I haven't been able to watch the new NBC version. From what I've read on here, no one seems to like it. Am I wrong?
(for the record, I'm a die-hard BBC Coupling fan)
You are correct. Nobody likes the NBC version. Well actually there probably are people who do like it (I mean there's always somebody who will like something no matter how horrible it is), but I haven't met anybody who has seen the BBC version and has liked the US version.
shareI'm a diehard BBC Coupling fan too, and I thought that the second episode of NBC's Coupling was better than the first (though the actors still need work on their comic timing, and the American actor playing Jeff will never be as good as Richard Coyle).
In fact, that episode was a hell of a lot funnier than the episode of Friends that aired the same night (Ross acts like a moron trying to pretend the Joey-Rachel thing doesn't bother him; Frank Jr. visits Phoebe with the triplets; Chandler and Monica consider adoption). That episode SUCKED!!!!! Not one single laugh in the whole damn episode! But enough about that show.
NBC's Coupling episode didn't have "doing the squelchy" (a Jeff-ism, obviously) or the American equivalents to Angus Deaton and Marianne Frost (would've been interesting to see who they chose if Steven Moffat hadn't skipped over that whole bit). I did like the replacement bit, with Steve mistaking the sound of Susan's electric toothbrush for her vibrator, as if he hadn't completely satisfied her.
I've been a fan of the BBC version for a while now. I recently watched the whole first series on DVD, and watching the NBC version can be painful at times.
Of all the actors, only Rena Sofer seems to have a handle on, and is comfortable with the character of Susan. The rest seem to be playing the roles very flat, although Lindsay Price's Jane is fairly good.
If they are following the BBC version episodes, the next up would be 'Inferno'. I just can't see Jay Harrington pulling off the speech Steve makes at the dinner party. I don't get the same feeling for the NBC Steve and Susan that I do for the BBC Steve and Susan.
I'm hoping for a 4th series of the BBC version. The way it stands now, I'd rather hang out with that group than the group on NBC...
The NBC version is absolutely unbearable. It really just seems like a Mad TV parody of the original "Coupling."
I know the people who make decisions at American TV stations think people won't be able to understand British dialogue, and choose to redo shows instead of simply importing them. The Brit shows that do make it over here seem pretty rare, and those don't seem to be present on the major networks. Arg.
I really wish they would have just bought the BBC show and broadcast it.
As someone who has never seen the BBC version... I rather like NBC's "Coupling." Granted, those who have seen the original will always prefer things the first time through, the same way most everyone prefers the original movie to a direct remake of the same movie.
But at least the American version brings the brilliant writing of the BBC team to the US and exposes the series to a whole new audience who never got to experience it before.
An object at rest cannot be stopped.
Good point, themakato.
shareI'd say good point too, except the "exposing it to new people" that gets done is more of "Coupling sucks!" than "Wow, that's a really good show, I wonder what the British one is like?" I think if anything it's giving Coupling a bad name.. now whenever I talk about Coupling, people say "What.. you mean that crappy Friends rip-off on NBC?" It's soo annoying!
Warning: I am about to totally rip/rant on the NBC version, lol (just my opinions!)
The acting is TERRIBLE. I'm not even saying it in comparison to the BBC version.. It is just absolutely TERRIBLE. I am reminded of a middle school play if anything. The worst thing is that since Coupling is a comedy show, the comic timing is one of the most important things.. but the comic timing here is way off.. sometimes the reactions to the jokes seem to be almost as though the actor read their stage direction off a cue card or something..
Jeff is not the same! The new Jeff is probably the worst actor out of the lot (except for Sally) and the ugliest too...BBC Jeff was so hysterical and cute and unique and bizarre! And LOVABLE! The US Jeff is more of a dork/loser/geek/virgin?? His sex talks now make no sense since he's obviously never hd any experience with women.. They've also had to take out some real gems for the sake of time (the NBC version is 10 mins shorter!) like the entire "unflushable" thing, which was the freaking title of the first BBC episode! As well as the celebrity marriages thing, etc..
It's weird knowing every line to the entire first season and hearing those lines coming out of other people's mouths and having the dialogue botched up.. The most annoying thing tho is prolly that they've ADDED stuff in, when supposedly for the sake of time they had to CUT stuff out! They completely ruined the giggle loop too! I mean just LOOK at my sig! LOL.. obviously I was pissed..
The thing I noticed was the NONE of the characters had any personality.. I mean there's a difference between just saying your lines, and actually breathing LIFE into the characters.. I'm not sure if its because the Brit actors were REALLY good or the US actors are just REALLY bad (though I suspect it's both), but the US characters have almost NO personality in comparison.. and they took out Sally's whole "getting old" obsession! I mean.. that was like her whole thing! Now the US Sally has NO purpose and is GOD AWFUL..
I think they just picked a bunch of "pretty faces".. I mean.. While the Brit actors were definitely attractive.. they were attracting in a natural way.. The US actors just seemed to have been prettied up.. just a bunch of makeup and ridiculously overdone hair.. don't even get me STARTED on Sally's hair.. anyway.. it would make sense if they picked these people solely for their talent.. but if they went that way, I don't think we'd have a cast at all! Also while both Susans are confident.. US Susan's confidence seems to be more on the bitchy and exaggerated side.. while BBC Susan was more on the nice, caring side.. The greatest example of this is how differently they say "Steve.. you're definitely getting lucky tonight.. just to take the pressure off.."
Also.. some of the dialogue changes I just cant understand.. do they think Americans don't know what fault means?? or humor? Verve? and yet they substituted diabolical for evil? Come ON! and Sally seems to have the worst lines "I hope it has all three!" oh god. I'm not buying their "we changed the dialogue because Americans can't understand British" excuse..
Also, I've noticed that some of the humor is WAY more obvious.. I guess NBC thinks the average American is stupid..There's no more subtle humor or run-on jokes.. tragedy
there's no reason why they shouldn't have just brought the BBC version here.. the only one I can think of is for time reasons.. but in that case.. why do it at all? the US is always trying to rip off British shows for easy money it seems.. I guess they think that all you need is a good script and you're guaranteed some laughs.. NBC must not realize that a good joke is all in the delivery. I'm sure they could have worked something out with the time issue.. I mean Late Night shows start at random times (12:45 for example) I think it's worth it to get a great show. Also, although some words in British can be offensive (fag=cigerettes for example) I actually don't think I've heard them say fag on BBC Coupling anyway, so thats a poor excuse too. And they could either edit it out or dub it for that ONE line anyway.
All these horrible things MIGHT have been redeemed though if NBC had either changed the name of the show, so no bad publicity would go to the BBC version (since its awful to call it the same show anyway..) OR if NBC could at LEAST have the decency to advertise for the BBC Coupling DVD thats out.. which might open up some people to the original version..
even down to the new theme song I just get so mad! (Look at this enormous rant!) But truth be told, I can't stop watching it! (Not as in I'm addicted.. more as in like watching a train wreck..)I keep watching to see what they'll mess up next, lol.. I guess I'm a masochist.. (don't tell me I don't have to watch it if I don't like it!)I don't know if I want this one to get canceled as soon as possible..or to just hope to god that it can only get better.. (certainly can't get any worse.. :P)
Please forgive me for this huge rant.. It relieves stress I guess, lol
~Rhea
"To know about the Giggle Loop is to become part of the Giggle Loop" -Jeff
See, I've watched the two first episodes so far and I don't dislike it all that much. Like with any new show, there is some awkwardness between the characters. I mean, that can even be noted in the first episode of the UK version. Even with the British actors, in the first episode, some of the comic timing is slightly off; here, I'm thinking of "no matter what anyone thinks, I'm not completely shAVED!" and "What do I have to do? Beg? Show a Breast." It doesn't make it unfunny, just a little awkward because the actors and characters don't have the proper chemistry yet. Look at the first season of any show, really.
I think a mistake a lot of people are making is comparing it to the letter to the BBC's show. Two different networks are catering to two completely different audiences. Different nuances have to be delivered, and eventually, the US version's characters will develop in their own way, and the writers can be more creative with them. Take the character Jeff for example... On the BBC, the joke is that he's Welsh. No matter what he says or does, it comes down to the way he behaves as a Welshman. What's the American equivalent of that? I personally think it would be a mistake and a disgrace to replicate Jeff entirely. And that's not what NBC is doing. They're making him the doofy and dorky best friend/sidekick, with an eccentric side and a wandering mind. Once the actor gets into his character a bit more, there'll be a new interpretation of Jeff (cause there are no 2 Richard Coyles in this world)--- sans the initial first season awkwardness. They also need to make Patrick more smooth (like in the UK version, when he pours drinks for guests) he's too macho right now. Jane is just sweet, pretty, and stupid... not much to work on. Susan is fine, I think... maybe not saucy enough. Sally's good too; the un-sexy chick with potential. I like US Steve, too; he plays off the other characters pretty well.
So like I said, it's important not to compare the two shows to one another (if you want to enjoy them both). The BBC version has British wit, British political subtext, British culture innuendos. Likewise, the NBC version will have American puns, American political parody, and American pop culture references. Bottom line... They can make the show better, but as of now, it's not all that bad. I find it funnier than Will and Grace. And as for it being another "Friends," the answer is simple: no (not at all!), but they need to keep that huge audience of horny twenty-somethings for when Friends goes off the air. Television is a business; it's all about your audience.
I got the chance to fall in love with the BBC Coupling about a year ago when I lived out of the country. Now I didn't get all the British references (took me forever to realise Tory was something to do with politics, and I still don't know what the Crippin's are), but I did care a lot about the characters, the actors who played them, and the laughs I got from the show.
Now while I am somewhat disappointed with the US casting ogf Coupling, I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. I'm reminded of the old show "The Dukes of Hazzard" (bare with me) for example. In the season that Bo and Luke left, we were given Coy and Vance as replacements. In reading about the new casting, producers gave the two new actors copies of the older shows and were told to mimic Bo and Luke as best as possible. They (the producers) seemed to think that was all it took. They were wrong.
This is where I credit the NBC version of the show. While the actors have respect for the original characters, they're putting there own spin on it.
I think NBC Steve is good as the nervous worrying about what he is gonna say type. I feel like that guy is smaller looking than BBC Steve, and thus it seems normal for him to act kinda cowardly at times.
Susan doesn't really do it for me. She's a little too independent woman acting, and the actress who plays her I don't find all that attractive. She looks too much like Xena.
Jane seems to be a funny character, like many have said a bit more ditsey than BBC Jane, but it works for her character.
Patrick so far seems like a rock, he never even changes his voice pitches or facial expressions or anything, which it makes sense to do in some dialogue.
I am also a bit disappointed in Jeff. The actor who plays him is too well groomed to try and act so poorly at dealing with women and such. I always saw BBC Jeff as the "Screech" of the group, a real freak, but you love him. NBC's Jeff seems to much like a pop culture junky. Just there to explain his crazy theory and get out.
Sally, well this one bothers me a lot. BBC's Sally is kinda cute and all, but is easily the least attractive of the ladies. NBC's Sally is smoking, and I'm sorry, but the hottest one should not be reduced to a side character. When I hear BBC Sally worrying of getting older, it makes sense to me that she would because she's already looking up there. NBC's Sally is too young looking, and too attractive to have to worry about such a thing for a while yet. But I wonder how she would handle a bigger role, somethings she kinda just barks out her lines and they don't have the "umph" of the original.
Overall, I think the worst thing that cripples NBC's Coupling is the rushed feeling I get when I watch it. They seem to be flying through the scenes as fast at they can. Get to the joke and get out!! That seems to be the style of the show. With that sort of speed, no wonder we can't embrace the characters and situations as much. I knew all the characters and what there quirks were first episode with BBC...on NBC I'm still learning. As I say it took a while to discern Steve's style, but now I got it. When NBC cuts to American humor, I do laugh. For example in the first episode when Jeff who had yet to meet Patrick asked for a condom and Sally said "aren't you gonna ask what it's for?" and Patrick saying, "I don't know who he is, but I know what it's for," that was funny. And there are some other scenes that do well with the different text. But in the last episode with the funeral, the Resivor Dogs bit seemed squashed from it's original brilliance to simply something to do for a laugh.
I hope people take the time to get to know BBC's Coupling, but I wish the networks would give NBC's Coupling a chance to find it's feet before hitting the panic button. After all, they once had a show that had a whole first season of terrible ratings, but it turned out to be a huge show with a ten year run. It's name...Cheers.
Give it longer than three weeks NBC!! And you too America!!
Dr. Crippen poisoned his wife, supposedly so that he could be with his mistress -- this, I believe happened in the early 20th century. It was a very notorious case in England.
shareI love it, I like the Brit version too, but the NBC version is one of their better sitcomes ever. Just never really given a chance to shine like Working or the Steven Weber show, or even Ned and Stacy.
People when you bash the pilot of the NBC version, please keep in mind that it is the same writter and director as the BBC version.
-I hope people take the time to get to know BBC's Coupling, but I wish the networks would give NBC's Coupling a chance to find it's feet before hitting the panic button. After all, they once had a show that had a whole first season of terrible ratings, but it turned out to be a huge show with a ten year run. It's name...Cheers.-
Cheers - 12 year run. And I totally agree. Most of the people who dislike the show are avid fans of the BBC version. But this is the U.S. version with jokes and characters tweaked to U.S. enjoyment. AND......as a lot of people should know, one of NBC's best shows of all time came in last in the ratings for its first four episodes. Can you say Seinfeld....I knew you could.
Peace
Similar story in the UK 'Only Fools and Horses' and 'Blackadder' probably others as well. Sitcoms sometimes need more time to develop before they hit their stride or just 'gel'.
sharei liked the NBC version too and im sad that they took it off the air
shareI loved the NBC version (true...I never saw the BBC version). But I thought it was hysterical!!!!! I'm trying to find someone who has the NBC episodes on tape. I would be happy to pay for a copy to be made and for shipping. Let me know. Thanks! My e-mail address is [email protected].
shareI liked the US version, even though I'd known the UK version first and think it was far superior. In any event, the US version never stood a chance and NBC's lack of faith in it (numbing in-your-face promotion instantly followed by cancellation after 4 episodes were broadcast) was the stake in the coffin. The final episode to air, which was the best (and was not ripped off from the UK script) proved that the show had some potential to get better if it was given some room to grow... and time to get away from the series on which it was based. In typical fashion, NBC wasn't that patient.
And macrossotaku, "Ned and Stacy" aired on FOX, not NBC. All three of the series that you mentioned, by the way, were left with a ton of episodes that never got aired during their network runs (along with "Stark Raving Mad," "Fired Up," "The Naked Truth," "The Single Guy," "Boston Common," "Leap of Faith," currently "Good Morning Miami" -- I could go on and on here...).
As for it being the same writer/director in the Pilot of "Coupling" that aired, you're not totally right. Stephen Moffat was credited as the writer for three of the four episodes (though I would guess that there were some other writers involved to de-Britishize it). Whether or not it had Moffat's involvement, they'd have to list him, since 9/10 of the dialogue was swiped from his scripts. Andy Weyman (a US sitcom director) directed the show. The ORIGINAL pilot, which was not broadcast, had a heavier involvement from the British team, most of whom were fired because NBC just didn't get the show. The original pilot episode was based on the UK "(Lesbian Spank) Inferno" episode.
Okay, so first of all, I have never seen the British version (or the original) but I have to say that I really liked this show!!!!! I wish that they wouldn't have cancelled it. I think that a show should at least have a whole season to gain some audience favor.
Although, I know that part of the reasons why it was not that popular is because it was so risky. But anyway, I think that it was a good show, and I was really sad to see it cancelled.
BTW, did you know that Regis Filbin's daughter was involved in the production of the show?