tuemungous
/ Evie Tuesday / 1993 /
tuemungous/ Evie Tuesday / 1993 /
So. Just watched a couple episodes of Veep because I was told it was the American version of The Thick Of It.
Well. I was vastly disappointed to be honest, no offense intended, but why must Americans trash our shows? We made a couple of good shows, and instead of just showing them, and letting America know we are capable of producing some good television American TV networks seem to be intent on instead re-hashing them. There just isn’t any need. And now there is going to be a whole load of American people who don’t know about TTOI and think Veep is good. I don’t know.
It just annoys me that this seems to happen quite often. Why make a new, shitter version, of any show when the real deal is already there, ready to broadcast.
The Thick of It is brilliant, the writing is sharp and the acting is spot on, I’d highly recommend it. If you’ve already seen Veep, you should be aware of the fact that it was based on this show. The Brits did it first, and we did it better.
So, I guess maybe I secretly am a bit patriotic. I don’t like the Royals, and I think the Olympics are a waste of money, I think the NHS needs huge improvements and I think we need to give a left government another chance, I think our postal service is abominable, BUT I DO THINK WE MAKE GOOD TV. We make good movies, and we make good music. Skins, Shameless, The Thick of It are all British, and have all been re-hashed to make them more ‘American friendly’. Well, if you’re American, and you don’t understand a show because it’s too British, DON’T FUCKING WATCH IT.
Rant over.
Please watch TTOI, it’s brilliant.
Just making sure you know that Iannucci and Blackwell both write and produce Veep…
I absolutely love TTOI. I also watched two episodes of Veep and couldn’t stand it. Some TV shows, especially something political like Veep, almost have to be changed in some way to be adapted for different audiences. I watch a lot of British TV so I know of the references and can understand the jokes in TTOI (plus I enjoy British humor a lot more), but that definitely wouldn’t be the case for most other Americans. Sadly, if Veep wants to be a successful show, it will have to be different from TTOI.
Also, most Americans probably don’t even know that Veep exists. It’s on HBO, which is not included in most basic TV packages here, so most people don’t even have the ability to watch it.
Personally, I love Veep and haven’t watched The Thick of It (although I was aware of their relation) and I’m neither american nor british. But I agree with a lot of what was said up tharr ^. But in the end humour is humour and the more of it there is, the better off the world is.
Only just saw these replies, though I don’t know how long ago they came- a few people have explained to me now that the makers of TTOI where also behind Veep, so I do apologise for any mistakes in my op, I didn’t look into it properly so now I feel like an idiot. I still stand by some of my points though, I mean, I totally get what you guys are saying- the humour has to change to fit the audience, but i never see it happen the other way around- a lot of American comedies don’t hit the mark this side of the ocean, but no one seems to be saying “hey, the Brits don’t love this show, so lets make it again, but a new version just for them”
TTOI is a remarkable show, and if Americans don’t get it then they are assuredly missing out on some great TV, but that’s their loss, right? Wether Veep is a big deal or not in the US is kinda beside the point, someone put money into the project to make the American version of one of my favourite shows because my favourite show wasn’t good enough for America apparently. I guess the guys behind it wanted more people to see their work, I get it, I do, I just think its a shame that instead of coming up with something entirely new they had to basically rip off TTOI and Americanise it. I think I’m just not a fan of anything americanised in the first place- the very idea of getting something great and remoulding it to fit someone else’s idea of comedy seems so wrong D:
