Spin Off!!

What is with the recent spate of television programming ripping off their foreign counterparts? It started off innocently enough and now we're getting a spate of American programs based on foreign programs.

Here are some that you can probably look forward to with dread, and some, maybe with glee. Be warned, there are a few WTF moments in this list:

Original: The Office BBC

Adaptation: The Office US

Verdict: The original had a smarmy Ricky Gervais heading his paper company, and it's just incredible how ignorant his character was. The adaptation wasn't too bad, the first season was a complete rip of the original, but it really started picking up in the 2nd season, then it got hilariously funny by the 4th season. A rollercoaster of emotions this one. Expect to laugh and cry and frustrate alot... like.. ALOT!!

Original: Top Gear BBC

Adaptation: Top Gear USA

Verdict: The original had 3 very different hosts, but they gelled some how. The cars were an awesome mix of European exotics, American muscle cars and Jap rice rockets. It wasn't always about speed though, they branched into luxury cars and Kei cars and they always had car challenges, often with hilarious results. What can we expect from the American version? Errr, terrible terrible American cars around a track with an obese Stig... I guess... Also, an Australian version is coming out too, expect lots of hopping marsupials in this one.

Original: Little Britain

Adaptation: Little Britain USA

Verdict: You know its not gonna be good when the title doesnt make sense. Little Britain USA?? How does that even begin to work? Ah well, was a HUGE fan of the original, the skits can get repetitive, but they always made for good one liners. I want THAT one!! *points at original Little Britain*

Original: Kath And Kim ABC

Adaptation: Kath And Kim USA

Verdict: Serious WTF moment here. Selma Blair as Kim?? Honestly??!! Mmm, the orignal thrived on how trashy they were, the accents totally completed the whole redneck feel to it too. As far as I know the US version is based in Florida, that not nearly as redneck enough!! Expect this one to seriously flop!! Australian Broadcasting Channel's Kath And Kim sez "Look at moii, look at moiiii!!"

I kid you not, all of these shows exist already or will start airing in the near future. Keep your eyes peeled and who knows, we might have even more reason to clog up the bandwidth hogging and hub leaching!!!

Must-Watch-TV: Fringe

Once in a while, the stars overhead conspire and collaborate, getting intricate timing down to perfection to produce nature's very own light show - aurora borealis or the Northern Lights as we know it. Very rarely do the elements align themselves to form something as perfect. That's why I'm so excited about THIS!!

Smexy tones!!!

It's been described as the love child between The X-Files, Altered States and The Twilight Zone. And when you have J.J Abrams at the helm, you always know you're in for a fuckin' fun ride. Pitting together creepy mystery, corporate/government conspiracy, Alias-like femme kick-assery and 24-esque action, you know its gonna be good. I've watched the pilot and have to admit it delivers on sooo many levels. Unlike Abrams' 'LOST', questions get answered in every episode, but similarly to 'LOST', there is an overarching mystery about the incidents that happen, dubbed - 'The Pattern', which so far, I can only describe as experiments on mother nature by man and science.

Quote from the pilot episode:

John Thompson: A normal kid who went missing back in 98, reappeared last month halfway around the world hasn't aged a day. Forty-six other kids who went missing that same year turn up, same story. An hour after a tsunami that kills 83,000 people.

A Sri Lankan fisherman reports a low flying plane emitting a frequency that blows out all of their windows. An hour later an 8.7 subsurface earthquake in the same spot creates a tsunami that kills 83,000 people.

A patient awakens after spending years in a coma writing a series of numbers that turn out to be the exact real time coordinates of our carrier battleships in the Pacific, intel that is classified above top secret.

Still not interested much?

How many fingers?

Must-Watch-TV: Previously on Prison Break...

YAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

I know there are many who have waited for this day. I know there are many non-believers. I know there are those of you who piss your pants at the very thought of it being available on the hub available for download. I know there are many who cringe at the thought of another season of emotional roller coasters that is Prison Break.

Me personally? I LOVE this series!! As much as I want to see the writers and producers hit a rut and see the series jump the shark, I'm just constantly amazed at how they manage to pull out ideas out of their asses and just run wild in terms of script writing. My God, how many times have we witnessed the main protagonist's close brushes with the law or how he manages to come out on top nearly all the time? How many times have we held with bated breath as he oh-so narrowly escapes? How many times have we thought the on screen brotherly love thing was a bit too uncomfortable? How many highs and lows have we endured for the last 2 seasons? I'm hoping this season doesn't disappoint! And watching this seasons opener, I can't help but think it will top itself again!!!

Heres to hopin'!!

Suggested taglines:

• New prison, old foes
• 
  
• Work out your issues first time round
• 
  
• Just like the first season
• 
  
• Deja vu, but with a different minority
• 
  
• Been there done that
• 
  
• A bit like Guantanamo Bay
• 
  
• More icky sweaty dudes than you can endure