Quote: chipolata @ November 27 2010, 11:16 AM GMTI disagree. They share superficial similarities, but in terms of tone and style they're very different shows. That's not to say the commissioners who gave Coupling the go-ahead didn't hope for a Friends style audience, but I doubt very much Moffat wrote it to rip-of Friends.
This very much so.
Given that the original started 30 years after the Summer of Love, and Dharma's parents are clearly hippies, they'd need to change the background and character of the female protagonist to fit in with the milieu she'd have been raised in (British/post punk).
So what what did Punks name their kids?
Snot.
I think there were enough hippies in England for it to work! They'd be from Glastonbury, into camping at festivals, going to Stonehenge, all that shit.
Just to be clear, this UK re-make could quite possibily not happen as it was announced quite some time ago and hasn't yet seen the light of day.
As for the idea of just re-making something without bothering to buy the rights, don't forget if you do buy the rights you also get the scripts ready written... which saves some time, as they only then have to be adapted for a UK audience, rather than starting from scratch.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ November 27 2010, 7:00 AM GMTThat is true, Coupling was an obvious reworking/ripoff of Friends. Will someone please explain this stupid law, none of it makes sense - I can't understand why Networks and TV co's do pay big bucks to remake a show when some shows so blatantly get away scott free with copying, that's stealing a show's whole concept. It is very confusing!
I can't think our remake would be calling itself Dharma and Greg though. The name name Dharma will have no connection for most Brits like it does for Yanks.
Here in the States, a few years ago ABC bought the rights for Wife Swap from the UK producers and Fox simply made their own version called Trading Spouses. The production team behind Wife Swap sued Fox to no avail. I think the only reason networks pay for rights is the production companies pitch them that way.
I can assure you I've never met an American named Dharma. If anything it'd seem to me to be a more familiar name to Brits as we don't have a strong influence from India here. If you offered American kids a curry they'd probably cry.
Dread to think what other shows were offered by Fox, for ITV to choose this - as the best one to remake.
Step by Step, perhaps? Saved by the Bell? ... California F**king Dreams?
What next, ITV's version of Hangin' with Mr Cooper starring Ian Wright? How about a remake of Sister, Sister? With Vanessa Feltz and a potato playing identical twins - 'even their parents can't tell them apart!'
Dear, oh dear.
I've never heard of an Indian called Dharma.
Sister Sister was brilliant!
I think Dharma is only 'Indian' because it sounds like Karma and is attractive to Western people who have never been to India or known any Indians in their lives so it's still quite weird and exotic to them. Like the idea of going on a Kibbutz.
Quote: Mark @ November 27 2010, 12:58 PM GMTAs for the idea of just re-making something without bothering to buy the rights, don't forget if you do buy the rights you also get the scripts ready written...
Quality scripts which are then completely ruined by British actors, who have no comedy timing whatsoever.
Quote: zooo @ November 27 2010, 8:55 PM GMTSister Sister was brilliant!
So good they named it twice.
Quote: MTpromises @ November 27 2010, 7:37 PM GMTHere in the States, a few years ago ABC bought the rights for Wife Swap from the UK producers and Fox simply made their own version called Trading Spouses. The production team behind Wife Swap sued Fox to no avail. I think the only reason networks pay for rights is the production companies pitch them that way.
That is amazing and pretty worrying to prog writers/owners. I knew the law didn't give total protection but I thought it was better than that. 
Quote: MTpromises @ November 27 2010, 7:37 PM GMT
I can assure you I've never met an American named Dharma. If anything it'd seem to me to be a more familiar name to Brits as we don't have a strong influence from India here. If you offered American kids a curry they'd probably cry.
I think she may have been named after Dharmaa Bums, a famous American beatnick novel, anticipating what became known as the hippy movement in California.
Oh yeah, Kerouac.
How did I forget that? I was doing it at uni this year.
Quote: zooo @ November 28 2010, 11:24 AM GMTOh yeah, Kerouac.
Not writing, but typing. Who said that? Tom Wolfe?
A boring guy marries a hippy... pfff. It wasn't interesting enough to warrant a US version.
If we're going to have an English version, how about an upper-middle-class female barrister marries a football hooligan with Arsenal tattooed across his neck.
She keeps trying to hold cocktail parties, but he keeps getting into arguments and glassing people.
I would watch the hell out of that.
During the recent years, Dharma & Greg would be one the best shows ever aired in the television. I love the cute story line of this show - mixture of drama, fun and silliness. Also, the whole characters of Dharma & Greg are very smart and talented and of course Jenna's acting is really a smash! She really made me laugh all the time! Sadly, it has been cancelled and I already missed it.
Hi Mich!
