MovieChat Forums > Extras (2005) Discussion > The changes for a US audience.

The changes for a US audience.

posted 14 years ago by gallifreyrises
16 replies | jump to latest

I can understand the alteration of certain dialogue in order to make the programme relevant to an American audience, but if you if you think about it (within the context of the programme), it doesn't make sense. A British actor on Celebrity Big Brother ranting (for lack of a better word) about 'celebrities' and the state of entertainment isn't going to mention Ryan Seacrest (I had to look him up on Wikipedia to work out who he was) or American Idol. Also you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the UK who actually knows who Kramer is. So why would a branch of John Lewis stock Kramer dolls. The same goes for the "Direct TV" t-shirt joke at the start of the christmas special. Also the US audience misses out on some of the jokes such as the Catherine Tate reference which was omitted for the final episode's US broadcast

Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast.

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

Since you are in the know, what does "Do you fancy panto in Gilford with Les Dennis" mean?

BTW, Seinfeld hasn't played in the UK?

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] gallifreyrises 14 years ago

It means "do you want to perform with TV personality Les Dennis in a pantomime in the town of Guildford in Surrey". To the best of my knowledge, Seinfeld was broacast in the UK but it never achieved mainstream popularity. Whereas (rather depressingly) practically everyone in the UK knows who Jade Goody was.

Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast.

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

Oooh, Ok. That one really stumped me.

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] lwaha 14 years ago

I just rewatched the first series and thought the Les Dennis episode was the best, but I'm not even sure there was any point airing it in the US. i mean they won't know who Les Dennis is, what Family Fortunes was, who Mavis Riley was...so I think it would fall a bit flat.

Also would they know Ross Kemp and Vinnie jones?

BTW i loved Seinfeld.

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

I've seen Les Dennis on Bloopers shows and his show is like one here called Family Feud. I know Vinnie, but not Ross Kemp or Mavis Riley.

I still love this series.

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

Another question, are the Big Brother people actual people? Are they famous?

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] gallifreyrises 14 years ago

The topless model, the northern comic, and the woman whose son was murdered are fictional. The others are all real. Lisa Scott-Lee is a Welsh singer who was in a band called Steps during the late 90s. Lionel Blair is an actor, TV presenter, and dancer. June Sarpong (The one Andy berated for making porridge in stilettos and a thong) is a television pesenter who has recieved an MBE for her charity work. Chico Slimani was a contestant on The X-Factor.

Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast.

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

Okay, that makes it better. I couldn't believe they had a murder victim's mom there.

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] jh66 14 years ago

Yes, Americans might not be too au fait with many British stars and phrases, even if they are fans of the many great British shows, lingo and stars?

To sell abroad, language and culture changes have to be made- I just wish that US show networks had the same courtesy?

[–] MycroftHolmes 14 years ago

They change Brit shows to show here? They didn't change Extras, did they?
What shows were changed?

What we have here is failure to communicate!

[–] eru0527 12 years ago

But wasn't Extras a BBC and HBO production from the very beginning? So then it makes sense to make small alteration. For me, a Swede, I didn't know who any of the many B- and C-list actors/celebrities like a couple that had one big role on one succesful British sitcom way back when were... Or that's how it was presented, but all the guest stars were self-deprecating, so maybe Ross Kemp and Les Dennis are well respected and they just joked that their career was pathetic? Or? I really didn't get many of the celebrity references.

[–] Helena727 9 years ago

To sell abroad, language and culture changes have to be made

I respectfully disagree. I'm American, and when I watch something from the UK, Canada, or Australia, I *want* to be immersed in whatever I'm watching; I don't want any references changed to make them more easily understandable.

For onething, good writing provides enough context such that th viewer can get the gist. When I watched Kath and Kim, I missed a lot of Australia-specific references, but I virtually always understood from context what was intended. (For ex., there was a reference to a famous cricketer -- that one of his lookalikes had mistakenly been booked for a hen party, and they had to pay him to *stay* clothed. Didn't matter that I didn't know what he looked like, I got it.)

Or, with Extras -- I don't know who Mavis was or what she looked like (tho I know what Cor. St. is). But it didn't matter; it was a funny and distinctively expressive voice, and the way it was used within the ep was just funny.

Finally, if the context stumps me, then I google. Easy enough these days for anyone to do so, and people who are inclined to watch shows from other nations are, presumably, enough of an enquiring mind to do so.

"All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people."

[–] jlprizm86 8 years ago

I am in agreement with you on this. I am also an American viewer and when I watch a show from a different country I really don't expect them to change the content so that it makes it easier for me to understand what is going on or why something is funny. If I wanted to watch American content and references I would just watch an American show. Even if I don't know exactly who someone is or what they are referring to I still get the joke and if I'm even more curious I can look it up online very quickly as you said. I love Kath and Kim too! I have watched it too many times to count.

[–] Finkle-is-Einhorn 13 years ago

ive always said it makes no sense its a british show, why would the characters be making american references, also there not even big enough to merit changes.

its ridiculous

[–] Jane_Doe01 9 years ago

Yeah because it's not like you'd ever hear an American talk about Monty Python or Benny Hill or Bond movies or the royal family.

[–] dgates64 9 years ago

The changes would not be relevant to a UK audience, but the Extras tweaked for the US audience only played in the States.

Either way, they did leave ONE glaring British slang word in the US version, and that was fags instead of cigarettes.