventh Hour.

I first saw the US series and really enjoyed it, kept on noticing the mention of it based on a UK series in the intro so I managed to download it (all 4 episodes) and really enjoyed that too.

Shame the UK one was only 4 episodes, Patrick Stewart was good in it, and that both versions have been cancelled.

Saying what is and isn't trash just makes you all look like a bunch of jackasses. There are plenty of arguments for why The Prisoner and The Office are quite enjoyable. I like both the Brit and American versions, notice how I imply my opinion here. Not stating it like a fact.

I know this is a thread in "The Prisoner" but your Office reference made me have to comment back. I've seen both shows, thoroughly, and I can say that the American version of The Office is entirely superior to the English version. I would, in fact, have to say the English version (the original version) is utter trash as you so bluntly put it.

Now that I really think about all the remakes I've seen have been better via American than not. I don't know maybe quality production and story has tainted me all these years.

My only except is probably Red Dwarf. But then again I wasn't a fan what so ever.

I know my being American doesn't help the case but it just seems that, to me, American programming beats out the rest.

I will concede that English actors are awesome, great, wonderful. As good or better than their American counterparts in some cases. But when it comes to actual production value, America has it.


AMERICA! *beep* YEAH!

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"Yes, even the American version of The Office is utter trash."

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Your opinion is now void.

I and most ppl I know think the American version of the office is fantastic. I hear really good reviews of the English version of the Office so my girlfriend and I sat down to watch it. Watched about 4 episodes and couldnt stand it any longer.

An Aussy.

Yeah, and aussies spell Aussie "Aussy". Liar. Or illiterate.

I agree that most American adaptations of British TV shows are wretched. However, both "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son" were based on British TV series, and adapted to the American contexts of New York City and San Diego, respectively, with American characters, including Black and Latino people.

Some people need to learn to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL in writing or saying things like, "There has not been one single European to American remake television show that has been good," because whenever someone shows you one or two examples to the contrary, it makes them look like donkeys. So, put a paper bag over your head, and go and sin no more.

Statements like, "There has not been one single (whatever)," have specific meanings, so you cannot claim that you were just *beep*
DAW

Not only is the American "Office" vastly funnier, it is more subtle.

Here - let me sum up the funny bits in the British "Office" for anyone who hasn't seen it:

a) bad singing
b) gay jokes

But I suppose for a culture that still considers men dressing as women hilarious, that's all you Brits need to tickle your funny bone.


The Doctor is out. Far out.

"Not only is the American "Office" vastly funnier, it is more subtle. "

Subtle, are you havin' a laugh? Michael Scott is as subtle as Jack Black.

There's a lot more depth to the UK Office, but the US Office has improved quite a bit and is funny. A completely different style of humor, but not subtle by any means.

It's amusing that the only two responders to my comment are exclusively bashing the Michael Scott character - as if he is the only one in the entire show.

There are dozens of other characters. Therein lies the subtlety.


The Doctor is out. Far out.

Strangelove, of course you didn't see any subtlety in the UK office, it was too subtle for you! :D

If u can keep ur head when everyone around is losing theirs then u dont fully grasp the situation!

Bad singing and gay jokes? The UK "Office", where else?

And talk about your annoying managers. Gervais' character is infinitely more clueless, inappropriate and annoying than Scott.


The Doctor is out. Far out.

Gervais' character is SUPPOSE to be annoyingYou're suppose to watch the programmme - filmed in a documentary style and absolutely cringe at the thought that this guy rose through the ranks to management.
It's clear he has no managerial skills nor people skills for that matter.That is the irony of the UK version and that is why it is funny.

Gervais and Merchant wrote the script to be slap in the face cringeful and THAT is exactly how you feel watching it. The jokes are deeper and you really need to watch the body language of the team not just listen to the "jokes"

The USA is a younger country, it wears rose coloured glasses and because of it's adolescenceIt kinda needs it's humour to be more obvious and in your face.

Steve Carell is a FANTASTIC comedy actor (Probably with the exception of Evan Almighty!!!) and I totally agree with ALL the reasons why Gervais picked him for the roleHe plays "Dead pan" very well.

Now onto my point.Despite the a$$ kissing to Carell.the UK version is far superior to any of the remakes even though it's now 9 yrs old!

You just look ignorant when you make a ridiculous blanket statement like "There has not been one single European to American remake television show that has been good".
All in the Family (a remake of Till Death Do Us Part) was critically acclaimed and ran for 9 seasons.
Three's Company ( Man about the House) ran for eight seasons.
Trading Spaces (Changing Rooms) is hugely popular and has been on for years.
And, American Idol (which began as Pop Idol in Britain) is typically seen by 20 million people each season.
But the viewing tastes of millions of people must be wrong, because YOU say there's never been a good European remake show.

I enjoy the US "Shameless" version much more than the UK version. But yeah, other than that, I can't think of any other show we've redone which was better than the original UK version.

Dude, this is AMC. Settle the fck down.

Exactly, this is AMC with an amazing team This is not *beep* ABC.. Have a little faith this is gonna be good.

the american life on mars is good
you are a bit obsessed with original versions and probably dont know how to open up your mind to different interpretations
remakes are not meant to replace the originals, they are meant to be new interpretations from a different perspective
you really need to calm down


We're not going to Guam are we

The American version of Life in Mars is indeed a good adaption as was Sanford and Son(Steptoe and Son). I seem to remember a British newspaper a year or so ago doing the top-50 all time television shows and Sanford and Son was ranked in the top 25-30.

Most of the Remakes have absolutely NOTHING to do with "new interpretations". Remember "Funny Games". German Director Michael Haneke used the same settings, the same dialogue and the same names for the characters in his remake. The only "new interpretation" was, that Ulrich Mhe and his co-star were replaced by Tim Roth and Naomi Watts. Haneke even replaced the German Shepherd Dog by a Golden Retriever to show how rediculous the whole thing was.
What about the Wave of Asian-Horror-Remakes like "The Grudge"? Set in Japan, directed by the Original Director but with Sarah Mascara Gellar and Bill Pullman as Caucasian points of identification?
Face it: Americans can't stand to watch a movie without an American in it. So, who's now the one with a narrow mind???

Liam?

> Americans can't stand to watch a movie without an American in it. So, who's now the one with a narrow mind???

Don't mistake the studios with the American populous. Bond still does well over here (and I don't think we're only going to them to see Jeffrey Wright).

______________________________________
God bless America and the 'Ignore this User' link.
1-22-13

The American Queer as Folk was pretty good.

El sueo de la razn produce monstruos.

Hey why don't we Anglify something like 'Friends' and make it 'better' We could even rename it to something like 'Chums'!

Mates

I've just had to log in and then *verify* my account here. I've almost forgotten what I wanted to say when I clicked the reply button!

Anyway, don't send pleas to us here in the US to stop remaking shows like the Prisoner.

The new series of The Prisoner is a product of a monetary partnership betwixt the teeny-tiny US company AMC as partnered with the UK's ITV (ITC, it's father, owned the original The Prisoner). It is not an American remake.

Further, the writer for the new series is a Brit, Bill Gallagher, isn't he?

Perhaps if the series doesn't come off well one should blame the continent of Africa, where filming took place. Namibia and Cape Town, how dare you re-do The Prisoner?

The US company AMC had not much to do with it, besides putting up $$. That's what the US company CBS did way back in 1966 in order to get the original The Prisoner produced.

This time, Brits, you have no one to blame but yourselves for the new series: The Prisoner, as produced in 2009, is NOT an American remake of the original series.