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Showtime picks up Piper's Secret Diary

by Jason Hughes, posted Dec 18th 2007 4:43PM

Billie PiperIn a rare move, a US network has picked up a British television program and decided not to make an American version. According to Zap2It.com, Showtime so fell in love with Billie Piper's (Doctor Who's Rose) performance as the titular character Hannah/Belle that they've decided to just bring over the British version of Secret Diary of a Call Girl as is. Based on real-life diaries, the comedy Call Girl features Piper as secretary Hannah by day, call girl Belle by night and proved to be a big hit for the UK's ITV2.

Showtime will air the eight-episode first season in spring or summer of '08. It's no wonder, with the popular (even in the US) Piper attached, that Showtime decided not to make an Americanized version. Well, that and the fact that most of the time when we Americanize a British hit show we destroy it (Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling). Hell, even The Office was a near disaster. Honestly, I don't get it. I guess American studios think we Americans are too dumb to "get" British shows.

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MrC

Back when she was still relevant Roseanne Barr bought the rights for AbFab and was in development to make a show starting herself and Carrie Fisher out of it.

I don't believe a pilot was every commisionned.

December 19 2007 at 5:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PB

Sorry, but when did they try and Americanize "Absolutely Fabulous"? I don't recall that ... other disasters I recall (trying to remake Fawlty Towers as Payne ... sacrilege!) but I don't remember an Ab Fab remake.

December 19 2007 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to PB's comment
popbuzz

I was thinking of High Society (1995-1996 - Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell), which wasn't a direct remake but heavily inspired. And yes, Payne was painful as well!

j/h

December 19 2007 at 8:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rljones

It's showing here in Canada on Showcase. Episode 5 is this Thursday night.

December 18 2007 at 10:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
George

I bet the Showtime execs haven't seen real breasts in years and found Pipers' charmingly quaint.

December 18 2007 at 8:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joey Geraci

Uhm, I think you are the only one to think the Americanization of the Office was a near disaster. Unless you define a near-disaster as improving leaps and bounds over its parents.

December 18 2007 at 6:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Joey Geraci's comment
Mike K

Well, the first episode of the American series almost put me off it, mostly because of how directly it copied the UK version. It wasn't until a couple episodes in where it found it's own voice and really became a "breakout."

December 18 2007 at 7:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
popbuzz

It was more a statement of how awkward the first episode was. Doing a line-by-line recreation of the British version wasn't a good idea. The American version has, I think, surpassed the original now thanks in no small part to the strength of it's extended cast.

December 19 2007 at 8:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joost Schuur

I don't believe they're americanizing it a la The Office, Coupling etc at all. The original article says they have the American broadcast rights, i.e. they're airing it here, like BBC America is airing Torchwood e.g..

It's a similar situation to Showtime airing Channel 4's Meadowlands, earlier this year.

December 18 2007 at 5:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Joost Schuur's comment
Joost Schuur

Oh, I misread the posting. You never claimed it was being americanized at all.

December 18 2007 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Susan

Altho this news doesnt really benefit me any since ive already seen the first 8 episodes that aired in england. I did enjoy the show and would recommend it. I am glad to hear that they decided not to make an Americanized version of the show.

December 18 2007 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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