TiVo Community Forums Archives - Coupling U.S. - What I don't like (non episode specific)

TiVoCommunity.com
(c)opyright 1995-2005 All rights reserved
indexcheckTC
This area is a static history of posts in the TiVo Community Forum Archive.
This archive history was made for the simple indexing of search sites like Google.

Pages:1

Coupling U.S. - What I don't like (non episode specific)
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: johnjohn

It's been interesting to watch Coupling on BBC America, followed by the NBC version. Here's what I find dissapointing:

I've never minded seeing a new production of a play which I know very well. What's interesting is seeing the director's interpretation, the actors' takes on classic lines, the choices the set designer made, etc. The variations are the spice. The first production of Romeo and Juliet I ever saw was Franco Zeffirelli's movie adaptation from the 70's, but it's never stopped me from enjoying the play again, when it's done well.

Unfortunately, the NBC production of Coupling is taking a rather cowardly approach to the whole thing by not making any choices to be different. The show is a virtual shot-for-shot remake of the BBC version, which makes the inevitable differences in dialogue, delivery, etc, quite painful.

Instead of working from Moffat post-production scripts, they should have used pre-production scripts, made different cuts for the different actors and audience, and come up with something based on the same material, but uniquely itself. The one time they've seemed to do that ("Nipples!") was quite good.

Just MHO.

Posted by: scottjf8

Agreed, but let's see how this week's show does, since it's an NBC original script...

I bet we all crack up watching it....

Posted by: Maui

I think NBC can assume, and rightfully so, that the overwhelming majority of those who are watching have never seen the original. I would go so far as to say that a huge majority don't even realize that it is a remake of a British sitcom.

I can't blame them then for recycling the scripts from the other version.

Posted by: ClutchBrake

Overall the acting is crap. You'd think they were reading from cue cards. Jeff is the worst.

I saw another thing that was very disappointing. I watched a show called Married to the Kellys. It stars Breckin Meyer (one of the original U.S. Coupling cast). In the pilot he argues constantly with his new sister-in-law. This actress embodies Sally from Coupling. Her look, her manners, her speech. Absolutely perfect. I looked her up on IMDB because I couldn't quite place her. Low and behold, she WAS the original U.S. Coupling Sally! She apparently left when Breckin Meyer and Melissa George did. What a shame to let the perfect actress for the role get away.

On the other hand, I really liked both episodes of Married to the Kellys. It has given me far more laughs than Coupling. I hope the switch works out for Meyer and Emily Rutherford. Melissa George too, she is now on Alias. :up:

Posted by: johnjohn

quote:
Originally posted by Maui
I think NBC can assume, and rightfully so, that the overwhelming majority of those who are watching have never seen the original. I would go so far as to say that a huge majority don't even realize that it is a remake of a British sitcom.

I can't blame them then for recycling the scripts from the other version.

Did you even read what I wrote? :) I didn't say they shouldn't use the same scripts. I said they should have used the pre-production scripts, pared down the material to be specific to the actors they have, and NOT tried to do a shot-for-shot remake of the original (which Sex, Death, and Nudity definitely was).

Posted by: kitsap

quote:
Originally posted by johnjohn
... and NOT tried to do a shot-for-shot remake of the original (which Sex, Death, and Nudity definitely was).

... if for no other reason than the horrible light in which it puts them by comparison! I just watched this episode, and it was like a first run-through, before shooting begins.

I really am curious to see one of the new "original NBC" episodes. If they do a script that hasn't already been done really well, will this troupe still look as bad?

Posted by: skillsrhodes

quote:
Originally posted by ClutchBrake
I hope the switch works out for Meyer and Emily Rutherford.

Unfortunately you must be unaware that Breckin Meyer is the TV equivalent of the Sports Illustrated jinx .... brrrrr......

skills

Posted by: TeeSee

quote:
Originally posted by skillsrhodes
Unfortunately you must be unaware that Breckin Meyer is the TV equivalent of the Sports Illustrated jinx .... brrrrr......

skills

I thought that was Rena Sofer...

Posted by: Captain Video

It seems to me the US version misses the Jeff character badly. In the UK version Jeff lives in his own, some-what off-kilter, reality. And he believes in it and defends it. In the US version, he is simply a fool and a smug one at that. It seems that the exposition dialog connected to Jeff's view of the world is cut in the US version more often than not, leaving simply a punch line. IMHO a big mistake.

Posted by: TonyD79

Jeff's character is the problem as I see it. He is just another American sitcom goofy neighbor type, not the strange, trollish guy that the British guy is. I think you nailed it. On the BBC, Jeff really lives that life. On the American show, he knows he is being odd or funny.

For the rest, I think Rena is pretty good; a raven-haired version of the BBC Susan, even down the the eyes.

A good Americanization is Jane. Not as earthy as the BBC Jane but a good oddball who really believes what she is saying.

Sally and Patrick are weak. The American Patrick is a stud-type where the BBC one is kind of scrawny and it adds to his character. I see no depth to the American one where you can see the BBC Patrick's depth from the get-go (even if he didn't at first).

Who is left? Steve. Ah, I will wait on him. Not sure. He has been both okay and bad.

Overall, just a weaker effort. In fact, the effort shows. It is not natural. Everyone (with the exception of Rena) is so forced.

But the show lynchpins on Jeff. And they got a bad one.

Posted by: magaggie

quote:
Originally posted by TonyD79
Jeff's character is the problem as I see it. He is just another American sitcom goofy neighbor type, not the strange, trollish guy that the British guy is. I think you nailed it. On the BBC, Jeff really lives that life. On the American show, he knows he is being odd or funny.

I also think he's too good looking to be Jeff - now don't confuse that to mean that I think he's good looking, just that he's TOO good looking. BBCJeff had a goofy dorky quirky quality about him that made you BELIEVE that he would have oddball theories and live with his mother and be sexually awkward. AmericanJeff - you can imagine he maybe had a girlfriend in College and his quirky ideas come off as merely cute - not something that makes you do a double-take and say "ok where the hell did that come from?!?!"

quote:
Originally posted by TonyD79
Sally and Patrick are weak. The American Patrick is a stud-type where the BBC one is kind of scrawny and it adds to his character. I see no depth to the American one where you can see the BBC Patrick's depth from the get-go (even if he didn't at first).

I agree about AmericanPatrick, there's something about him that doesn't seem charming - he just seems dumb. BBCPatrick was charming and handsome and while not the sharpest tool in the cupboard, you didn't get the impression that he'd recently experienced head trauma.

AmericanSally's lines are forced many times, and I wonder if that's because she has to work on her American accent. BBCSally had this focus, this fixatedness on life and beauty (as opposed to death and wrinkles) that AmericanSally hasn't captured. Hopefully she will.

I'm watching this show because I really like the characters. I find that when I make myself forget about the BBC characters and pretend that this is an independent entity (admittedly difficult with the verbatim scripts), I enjoy it more.

Posted by: lacycatherine

:D

Posted by: cavalier

I deleted Couplling (NBC) From my Season Pass, and at the same time, added Coupling (BBCA). It's incredible how weak the American version is!

I respect them for thinking it was good and trying to put it on "must see TV", but geez louise, the acting and directing is so hollow that every laugh track feels so horribly fake. The scripts work in that 'just a tad bit dry' British way, to throw in valley girl mannerisms and LA-LA-Land acting just destroys it IMO.

I stumbled on to the British version accidentally after the recent, I think , "Sex, Death, and Nudity"? It was fascinating watching the two versions in the very same night. Even though I had heard all the lines before (NBC), I actually gutlaughed in the BBCA version!

All in all I'm not sure mainstream America will go for it. There's a lot of sexual innuendos but no base. I read reports about NBC executives hoping for "the next Friends". Well, this ain't it. While Friends was all hokey and charming its first few seasons, the characters were always confronting "common" obstacles. I fear the Coupling characters are funny (BBCA) for their "uncommon" obstacles and trying to make them common.. the American version just misses the idea completely.

Posted by: DevoDog

At first glance, I thought the American version of Coupling would really annoy me. I felt that the timing was way off on the first episode. It felt like they rushed through the script and didn't give it any breathing room.

I think it's very difficult when we can see the American version and the same episode of the British version in a very short time span (thanks to BBC America, Bravo, and some local PBS stations).

I was fairly happy, however, with the Americanized version of "Sex, Death and Nudity." I though the faster pace worked better than the British version. However, there were a few points where "plot points" were rushed (particularly Jeff picturing people naked).

I loved seeing the American guys get caught in the giggle-loop. I also though Jeff's outburst at the end of the loop was funny.

But in the British version, when Jane is the one who bursts out laughing, the meaning is different: the women were going through the exact same thing the men were doing.

I do have some issues with the characterization of the American cast: I don't like Patrick or Sally in the American version. I think Jeff is a bit "off" for the same reasons that others gave.

I think the American Patrick is too obviously self-centered. I think he knows that he gets by on his looks, whereas British-Patrick I think has gotten by on his looks, but doesn't actually know he gets by so much on his looks.

I think American-Sally is extremely self-centered. Brit-Sally is self-obsessed, but no self-centered.

Brit-Jane is kinda like Phoebe on friends. American-Jane is a ditz and manipulator...but that kind of works.

American-Steve doesn't come across with the same level of confidence that Brit-Steve does, and I think that works.