It’s Official: American Critics Loathe The NBC Version Of Kath & Kim

We weren’t expecting Australian viewers to find anything lovable about the American remake of beloved ABC-turned-Channel Seven comedy Kath & Kim, but the big question always remained – would NBC viewers actually dig a revamped and relocated version of the show? If the latest reviews are anything to go by, our American cousins are yelling “DO NOT WANT” quite loudly at their television screens.

The American Kath and Kim has been savaged by critics as an embarrassment worthy of an apology to Australia.

Saucer of milk, table two!

Let’s take a look at the cutting commentary regarding the program, eh?

Television critic for the San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman was scathing in his review of the “jaw-droppingly awful” remake, asking if the American executive producer Michelle Nader had ever seen the “fantastically funny” Australian version.

Not good news for the wonderful Molly Shannon and the horribly miscast Selma Blair, but at least Tim Goodman has the good sense to realise the original product was a good egg.

News and Observer labelled the series “painfully close” to the worst sitcom on offer.

Oooh, big call! And from the country who make Charlie Sheen one of the highest paid sitcom actors thanks to his role on the brain abortion that is Two And A Half Men!

The Toledo Blade also advised readers to avoid the series, but critic Mike Kelly doubted if the premise could ever be funny, even in Australia.

“The series (…) is a remake of a popular Australian comedy program, but if stuff like this is considered funny Down Under, folks there probably think that Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, and Hugh Jackman would make a terrific lineup for an updated version of the Three Stooges,” Kelly wrote.

Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaa there, Mike – don’t be slandering our fine country with hideously stereotypical insults just because your nation can’t enjoy an acclaimed program without giving it a local makeover before offering it up for televisual consumption to the general population!

“Of course, there’s always the chance that something major was lost in translation during the remake of the Aussie series.”

Yeah. Just a small chance.

They’ve even quoted (as Clem did a while back) the awesome Go Fug Yourself in the article.

Even celeb-watch blog Go Fug yourself got in on the act, declaring even the ads were enough to cause viewers pain.

“The promos for Kath and Kim that ran during the Olympics deeply stank. To the point where I think I felt actual, physical pain. I would shake my fist at the sky and ask why, GOD, WHY, so many talented people are involved in something so potentially awful,” the catty bloggers wrote.

All in all, three thumbs down, it would seem.

Which makes me long for Sunday night’s “fast tracked” Australian premiere so we can all sit and pass judgement for ourselves.

MORE:

Critics savage America’s Kath and Kim (Herald Sun)
Anticipation For US ‘Kath & Kim’ Reaches All-Time Low (Defamer Australia)