Coupling pulled by NBC (possibly cancelled after 3 episodes)

Guardian UK ^ | Wednesday October 15, 2003 | Jason Deans

[weegee]

The US version of BBC2 comedy Coupling has been unceremoniously yanked from the NBC schedule after only three episodes, prompting fears about the show's future.

NBC has pulled Coupling from its 9.30pm slot on Thursday night and replaced it with a repeat of another of its new shows, Whoopi Goldberg sitcom Whoopi.

Perhaps more ominously, NBC has also announced it will be resting Coupling for "sweeps" month in November, when TV advertising rates for the next quarter are set and the US networks try to maximise ratings with scheduling stunts and specials.

The fact that Coupling is being sidelined for this key period suggests NBC does not have a lot of faith in the show developing into a long term replacement for Friends, as had been hoped.

However, NBC insiders said no decision had yet been made about whether Coupling would be cancelled.

Coupling launched with 15.3 million viewers in late September, but after three episodes its audience had subsided to 10.7 million by last Thursday.

The US translation of the BBC2 comedy has attracted criticism in the States for its frank and frequent references to sex - two TV stations even refused to broadcast the show.

However, perhaps the most damning comment from US critics - who have seen the original version of Coupling on digital cable channel BBC America - is that it is just a pale carbon copy of the British show.

US versions of hit British shows have struggled to gain a foothold on the brutally competitive American terrestrial networks in recent years.

American translations of Cracker, Cold Feet, Men Behaving Badly and Holding the Baby have all foundered after short-lived runs.

The US remake of The Kumars was recently dropped from Fox's autumn line-up before it was even broadcast.

But UK entertainment formats such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link and Dog Eat Dog, as well as comedy show Whose Line is it Anyway?, have proved more successful.

US versions of British reality, lifestyle and makeover shows such as Faking It and Changing Rooms have also made the successful transition to US cable channels.

[hattend]

I agree. Playmakers is very entertaining. However, how did I know there was going to be a gay story angle? The gaystapo agenda is everywhere. Even on ESPN.

[Shooter 2.5]

Oops. I forgot CSI. Thanks.

I forgot one more.

Dead Like Me

The problem with that one is it won't be back until the first of the year.

If I figure CSI on Mondays and Thursdays, that takes care of the week except for Tuesday and Saturday.

[SoothingDave]

I decided not to watch the NBC version. I knew it would not even compare to the original.

Me, too. But like a trainwreck, I had to watch.

As a big fan of the British version, I have to admit...the actors are what is killing the American version.

Only the "Jane" seems to have some sense of character. "Patrick" is all right as well, but a bit one dimensional.

Even the theme song is speeded up in the US version, giving a foreshadow of what is to come. Take last week's show, where Jane's Auntie dies and she shows up at Steven's, looking for some sympathy. She announces that her aunt has died and Steve says nothing. She prods "say something."

BBC Steve pauses, as he often does, searching for the words. Finally he opens his mouth: "S$%T"

On NBC, there is no pause, no stammer, no search for words. And of course, no profanity, so NBC Steve can only say "crap."

A fitting epitaph. I hope I never see them try to do Jeff dating the woman whose legs he admires on the train, or Jeff and the Israeli girl.

SD

[hattend]

or Jeff and the Israeli girl.

I have never laughed so hard in my life. What an episode...LOL!!

[SoothingDave]

"Is she your translator?" - Jeff Murdoch, in perhaps the most redundant question ever to be translated.

SD

[jabotinsky]

amen to that,

I absolutely love the british Coupling on BBC. its the only reason I ever watch PBS/BBC. Coupling is by far one of the funniest/well written shows to grace TV.

The americanized version is absolute crap. it simply sucks ass.

Rena sofer is fanfingtastic though.

[InvisibleChurch]

i'm surprised; after all thursday IS trash night

[TX Bluebonnet]

I watched part of one show. It seemed like Seinfeld with grade B actors.

[Neanderthal]

"Benny Hill was the only england comedy that was funny."

Did you ever hear of Monty Python's Flying Circus?

[TheBigB]

ABC has some pretty good comedies on Tuesday nights...8 Simple Rules, I'm With Her, and According to Jim all make me laugh. :)

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Going up against CSI was a mistake. That show is an 800 pond gorilla.

[Don Corleone]

We get it on BBC cable. Don't watch it there either.

[goldstategop]

Coupling Series 1 (British equivalent of an American season) is already out on DVD from BBC America. I'm looking forward to Series 2.

[Hildy]

Are the characters in the British version as unlikable as the American version? I found it unwatchable.

[goldstategop]

That was the funniest episode I've ever seen. It works well as it does cause the bloke and the Israeli girl talk past each other. (She speaks Hebrew). Have you ever tried to hit on a girl and thought you won her only to realize afterwards she didn't return your wooing of her? Man, when British comedies make you roll on the floor holding your insides, you know the material is good enough NOT to need a canned laugh track.

[TheWriterInTexas]

Benny Hill?

Shallow, sexual, but slap-stick funny and ran on television for several years.

Guess "Coupling" it was just shallow and sexual, but not funny. Couldn't say. I never saw it.

[goldstategop]

The British cast is likeable, have good chemistry and somehow the script works. There's something about American producers taking a good idea and putting it into the hands of actors who aren't likeable, have no chemistry and make it as boring as hell. Coupling would have done better if they had toned it down and not used the original source material. When you adapt a foreign show, its NOT necessary to repeat the original material word for word. It shows not only a lack of creativity but also a contempt for the intelligence of your viewing audience.

[MattAMiller]

The clips I saw didn't strike me as funny. Also it was on against my favorite show, CSI.

[Timesink]

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

[Timesink]

I heard an editor for tv guide on one of my regular talkshows. He does a weekly 40 minutes.

What talk show is that, just out of curiosity?