Thursday 6 March 2008

I know nothing about security lighting...

There seems to have been a bit of a kerfuffle in the lives of various hip Geek types across, well, the world, it would seem. Channel 4 sitcom SPACED has finally confirmed what I always regarded as inevitable and landed itself a USA remake at the hands of McG. This was never a question of if, but when, following the success of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Of course, the kerfuffle is naturally down to the Spaced fanbase screaming blue bloody murder at the damn heresy of it all. I'd like to say I'm the same, but I can't.

To put you uncertain types in the picture, Spaced ran for 2 series on C4 in 1999 and 2001. Geeky lad and lass pose as couple to rent a flat in North London. They have barmy mates, barmy adventures that fall totally within the realm of "possibly everyday" and it all gets done whilst nodding towards Evil Dead, The Matrix, Human Traffic and numerous other cult classics. The ultimate cult classic, if you will. Very British , but hugely accessible on a Global level for it. The first American I showed it to is now a devotee of all creators involved - Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, Jessica Hynes and Nick Frost.

Naturally, everyone's got a bit steamed at the news of the remake, but to be fair, for the wrong reasons. It's been made known that the original creative folk have not been consulted, which doesn't surprise me. It's the same with comics. No one needed Alan Moore's permission to film V for Vendetta as DC held the rights. That's contracts for you: The creators get the fan love and creative name, the studios get the hard cash. A lot of people have protested at this, and quite right on that principle, but others were doing so beforehand because...

It's going to be crap.








Really? Since when? Because it's American? Because Pegg's not writing it?

We have no idea what it will be like. It could be God-awful or it could be the greatest thing ever and trumping every sitcom ever made. But hey ho, it's obviously going to be rubbish so on that same note, I won't be writing my comic book cos I'm probably ripping off a lot of comics beforehand and I can't write for toffee.

Or, I could give it a go and see what happens and if it's crap, fair enough.

Let's face it, it's more to do with folk's possessive love of something and the fact that anything new is going to expose it to the masses or taint it's memory with something they consider less than tasty. The classic attitude of "we had it first, let's keep it that way". That's up to you, but an American remake, crap or not, successful or not, will do absolutely nothing to change my love for Spaced, and anything that will directly or indirectly point folk in the direction of Pegg at al is a good thing.

Of course, there's a full-on geek petition now trying to stop it from happening. Safe to say I won't be signing it. Who the hell am I to say, "you can't do this" or "that's an insult". I didn't make it or pour my creative juices into it so I'm in no position to start making demands, which is what I'd be doing. The creative folk have that option and weren't consulted so it's all moot. If someone wants to sign it on that principle then fair play. However, if the studios aren't going to do the honourable thing and go to the original creators, are they really going to give a monkeys what a load of uppity geeks say?


I also saw some folk moaning that it was McG's presence pissing them off. What? the same McG behins The OC and Chuck and who seems to have helped nail two wonderfully loveable nerds in Seth Cohen and Chuck Bartowski. Moan all you want, that's a reassurance in my book.

How about this option: Let it happen, watch the pilot, rave about it, get them the figures and the thumbs up for a full series. Than let them pour their funds into it and then show your tr00 feelings then. That'll leave them a bit worse the wear. Unless of course, you do absolutely love it, in which case, enjoy it.

PS - I was one of those right at the beginning of Episode one when first shown. Just saying.