The US adaptation of one of my favorite TV shows of all time has arrived. NBC's "Kath & Kim" premier is now available for free download on iTunes and will debut on NBC this Thursday night.
In short: I enjoyed it. It was actually quite a bit funnier than I expected.
However - this is no Riley/Turner Kath & Kim. Here's a run-down of the differences that bothered me most...
- The true comic genius of the original lies in its subtle humor. Even though I have seen most episodes a zillion times, I still find new, funny things happening that I've never noticed before. The US version abandons that completely - if its funny (or attempting to be funny as the case may be), its obvious to the viewer. This is my primary complaint. Like the US version, the original had completely stupid characters doing completely stupid, offensive things, but the subtlety of the humor made for a surprisingly intelligent delivery. With the subtlety out the door, the US version just feels like more stupid US humor that you "get" without really paying too close attention.
- The issue of Kim's "weight" feels really forced when it's played by Selma Blair who is one of the skinniest actresses in Hollywood. Even with her twenty extra pounds, she's still stick-thin. They would have been better off leaving Kim's weight out of the storyline completely.
- They have WAY too much budget. Everything from the camera filters, set design, camera work... it robs the show of its raw feeling that made the original so fun to watch. In the original, you feel like Kath and Kim could be real people and that we are peeking in on their daily lives. In the US version, since its so much glossier, the characters are completely unbelievable, which really detracts from the enjoyability.
- The pilot gave no indication that the characters would have any classic catchphrases that carry through the series. Half the fun of Kath and Kim is the catchphrases that pop up constantly, yet never get tiring ("Look at mooooiiii," "Well I didn't bloody know!!," "toot suite," etc...).
- Selma Blair's 'Kim' is a pale imitation of the original. She has Americanized the role rather well, but her delivery feels so forced. This is best exemplified in her line "Would it make you feel better if you got up and made us some nacho s?" And it's not just Selma Blair - all the acting comes across as forced. Its as if they're stuck between imitating the original portrayals and adapting the characters for the US. I'm not sure this is the actors' faults - it holds true for all the characters, so I think it has more to do with the writing and directing.
But, at the end of the day, I am sure I will tune in weekly and I will probably laugh out loud quite a bit - the pilot had me laughing a lot, actually. But, the funniest moments were when they were doing original material (truly adapting the story). Its when they start imitating the original that they fall flat.
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