Across the Atlantic

American networks are constantly revamping well made British programming to make it more easy to digest for American consumption. Occasionally this works out, The Office being the best example of this. More often than not, in the process of translation the show loses its original appeal and falls flat with audiences all around. Slate's Seth Stevenson talks about why most re-makes don't take off after translation. Stevenson specifically cites the complete failure of the American take on the brilliant U.K. series Life on Mars.


He attributes the success of the American Office to the simple formula worked out by the producers of just adding 10% more hope. Where the utterly dismal outlook of drained zombie-like employees at Wernham Hogg's Slough, England, branch fit in with British television, 10% more hope, a glimmer of optimism without going too far and losing touch with the whole point of the show made the show both palatable and successful on American television.

The failure of Life on Mars (U.S) can be attributed to the skewing of the formula. The American producers seem to not trust their audiences to accept characters who aren't the right definition of beautiful, aren't politically correct and don't fit into the mold of what is typically seen on American television. The American producers added "10 percent more hope, 30 percent more schmaltz, 50 percent more glamour, and 700 percent better production values." In this transformation the show lost its heart and its charm. Gene Hunt isn't nearly as gruff, tough and offensive enough to fill the shoes of his U.K counterpart. Sam is too tall and good looking to create the right kind of tension between his boss, and his love interest is too beautiful but without the sweetness.















Life on Mars (U.S) & Life on Mars (U.K.) Can you spot the differences?

The most offensive move on the part of the U.S. production was its strange attempts to provide closure once the series had been canceled. With no regard to the original concept the producers create a scenario that really sounds like a bad joke. Sam wakes up in 2035 on board a spaceship, the whole life in the 1970s had been a virtual reality hallucination to pass the time on his journey. This basically breaks the entire premise invalidates all the uncertainties (is Sam in a coma? is he dead?)The U.K. series comes to a solid end after two series carefully solving the dilemma. The U.S. series jacked the finale full of crazy and let it set out to sea.

With news breaking of the latest U.K. to U.S. remake of Torchwood on FOX, which way do you think the show will go?


Click here to read the full article on Slate.com.

TV News Round-Up: Tons of Exciting Casting News & More

Glee-ful Casting News Well did I call it or did I call it? Really, I think we all saw this coming (or had our fingers crossed that it would). Pending approval from CBS, Neil Patrick Harris will be scheduled for a guest appearance on Glee in a role written specifically for him! This episode will also reunite NPH with Joss Whedon, who worked together on the internet sensation Dr. Horrible. Whedon will be taking over directorial duties on this episode.
In equally exciting guest star news, creator Ryan Murphy is in talks with Jennifer Lopez who would be taking on the role of lunch lady. Plus, a certain one-named pop super star may make a cameo in an the episode dedicated to her catalog. Click here for more details.

Mad for Liz: Jon Hamm will be reprising his role as Liz's ex Drew on 30 Rock's Valentine's Day episode. Michael Sheen will also be doing a guest stint on 30 Rock attempting to woo good ol' Liz. Between sleeping with James Franco and hooking up with Danny, the new cast member, Liz has been getting some serious action this season!

Chuck Scoop- Our favourite converse-clad spy will have his Dad back in the picture. Scott Bakula will be returning as part of a major story-line towards the end of the third season.

Back for More? At the TCA press tour president of the network John Landgraf mentioned a lunch he has scheduled with Joss Whedon. This doesn't mean that a Whedon-produced show is in the works, although FX seems to be courting Whedon to produce a show for the network in the next year or two. Given the track record Whedon has with FOX with his prematurely canceled Firefly and recently axed Dollhouse, do you think Whedon will go back to do more work with FX? Or will he be given a chance this time before shuttling him off to a Friday night slot.

Caprica Countdown - The two-hour television premiere of Battlestar Galactica's prequel, Caprica will air this Friday night. In preparation for the event, Caprica star Alessandra Torresani, a self professed sci-fi nerd, talks about her role in the new show and the importance of the support of BSG fans to the new show. "We're a completely different show and we're a different style of show" she says. It wont contain the same kind of action, but it's based in the same mythology of its predecessor.


Rebuilding Torchwood Stateside In a bid to produce more sci-fi programming that they can shift to Friday nights and cancel, FOX will be producing an American version of Torchwood. There are some hopeful points in this production. The creator of the original, Russel T. Davies will remain on board, and John Barrowman may be staying on in the role of Captain Jack Harkness. I doubt anyone could carry the role like he does, Captain Jack is all about his sexuality and Barrowman has chemistry will anything (man, woman, alien) he shares a scene with.
I'm doubtful that the U.S. incarnation will carry the adult subject matter and daring edge that defines Torchwood as a program. Do you think this re-make will make it?
Click here to see TWOP's pros and cons of an American Torchwood.

TV News Round-Up: The Office, Doctor Who, Lost and more!

After a significant slowdown during the holidays there is plenty to report in TVland.

On the Doctor Who front is it old news that Steven Moffat will be taking over the show moving forward. Here is a video of former Doctor David Tennant interviewing Moffat about his new gig.


Speaking of ex-Doctors, Christopher Eccelson will be portraying John Lennon in a BBC movie Lennon Naked. Someone must have had their head in the Who-verse on casting day because Naoko Mori (Torchwood) will be playing Yoko Ono.


The Office may have a long awaited guest appearance by the one and only Ricky Gervais, hot off his gig hosting the Golden Globes, and promoting his new HBO series, recently hinted that David Brent (his character from The Office UK) may make an appearance on the American series.


Now that NBC has come to its senses and kicked Leno's late-night-butt out of prime-time, NBC has announced its post-Olympic prime time schedule, one that makes room for more scripted television. Yay!

The new season of 24 starts tonight airing two hours of its two day, 4 hour event. In honour of Starbuck finding her place in the work of Jack Bauer she sits down for an interview with BuzzSugar about her new role...and more importantly, about what it's like to have been a part of something as fantastic as BSG, and her love of sci-fi.

The LOST premiere is fast approaching and there seems to be a steady stream of information that really doesn't reveal a whole lot. Here's the latest. LOST's TCA panel revealed some returning cast members, and that Emilie DeRavine was very, very confused by the script for the first episode. hmm...

In other news, LOST producers claim that for LOST the end will really be the end. No sequels, spin offs or the like. Do you believe them?

Hitting the right note: Best musical moments in TV

Tonight How I Met Your Mother will celebrate it's 100th episode with at least one full musical number. It promises to be a hit with professional song and dance man Neil Patrick Harris rounding out the talented cast.

The show has already dipped into the genre on several occasions while exploring Robin's past as Canadian teen pop star Robin Sparkles. Jason Segal has also had a few chances to express himself via song including a very moving ode to slaps.



In honour of this very special musical episode of How I Met Your Mother both Slate and TWOP have composed lists of some great musical television moments.

Slate's video slide show "How I Serenaded Your Mother" provides four examples of television musicals at their best. One the list is; Oz, That 70s Show, Scrubs and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Click here to see the video and find out why these are the best.

TWOP lists their favourite TV musical moments to prep for tonight's How I Met Your Mother. Click here to find out their favourites and how they stood out from the many, many musical numbers to choose from.

Check out these lists then watch How I Met Your Mother's musical 100th episode tonight at 8pm on CBS and see how it stacks up!

Lost vs. The White House

In recent news, U.S. president Barack Obama appeases LOST fans everywhere as he promises not to schedule his State of the Union Address on February 2, the premier date for the season premiere of the final season of LOST on ABC.

LOST fans were rabid after rumours that the State of the Union Address that is traditionally held in late January may be moved to February 2nd.

LOST producer Carlton Cuse responsed to the White House's promise to not interfere with LOST's return date via twitter with a promise to reveal to the president any secrets of the island that he wants to know.

Since February 2nd is still a ways away here are a few tidbits to keep you satisfied:

LOST: First five Seasons in 8:15


This is not the first time The Last Supper has been used as a template for art for television shows in their finale season (Sopranos, BSG). This unorigional yet apparently clue ridden poster art is our latest insight into the next and final season. (click for larger view)
And

January Mid-Season Return Dates

I relish in the yearly tradition of Christmas specials and TV marathons over the winter holidays, after a few weeks of indulging in some fluff (I'm talking marathons of Top Chef, House Hunters, Real Housewives and the like) and some more nerd indulgent marathons like the one's offered by SPACE like all 5 hours of Torchwood's Children of the Earth special all in one go, and the next day a consecutive run of the final 5 Doctor Who specials that featured David Tennant as our Doctor. I'm about ready to toss all that aside andget back to our regularly scheduled programming!

Here's a list of some shows premiering mid-season, and ones simply returning after the holiday break in January:

Friday, January 8th
Dollhouse (FOX, 9pm) - Kicking off the final three episodes of Dollhouse's run.

Sunday, January 10th
Chuck (NBC 9 - 11pm) Kicking off season three with a two hour block, then beginning January 11 will air on Mondays at 8

Monday, January 11th
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8pm) is back with it's 100th episode "Girls versus Suits" in full musical form!
Big Bang Theory (CBS, 9:30pm)
Castle (ABC, 10pm) Alyssa Milano guest stars in this week's episode

Sunday, January 17th
24 (FOX 8 pm)- Part 1 of a two part season premiere, part two airs January 18, 8pm. I might actually check this out to see Katee Sackoff and Freddie Prinze Jr. in their new roles.

Friday, January 22nd
Caprica (Space, 9pm) Season premiere of the highly anticipated sequel to sci-fi hit Battlestar Galactica