maxturner Reviews

Man About the House (1973–1976)

UK Original vs. US Copy

[4 February 2006]

Having lived in both the UK and the US, and watched both the ORIGINAL, "Man About The House", and the US COPY, "Three's Company", I've enjoyed both of them, even now, in 2006.

I've just been watching M.A.T.H. on Paramount Comedy, and much as I liked Three's Company, I'm finding I laugh out loud more often, at the UK show. I loved the American re-make too, but I guess my British upbringing means I identify with the British humour more.

It's just one of many UK sitcoms from the 1970's, that US television bought the rights and scripts of, and remade with an American flavour. Most of them became very popular in the US, with few people realising they were copies of original British ideas/scripts. Others I can think of:

"The Ropers" = "George & Mildred" "Sandford & Son" = "Steptoe & Son" "All In The Family" = "Till Death Do Us Part" "Reggie" = "The Rise & Fall Of Reginal Perrin"

All were good re-makes.

Conversely, on the few occasions the British have re-made American comedies, it hasn't worked as well. I'm thinking of UK remakes of "Golden Girls" and "Married With Children" - both British re-makes sucked, big time. In the case of the Married With Children re-make, I think it failed because the whole premise of the show was that it mocked clichéd "US cute family" comedies (it was known as the Anti-Cosby Show by the writers), and such humour didn't translate to a British show about a British family.

And now it's the 21st Century, and what do we see on NBC? An American re-make of the Golden Globe-winning British comedy, The Office.

Nothing changes.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy UK (2004)

Awful UK Copy

[4 November 2004]

I'm a straight British guy, living in the US. Whilst there have been many great US remakes of British comedy and lifestyle series (Changing Rooms -> Trading Spaces etc) often as not, the US -> UK conversions of shows doesn't work. This is a prime example.

The British hosts are largely unattractive and unappealing. Straight or bi, I know a cute guy when I see one, and the UK cast just aren't. Worse still, they're annoying, and have some lousy ideas on style. Also, as said by other commenters here, the UK cast JUST WEREN'T FUNNY like the US cast were. The US hosts' humour is what has put the original Queer Eye on the televisual map. It's completely lacking in the UK version.

Generally Americans adore us British guys, think we're stylish and cultured, often just because of the accent, but the UK hosts of Queer Eye let us down in this respect.

Bravo TV showed the UK version, and I have to say, I was embarrassed that of all the gay guys in the UK, this motley group was all they could come up with.

Awful, just awful.

Cracker: Mind Over Murder (1997–1998)

So-so Remake of a British Show

[16 June 2004]

This Cracker was OK, but a so-so remake of the original British TV series. Like so many US remakes of British TV, it was watered down by the US networks, who seem to treat American audiences like small children, and never let them see anything remotely "different".

The original British version starred Robbie Coltrane (Haggred in the Harry Potter movies), and his large, overweight frame helped make him a good anti-hero. It also made the romance between him and Sgt Jane Penhaligon all the more interesting (she was a slim red-head played by Geraldine Somerville). It was pretty obvious that she found him attractive because of his brains. In the US version, a slimmer actor was used. Why? Probably because US networks just won't EVER make the hero a fat guy, or perhaps because God forbid TV should suggest that looks aren't the most important thing in a relationship.

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)

Can't Stand This

[10 May 2003]

I know I'm in the minority, but even as a small child growing up in Britain in the 1970's, I loathed Some Mothers Do Have 'Em.

I like a broad range of comedy, heck I even write comedy, but SMDHE is one of those TV comedies that whilst popular with the masses, I find totally unfunny and predictable. 'Allo 'Allo is another example of a show that managed to be popular despite it's incredibly weak , low-grade and predictable writing.

I hated the character of Frank Spencer. His accident-prone nature wasn't that annoying. It wasn't that funny either. But what bugged me was the almost mentally retarded personality. That plus his voice. Boy was that like fingernails dragged down a blackboard.

And then there were the years following the run of Some Mothers, where we were subjected to God-awful Frank Spencer impressions by anyone who was capable of uttering the words, "ooooh Betty". Lord save us from people who think they're funny doing that.

Give me Monty Python, Blackadder, Father Ted or The Office any day over this very cringe-worthy show.

The Office (2001–2003)

The Office is now on in the US!

[24 January 2003]

I'd heard about The Office, and Spaced, from friends and family, back in the UK.

On my last trip back to the UK, December 2002, I managed to see a tape of the first series of Spaced, and loved it. However, despite everyone going on about The Office, didn't get to see an episode.

Tonight, however, BBC America has started showing series one of The Office. It was every bit as funny as I'd been told.

My point being, if anyone in the US wants to watch this superb series, tune in to BBC America on Thursday nights. If you don't have BBC America, then you're missing out on this, and a whole bunch of great UK TV.

About a Boy (2002)

Sainsbury's and Richard Whitely on the Big Screen!

[9 June 2002]

"About A Boy" is from the Nick "high-fidelity' Hornby novel of the same name. Unlike High Fidelity, they didn't Americanize it. It was set in Britain, and had a very good cast. If you read the blurb about the film, you might have said "chick flick", but it's a Hornby novel, and so it isn't Hugh Grant is the main character, but he's actually very good in it, and wasn't irritating :-O Toni Collette was the vegetarian depressive hippy mother of the 'boy', and gave her usual excellent performance. Nicholas Hoult ruled the movie, and I hope he goes on to have a successful career. Rachel Weiss (British actress, and potential new love of my life grrrrr woof!) and a bunch of other well-known British tv actors made appearances. The main character spent a lot of time watching daytime TV, specifically, Countdown with Richard Whitely. Being British, I spent that time, as the ONLY PERSON IN THE PACKED DENVER CINEMA laughing, every time I hear Whitely's dulcet tones. I don't know WHAT they all thought of me. I've never felt homesick for Britain in the three years I've lived in the US, but this film tugged at my heartstrings. Perhaps it was all those shots of Hugh going round Sainsbury's? ;-) Excellent soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy. Thinking of buying it. Favourite quote: Hugh refers to the mother as "Miss Granola Suicide".

Three's Company (1976–1984)

Credit Where Credit's Due

[27 May 2002]

Three's Company was based on the British TV sit-com, "Man About The House".

It's one of a barrage of well-known US sit-coms from the 1970's, that were remakes of British sit-coms.

Others include Sandford & Son (Steptoe & Son in the UK) All In The Family (Till Death Do Us Part in the UK) Reggie (The Rise And Fall Of Reginald Perrin in the UK" ...to name but a few.

On the upside, the US versions were very good, and FAR BETTER than some of Britain's attempts to remake US programmes. I'll never forget the utter direness that was the UK versions of The Golden Girls, and Married With Children (Brighton Belles and Married For Life, respectively).