Media Matters: Adaptations
By: Matt Jamieson
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Lifestyle
This past week, citizens of the U.K. have been unanimously asking the same question - "Has the BBC lost its mind?"
Frenzied fans have been panicking at the recent news that FOX will be creating its own version of the beloved show "Doctor Who," a spin-off titled "Torchwood."
As a rabid fan of anything BBC, and an even bigger fan of all things "Doctor Who," I cannot begin to imagine how this could - and may - go wrong.
First, most American adaptations of any other country's shows are doomed to fail from the start. Look at "Kath and Kim" which aired last year on NBC. A mother/daughter comedy series should've been a sure-fire hit. Alas, It just didn't come across as it did in Australia and was canceled after nine episodes.
The same can be said for the atrocious CBS musical drama "Viva Laughlin" based off BBC's "Viva Blackpool." Even with Hugh Jackman starring, viewers tuned out and CBS axed it after two episodes. Apparently, U.S. audiences weren't quite ready for a musical drama airing years before "Glee."
Very rarely do adapted shows do well on network TV, and if they do, it's because the American creators have altered the series' original premises and characters to make them more marketable to the average Joe audience.
A fantastic example of this is the adapted version of Ricky Gervais' show, "The Office." On BBC, the show had a very witty premise with lots of highbrow "blink and you'll miss it" humor. In short, that type of British humor is something few average American audiences get.
This change in direction for adaptations is the main reason an American "Torchwood" would fail miserably. Actor John Barrowman has worked so hard to separate Capt. Jack Harkness from his roots on "Doctor Who" and still make him an interesting character. In "Doctor Who" Harkness is almost in awe of The Doctor, wanting to travel through time and space with him. "Torchwood" forces Harkness to become a leader.
The other big problem with a show like "Torchwood" is that Captain Jack's sexuality is just one part of the larger story.
Frenzied fans have been panicking at the recent news that FOX will be creating its own version of the beloved show "Doctor Who," a spin-off titled "Torchwood."
As a rabid fan of anything BBC, and an even bigger fan of all things "Doctor Who," I cannot begin to imagine how this could - and may - go wrong.
First, most American adaptations of any other country's shows are doomed to fail from the start. Look at "Kath and Kim" which aired last year on NBC. A mother/daughter comedy series should've been a sure-fire hit. Alas, It just didn't come across as it did in Australia and was canceled after nine episodes.
The same can be said for the atrocious CBS musical drama "Viva Laughlin" based off BBC's "Viva Blackpool." Even with Hugh Jackman starring, viewers tuned out and CBS axed it after two episodes. Apparently, U.S. audiences weren't quite ready for a musical drama airing years before "Glee."
Very rarely do adapted shows do well on network TV, and if they do, it's because the American creators have altered the series' original premises and characters to make them more marketable to the average Joe audience.
A fantastic example of this is the adapted version of Ricky Gervais' show, "The Office." On BBC, the show had a very witty premise with lots of highbrow "blink and you'll miss it" humor. In short, that type of British humor is something few average American audiences get.
This change in direction for adaptations is the main reason an American "Torchwood" would fail miserably. Actor John Barrowman has worked so hard to separate Capt. Jack Harkness from his roots on "Doctor Who" and still make him an interesting character. In "Doctor Who" Harkness is almost in awe of The Doctor, wanting to travel through time and space with him. "Torchwood" forces Harkness to become a leader.
The other big problem with a show like "Torchwood" is that Captain Jack's sexuality is just one part of the larger story.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
heather...
posted 2/04/10 @ 12:21 AM CST
"In short, that type of British humor is something few average American audiences get. "
Matt, are you saying that Americans are not smart enough to enjoy the quality programming produced by the Beeb? o. (Continued…)
Space Lizard
posted 2/05/10 @ 8:38 AM CST
"Are we in for more adaptations, remakes and re-imaginings?"
Yeah. Totally. Horrible remakes like Scarface, and The Fly, and Cape Fear, and Battlestar Galactica. (Continued…)
Pat
posted 2/05/10 @ 8:58 AM CST
I'm an American "Torchwood" fan, and love Barrowman. My husband and I watch a lot of British series (through Netflix DVDs). The casting in American shows is one reason we don't like them. (Continued…)
Tina
posted 2/08/10 @ 7:48 PM CST
Neil Patrick Harris of "How I Met Your Mother" is out and proud in the US. There you go, one. How about another out actor, with her own talk show in the US? Ellen Degeneres. (Continued…)
Fletch
posted 2/08/10 @ 8:14 PM CST
Wow, way to shaft Neil Patrick Harris. A very out and proud actor who plays a ladies man, no less, on his hit series. As I recall, he and Barrowman were recently engaged in an online contest at the afterelton. (Continued…)
chuck
posted 2/08/10 @ 8:34 PM CST
RTD has managed to destroy everything that made Torchwood special. It's not the writing but the characters, the actors, and the setting that made it the quirky sci fi show I fell in love with. (Continued…)
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