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

A step in the right direction
Friday, August 29th, 2008

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.

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‘Kath & Kim’ Are Comin’ To America

Imitation as Flattery? Or Industry?
Friday, July 11th, 2008

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 …

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