Wow, these people really cannot deliver a line. Maybe I'm being biased from the British version, but there is no energy at all. Also, we have no idea what the Jeff character is like yet. Just, wow, that was really bad.

Also, on the NBC page, why is Susan from the BBC show pictured among the cast? She wasnt in the two minute clip.

edit: didnt realize that was the zap2it page. Got fooled by the NBC logo.

that clip sucked

those people couldn't even deliver a line decently

The horra, the horra!

That was awful! I always figured NBC's version would be inferior, but they completely sucked all the humor out of the show. I don't think this remake could be any worse, even if Gus Van Sant were involved.

And just think, they can't even get this show right when they have the brilliant scripts from the original series to work with. What happens when they've exhausted all 22 episodes(that's all they've produced in 3 seasons) and actually have to come up with something original?

That was painful to watch.

And I am sorry those at Zap2It need to be drawn and quartered for advertising Sarah Alexander and not delivering. I am a huge fan of the BBC "Coupling" but if thats the NBC's idea of it, thats one more program I do not have to watch in the Fall.

As a big fan of the original, and after watching that clip, I have to tell you that I am now curled up into the fetal position and weeping uncontrollably (and believe me, it isn't easy to type this way).

Although, it's nice to see the hot wife from Mind Of The Married Man again, but now I'm confused...was she doing an British accent for that show, or is she doing an American accent for this one?

ok, i have to wait until i get home to watch the clip, but somehow all of the comments don't surprise me much. more later...

That was truly awful.


I'm going to go watch my S1 DVD now to wash the memory from my mind........

Wow, that was surreal. They turned Coupling into a standad, lame NBC sitcom. Wow...

That was horrible. It was like the show I remembered, but lacking in all the things that made it good.

Do none of the actors talk to people? People don't wait a beat between every line of conversation.

There's also this feel to the whole production. Like, the UK version played scenes straight, and let the audience realize how bizarre they were. I'm not sure why, but the US version of the "I don't accept!" bit seems like it's trying way, way too hard.

Oh man, they're using the same scripts??!?! Dear God no!!

It's sad that millions of people here will watch this not knowing of the brilliant original.

If you haven't seen the original, you really must - the first season is all I've seen, and it's probably the best 6 episode run of any sitcom I've ever seen.

I see that BBC-A (and my PBS affiliate) runs the UK version. I assume that you can jump right in, since it is a sitcom, correct? If so, I'll give it a look-see.

You could and you'd still get plenty of quality comedy out of it, but to fully understand the inter-relationships (who likes whom, who's dated whom) you should see it from the start.

I watched season 3 first on BBC America and enjoyed it. When I bought the dvd for season 1 though, I realized I'd missed a lot of undercurrents (and probably more that I don't know about yet because I haven't seen season 2.) Jump right in though--it's a great show.

tasha

I didn't watch that clip, but as a fan of the BBC show, I really don't plan to.

Jeez, that clip absolutely sucked. It's not the scripts; the actors just aren't delivering it. I mean, why don't they just watch the UK show and try to deliver it like them? It's like having cliffnotes for acting!

To be fair, it's not just the actors, as bad as they are.

• The character direction is off: UK Patrick is a clueless himbo, US Patrick is an egocentric jerk. When Susan gaffes with the "faithful" and laughing at the "I was saving it up for you", UK Susan quickly shows remorse after realizing the mistake, US Susan shows none of that making her seem shallow. UK Sally has neurotic self-restrictions, so why is US Sally dressed like a hooker?
• The editing is bad. The UK version has simultaneous developments with the conversations between Jane & Steve and Susan & Patrick. Going from Steve telling Jane that he's breaking up with her and the Soloflex line, the US version lasted 2 min 12 secs and had one transition between the two conversations. The UK version lasted 3 min 28 secs and had five (!) transitions, with a lot more development of the Jane & Steve conversation. Do they think American audiences can't keep track of two things at once?
• Camera work was horrible. In the UK version, when Patrick mentions "relationship", there's a quick switch to Susan to see her facial reaction. There's also shots where we see Patrick talking and Susan's reactions together. We get none of that in the US version, not that the US Susan would express some convincing reactions.
• Still, they have a good script, they practically lifted it from the UK version, right? Sorry, they even managed to screw that up. The exchange between Sally and Patrick was about another woman, Mary Kelly, and Patrick's perceived flirting from her. In the US version, Patrick's assuming that Sally is already flirting with him, basically screwing up the development of Sally's desire for Patrick, but Patrick doesn't realize it.

Now I get some idea of why a British season may be 6-9 episodes long. There's so much more work put into them.

that clip was horrible. ugh!

I think this is the first time I ever discussed a show that hasn't even been made yet.

Steve Moffat has said:
"And we're as sure as we reasonably can be that there will a series (season) 4."

However if the rumors are true, it will be without Richard Coyle (Jeff).

I searched my hardest, but give up. What happened to Jeff?

Coyle has gone on to do another show, called Strange. The rumor part is he won't be coming back to Coupling.

<small></small> That would be a shame.

I missed the pilot but I think "Strange" is on BBC1 tonight so I will have to remember to watch it. From the one clip I saw I think it is some supernatural, x-filesesque production.

If Strange has finished filming and Coupling 4 has not started, then....

Coupling without Jeff?! What's the point? He's the source for half of the episodes' plots. Where else are we gonna learn about the giggle loop, nudity buffer, Melty Man, buckets of ears, wooden legs, and legalized sex?

I didn't think that the clip would be as bad as everyone said, but unfortunately, it was. Get Rena Sofer back on Ed where she belongs!

If Melissa George is still involved... I'm still watching.