What the fuck American television?

[n00b1n8R]

First you guys shit all over Cath and Kim (not that C&K was ever good but you found a way to make it worse), then you steal life on mars.

LIFE ON FUCKING MARS
IS NOTHING SACRED

:smithicide:

ITT: rage at the American television companies for being incapable of coming up with original ideas and instead looking to the video game industry for ways to create "new" titles and taking it a step further.

[FlyingStone]

I don't even watch tv anymore. I turn it on for, re-runs of SG1, NCIS, House and maybe during commercials I look at the discovery channel.

Life on Mars... seriously.

[n00b1n8R]

Fuck off, LOM was badass.

Unless your life has no meaning and you didn't see the origional UK series. In which case, here's a quick summary which will be coppied to the letter by the US series (THEY'VE EVEN DRESSED THE CHARACTERS THE SAME):


Pommy cop in 21st century london gets hit by car
Pommy cop from 21st century london wakes up in the 70's
Drunk angry pommy cop from 70's gets up to awesome shit kicking back all oldschool style and busting badguy balls (literally)
Pommy cop from 21st century doesn't like drunk cops methods and tries to do shit 21st centruy, read: by the book, read: HERESY
Awesome plots and mental wtf'ery with dashes of humor and copius amounts of fuckwin
Spoilers

[rossmum]

I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME THING

It's like they have to take perfectly good shows and then destroy them completely by making them American before they'll even consider watching them. I watched about 5 seconds of their version of Cath & Kim and it's not even fucking close, so I don't know why they even kept the name. Life on Mars owned, and the Americans went and fucked with it.

LEAVE FOREIGN SHIT ALONE, WE DON'T RUIN YOUR SHOWS WITH REMAKES.

[DaneO'Roo]

Yeah, the US can't leave foreign shit alone :downs:

[n00b1n8R]

The script was rewritten, with permission of the original creators, to remove the "unsatisfying" ambiguity of Sam's story in favor of a "mythological element" and "deeper mystery".
AMERICAAAAAAAAA :gonk:

[Bodzilla]

AMERICAAAAAAAAA :gonk:
fuck yeah.

but i agree entirely, they need to stop making american shows, seriously.
omg friends is the most horrible piece of garbage ever :gonk:

also now n00b, do you see the reason why i didnt watch LIFE.
i knew what it would come to.

It's american.

[n00b1n8R]

omg friends is the most horrible piece of garbage ever :gonk:
Yeah, 2.5 duders has nothing on that shitfest.

[Bodzilla]

I believe this can be summed up with this simple, yet elegant graph.

pay attention!
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/bodzilla_1/AmericanTV.jpg

As you can see here there is an direct correlation between the quantity of American, humor, sarcasm, plot and originality to the degree of how much a show fails on epic proportions.

If this trend continues then it will have Dire circumstances and an ever increasing amount of friends airtime. If this comes to pass, may god have mercy on our souls.
Prepare for unforeseen consequences.

[MetKiller Joe]

You pay for cable right? Ask for your money back, and cancel your subscription. You are obviously paying for something you do not wish for anymore, and your money will therefore will give you more of a benefit if invested somewhere else.

Nobody is forcing you to watch it. If the "amount of epic fail" is rising, then stop watching. Read a book, study, go outside, ride a bike. The myriad of things you can do without TV is amazing.

I mean imagine how horrible life must have been without TV before the 1950s and 40s! God, what would you do instead of watching TV?

[FlyingStone]

work

[FRain]

I believe this can be summed up with this simple, yet elegant graph.

pay attention!
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/bodzilla_1/AmericanTV.jpg

As you can see here there is an direct correlation between the quantity of American, humor, sarcasm, plot and originality to the degree of how much a show fails on epic proportions.

If this trend continues then it will have Dire circumstances and an ever increasing amount of friends airtime. If this comes to pass, may god have mercy on our souls.
Prepare for unforeseen consequences.


This graph is doing it wrong.

L2 independent & dependent variable.

Also, I don't even have TV at my house so I don't really watch. I just listen to KZOK every morning. :awesome:

[Limited]

Wait, so its not that there airing the UK version in US.

They stole the idea, and made a US version of it? WTF? LoM is a classic, if you take out the British oldness of it, the story is empty. You take out Gene Hunt and you lose the punchlines.

America has a damn reputation of this though.

American Gladiators
American Idol
Deal or No Deal
American Big Brother (although UK did steal it from Holland :P)
American Inventor
Cracker
The Office
Survivor

Thats just off the top of my head.

[Rob Oplawar]

At least we can be proud of Top Gear! Owait...

[rossmum]

There are still good shows coming out of the US (House and Dexter to name two of the best), but it's hard to argue when they're getting swamped in an ever-growing sea of utter shite (most of which gets dumped on other countries). Stupid people the world over watch it, and so they just make more. This includes shitty rip-offs.

Why did we have to prevent natural selection by introducing warning labels and obvious safety regulations?

[sdavis117]

I don't even watch tv anymore. I turn it on for, re-runs of SG1, NCIS, House and maybe during commercials I look at the discovery channel.


Same here. Most stuff on TV is crap. Except for the shows you named.

What I find weird is that I only discovered NCIS and House like 4 months ago.

[Limited]

There are still good shows coming out of the US (House and Dexter to name two of the best), but it's hard to argue when they're getting swamped in an ever-growing sea of utter shite (most of which gets dumped on other countries).
Oh the US does have some of the best tv shows in the world. Lost, 24, Prison Break, Scrubs, FG.

Also house is ridiculous, I cant watch it because of his stupid American accent, when I see Hugh Laurie, I see him as British with this really British accent. Him doing an American accent is completely bizarre and ruins it.

Also, whats the deal with the TV/picture adverts? Its ALWAYS just a picture of all the actors standing around like a bunch of fools.

[rossmum]

Doesn't bother me. I don't really care about accents unless it makes or breaks the show (C&K).

[Limited]

Doesn't bother me. I don't really care about accents unless it makes or breaks the show (C&K).
But did you watch Blackadder? Thats basically Hugh Lauires career starter, his main show. After seeing that I cant see him doing anything un-british lol.

[LinkandKvel]

Your forgetting the chapelle show. Also Bod why use "friends" to describe our TV viewing? I see you found the possibly WORST example of an american show.

[ICEE]

Not all American TV is bad. Or at least, not all American TV is worse than the rest of TV. No matter where its from, shows never seem very original or innovative to me. The best shows in my opinion are the ones that satire the news and current events and stuff

:colbert:

[StankBacon]

ugh

[DaneO'Roo]

After seeing that I cant see him doing anything un-british lol.


Your forgetting the chapelle show.


Wow :rolleyes:

[El Lobo]

Seinfeld.

Also,


America has a damn reputation of this though.

American Gladiators
Survivor

These shows aired in the U.S. before the U.K.

[Bodzilla]

You pay for cable right? Ask for your money back, and cancel your subscription. You are obviously paying for something you do not wish for anymore, and your money will therefore will give you more of a benefit if invested somewhere else.

Nobody is forcing you to watch it. If the "amount of epic fail" is rising, then stop watching. Read a book, study, go outside, ride a bike. The myriad of things you can do without TV is amazing.

I mean imagine how horrible life must have been without TV before the 1950s and 40s! God, what would you do instead of watching TV?
pay for TV?

ya'll must be joking heh.
no i dont pay for "cable", and i barely watch TV anymore. I just spend my time drawing graphs and posting on modacity :v:

[FlyingStone]

Graphs?

[Bodzilla]

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/bodzilla_1/AmericanTV.jpg
gentlemen.

[Malloy]

that graph is epic win.

[Heathen]

Duuude. Seinfeld sucks.

Also, Scrubs wins.

Idc about your LoM. Never heard of it.

[itszutak]

Battlestar Galactica is good :smith:

[n00b1n8R]

You pay for cable right? Ask for your money back, and cancel your subscription. You are obviously paying for something you do not wish for anymore, and your money will therefore will give you more of a benefit if invested somewhere else.
You must be new to the concept of not getting ripped off. Only idiots pay to watch television.

You take out Gene Hunt and you lose the punchlines.
Who said anything about taking Hunt out? It's a total ctrl+C ctrl+V job.


There are still good shows coming out of the US (House and Dexter to name two of the best), but it's hard to argue when they're getting swamped in an ever-growing sea of utter shite (most of which gets dumped on other countries).
But they're slowly killing house too. :gonk:


Your forgetting the chapelle show. Also Bod why use "friends" to describe our TV viewing?
Because it was one of your highest rating shitcoms?


Duuude. Seinfeld sucks.

Sienfeld was one of America's greatest contributions to global culture.

[Dwood]

Oh the US does have some of the best tv shows in the world. Lost, 24, Prison Break, Scrubs, FG.
Notice, most of those amazing shows were conceived by Fox. :XD:

(hughie)
Him doing an American accent is completely bizarre and ruins it.
FOR YOU. I quite like his American Voice. It fits the character that is "House"



See above.

[LinkandKvel]

Wow :rolleyes:

What? That wasn't even directed at him.

[LinkandKvel]

Seinfeld was one of America's greatest contributions to global culture.lol Kramer. I forgive Micheal Richards for this reason.

[Jean-Luc]

I agree with a lot of this, but America does still have some good TV shows imo.

24
Scrubs
2 1/2 Men
Law and Order

Yes, tis true we "stole" a lot of British TV. I do find that there is at least one successful port. Whose Line is it Anyway is the SHIT :awesome:

[Kornman00]

LEAVE FOREIGN SHIT ALONE, WE DON'T RUIN YOUR SHOWS WITH REMAKES.
I enjoy The Office (US) very much. However I've never seen The UK version.

Maybe you guys should try watching Lost, Prison Break, The Unit, CSI, MacGyver, Dexter, etc etc. All American, and all awesome. You're countries arent the only ones who know how to make cool tv shit.

You're also forgetting that we all have different cultures. Hence, we're going to produce different sorts of TV dramas since well...we're not all in the same land, speak the same language, have the same rituals...we're just not all the same. You're basically bashing America for being America when you posted this thread.

[CN3089]

Battlestar Galactica is good :smith:
co-production with the UK and Canada, doesn't count http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/CN3089/Emoticons/emot-nyoron.gif


p.s. the us version of the office is superior, steve carrell supremacy http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/CN3089/Emoticons/emot-911.gif

[rossmum]

I enjoy The Office (US) very much. However I've never seen The UK version.

Maybe you guys should try watching Lost, Prison Break, The Unit, CSI, MacGyver, Dexter, etc etc. All American, and all awesome. You're countries arent the only ones who know how to make cool tv shit.

You're also forgetting that we all have different cultures. Hence, we're going to produce different sorts of TV dramas since well...we're not all in the same land, speak the same language, have the same rituals...we're just not all the same. You're basically bashing America for being America when you posted this thread.
That's not the point. The point is that specific shows which are ruined by making them anything other than what they were before are being fucked about with, and since Channel Ten is allergic to anything not imported from America a few years ago, we end up having horribly mutilated versions of shows we can identify well with rammed back down our throats like they're anything other than an abomination.

[n00b1n8R]

You're also forgetting that we all have different cultures. Hence, we're going to produce different sorts of TV dramas since well...we're not all in the same land, speak the same language, have the same rituals...we're just not all the same. You're basically bashing America for being America when you posted this thread.
And hence the American version of Cath and Kim was a massive flop. I'm aiming my rants at the television producers with the lowest common denominator and never push the envelope attitudes.

E: fuck, ross said it better.

[Kornman00]

The point is that specific shows which are ruined by making them anything other than what they were before are being fucked about with, and since Channel Ten is allergic to anything not imported from America a few years ago, we end up having horribly mutilated versions of shows we can identify well with rammed back down our throats like they're anything other than an abomination.
Again, of course they're not going to be exactly how they were before due to American film industry members targetting them torwards what statistics say America wants. Not what Aussies living in America or Aussies investigating American tv want. Hence you can't identify with because you're not American.

[n00b1n8R]

And they still manage to fail at producing a show popular anywhere!

Whatever do you make of that good sir?

[StankBacon]

just curious, what good tv has come out of Australia?

[rossmum]

Again, of course they're not going to be exactly how they were before due to American film industry members targetting them torwards what statistics say America wants. Not what Aussies living in America or Aussies investigating American tv want. Hence you can't identify with because you're not American.
C&K (this is the best example) is so completely Australian that it just doesn't work as anything else. If they want the bloody show at all, then why go and change it so much that it doesn't even barely resemble the original? Wouldn't that defeat the whole purpose of wanting to watch that show specifically? Why not just go make a new one that is American to begin with rather than removing the only thing which made the show what it was?

And Bacon, is that some straw-clutching I see? I'm not saying American shows are shit as a rule; they're not, and shows like House stand as shining examples. This is about shows being essentially destroyed just to suit an American audience, not which country makes the best shows. Stay relevant or don't comment.

[Malloy]

just curious, what good tv has come out of Australia?


Neighbours, Skippy, Rolf Harris related TV, Kylie Minogue on Neighbours :D, Home and Away, Flight of the Conchoreds, Crocodile Hunter, Crocodile Dundee, Croc Files, Worlds most dangerous Reptiles.

BARE GOOD TV.

[LinkandKvel]

Crocodile Hunter, Crocodile Dundee, Croc Files, Worlds most dangerous Reptiles.

What? Other than those I haven't even HEARD of the other ones.

[Anton]

Shows aren't literally destroyed in a sense. They are only redesigned to fit a new audience. Something we find interesting here may be total shit to another country and the same the other way round.

However, a lot of the things Airing on the American Networks are total shit for ANY person. I have no clue how they even survive.

[ICEE]

Sienfeld was one of America's greatest contributions to global culture.
And Australia's greatest contribution got stung in the heart by a sting ray.

Case closed

Rest his soul

[Mass]

See above.
We don't dislike Fox because it produces entertainment. We dislike it because it produces nothing else.

[Malloy]

Fox News is also rediculously biased too, its laughable compared to BBC.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4Z4D5CgW8


goto 3:51

[El Lobo]

American shows are better than anything produced in Australia, agreed.

:lobo:

Also, British humor isn't exactly my thing (not saying it's bad), but I much prefer The U.S. Office compared to the U.K., Steve Carrell is a stud.

[rossmum]

MY COUNTRY IS BETTER THAN YOUR COUNTRY
man, this thread

[CN3089]

man, this thread
See I would agree with you but it's a fact that Australia sucks and America is objectively better, so

[rossmum]

See I would agree with you but it's a fact that Australia sucks and America is objectively better, so
If the government wasn't so invariably useless and out-of-touch it'd be so much less shitty

[Bodzilla]

I enjoy The Office (US) very much. However I've never seen The UK version.

Maybe you guys should try watching Lost, Prison Break, The Unit, CSI, MacGyver, Dexter, etc etc. All American, and all awesome. You're countries arent the only ones who know how to make cool tv shit.

You're also forgetting that we all have different cultures. Hence, we're going to produce different sorts of TV dramas since well...we're not all in the same land, speak the same language, have the same rituals...we're just not all the same. You're basically bashing America for being America when you posted this thread.
Refer to chart.

end post.
:haw:

[PopeAK49]

WHATS NEXT! Alaska becomes a state and there gov. becomes a republican vp nominee. O..Wai.

Anyways who care! Every country copies off shows from other countries.

[ICEE]

man, this thread

Hey, thats essentially what Noobinater was trying to say anyways.

[n00b1n8R]

Hey, thats essentially what Noobinater was trying to say anyways.
No it wasn't.
I was saying that American TV producers invariably go out of their way to shit over things that were perfectly fine before hand.


Neighbours, Skippy, Rolf Harris related TV, Kylie Minogue on Neighbours :D, Home and Away, Flight of the Conchoreds, Crocodile Hunter, Crocodile Dundee, Croc Files, Worlds most dangerous Reptiles.

BARE GOOD TV.
BAD
If you were refering to the radio series, that was produced in the UK. If you meant the TV series, then that was made in the US. The band is from New Zealand, hth.

I'm actually having difficulty of thinking of decent Australian shows. Was Underbelly any good?

[Bodzilla]

didn't see it sadly.

Rush was good, and so was the show the Surgeon, white collar blue.
but alas i'm stuck on 10 or nothing basically.
10 has some good shows but sadly they dont go out of their way to bring many aussy shows in.

[rossmum]

Apparently Underbelly owned, I think it's coming on again so I'll see if I can catch it

[Limited]

Also, British humor isn't exactly my thing (not saying it's bad), but I much prefer The U.S. Office compared to the U.K., Steve Carrell is a stud.
I agree, Steve is hilarious, dwight has some of the best lines in tv. I love the whole Jim vs Dwight thing. UK version was great, but US version really cracked the formula and improved it.

Neighbours? Pfft. They ALWAYS use the same fucking hospital room for ANY of the characters when they are ill is hilarious. Neighbours is only good for one thing, a few hotties. (My housemate Sky+'s the show, boy would I love to delete them all)

Underbelly, been in production for 10 years of something crazy like that, it was too obesene for tv. Plus they keep using the same damn advert on FX for it, the guy always goes "Well, I wouldnt call it a war".


Fox News is also rediculously biased too, its laughable compared to BBC.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4Z4D5CgW8
goto 3:51

Do you mean 4:35+? Cuz that is hilarious when he talks about the Fox guy running.

[Gwunty]

And Australia's greatest contribution got stung in the heart by a sting ray.

Case closed

Rest his soul
he died like he lived,

with animals in his heart

[n00b1n8R]

This isn't the underbelly you're thinking of.

[Gwunty]

what?

[Kornman00]

I started watching this show (the US version) this past Sunday and just finished watching it now. I think they did an awesome job with the show and picked the right cast.

Of course I've never watched the UK version or Ashes to Ashes so I can't compare the two, but that still doesn't subtract from the fact that it was a pretty awesome show in itself. Sure, the ending scene of the finale could have been done better, but since it was due for cancellation (which caused the ending re-write in the first place) I can deal with it.

Thought Sam did ask a good question...why does it always come back to David Bowie :downs:?

[n00b1n8R]

Oh god the ending made me "D:" at the tv. :gonk::gonk::gonk:

You can't compare the two versions, the british one is just better in every way (and the origional cast > the yank version)

Though I spose it was altered to cater to an american audience so you may still prefer your version (too deep for you???)

[Kornman00]

You can't compare the two because they ended up being two different stories

Of course we're both going to end up siding with our culture's version either way, so there is no real point in arguing which is better. However, they did a good job on the TV show.

[UnevenElefant5]

he died like he lived,

with animals in his heart
That is horrible.
I lol'd, but it's horrible.

[EX12693]

I'm american. I like the british vversion better.

[JERK]

You can't compare the two because they ended up being two different stories
you can still compare them because the british one had actually good acting in it and the american one did not

infact the writing in general is superior in the british version (which fucking owned)

[n00b1n8R]

You can't compare the two because they ended up being two different stories
They were literally photocopies of each other in the overal plots and general events of the episodes actually :realsmug:

right up untill HURF DURF MARS LOL

[Kornman00]

you can still compare them because the british one had actually good acting in it and the american one did not

Explain how the american one didn't have "good" acting please

[n00b1n8R]

Explain how the american one didn't have "good" acting please
I think he's refering more to the protrayal of the characters. They were different people and tbh I just liked the personalities/dynamics a lot better in the UK version (you cannot compare US Hunt to UK Hunt, possibly one of the awesomest characters on TV)

[JERK]

Explain how the american one didn't have "good" acting please
ok this is kind of hard to explain to people who haven't watched both versions but I'll do my best

you know how there's a US & a UK version of The Office, right? well they both have completely different casts (of course) but they both manage to stand up v. well on their own because both versions have terrific actors who portray the characters in their own unique style see Steve Carell & Ricky Gervais playing the main character of their respective TV series, & as such either one is amazing

but if you look @ the 2 actors who portray the main character in Life on Mars (John Simm in the UK version & Jason O'Mara in the US version), you'll see that both actors are portraying more or less the exact same character with no regard given to their personal acting style, so the original actor (the 1 who played the role first) is the superior 1 (just like how Sean Connery is the best James Bond)

although this is mostly based on whichever one you saw 1st and since you saw the American version 1st I can't do much to sway your opinion but if you watch the UK version you should be able to notice that version of Sam Tyler is superior (if you have functional eyes + ears)

[TeeKup]

The UK version of The Office is amazing.

[Kornman00]

While it is true that I've never seen the UK version, to me at least (as a new comer to the story), it doesn't take away from the fact that the actors did a pretty good job portraying persona's from the 1970s NY (hell, even the music sometimes has that cheesy 70s theme tang to it).

To me, if an actor can perform a convincing act to portray the character, they're doing their job. Yes, in this case Jason (if I understood you right) may have been completely redoing what John did...but it initially started off as a remake of the story just set in an American frame of reference. The Mars ending was to wrap up the story after they concluded that the show wasn't taking off in America.

But now we're basically just cycling back to your end point...this is my initial introduction into the story; thus my mind, for the most part, has decided what it likes. Just like with any bias.

And Daniel Craig (personally my favorite) has been doing an awesome job as Bond, especially since he is playing Bond before he really became the Bond we know. Sean Connery wasn't the first Bond btw.

[JERK]

And Daniel Craig (personally my favorite) has been doing an awesome job as Bond, especially since he is playing Bond before he really became the Bond we know.
daniel craig's james bond movies aren't real james bond movies they're just generic action movies with the james bond name stamped on + they suck anyway

[blind]

daniel craig's james bond movies aren't real james bond movies they're just generic action movies with the james bond name stamped on + they suck anyway
i love you

[Heathen]

While it is true that I've never seen the UK version, to me at least (as a new comer to the story), it doesn't take away from the fact that the actors did a pretty good job portraying persona's from the 1970s NY (hell, even the music sometimes has that cheesy 70s theme tang to it).

the office was supposed to be based in the 1970's?

[n00b1n8R]

And Daniel Craig (personally my favorite) has been doing an awesome job as Bond, especially since he is playing Bond before he really became the Bond we know. Sean Connery wasn't the first Bond btw.
I thought the moniker of James Bond was just one that was assigned to the 007 agent, not that they represented him at different times (which makes no sense at all considering the movies are set over like 4 decades). Bond A dies and is replaced by Bond B, bringing all the mystique and notoriety the name holds over to the next generation and making him "immortal" (a bit like the Dr but not vOv)

[SonicXtreme]

daniel craig's james bond movies aren't real james bond movies they're just generic action movies with the james bond name stamped on + they suck anyway

QFT

[Dwood]

daniel craig's james bond movies aren't real james bond movies they're just generic action movies with the james bond name stamped on + they suck anyway

You remind me of Rorschach.

[Limited]

I have to be honest, I have yet to see the US version of LOM, I saw the preview of it and thought holy shit they have MURDERED LOM.

You cannot have LOM, without the British Gene Hunt, his lines are outstanding.

I'm not a fan when America adapts UK shows, however, The Office US is outstanding and I enjoy it alot more than the UK version, maybe because I was too young with UK version.

Then again, over here TV is pretty crap, you ask anyone, and the main shows they only watch, are American, because your golden at making great shows.

7A4-UP3QOQU
:D thats just one episode

[English Mobster]

Someone direct me to where I may watch the UK version of the Office.
I must see Ricky Gervais in the Office.
I MUST.

[Heathen]

Someone direct me to where I may watch the UK version of the Office.
I must see Ricky Gervais in the Office.
I MUST.

adult swim

[Bodzilla]

I believe this can be summed up with this simple, yet elegant graph.

pay attention!
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/bodzilla_1/AmericanTV.jpg

As you can see here there is an direct correlation between the quantity of American, humor, sarcasm, plot and originality to the degree of how much a show fails on epic proportions.

If this trend continues then it will have Dire circumstances and an ever increasing amount of friends airtime. If this comes to pass, may god have mercy on our souls.
Prepare for unforeseen consequences.
quoting this for truth.

[n00b1n8R]

/me would like to point out that Limited's video is from Ashes to Ashes, not Life on Mars.

[Limited]

/me would like to point out that Limited's video is from Ashes to Ashes, not Life on Mars.
Indeed, although they are similar and lines are similar. I was going to post the "Drop your weapons! Your surrounded by armed Bastards!"