US TV shies away from racy sitcom (some NBC affiliates dump Coupling)

BBC ^ | Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 September, 2003, 09:16 GMT 10:16 UK | no byline

[weegee]

The US version of BBC sitcom Coupling has been banned by two local stations because of its sexual content. The stations - WNDU in South Bend, Indiana and KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah - are affiliated to national network NBC, which made the show.

NBC has remade the cult hit British comedy, about six friends, with the first episode to be shown on Thursday.

WNDU said the sexual jokes "push the envelope well beyond the boundaries of our community's standards".

The station's managers said they were "disappointed and uncomfortable" with the content.

NBC has admitted the show is "provocative" - but said the show was appropriate for national broadcast.

New ground

The original BBC version has become known for its uninhibited look at the young and liberated city dwellers and their sex lives - or lack of them.

"This is more about people not having sex," writer Steven Moffat said.

The formula for the NBC version has been changed little from the British original - and some people have touted it as a possible successor to Friends.

It does cover new ground for a mainstream US network, Ben Silverman, an executive producer of the NBC show, said.

"I think it's ground that [has] been covered on cable but I think we are trying to make it as provocative as we can within intelligent boundaries," he said.

"We absolutely want people to go 'wow' a little bit, but only in an adult, sophisticated way."

[jimkress]

adult, sophisticated way = Liberal speak for pornography

[BeerSwillr]

I don't know how the US version of this show will play. I do know that the British original is an absolute riot!

[50sDad]

Have you seen the gender-bender, human-bodies-in-bed-together-mutate-from-sex-to-sex tv commerical they have for this piece of offal? Sixteen types of creepy!

[lady lawyer]

I've seen that. Does the show deal with homosexual relationships?

[BushisTheMan]

Friends but each having a sex addiction problem.

[billbears]

I watched the British original one time. That's all it took. Everyone having slept with everyone else and still friends. How special...

[Cousin Eddie]

WNDU owned by Notre Dame. Not totally surprising, but then again ND allowed V Monologues on campus...huge backlash from alums for that boneheaded maneuver.

[weegee]

Possible plot synopsis:

"Complications" arise when their herpes infections all leave a mark on their lips as they pose for a group "Christmas card" photo. Former president Clinton guest stars.

[Prof Engineer]

The British original is played regularly in Dallas. Very funny.

[BeerSwillr]

No, I sure haven't. Leave it to US network perverts to wreck a funny show.

[Sans-Culotte]

I've seen the British version many times. It is amoral, lewd, bawdy and raunchy.

It's also clever, smart, and hilarious.

In the episodes I've seen, the show is not about homosexuals. Homosexuality is alluded to, but the main six characters are not gay.

It strikes me as a racy version of Friends, except they hang out in a bar instead of a coffee shop. The bawdy element of the show is in the situations and the dialogue, which, I agree, is inappropriate for the family hour over here. AFAIK, nudity is not involved, but the dialog gets very graphic at times.

I have no desire to see the knock-off, but I think the original is very funny, though certainly not for all tastes. Actually, I never thought I'd like it, but after laughing out loud while watching a few episodes, i had to admit it was funny.

[Wright is right!]

"The British original is played regularly in Dallas. Very funny."

It plays on BBCA on cable/satellite as well.

Our local paper this morning did a comparison of the original Beeb version with three episodes the writers had previewed courtesy of NBC. It found the Beeb series groundbreakingly funny, the crudeness softened by the accents, and quite original. It then found the NBC American version gross and rude, with all the humor removed. Several of the characters in the NBC version it characterized as "Run, Luke, RUN!" or "gag-a-maggot." It LIKED all the Beeb characters.

Looks like, once again, Hollywood has taken a Brit idea, coarsened it, removing all the humor and charm, and aimed it straight at the 18-22 Male frat-house viewer. Ick.

Michael

[Hildy]

Six people talking about sex all the time. That's not my idea of good TV. NOW, did anyone see the new show with James Caan...VEGAS? That was very good in an entertaining sense. And I really enjoyed WHOOPIE'S show last night. If you sit back you really will laugh. The only character I don't like is the White Girl who thinks she's black. It's just not that funny. But the show itself is funny.

[Moleman]

Sounds like a show I would like to see, me being an adult and all.

[BeerSwillr]

Thanks for expounding on my post. The Brit version is the only sitcom I watch any more, but my better half makes me watch it in the kitchen. (Oh well, closer to the fridge!)

[Sans-Culotte]

LOL-my wife didn't like it either; thought it too raunchy (we're both in our late 40's). I bought the Season 1 DVD, and got her to sit through episode one, and then episode two. After that, she's all "let's watch another!", and "how many episodes are on that DVD?".

Unfortunately, only 6, about the norm for BBC shows.

Red Dwarf is still my favorite for Brit humour, though.

[HitmanLV]

I read a synopsis for the first episdoe and it was incomprehensible. Amazing what junk gets on tv - much of it gets cancelled quickly, which is good, but it's amazing so many dumb concepts get the green light.

[weegee]

I caught part of that Vegas show. Could be interesting but it seems like it buys into some cliches (and cliche dialogue) too much. It's the first show I've watched on NBC in many years (I caught about the first 20 minutes).

Style wise it seems to rip off some of the Guy Ritchie stuff (like Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch) just like that short lived Fox series this summer.

I prefer the Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels tv show (7 episodes) to either of these series.

[mewzilla]

What's the time slot, anyone know?