The New ‘Kath & Kim’ Emulates The Old ‘Kath & Kim’

It's Trent, Bitch! — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:48:47 +0000

NBC has released a new promo pic of Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, in their respective roles as Kathleen ‘Kath’ Darleen Day Knight and Kimberly ‘Kim’ Day Craig, sitting side-by-side in their backyard porch/deck area seeming to emulate the regular closing scene of each ep of the original Aussie version of Kath & Kim … which I think is a very good step in the right direction:

Those familiar with the original Australian version of Kath & Kim know that each ep ends with mother and daughter engaging in a little banter on the back patio (or lanai, if you will) at the close of each episode. It appears that the new US version of the series will be doing the same. This is a good sign, I think. You may recall that we recently got to see new video promos for the show and new pics from filming of the series. All this new Kath & Kim stuff just keeps adding to the anticipation for me. I can’t wait to see this new incarnation of the show … for better or worse, I’m curious as hell. Still no word if the character of Sharon Karen Strzelecki will make it in the new US version … that should determine if NBC has made a fatal error or not.

[Source]

‘Kath & Kim’ Are Comin’ To America

It's Trent, Bitch! — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:05:01 +0000

The hilariously funny Australian sitcom Kath & Kim, which stars Aussie comediennes Jane Turner and Gina Riley, has been adapted for the US market and will be debuting on NBC this fall … starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. Now, depending on whether or not you’re familiar with the original series, this might sound like extremely bad news. I have been watching the original Kath & Kim on the Sundance Channel for years and absolutely love it the way it is … so I’m concerned that the US version will not be able to do the show justice. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Kath & Kim charcters in the US version and the OZ version:

My initial reaction to hearing about this new US version of the show was not a good one … the thing I love best about the Aussie version is that the comedy is so dry, so deadpan and offers no explanation to the audience (whereas American comedy is kinda force-fed to the viewer). As an American viewer, who prolly has no concept of this social culture in Australia, you either get it or you don’t … and if you get it, it’s funny as hell. BUT … there are a couple of clips that tease what the US version of the show will be like and, to be completely honest, the clips are very funny. After the jump, check out the clips …

The US version looks like it’s going for the more obvious laughs but they work, at least, they worked on me. The majority of folks in the US are not familiar with this Australian TV show so they won’t have a frame of reference to compare the US version to — which may be a good thing. I am not counting on liking the new version over the original (comparing the two is going to be hard to get over) but I’m willing to give the show a shot. It could turn out to be a success like Ugly Betty (which is a foreign show that has been adapted for the US market) or a flop like Coupling (which was adapted from the British version — the US version got canceled mid-season). I love both Molly Shannon and Selma Blair … they can make it work … in fact, they can make the characters their own independent of the Aussie version. If the show is going to be a lasting success, that is exactly what they are going to have to do.

[Source, Source via ONTD!]

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The New ‘Kath & Kim’ Emulates The Old ‘Kath & Kim’

‘Kath & Kim’ Are Comin’ To America