Links

[chromodynamics]

• Science
• Relativity drive: The end of wings and wheels?
  Brilliant idea, can't wait to see the working model, though I think we will still need the wings and wheels, just not the engine.
• Scientist shocked as Arctic polar route emerges
  Oooooo-kay. Anybody else want to move as high as possible?
• Virgin Galactic Unveils SpaceShip Two interior
  My favorite part of the story: someone traded in 2 million Virgin Atlantic frequent flier miles for a trip!
• Television
• America Nabs the Vicar of Dibley
  Such a funny television show that will likely be completely horrible on American television.
• Fox tries to thwart DVR fast-forwarding
  After all that advertiser whining, all it takes is a little creativity. At least until the 30-second skip button becomes standard.

Comments

[kakitaseigi.livejournal.com]

"Such a funny television show that will likely be completely horrible on American television."

Most of them are. Coupling US was a TOTAL flop and horrible, and the script for the pilot was almost exactly the script of the UK pilot! Most American actors and actresses just can't do British humour. Plus, I think the concept of vicars at all is a bit further away from American culture. After all, think about it... If you mentioned the concept of a Tarts and Vicars Party to most Americans, they wouldn't know what you're on about unless they've seen the debacle in Bridget Jones' Diary.

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

Agreed about The Vicar of Dibley. I randomly saw an episode on PBS a few months ago and loved it, but I really don't think that humor will translate well. Plus they're all, we're setting it in the South because that's a church-y culture, which... yes, true, but that makes me think it's going to be an excuse to make fun of Southerners.

[titanic-days.livejournal.com]

This is why Dibley won't work on American TV. The setting they have chosen is all wrong; by setting it in the south it plays to a style of Christianity that wouldn't accept the generally liberal 'live-and-let-live' attitude that the show took towards the Church of England, which is a generally affable and pleasant church that doesn't go the whole hog with fire and brimstone. In other words it wouldn't be the same show.

But then by setting it in the kind of environment where the premise of the show would remain intact would involve setting it among Lutherans in Minnesota or something, where it would never be made because Norwegians aren't funny whereas The Dukes of Hazzard are. Essentially, you keep the hick stereotype if you set it in Georgia, but the church stereotype they'll be going for doesn't fit what Dibley is about.

[chromodynamics.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is interesting about how Coupling failed so miserably here and did so well in the UK. It would be interesting to watch the two pilots back to back and try to quantify just why one worked and the other didn't.

[kakitaseigi.livejournal.com]

The delivery of the punchlines and all in the US version felt forced. Other than that, I dunno, but I do remember that pretty well.

[chromodynamics.livejournal.com]

The Vicar of Dibley is my favorite UK comedy, bar none, and I highly recommend it. But part of the fun is that religion is not nearly as ... serious for lack of a better work, in the UK than in the US, and especially in the South. This is just not going to translate well.

[chromodynamics.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with everything you have said. I'd be surprised if it makes it past the 3rd episode.