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01st Jul 2012

Friend… Friend… American Friend! The Inbetweeners Goes Across the Water

The US is making a version of The Inbetweeners due to hit screens at the end of the year. But will it meet the expectations set by the British one?

Rebecca McKnight

The television series has won more awards than sense while the spin-off film was one of the most successful British comedies ever made.

Yes, I’m talking about The Inbetweeners.

Undoubtedly it is one of the funniest shows to come out of the UK. And as with all great British comedies, including The Office and Shameless, the US are now doing a version which is due to be shown on MTV this August. This announcement has, quite rightly, been met with much scepticism.

Fear not, there’s no need to hang your head in despair just yet. The writers of the UK show, Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, are overlooking the whole thing which gives me a small glimmer of hope. Moreover Arrested Development Brad Copeland has penned the script which is said to stick closely to the original.  

Then again we can’t see phrases such as “briefcase wanker” and “knee deep in clunge” going down well with American audiences.  After all their humour is a lot different to that of the British and Irish.

But The Inbetweeners just wouldn’t be the same without the grossness and explicit humour. People, including myself, love it because it’s incredibly embarrassing, strangely realistic and really disgusting.

Also how on earth are they going to recreate such hilarious moments as Simon throwing up over Carli’s brother or Will defecating during an exam? The cast of the US version may well be talented but I can’t imagine anyone other than James Buckley playing sex-obsessed Jay or Blake Harrison as shape-throwing Neil.

Who knows, it might be just as good or even better than the original. All I can say is I certainly won’t be holding my breath.

 

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