Gene Hunt vs. Gene Hunt - Life on Mars (US)

Is anyone else going to check out the US version of Life on Mars this week? I just finished watching the UK series and I LOVED it. Caught the leaked pilot of the US version (which has subsequently been completely tossed in the trash, we'll be seeing something totally different) and thought it was pretty bad.

I love Harvey Keitel and wonder if he'll work as well as Philip Glenister as the all-too-70's cop Gene Hunt. The UK Gene Hunt is awesome. I think that Michael Imperioli will make a good Ray Carling. He seems to have the whole 70's cop look down pat.

I agree completely. Are you going to give the US version a chance?

This is one of those series I have watched S01E01 like trhee times and never got the 'spark'.

Another one is HEROES. I mean, I hear how good it is and all, but somehow...

I just don't see that the U.S. version can be as good. The original had swearing, nudity, and smoking. Somehow I don't see them getting away with all of that on U.S. television.

Yes. Harvey Keitel is Gene Hunt and Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti from the Sopranos) is Ray Carling.

Gene Hunt




Sam Tyler and Annie Cartwright




Ray Carling




Chris Skelton

What more is there to do with Life on Mars that the UK series hasn't ALREADY done, and better ?

And the US version of Sam does NOT look cool.

Can you please spoiler most of your post for those who haven't seen all of the UK version?

Neither did the UK version.

What ? I'm American and have seen the finale twice on TV, I don't think I should have to use spoiler tags. But... I will ... I guess...

Good for you. So have I. Others may not have. It's not like the show is on any kind of wide distribution here in the US.

Lucky for you, you DON'T "have to". That's why I said "please". Where I come from we call that "courtesy".

Thank you.

^
What? You've already seen it and you're still bitchin. That's the last time I edit my post for anyone.

Hollywood should know by now that remakes of UK series just. don't. work. THE OFFICE is the one exception that proves the rule, and that's not really a remake but a sitcom re-imagining. British series have a certain kind of humour that just doesn't translate - it's not about the settings or the accents, it's in the writing. I wonder why they try and try and try... is it because Americans have a hard time following something that doesn't play in the US of A? Is it hard to understand the language? Does Hollywood think American viewers will reject something because it's set in Manchester instead of New Jersey?

Yeah, sorry. Unfortunately I have this critical flaw where I actually give a fuck about people other than myself.

There are a lot more UK series remakes that were successful than just the Office, so I have to say that you are wrong on this one, Cass.

EDIT: As the man said, Cass, not Dan

I agree. I think most Americans can't actually understand the Mancunian dialect to begin with. They'd need subtitles.

^
I agree. And a subtitled series is never going to play on a major network.

Yes. More American imports play in Britain than British Imports plays in America. As such most Americans aren't as familiar with British culture. Most Americans don't know any other English cities besides London. So alot of jokes just don't translate.

Yes. I've watched British shows all my life and even I have to stop sometimes and say 'what did he just say?'

There are 4 reasons why UK Imports don't end up on major networks.

4.
Hard to understand dialog.

3.
Certain geographical or cultural jokes don't carry over.

2.
Money. US producers make more on something they actually produce themselves.
Not to mention a name for themselves if everything goes right.

1.
Episode Count ! Episode Count ! Episode Count !
5 episodes a series/season may cut it in the UK but that will never fly on US television.​

The understanding accents issue is a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy thing, overseas shows aren't shown, which means people don't get used to the accents, which means they don't understand them, which means the overseas shows aren't shown. Shame really since most remakes of shows do suck.

That dialect thing is kind of weird as I have no problem whatsoever to understand them. Yea, I got a few problems with hard core Scottish speakers but even that wanes when I listen for a few minutes.

Every remake I have seen (or heard of) was atrocious to say the least.

Para might be right tho. Episode count. Didn't think of that - but having only a few eps makes the series' as good as they are. It's not watered down and artificially stretched out.

How many have you seen? Sanford and Son (Steptoe and Son), Three's Company (Man About The House), and The Office were all arguably much more popular than their British counterparts.

Out of rep, but same here!

I loved that programme. I like Ashes to Ashes too, but LoM rocked.

Actually, many, many moons ago my German teacher said that Germans and Austrians are often better at understanding Scottish accents than some English people...
That said, the only UK accents ever to cause me any trouble are Belfast and Geordie, and I'm OK with those as long as people don't speak too quickly.

I had a problem with Red Dwarf when I first started watching it. Life on Mars didn't bother me that much until the episode about the football game, and then the accents were a bit too much for me.

I do have more trouble understanding some German dialects than I have with English ones. But I'm not a fair measure given that orally, I can easily pass as American and 95% of my media cosumtion is in English

Re: dialect...I first tried to read Trainspotting when I was in Scotland about ten years ago, and I couldn't get past the first sentance. A few years later, I had to read it for a class. It was slow going at first, but I picked it up quite well. Almost too well. Before too long, I was thinking in it.

^ Yes, that one was quite hard to crack. Didn't help that I was half drunk when I saw it first and immediately tried to talk like that

Nudity ? That didn't make the BBC America cut. What nudity ?