Little Britain is to be completely remade for the US market by American broadcaster HBO.
Creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams will join American comedy writers and Simon Fuller, the British entertainment entrepreneur, in a bid to recreate versions of their hit characters for the US audience.
The team is hoping the adaptation will attract up to ten million viewers following a string of successful exports including The Office, and reality shows which have made Simon Cowell America's top earning television star.
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I don't know if this will translate. I also wonder about the need, the original is brilliant enough. How bad do you think this will be?
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11 comments:
They must be looking for really original American minorities to demolish in their political incorrect way, which is superb!
I don't miss it for anything in the world every Sunday evening, and I just laugh and laugh as a maniac.
I hadn't watched anything like that in many years...
I just think it works primarily because of the british sensibility. I'm not sure that will translate well.
I think it's hit or miss. Look at Coupling.
On the other hand, with so many cultural/racial/ethnic groups you've got, it will cause a shitstorm of controversy. Which, of course, equates to free publicity :)
... But wasn't «Queer as Folk» also translated? I just read in the French magazine «Têtu» it became a huge success in the USA, even more bold in some aspects than the British original itself. Have you watched it, Brian?
I tried watching the US QasF and I thought it was atrocious. It was a moderate success though as it introduced more nudity and became an outright soap opera.
In the same arena, the L Word was a much better program, better acting and better storylines, in my mind.
David, woo did Coupling ever bomb.
Dan, yeah that's true. It will be on HBO which means the audience will automatically be a bit brighter and high incomed, so that should help. Plus no FCC problems.
What network is going to broadcast this?
Little Britain has such a specifically British comedic sensibility. I can't imagine an American version -- unless it had the same British comedy style translated to American locations, which could actually be very interesting and I don't think has ever really been done before.
I won't bet on that interpretation though.
Ah, just re-read: HBO.
If anyone can do this properly, it's HBO. Here's hoping.
Hello hairybears!
I'm very glad I checked out your site from home. It's very, uplifting shall we say!
Mon, I agree HBO is probably the only ones who could do it but I don't know.
Little Britain has been steadily losing popularity in the UK for the last 2 years.
It's still quite a big bankable show, but the fanbase is smaller and a lot more critical than it was. The show is based on cliches and catchphrases, and that kind of forumula is inherantly limited. The Fast Show got stale the same way.
Maybe the American version will be a way to make it fresh again - new characters and cultures. Personally, I'm pessimistic.
I'm interested to see where they go with this. I'm new to the series, having only seen series 3, but I'm already skeptical. At least it will be on HBO...they'll be able to get away with a lot more.
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