Fox Passes On Americanized 'Torchwood'

Fox Passes On Americanized ‘Torchwood’

Maybe Fox didn’t like Russell T. Davies script after they read it? Or perhaps they thought the show about an elite team that tries to stop aliens invasions would be too expensive to do on a weekly basis? Or maybe they realized, finally, that the immortal lead character of Captain Jack likes to shag both women and men? Guess they’ve never actually watched the show before.

Whatever the reason, angry fans of the BBC’s Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood can rest easy as Fox has decided not to go through with their plans to adapt the show for the United States.

“BBC Worldwide Productions and the FOX Broadcasting Company have mutually agreed not to progress together with a 13-episode serialized ‘Torchwood’ format,” said BBC Worldwide in a statement. “We are currently in discussion with several interested networks.”

To further illustrate that last bit, BBC Worldwide executive vp of programming and production Jane Tranter reiterated that a U.S. version was still making progress. “It’s very much ongoing and very much alive,” Tranter said. Well, that’s good news at least. Right? Or not. To be honest, I kinda like my Torchwood the way it is.

Although, the Americanized version of the british hit Coupling didn’t turn out so bad a few years ago and actually did very well for itself. Coupling became Friends in the US, in case you were wondering.

  • jaime
    April 23, 2010 at 3:04 am

    It’s a good show but not a “must” remake for the U.S.

  • cybrosia
    April 22, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    No, actually the Americanized version of “Coupling” crashed and burned on NBC. “Friends,” though heavily, heavily influenced by “Coupling,” was never an “Americanized” version of “Coupling” officially or unofficially. The actual Americanized version of “Coupling” had direct input from the Brit “Coupling” producers and creators. It even used the scripts from the British version… to a degree. However, it crashed and burn soon after its premiere. I believe it only aired 3 or so episodes before the network realized they had botched it and pulled it though several others were produced. See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338592/. American television simply cannot handle sex comedy as well as the British do. It is an art we have not yet mastered over here. We either go way over the line or, as was the case with “Coupling,” we pull up short.