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"Misfits" to be Americanized: No Word Yet on Whether They Need to Save a Cheerleader

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (26)

101210misfits.jpg

“Misfits,” the British show about teenagers who gain super powers is both well-regarded and has good ratings, which means that it is absolutely mandatory that someone make an American version. Americans simply cannot understand things like crumpets, soccer, and good writing, so it makes sense that these Britishisms need removed before a proper American audience can develop.

Josh Schwartz has acquired the rights, which is either good news or bad news depending on which part of his oeuvre you focus your attention. He’s responsible for “The OC,” which is a positive in some people’s books, but also “Gossip Girl” which can be blamed for Blake Lively having a career. And then there’s “Chuck,” which had a great start and then transformed into a fetid pile. The latter sounds exactly like the run of “Heroes” so if Schwartz pulls the same thing, he can just claim that he wasn’t trying to make the show good, he was just doing an elaborate Tim Kring performance piece.

Perhaps more interesting is that this hasn’t been picked up or funded by a network at all. Schwartz has picked up the rights and is now working on a pilot script with his team. Then they’re going to try to sell the pilot. That just seems like a waste of time though, wouldn’t it be easier to just let the network interfere up front instead of investing the effort in producing something first?

If you can stand to wade through Britishness (though I know no one on this site watches anything British), the entire BBC run is available on Hulu.

(source: SlashFilm)









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Comments

Both "The O.C." and "Chuck" started out great and then petered out. So I'm assuming this will be the same. I've not seen "Misfits," but I'm hoping there's a nerdy but cute character so Adam Brody can return to tv. Then I'd definitely watch (Seth Cohen, how I miss you!).

I had no idea that the U.K. version was available on Hulu. Thanks for the tip!

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at October 20, 2011 10:22 AM

google "misfits of science television"

i watched the one season it was on and had a major teenage boner for courtney cox that year....

the brit show sounds like a remake of this show....

Posted by: uber at October 20, 2011 10:22 AM

Why do so many Americans make the mistake in thinking Misfits is made by the BBC? That's like us Brits thinking everything American must be made by ABC. The show's made for E4, owned by Channel 4.

(And a US remake will be a complete failure unless it's a cable series--but even then it's hard to imagine the show being as good, given how the American system cranks stuff out so fast and in such quantity that most shows reach their peak in season 2.)

Posted by: Dan Owen at October 20, 2011 10:27 AM

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Misfits is my favourite, favourite show. Between this and Bryan Singer's Battlestar Gallactica re reboot I am filled with so much rage.

Don't English people and American people essentially speak the same language? We watch lots of American shows and somehow manage to understand the cultural differences. Why can't an American network just buy the original and show it as it is? That's what English channels do and not just with American shows, there's lots of Australian shows on over here and the original version of The Killing was really popular. If a Doctor Who remake happens I don't know what I'll do. SO MUCH RAGE.

Posted by: Katie at October 20, 2011 10:32 AM

I understand soccer fine, so speak yourself.

Posted by: maka at October 20, 2011 10:32 AM

It's on Hulu?!?! Hallelujah! I have been waiting for a chance to watch this without paying for it!

Posted by: ang at October 20, 2011 10:33 AM

Maka, any chance you're a Liverpool fan?

Posted by: ang at October 20, 2011 10:34 AM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I've been enjoying British/American remakes since my youth. Most I've quite enjoyed such as "All In The Family" and "Sandford & Son". I don't watch "The Office" but understand most people like the British version better, and given the limited format instead of America's tendancy to "milk a series for all it's worth" I can understand why. I also know most prefer the British version of "Being Human", but the missus and I have already fallen for the American version (the only reason Siffy still exists, IMHO).

However I can absolutely, positively say that an American "Misfits" is a HORRIBLE idea. There's something about these kids being 'ASBO' that's central to their character background, and that concept doesn't exist in the same way in the states.

And frankly? I love "Misfits" for the same reason I loved "Monty Python" growing up...'cause it's something foreign I can understand, it exposes me to a different culture, plus there's cursing, rude behavior, and occasionally boobies.

An American version would allow for very few of those things, and would therefore suck out loud.

Let's just hope this never comes to pass. Just like we missed out on an American "No Heroics" (which is actually a concept that could've worked in the States...but it's best we didn't get it anyway).

Posted by: Green Lantern at October 20, 2011 10:34 AM

I like to pretend the American versions of Shameless and Being Human don't exist. No Russell Tovey and No James McAvoy? NO THANK YOU.

Posted by: Katie at October 20, 2011 10:41 AM

Ha it's called football not soccer.

Posted by: sandy at October 20, 2011 11:20 AM

Don't English people and American people essentially speak the same language?
---
Someone clever said we're two people separated by a common language.

Was it Churchill? It sounds like something Churchill would say, therefore it must be.

Posted by: , at October 20, 2011 11:44 AM

Yeah, because that Skins remake turned out SO well.

Posted by: jM at October 20, 2011 11:55 AM

NO.

Posted by: Aislinn at October 20, 2011 12:13 PM

Americans getting their hands on Misfits? Hmm how to express my opinion on this? One of these I guess

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74tubLUhiLI&feature=related

Posted by: YesPlease at October 20, 2011 12:21 PM

Hey guys, remember when MTV tried to Americanize Skins (also an E4 show) but kept most if the same British dialogue and then American mothers everywhere were screaming at networks for producing such a filthy show for teenagers? Yeah... That was bad. This will likely be similar.

And you can't have Misfits without Robert Sheehan! I'm sorry, you just can't. He makes the show and is actually a pretty talented guy. But more importantly, the things I would do to that boy... (It's legal, I'm only 20, don't look at me like that!)

Posted by: Lisa Bee at October 20, 2011 1:35 PM

As long as they don't remake Psychoville I'm good.

Posted by: googergieger at October 20, 2011 3:03 PM

Lisa Bee,

Um, apparently you CAN have "Misfits" without Sheehan, as he's not going to be in season three. Do a search for "Misfits, Vegas Baby" if you haven't seen the web-based minisode where Nathan gets replaced by "the new guy".

Posted by: Green Lantern at October 20, 2011 4:07 PM

Sometimes I hate americans for having HULU.

I'm sad Robert's gone though. If they're remaking it, who's going to play Nathan with the same sense of panache and filthy humour?

Posted by: Tallulahc at October 20, 2011 4:14 PM

^Green Lantern

Wait, what!? Are you serious? I hadn't gotten there yet. NOOOO!
Aaaaah, now I'm really sad...

Posted by: Lisa Bee at October 20, 2011 5:41 PM

Sounds great-but I'd like to see a regular network pick up "No Heroics" (playing on the Audience network)-it's seriously warped!

Posted by: MadMike at October 20, 2011 8:44 PM

Who are the Americans going to get to play the chav? Snooki??

Posted by: Uriah Creep at October 20, 2011 8:48 PM

This does not exist. This does not exist. This does not exist.

Posted by: Tits McGee at October 20, 2011 9:19 PM

"google "misfits of science television"

the brit show sounds like a remake of this show...."

If you mean it has the word 'misfit' in the title then yes. Apart from that they're completely different. Are you stupid?

Posted by: Ender at October 21, 2011 6:19 AM

Oh dear.

Can't wait for the third season...was so glad to see the U.S. catch onto this show about 3 years late...

Posted by: grace b at October 22, 2011 10:03 AM

Who are the Americans going to get to play the chav? Snooki??
Bite your tongue, Creep! Bite it right in half!

Posted by: ang at October 22, 2011 1:17 PM

Why do so many Americans make the mistake in thinking Misfits is made by the BBC? That's like us Brits thinking everything American must be made by ABC. The show's made for E4, owned by Channel 4.

Dan, if you're still reading this thread (I'm always late to the party. Always.) perhaps the answer is that we get most British tv on the BBC America channel so we assume they are just airing BBC shows.

Posted by: ang at October 22, 2011 1:27 PM