Yes, I know that's why some pple won't get it. The idea, is to drift back and forth from dog reality to human reality. I wonder if this is shown in the UK? Surely the Brits will get it. Americans? doubt it, too cerebral. They'd be saying, 'That's a man in a suit.'
shareThe rights have been sold to the US, so whether or not they get it will soon be known. And how they interpret it.
Given the dog's breakfast (pardon the pun) they made of their Kath & Kim, I shudder to think.
Proud member of COW-DJ
This is even more Australian than K&K. Unless Comedy Central pick it up or The Office people. It may just be a man in suit.
shareIt's randomly on IFC
laughs are cheap, I'm going for gasps
Thus far, it doesn't look like they're going to do a weird US remake of Wilfred. IFC has just been airing the original episodes (which it claims are unedited, to boot).
shareThe entirety of the series aired on IFC (in America) this morning, and I thought it was the most hilarious thing I have ever seen. I realize I might not be a typical American, but seriously - there's nothing in the water that is going to make an entire nation more "cerebral" than any other nation.
shareWas it the first series or 1 and 2? So glad you found it hilarious.
shareSadly, only the first series. I didn't realize there was a second one - was it as good as the first?
shareThe second series has only recently finished here on TV. It takes Wilfred to another level. Let's say cerebrally existential, it explores Sarah and Wilfred's family past to the most achingly funny pathos. Many guest roles of other well known Aussie actors in animal suits including a cockatoo(galah) with a death wish. Wilfred struggles with his own mashed up mind games. Let's just say while it's a slow burn of funniness it will never let you off the hook. It's available on DVD (region 4 you need an all regions DVD-0)if you don't get the second series. Wilfred actually appeared on a TV awards night announcing best sports show, it was funny too. I guess my cynicism about Americans is that they did a version of Kath and Kim instead of showing the original Australian version and they destroyed it. Australian humour is sort of dry, it looks simplistic and yet the meaning is hidden and the idea is to sneak it past you before you get the joke. I would say though, Wilfred is deeper than mainstream Australian commercial TV. Check out the series 2 episode synopsis on this site.
shareWell, I must say the second series sounds amazing; I will definitely keep an eye out for it. I do have an all regions DVD player, so I'll probably end up buying both series sooner or later (vote with my pocketbook, so-to-speak).
And I can understand being cynical after an experience like that! I have to tell you that even I am cynical about the mainstream American film industry. It has gotten swollen to the point that oftentimes all they aim for is "mass appeal," so they can make as much money as possible - it doesn't matter if anybody likes it a lot, just so long as a lot of people like it at least a little.
You do have to wonder about what sort of studio/filmmaker/whatever would take a show (that is already in English, even) and buy the rights to re-film the whole thing. It's not a filmmaker with a great idea that he really wants to put to film, because it's somebody else's idea. It's not somebody who wants to introduce the US to this "awesome show" he saw, because otherwise he would just show the original episodes.
Who, then? It's somebody who saw a "formula" that has already proven successful, and therefore he sees it as a sure way to get a return on his investment. But of course, he also has to have the money and resources to buy up all the rights, and actually re-film everything - this means it is almost surely a mainstream studio. Thus, the remake usually aims more for the aforementioned "mass appeal," and consequently gets warped into something soulless and beyond recognition.
Agree wholeheartedly. This remake madness we are going through is ridiculous. It relies on a younger demographic believing anything made before they were born is not relevant, so it has to be remade.
I've just watched another TV series where 'Adam' plays a tabloid journalist- Lowdown.
'Sarah' has a bit part in it, she works in the office and has a one-liner every week . It's pretty good, but is let down by some of the support cast. 'Wilfred' Mark Gann, did another series-
Mark Love Sharon.
He plays an overpaid, over sexed football player, where he has to do these press conferences apologising for his latest misdemeanor-straight out of real life-very funny.
A show I am watching at the moment as I am into the World Cup -
Santo, Sam and Ed's Cup Fever.
It's made by Working Dog Productions who made films like The Castle, and The Dish. It's got some of the best Aussie comedians on it, and it sends up some of the soccer celebs. They have a channel on Youtube if you are into the WC.
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I think it's hilarious. I found myself looking at my dog in a completely different way - especially after the scene where someone's knocking on the door, and Wilfred starts off by grumbling something like "whooo iiiss iiit?", then goes on a raging tangent of expletives. So true.
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There are more than ten times more people in the US, full stop. You could have 90% less people in the US like it than the Australian percentage and still have more people in the US like it. Ie Comparing the number of people means nothing.
In any case they watered down Wilfred's character for the US version (he was more of a psychopath in the Aussie one) and spent more money on the production and actors. This removed the low-budget feel the Aussie one had, which was part of its charm.
I don't think this was done because Americans are dumber. It was designed to hit the largest audience possible, which meant dumbing it down slightly to try and it a larger part of the bell curve.
I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe
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There's nothing "cerebral" about either version. That's just sad if this is what's considered high-brow in Australia
How do you know what is considered high art in Australia. Do you know what high brow art is in Australia. Of course this is not what is considered high-brow- ie classical music.Cerebral means you have to operate on more than one level, that is, more than just a repetilian brain. Quite a lot of people can only operate on one level, that's why the American version is more simplistic. The Australian version is very subtle and resonates further into the Australian culture. I'm not surprised certain section of the population of other countries don't get it. On the other hand, a lot of people do get it.
"Americans? doubt it, too cerebral. They'd be saying, 'That's a man in a suit.' "
I assure you, THIS American gets it.
Thanks for perpetuating stereotypes. Though that's probably pretty easy for a criminal.
Which version?
shareHave only seen the US version - caught it on Netflix, and watched the first 10 episodes in a row.
I'd relish the opportunity to see the original series, though.
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I was mainly remarking on your generalization, and replying (jokingly) in kind with the "criminal" remark.
I hope that came through - I'd hate for it to have been misinterpreted by your Foster's-soaked brain.
The original short film was in a film Festival called Tropfest, and it's about a guy wanting to have a one night stand, but discovers a jealous dog that only he can talk to. It's on you/tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2bYHOvnfRY
Here's some highlights of the Australian series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF7PW3z0nQE&feature=related
The series had a cult following here in Australia. There is a marked difference to the two versions. The Australian humour is raw but also subtle, dry and subtextual, and Adam the guy, lives in lower socio economic part of Melbourne, Aust. Whereby the US version looks more polished and more well stated in it's message, although Wilfred's inner world is still under the surface. Elijah Wood's character believes he's talking to an Australian man in a dog suit. (As described by the female lead recently on Craig Ferguson!!) This defeats the premise of the original series, Adam, the guy, thinks Wilfred a real dog that only he can talk to.His owner Sara just tihnks he likes to act like a person.
You can catch most of the Australian series on youtube, but it's much better to see it in order, as it does have a development leading up to them going back to meet the girl's parents. You can buy the series on DVD, maybe you can get it on net flix.
Alas, the Australian series is not available on Netflix. Yet, anyway.
As far as the girl saying he thinks "he's talking to a guy in a dog suit," I just never thought that at all when watching it. Maybe I just "get it" differently, I guess...
I'll hafta watch the vids you linked. Thanks. No doubt they "cleaned it up" somewhat for American TV. They allus do stuff like that.
he's talking to a guy in a dog suitI don't think Ryan thinks he's talking to a guy in a dog suit. I think he knows Wilfred is a dog.
violachild2002 on Sat Apr 24 2010 07:49:51
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Yes, I know that's why some pple won't get it. The idea, is to drift back and forth from dog reality to human reality. I wonder if this is shown in the UK? Surely the Brits will get it. Americans? doubt it, too cerebral. They'd be saying, 'That's a man in a suit.'
I just want to point out that I'm American, and I LOVE the original Wilfred, and hate the American version. All watered down and prettied up, and none of the subtlety and cleverness of the original. So...put that in your pipe and smoke it. ;^)
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