Lazlo Wolf makes some fun points. And some good ones in what was a well put-together post.

I seem to be one of the rare fans who think more Who = good. I even loved the idea of the Movie reboot.

It would be fun to have a US version, with a diff Doctor. It could easily be an alternative universe, allowing crossover fun. I'd enjoy it. Be great.

I do find it stunning that for a show that has been so many different types of TV shows, with a regular total cast change, Who fans are so narrow about the potential of the show.

But it won't happen. Who is now so big in the US, it pretty much doesn't need a US version.

Yeah, this sort of thing might be the problem.

You can only think of one great American band?

If the episodes had a huge budget then it would be amazing!

Actually I'll correct myself there, I can't think of any.

You haven't corrected yourself. You've compounded your error.

The books however were butchered by American editors

Sometimes I think it would be a nice idea to move production of the show over to the US, whilst keeping it as a BBC production (if that's possible). They seem so enthusiastic and unjaded about it. And more money helps.

Then again, I think the only time it is right to do a remake of a show in another country is if there's a different side of the story that can be explored.

Just curious if the dissenting voices are against remakes in general, or US remakes? Seems a bit mean if it's an anti-American sentiment.

I believe it's primarily the xenophobic thing. However, as a colonist, I love the "Britishness" of Doctor Who. That's something that can't be copied. (is Britisness a word? )

And judging by Miracle Day it would just never work anyway.

So anyone that isn't too keen or flat out would not want to see Doctor Who being made in the US is either narrow minded or xenophobic, wow and here I am thinking I personally wouldn't want it because I find US TV sci fi flat, emotionless and cod intelligent and shock, not as good as it is made out to be.

Well I learn something new everyday. I'm a narrow minded xenophobic because I turn my nose up at a fictional US version of one UK TV show, although if one was to look at my bookshelves they would see a wealth of American Literature on there from Steinbeck to John Irving, from Ogdan Gnash to John Updike, a collection of over 3000 cds with with the overwhelming vast majority of that collection being American music from early blues, early r+b, to the modern US alt scene and DVD collection well you get the gist. But of course not wanting a US version of Doctor Who makes one narrow minded and/or xenophobic.

Jesus, how unbelievably patronising. Only on internet forums.

Well, I'm sure the statement wasn't about you, then. Why would you assume it was?

Your reasons for discounting an entirely hypothetical TV show because of its proposed country of origin are obviously well thought out. I mean, look at your CD collection! Case closed.

I didn't think it was about me personally, but seeing as the reasoning for not being enamored with a fictional US version is coming on behalf of those that would like to see a US version. I just thought I'd voice an opinion as one that doesn't want a US version, and that opinion has nothing to do with being narrow minded or anti American.

Hell, I love French Cinema but I don't want to see French Tv version.


I would say the only reason I have discounted an entirely hypothetical TV show is that I find US TV sci-fi interminably dull, flat with characters I just do not believe in, that's it, nothing more nothing less, and for the main I think US TV sci-fi is written with a certain sci-fi demographic audience in mind.

Many people like a wide range of American culture but, in my case it just so happens that personally I am not so keen on its modern tv sci-i over the last 10 years or so, doesn't make people like me that bulk at the idea of an American Doctor who remotely xenophobic. I would bulk at the notion of a.. I dunno...Spanish version, although The Doctor fighting windmills would be great.

Definitely wasn't saying that, or even trying to imply that. Was a genuine question as to whether it's a problem with the US doing it or a problem with remakes in general.

For every successful transfer to the US, there are quite a few which fail. Red Dwaf, AbFab for example. And how about Life on Mars?

Not saying it wouldn't work. Maybe a co-production might be the best of both worlds?

If the US companies can do a Doctor Who US, can we do a Star Trek UK?

We could, but how would it differ from the States' version? Personally, I don't consider Trek to be a particularly 'American' series, possibly because of the diversity of the cast ('Scotsmen' and all) and possibly because it very much has its own outlook, separate from any perceived national traits.

Now, a UK version of, say, Stargate would be different, as the USAF are so much a part of the main series.

Imagine a slightly knackered RAF facility under a rain-lashed Hebridean Isle, defending the Earth while trying to work ways to make the facility profitable to counter budget cuts, and to keep the whole thing secret from the Americans so they don't take it off us.

awesome. And before each mission there's a raft of paperwork to get through, health and safety and all that.

Star Trek is extremely American. It doesn't even have any real non-American characters. Scotty isn't British, he's American with a funny accent. Uhura isn't Somalian, she's American with an American accent. Worf was raised by Russians? Could've fooled me into thinking he was raised by Americans.

The Original Series was the most blatant with it - Captain Kirk's primary mission was to travel the galaxy turning everyone into Americans. Much as the Americans were doing in real life (and still do now - promoting democracy in Iraq meanns turning them into Americans).

TNG tried the hardest to break away from Americanism but gave up after the first couple of seasons (and Roddenberry's departure). They were soon back to the very common in US sci-fi idea that you can't be human unless you're American.

The Federation's desire to 'collect' member planets is no weaker than the USA's desire to 'collect' states. The Manifest Destiny in action. The show even acknowledges this when Michael Eddington attacks the Federation for being worse than the Borg for assimilation.

I just remembered something... the Star Trek reboot movie was the first Trek film to perform poorly in Germany. A German I know suggested audiences were put off by the Americanism of the movie. It was the first to not even try to tone it down.

Well I would say Star Trek is American in the sense that it represents the liberal idealised version of USA, not the money is god reality. Especially in TNG and after the Federation is pretty much socialist

I can think of a few, eg: Rancid, Early Green Day, Black Flag, Operation Ivy, Nirvana

Actually Canadian, though that's still American in the broad sense. Shatner is Canadian also. (The occasional character Lieutenant Kyle was played by an English actor.)

I meant American as in that's how his character is written. With the exceptions of Giles from Buffy and Daphne from Fraiser (both created by Anglophile writers) all foreigners on American TV are written as Americans with a funny accent or just really bad stereotypes.

Compare Daphne to Geoffrey from Fresh Prince to see what I mean.

True (and Kirk is from Iowa anyhoo).

It's probably a pointless argument as it's down to personal taste an has nothing to with Dr Who anyway. I agree some of those bands are quite good, but would argue none of them are great (but hey-ho that's my view)