The Fancy Bastard Forum

Havent seen it, but I heard about a year ago they were bringing it to US TV and Joel McHale form "The Soup" was going to star in it. That was the last I'd heard.

Posted By: joelHavent seen it, but I heard about a year ago they were bringing it to US TV and Joel McHale form "The Soup" was going to star in it. That was the last I'd heard.

I'm not sure how I would feel about a US version, I think it's fine (wonderful) the way it is, and only rarely does an import make its papa proud.

I don't know if it's permitted to do anything with torrents, but I'll chance it.

Here's a link to a page which contains a link to a torrent:
TPB: The IT Crowd Seasons 1 and 2

Dram-
Not that it's exactly apples to apples, but The Office (UK) AND the The Office (US) are both brilliant. And I think Joel McHale is a fucking riot. So, while I'd be leery, I'd still be hopeful.

Posted By: honest apeDram-
Not that it's exactly apples to apples, but The Office (UK)ANDthe The Office (US) are both brilliant. And I think Joel McHale is a fucking riot. So, while I'd be leery, I'd still be hopeful.

Yeah I know, I kept that in mind, which is why I said "rarely" instead of "never". I still very much doubt that the US obelisk of television would be kind to the series.

Forgot to say: Dram, what about Whose Line is it Anyway?
Yeah, it's not fiction, but nonetheless.
I saw the US version before UK, and I like the cast of the US version more than UK - but that might be because I'm in the US and watch very little UK programming or humor. I love Python and Douglas Adams, but they're in classes of their own.

Posted By: AndyTheGeekyForgot to say: Dram, what about Whose Line is it Anyway?
Yeah, it's not fiction, but nonetheless.
I saw the US version before UK, and I like the cast of the US version more than UK - but that might be because I'm in the US and watch very little UK programming or humor. I love Python and Douglas Adams, but they're in classes of their own.

Hey I hear ya,
I'm here in the states too, and I like the US version of whose line a lot more. The UK version tried too hard to be the original show, and actually managed to seem more corporate than an American show. For an improv show, it sure sounded scripted.

My problem isn't as much that the IT crowd would be coming to America really, as much as it is that it's being unnecessarily cloned, and with the original being that good the odds of bettering it are really slim. If they want it on American TV, I think they would probably be saving themselves a lot of grief (and money) by just airing the original.

Posted By: Dram

Posted By: AndyTheGeekyForgot to say: Dram, what about Whose Line is it Anyway?
Yeah, it's not fiction, but nonetheless.
I saw the US version before UK, and I like the cast of the US version more than UK - but that might be because I'm in the US and watch very little UK programming or humor. I love Python and Douglas Adams, but they're in classes of their own.

Hey I hear ya,
I'm here in the states too, and I like the US version of whose line a lot more. The UK version tried too hard to be the original show, and actually managed to seem more corporate than an American show. For an improv show, it sure sounded scripted.

My problem isn't as much that the IT crowd would be coming toAmericareally, as much as it is that it's being unnecessarily cloned, and with the original being that good the odds of bettering it are really slim. If they want it on American TV, I think they would probably be saving themselves a lot of grief (and money) by just airing the original.

This all reminds me of how TV shows used to be transplanted from country to country: they would take a perfectly good show and just mish-mash episodes together and re-dub it to get "American Friendly" shows. I would say I don't really mind recreating a show for the most part (especially if the show was either way to cultural or regional), but if that's the case why try and transport the show in the first place? I just think that the only changes they should make to a show is dubbing it or subbing it in English when they put it on the air.

Unless they put it on telemundo or something...

I think it's a testament to general American laziness and "lowest common denominator" tv viewing habits that they cant just air the british shows here.

Posted By: joelI think it's a testament to general American laziness and "lowest common denominator" tv viewing habits that they cant just air the british shows here.

No no no, you got it all wrong. We're too dumb to understand their zany British Humor™.

Posted By: RazzWe're too dumb to understand their zany British Humor™.

And the weird way they pronounce their words: it's all strange and junk.

Ah, but it's such-a pisser, innit then?

I thought that Alex Albrecht was trying to port The IT Crowd to the States, too. I could have sworn I heard him mention his filming the pilot ages ago on Diggnation...but I may be crossing memories.

Posted By: matsieI thought that Alex Albrecht was trying to port The IT Crowd to the States, too. I could have sworn I heard him mention his filming the pilot ages ago on Diggnation...but I may be crossing memories.

Im also wondering if I dreamed the whole "Joel McHale" thing.

Posted By: FlankedAh, but it's such-a pisser, innit then?

Why am I thinking of Mac Manc McManx from Get Fuzzy?

Posted By: joel

Posted By: matsieI thought that Alex Albrecht was trying to port The IT Crowd to the States, too. I could have sworn I heard him mention his filming the pilot ages ago on Diggnation...but I may be crossing memories.

Im also wondering if I dreamed the whole "Joel McHale" thing.

You weren't completely wrong. Looks like they filmed a pilot (I don't see Alex Albrecht's name attached to this...) IMDB entry. I'm thinking it was meant to be a midseason replacement this year, but with the writer's strike production stopped and well...there wasn't really a "midseason" to replace.

I think the last BritCom show I watched with any regularity was Are You Being Served? IT Crowd sounds like it has potential, so it looks like torrents are the way to go (thanks Andy).

As for The Office, I loved the UK version, and actually didn't care for the first two episodes of the US version. They tried too hard to copy the previous version's success, and the pilot even took some of the dialogue from the original, word for word! After a few episodes, they settled into a groove, followed the SPIRIT of the UK version, rather than the script of it, and became incredibly funny and successful in their own right.

There are a ton of good Britcoms out there, Spaced, Black Books, Father Ted. I'd consider The IT Crowd a second tier show, it's definitely funny but shows with laugh tracks grate on my soul now.

Posted By: FerrosThere are a ton of good Britcoms out there, Spaced, Black Books, Father Ted. I'd consider The IT Crowd a second tier show, it's definitely funny but shows with laugh tracks grate on my soul now.

I love Father Ted!

Yeah I know a lot of people detest laugh tracks. I'm somewhat neutral on them.

Posted By: FerrosThere are a ton of good Britcoms out there, Spaced, Black Books, Father Ted. I'd consider The IT Crowd a second tier show, it's definitely funny but shows with laugh tracks grate on my soul now.

Good choices! I think canned laughter is a tricky one. If it's subtle I don't tend to mind it, but as soon as every other line has a split-second laugh tacked on the end the whole thing becomes unwatchable. Kinda feels like there's someone next to me constantly poking the side of my head going "Hey! You're watching a comedy, it's funny! Isn't this funny? It's so funny! We're having such a good time."

I've heard good things about the US Office but I've not seen it yet. Guess I'm still a little apprehensive from the Red Dwarf fiasco...

Posted By: Mikester

Posted By: FerrosThere are a ton of good Britcoms out there, Spaced, Black Books, Father Ted. I'd consider The IT Crowd a second tier show, it's definitely funny but shows with laugh tracks grate on my soul now.

Good choices! I think canned laughter is a tricky one. If it's subtle I don't tend to mind it, but as soon as every other line has a split-second laugh tacked on the end the whole thing becomes unwatchable. Kinda feels like there's someone next to me constantly poking the side of my head going"Hey! You're watching a comedy, it's funny! Isn't this funny? It's so funny! We're having such a good time."

I've heard good things about the US Office but I've not seen it yet. Guess I'm still a little apprehensive from the Red Dwarf fiasco...

I highly recommend the US office, you'll struggle like hell through the first series which is just terrible with recycled scripts from the british show. Once it hits the second season it goes from strength to strength quite quickly. Dwight and Creed being two of the funniest characters i've seen on TV in a good long while.

Love the Vicar of Dibley. The local PBS station in my old town used to have Britcom weekends and it rocked. Anything from Red Dwarf to Ab Fab. Was great.

I find it funny that they don't release Who and Torchwood on BBCAmerica simultaneously. Cause no one's gonna wait months when there's bit torrents or STC. It would actually make me want good cable. And maybe a real TV, too.

They did have a BBC/Fox partnership trying to bring Who to the States that failed utterly.

As for canned laughs, the only show where that didn't bother the bejeezers outta me was M.A.S.H. It was really just part of its charm.