NBC's Sleazy 'Coupling' Bombs

NewsMax ^ | 10/15/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The smirking yuppies who run NBC were glad that the rubes in Flyover Country were fuming about the network's raunchy new sitcom "Coupling." There's no such thing as bad publicity in Hollywood - unless that publicity fails to generate interest and the chief god of Tinseltown, money.

"Coupling," an American rip-off of a British rip-off of NBC's "Friends," is doing so dismally in its coveted slot Thursday night that the pea-brained Peacocks have yanked the show after only three weeks.

NBC execs refuse to say when or if "Coupling" will return, the New York Times reported today. Not that anyone cares.

[SoothingDave]

Related thread

[Support Free Republic]

Thank you very much, thank you very much!
It isn't every day, good fortune comes me way
I never thought the future would be fun for me!
And if I had a bugle, I would blow it to add a sort
o' how's your father's touch.
But since I left me bugle at home, I simply have to say
Thank you very, very, very much! Thank you very, very, very much!

[lady lawyer]

"Smirking yuppies . . . smirking yuppies . . . smirking yuppies." Great phrase.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

well maybe there is hope after all.

[Skooz]

Guess the prols refused to consume the Hollyweird garbage this time. I am sure the smug liberal suits just assume the audience wasn't sophisticated enough to "get it."

[narby]

I believe that added another segment of Whoopi's new bomb in its place. If that's true, then the likely reason is to help Whoopi, not replace a bomb.

[itsahoot]

I believe that added another segment of Whoopi's new bomb in its place. If that's true, then the likely reason is to help Whoopi, not replace a bomb.

They got to have sponsors in any case. Glad to see it is gone, but there is a long way to go.

[BlazingArizona]

The real "Coupling", which is excellent, is available on the BBC feed carried on cable in major urban areas. Why watch a pallid ripoff when you can see the real thing?

[mylife]

The british version is a hoot and say what you will about PBS, but they have the decency to air it late night.

[July 4th]

The American version even used the scripts from the British series. There was no point in even remaking it! It might have done better with the British accents.

[goldstategop]

I don't think any one cares. Its a bad rip off of a very funny show. Rule #1 for Hollywood peabrains: if the original works, leave it well enough alone. It can stand on its own just fine.

[Timesink]

"The US 'Coupling' will bomb. Mark my words." -- Me, September 20, 2003

[Clintonfatigued]

Well, actually there are precedents for Americans remaking successful British shows. Great Britian had a funny satire in the 1960's called "Till Death Do Us Part". In 1971, an Americanized remake was produced, called "All In The Family". And in the 1970's, the Brits had an amusing sit-com called "Man Of The House". In the early 1980's, it was remade in America as "Three's Company". Chances are, American audiences thought that "Coupling" contained material not appropriate for prime time viewing.

[goldstategop]

A show of that type is better on cable for those who want to watch it. I don't think families appreciate the family hour being filled with what amounts to soft porn. Many people would argue we have too much sex on the airwaves already and mind you, not just in shows.

[AFPhys]

If NBC really wanted to raise their ratings for that time slot, they ought to look into purchasing a license to rerun Rush's TV show... it would probably help them even though that is many years old now.

[HitmanLV]

I didn't see this one coming.

[Fresh Wind]

Well, actually there are precedents for Americans remaking successful British shows.

A prime example is "Sanford and Son", which was far better than it's British parent "Steptoe and Son", IMHO.