During our experimental Halloween “Up All Night” LiveClack this past Sunday, one of the programs I was switching to and from was the Ghost Hunters Live special. Don’t laugh. Anyway, I’ve got issues with Ghost Hunters and its stunt casting, but I’ll get into that a bit more in another post. Related to that, though, the live special included a couple of celebrity guests, including Meaghan Rath of the upcoming US version of Being Human; and that’s what got me wondering: why the heck is Syfy doing this remake?
At the last San Diego Comic-Con, you may recall that BBCA had a presence there to pump some hype into the original, UK version of Being Human appearing on its network. And, as you know, Syfy makes one hell of a splash at Comic-Con every year, promoting everything but WWE, with booths, panels and interviews. With the US version of Being Human debuting next year, it’s nearly certain that the network will have a panel in place for SDCC in the summer.
So … what about the BBCA version?
It appears that Syfy is banking on a The Office-like success of bringing a successful foreign series to the US. However, the UK Office ended in 2003, with the US version premiering in 2005. With Being Human, both shows will be airing, though on different networks. Is it really necessary to “translate” a British Being Human for US audiences? Is it that difficult to relate to the characters when they hail from across the pond? I say bollocks. Look how well it turned out for Life on Mars (though at least that US remake started after the UK version was over).
It’s going to be especially interesting to see what happens at SDCC next year. If both networks have their respective shows make an appearance, then I’m thinking that’s going to be quite awkward and absurd. Will they have different panels or will they merge them together into one room? Will they have to separate the room so the die-hard fans of the original don’t stake those there for the Syfy version? Ooo … now it’s sounding like it could be fun!
I could see trying to make a new Being Human series if the first one sucked, but it doesn’t. So what the hell is the point?
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Nov 05, 2010 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
I will check out one episode just to see if it holds the same appeal. BBCA’s Being Human is very well done, and the track record of attempting to remake British shows in American form is basically nil. Even The Office is nothing like the original, they just got lucky based on other factors.
The SyFy remake / reboot / redo will probably be canceled by the summer anyways so it won’t matter.
If something is based off a British TV hsow I just ignore the new one and what the old one. Skins is a perfect example of that.
Even from the 15 second preview on the web I can see that the casting and tone are all off for the SyFy version of the show.
I am going to check it out because I like the actors in the US version. I loved the first season of the UK version but the second just kind of lost me. I truly believe right now that the whole vampire/werewolf/(should be a witch in here) is being done to death though. I am really a horror/scifi fan but it is getting to be too much. I am actually waiting for the vampire/werewolf to show up on Modern Family.
Yes, the track record of translating British shows to an American version is very bad, but when they hit it can be very good. I don’t have a problem with SyFy remaking “Being Human” per se, I have a problem with them remaking it while the other one is still on the air. Making that worse is that it’s not only on the air, but on the air in the US. That’s as absurd as, say, NBC doing a remake of “Castle” for next season.
Anyone else here old enough to remember when “the big 3″ all came out with sitcom clones of “Animal House” at the same time? Yeah, those went over like 3 turds in a punchbowl.
Even though I think it’s a stupid idea mostly because of timing, I’m going to watch the SyFy version. I can’t completely condemn it until I’ve given it a chance to plead its case. Truthfully, I hope it’s freaking great. I don’t see it living up to the original, but I hope it somehow finds a different tone that’s equally as appealing.
Oh, and Keith. It’s “bollocks” with two O’s. Now go watch more British TV until you get it right!
You can’t compare this to Castle.
Being Human is on BBC America, a channel most do not get, so it’s not anywhere close to the same as Castle being on NBC and ABC at the same time.
*POST AUTHOR*
I dunno, do more people get Syfy than BBCA?
Yes, for me this is mostly about two of the SAME show on at the same time.
You’re saying my comparison is invalid simply because of the number of people who can get each channel. That really has little to do with the point I was making, which was about having two versions of the same show on at the same time being absurd.
If it were a matter of numbers, only slightly more than half of American homes have cable. Does having only about half of the American population receiving cable make all cable broadcasts relatively insignificant? Perhaps it does in the proper context, but that was not the context in which I was making my analogy. There are many articles and subsequent discussions on this site about shows broadcast on channels most people do not receive. That does not lessen the relevence of the subject matter.
My point is that most people who watch Syfy will most likely not even know about the British one, or can’t watch it anyways. So having one for one country and one for another isn’t that big off a deal.
You were comparing network channels which everyone has, so it’s completely different.
Keith, when I had cable I had Sci-fi Channel and not BBC America. Through Comcast and Charter around here Syfy is on “basic cable” which is channels 20-80ish. BBC America is in “extended cable” and that’s channels 100-399. 400+ is Showtime and HBO and such, then HD, music and on demand channels.
Plus one is a British show, they probably have 7 episodes for a season and Syfy will have 20 (?) so really the British one will hardly ever be on at the same time as the USA version. lol
Oreo, I see your point and I believe it’s a valid one, but I also believe mine is, too. The thing is I’m writing from a perspective of someone who is both aware of the two versions and able to see them. Yes, the number of people who are in our “little group of awareness” is likely small, but it’s a growing group and networks are remake/reimagining crazy. So yeah, I still think it’s a bit absurd, but I also recognize that you have a very good point about minimal saturation and awareness.
As I’ve said before, I hope the American version is excellent. It will be interesting to watch two versions of the same show. I’ll feel almost like I’m watching “Fringe” with two similar, but slightly different dimensions!
US version looks really crappy. Why redo UK television shows or movies? US remake if Death at a Funeral complete garbage. UK comedy does not make sense with a completing different sub cultural.
“New original series”? Where’s the new? More importantly, where’s the *original*? Can it honestly be said that it’s more economical to “create” your own series that could fail, than it is to get the rights to air the actual hit that would bring the established fans to your channel? Then again, they had an established fanbase for Caprica and look what they did there.
I am frankly fed up with the blatent rip-off of british programs by american networks. This year in particular not only Being Human, but Shameless as well. Shameless was a wonderful quirky series that does not deserve a watered down american version.
I will refuse to watch either show.
Im american and dont like the idea either that syfy is remaking it while the original is still airing! I loved watching the original and have been patiently watching for each season to air. And will continue to do so. I am hooked on Misfit, skins, Shameless (british)and I think it messed up that the americans are always stealing the brits ideas and thinking they can do it better (and Im an American LOL) Another thing…I hate the way they are always remaking some of the old classics that set so many presidence in the motion picture industry. John Wayne prob wouldnt like that they redid True Grit! “If its not broke America, dont try to fix it!”
this show sucks, no chemistry between the principles, and the acotrs are wooden. the cinematography, the sets, the scenery, the directing and even the score are all second rate, as second rate as you can expect from syfy channel. NOt only do I not like this I find it depressingly insulting to american audiences that someone somewhere thinks that we can’t, won’t or don’t care to follow and enjoy the BRITISH ORIGINAL…I thought the same thing about the office mind you. And BBCA on demand is free even if you don’t order BBCA, meaning everyone who has basic cable on timewarner, comcast etc. CAN watch BBC’s Being Human! I say no thank you syfy
crappy show with crappy actors , i can’t even watch the ad let alone the show itself, i’ll just watch another chan for now