'Spaced' Being Adapted for US Television

[Pirate]

First of all, if you’ve not seen Spaced, stop being silly and go watch it.

Here’s the news:

We learned a couple of days ago that filmmaker McG is developing an American version of the brilliant UK television show SPACED. And the creators are none too happy about it.
For the record, those original SPACED masterminds are the wonderfully demented gents behind SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright. The ingenious British show ran two 7-episode seasons, and followed an aspiring comic artist (Pegg) and a writer (series co-creator Jessica Stevenson) who pretend to be married in order to get an apartment meant for professional couples only. The entire hilarious run, loaded with more comic and genre film references than anyone could count, was directed by Wright.

Sadly, Wright found out about McG and Fox's intended remake at the same time we did -- he read it in the trades. Needless to say, he's a bit steamed -- while venting at his MySpace blog, Wright admits that he has no ownership rights or financial benefit of the property, but a courtesy call about the remake would have been at least polite.

McG has WILL & GRACE writer Adam Barr working on his McSPACED script in the fruitless attempt at bottled lightning. Perhaps they'll simply realize that what made the show successful can't be effectively reproduced for the TWO AND A HALF MEN audiences.

The UK show has only aired on cable a few times in the States and a DVD has been delayed due to music clearance and other issues, but you'd be wise to track down the show by any means necessary.

http://joblo.com/spaced-gets-mcspaced

[SidcupMartin]

Worst.Idea.Ever.

[kimfair]

This will be awful. The only benefit that could come of this, is getting the original show on Region 1 DVD so that those who have not seen it (and it's worth a region free player's cost) can finally do so. After Python, The Blackadder and The Office, Spaced is my favorite UK comedy.

[SidcupMartin]

Originally Posted by kimfair

This will be awful. The only benefit that could come of this, is getting the original show on Region 1 DVD so that those who have not seen it (and it's worth a region free player's cost) can finally do so. After Python, The Blackadder and The Office, Spaced is my favorite UK comedy.

From what I read on Wright's blog the US DVD release of Spaced is held up due to music licensing rights and will probably never see the light of day over here. I have the original R2 releases and hope they sort out the hang-ups so more people can see this classic piece of British comedy.

[kimfair]

Originally Posted by SidcupMartin

From what I read on Wright's blog the US DVD release of Spaced is held up due to music licensing rights and will probably never see the light of day over here. I have the original R2 releases and hope they sort out the hang-ups so more people can see this classic piece of British comedy.

Yeah I have the Region 2 set as well, but if Saturday Night Live can resolve the music rights issue, they should be able to resolve it for this set as well.