Ravenwood - 01/11/06 06:15 AM
I was a huge fan of Top Gear, a British motorhead show that featured everything from exotic million dollar race cars like the Ferrari Enzo to average joe speedsters like the Pontiac GTO. It was filled with pithy English humour and charm, and just enough America bashing to be funny but not overbearing. It aired on the Discovery Channel until late last year when it suddenly disappeared.
Apparently the powers that be have decided that Americans are too stupid to understand the terms like petrol and wind-screen, so they are going to create a dumbed down American version for the U.S. mass audience.
Just like every other British show we steal, it's likely not going to be as good as the original.
I'm not arguing the point, but just have an honest question, since I don't know that much about British TV...
Which shows have we stolen in the past?
Posted by: roger at January 11, 2006 7:34 AMOff the top of my head, and not to imply which version is better, here is a quick list:
Three's Company
Trading Spaces
Whose Line is it Anyway
Big Brother
...just to name a few.
Posted by: Ravenwood at January 11, 2006 7:43 AMWe may be dumb but at least we have all of our teeth.
Posted by: Derek at January 11, 2006 8:44 AMJUNKYARD WARS!!!
Posted by: Jay G at January 11, 2006 8:58 AMAhh.. I loved that show. We totally screwed it up when they brought it over here. Bowser was a hoot.
Posted by: Ravenwood at January 11, 2006 9:03 AMThe Office (which we are doing a heck of a good job with).
I believe Survivor
THat dumb Regis Philbin Who Wants To Be A Millionaire show
Weakest Link
I like both versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway, but generally find the cast in the Drew Carey version to be funnier (although the best members have appeared routinely in both versions).
Either one, though, is as funny as anything I've ever seen on tv.
And I wish the Brits would have just kept Survivor, Weakest Link, and Big Brother to themselves...
Posted by: roger at January 11, 2006 11:01 AMI think we Yank's have done damn good with The Office.
Posted by: John at January 11, 2006 11:34 AMI guess none of you young-uns remember All in the Family?
Posted by: markm at January 11, 2006 12:00 PMNot to worry there is still 5th gear (speedvision or *spit*Speed TV*spit*) and IMHO it is better than Top Gear...
Posted by: Kirk at January 11, 2006 5:02 PMAnd I wish the Brits would have just kept Survivor, Weakest Link, and Big Brother to themselves...
We wish we'd just given them to you and not had them here at all.:)
Derek, most of the people I know have their own teeth, as opposed to the denizens of, say, Arkansas. :P
Posted by: robert in england at January 12, 2006 7:03 AM"Men Behaving Badly" was slaughtered over here. When you take out the drink, drugs and letching, there wasnt a lot for them left to do.
Same with Absolutely Fabulous & Sanford and Son.
At least Mr. Bean, Benny Hill and Junkyard Wars made it.
As for teeth, its suprizing they have any left at all with a natinal health system. The main difference is the lack of widespread cosmetic dentistry, such as straightening and whitening in the UK. I've seen worse smiles here in the US.
Of course they only allow good teeth on TV and in movies in the States, whereas in the UK, a perfect smile rules you out of many roles as being un-realistic.
Posted by: Dave the hyphenated American at January 12, 2006 1:44 PMI actually thought the American version of Trading Places was better, but maybe that's because the host (Paige Davis) was so much hotter.
Posted by: Pat in Colorado at January 12, 2006 6:48 PMDont forget the british drive on the otherside of the street and they have the metric system
Posted by: sandpiper at January 13, 2006 11:00 AM(c) Ravenwood and Associates, 1990 - 2014
