Most of you already know that the Australian series Kath and Kim has been bought by the Americans and has been re-made (like British shows, Life on Mars, Queer as Folk etc). The new Kath and Kim show airs in America in October and stars Selma Blair and Molly Shannon. Australian readers will probably be horrified to read that NBC is re-working the show again. NBC is apparently concerned about the first episode (the show skipped the traditional pilot process) and are doing some reworking to it. The execs are worried the show will fall flat with US audiences – I could have told them that before they bought it.
The network has invested heavily in this show and so they have asked if it can be more highly stylised.
“Think CSI: Comedy. They want to de-Kath & Kim it a bit,” an industry insider said.
I have to say that I am not a huge Kath & Kim fan and I don’t want to see the new series that much, but I will say that I have said from day one that I didn’t think this project would work. Kath & Kim is a very Australian show and is a product of time and place. Americans will not watch this unless it is completely revamped – and in a situation like that, why not just make something original. Why bother remaking something if it does not resemble the original.
To read the full story go to news.com.au
