In a rare move, a US network has picked up a British television program and decided not to make an American version. According to Zap2It.com, Showtime so fell in love with Billie Piper's (Doctor Who's Rose) performance as the titular character Hannah/Belle that they've decided to just bring over the British version of Secret Diary of a Call Girl as is. Based on real-life diaries, the comedy Call Girl features Piper as secretary Hannah by day, call girl Belle by night and proved to be a big hit for the UK's ITV2.
Showtime will air the eight-episode first season in spring or summer of '08. It's no wonder, with the popular (even in the US) Piper attached, that Showtime decided not to make an Americanized version. Well, that and the fact that most of the time when we Americanize a British hit show we destroy it (Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling). Hell, even The Office was a near disaster. Honestly, I don't get it. I guess American studios think we Americans are too dumb to "get" British shows.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-18-2007 @ 5:30PM
Susan said...
Altho this news doesnt really benefit me any since ive already seen the first 8 episodes that aired in england. I did enjoy the show and would recommend it. I am glad to hear that they decided not to make an Americanized version of the show.
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12-18-2007 @ 5:39PM
Joost Schuur said...
I don't believe they're americanizing it a la The Office, Coupling etc at all. The original article says they have the American broadcast rights, i.e. they're airing it here, like BBC America is airing Torchwood e.g..
It's a similar situation to Showtime airing Channel 4's Meadowlands, earlier this year.
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12-18-2007 @ 5:41PM
Joost Schuur said...
Oh, I misread the posting. You never claimed it was being americanized at all.
12-18-2007 @ 6:35PM
Joey Geraci said...
Uhm, I think you are the only one to think the Americanization of the Office was a near disaster. Unless you define a near-disaster as improving leaps and bounds over its parents.
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12-18-2007 @ 7:03PM
Mike K. said...
Well, the first episode of the American series almost put me off it, mostly because of how directly it copied the UK version. It wasn't until a couple episodes in where it found it's own voice and really became a "breakout."
12-19-2007 @ 8:30AM
Jason Hughes said...
It was more a statement of how awkward the first episode was. Doing a line-by-line recreation of the British version wasn't a good idea. The American version has, I think, surpassed the original now thanks in no small part to the strength of it's extended cast.
12-18-2007 @ 8:18PM
George said...
I bet the Showtime execs haven't seen real breasts in years and found Pipers' charmingly quaint.
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12-18-2007 @ 10:32PM
rljones said...
It's showing here in Canada on Showcase. Episode 5 is this Thursday night.
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12-19-2007 @ 12:03AM
PB said...
Sorry, but when did they try and Americanize "Absolutely Fabulous"? I don't recall that ... other disasters I recall (trying to remake Fawlty Towers as Payne ... sacrilege!) but I don't remember an Ab Fab remake.
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12-19-2007 @ 8:31AM
Jason Hughes said...
I was thinking of High Society (1995-1996 - Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell), which wasn't a direct remake but heavily inspired. And yes, Payne was painful as well!
j/h
12-19-2007 @ 5:34AM
MrC said...
Back when she was still relevant Roseanne Barr bought the rights for AbFab and was in development to make a show starting herself and Carrie Fisher out of it.
I don't believe a pilot was every commisionned.
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