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**A Cousin** · 27-08-2010, 08:24 PM

(27-08-2010 07:26 PM)festa Wrote: Anyway, half the fun for us across the pond is that we get to giggle at the British portrayal of us. We see how similar we are, and also how different.

We can be very insular. It's good for us to see how we are perceived in the world. Sometimes the portrayal has been uncomfortably close to home. One of my most favorite lines is one of Ruth's when she says something to effect: "Bloody Americans. Everything is a competition." Its funny because its true. Wink

Of course, they are looking at a very narrow range of the population - those that work for the CIA. Not exactly a very broad cross section of society.

Giftcard · 27-08-2010, 09:00 PM

(27-08-2010 07:26 PM)festa Wrote: If one of the premium channels like HBO or Showtime were picking it up, there would be hope.... but ABC is all shlock.

So true! I also think FX & USA Network could do a good job.

Thanks bertowud! I wasn't sure if it would be considered a spoiler or not but wanted to air on the side of caution.

**JHyde** · 28-08-2010, 07:46 AM

They might keep the nerdy character (well, one of them) as a Brit. Think Tony Head in Buffy.

**A Cousin** · 30-08-2010, 03:17 PM

(25-08-2010 06:11 PM)Silktie Wrote: Ever notice how the computer whizz in US shows is always a scruffy looking teenage type?

Methinks ol' Malcolm might be getting a make-over.

We saw an interesting news article last week that said that the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) is using very young hackers to assist with a program to assess the DHS's cyber security. Some of them were teenagers. The DHS had a view to recruit some of them later.

praxis · 31-08-2010, 02:49 PM

Hmmm, MI5 and the CIA work in completely different ways. Their agents are trained and recruited via very different routes. I'm wondering how SHP could possibly be transformed into an American character (although Harvey Keitel did quite a good job of Gene Hunt, so there is hope!). Shades of the satirical movie which was on TV last night- "Churchill, the Hollywood Years"

kimmy · (This post was last modified: 05-10-2010 11:55 AM by kimmy.)

The U.S version will not have our brilliant Sir Harry, enough said.

festa · 05-10-2010, 03:50 PM

I recently had a conversation with a neighbor in her 20's. When I used the term "Spooks", she thought I was using an old racial term. This made me realize why they call it MI5 in America.

Wonder what they will call it... FBI? Hasn't that been done?

TomQuim · 29-11-2010, 04:06 AM

See, American television is so sickeningly PC that it clearly wouldn't work. The US equivalent of Zaf for example would be shown at the end of every Islamic terror-centric episode on his prayer mat chanting "Allah Akbar". As if to say to the viewer in the most patronizing way possible "See? SEE?! You can still be a muslim AND protect your country!".

Nah, fuck this shit!

BravoNine · 29-11-2010, 08:50 AM

Well I can't say I'm that surprised, they've been working on a US version of "Torchwood" as well, it seems like they are going on a remake-spree.

It really all comes down to how the scripts are written and how the characters are portrayed, if it's done with intelligence and wit, I would have no problems with it. There are plenty of shows that I watch in the states that are just as good as Spooks and plenty witty, NCIS being one of them. So the way I see it, if they can get the stories right and the characters real and human enough, it should not be a big problem.

As for being politically correct, that is an issue in American television, but I think that exists in every country, it just so happens that Spooks pushes the boundaries. US shows can also push the envelope, Battlestar Galactica did and they did it with wit and intelligence. Perhaps the US version of Spooks should be made on a cable network like USA or HBO, because I feel that large networks like ABC do not have the right capabilities to handle such a show.

I wouldn't count the remake out, who knows, maybe the show will find its own unique flair just like Spooks did. The UK remade Law and Order, and that seems to work out well, at least I very much enjoy watching the show.

The only thing that would worry me is how the casting will go, what made Spooks unpredictable is that no one is safe, no actor is safe and no matter how famous you may be, there is always a chance your character will exit with no warning. That has been very unique to Spooks. But I fear that will loose its effectiveness in the states as actors with fame in Hollywood has great control in their shows and they tend to stay on a show for long periods of time, it's a different style and culture, so I'm not sure that will mix well.

festa · 29-11-2010, 01:22 PM

(29-11-2010 04:06 AM)TomQuim Wrote: See, American television is so sickeningly PC that it clearly wouldn't work. The US equivalent of Zaf for example would be shown at the end of every Islamic terror-centric episode on his prayer mat chanting "Allah Akbar". As if to say to the viewer in the most patronizing way possible "See? SEE?! You can still be a muslim AND protect your country!".

Nah, fuck this shit!

I am certainly not sticking up for American tv, but I don't think we are all that pc. Have you seen Family Guy? American Dad or The Simpsons? Some shows are more pc than others, depends. I think it probably has to do with what network it's on. Which does not bode well... Abc is not known for it's daring.