Filthy gorgeousSo I'm about two or three months behind on my television watching and I finally started to play some of the "Kath & Kim" episodes I've been recording since it started this fall. So many of them had piled up (apparently NBC actually ordered a full season, which is virtually unheard of these days) that I almost started to delete them without watching them at all I was feeling so overwhelmed and my hard drive was filling up so quickly. Let me just tell you how glad I am that I didn't -- this show is the funniest thing on television today! (Not since "The Comeback" have I enjoyed watching a scripted show this much.) I almost don't want to see the "far superior" Australian version because if it truly is that much funnier than Molly Shannon and Selma Blair's take on it, then I will probably die laughing. (I'm serious that I've laughed myself into a choking fit on numerous occasions these last few nights plowing through a half-dozen episodes!
What made it even more fun is that unbeknownst to me not one but TWO of my pals -- Micah McCain and Danny Casillas (aka Frieda Laye -- appeared together in a particularly hilarious episode I watched the other night -- in drag (or as Gary and Jason, as Kath referred to them! Great job, man-ladies!!!)
I fell in love with the American "Office" before I saw the British one (and I still have never seen "'Til Death Do Us Part" or "Man About the House"), so something tells me loving the American "Kath & Kim" first will work out just fine -- and that I've got even more of a television backlog waiting for me once the Aussie "Kath & Kim" comes out on DVD.
Larry, Jason and Gary try to cheer Kath up
Jason (Danny Casillas) wishes her husband understood her, too
Gary (Micah McCain) is as moved as Kathy is when Kath's Knight in shining armor (a brilliantly understated John Michael Higgins) comes to get his lady back after a breakup
My West Coast boys (so proud of you!)
10 comments:
the aussie one was released on dvd before, and it is so much better than the molly shannon one that they're not even the same show. there's a major character in the aus version that isn't in the US one, kim's second best friend --- the actress who created her refused to license the character for the us version.
kim is also much more despicable, and kath much more self-involved
xxxxc
Wow! Perhaps I should have watched more than the first 3 episodes! The first episode, my partner and I sat there stone-faced until, midway through, I turned to him and said, "Is this really happening?" It was the worst sitcom premiere I've seen in a decade (at least!). And that’s a shame because I love Molly Shannon. Episode 2 and 3 were no better.
I guess I should give it another try. But if it’s still painful for me, I WILL blame YOU Ken! LOL!
The US version has again started to air here in Australia (it was taken off after 2 weeks of poor ratings). I for one loved it, it's quite different to the original, but a good interpretation (there are cultural differences that might not translate to the US version, so making some changes seems sensible - the US version has been overseen by the creators.
It's a shame about the "Sharon" (second best friend) character as she provides a good comic counterpoint to Kim's moronoic narcissism. Sharon's an interesting mix of being an enthusiastic overweight sports-obsessed go-getter perennially suffering from some sort of disease (carbunkles, warts, broken arm etc...) and seems like a well-meaning loser on the surface, but one that often succeeds where Kim fails - opposites attract and all that... I wasn't aware that Magda Szubanski had declined to licence it, a shame.
Still, what I've seen of the US version has been brilliant and I'm gald we're getting the chance to see more (albeit at 11.30pm on a Monday night!).
Thanks for the fun blog by the way!
Are you watching "Summer Heights High" on HBO? I think you'd like that too...
OH MY GOD, I LOVE KATH AND KIM SO MUCH. It is HYSTERICAL, so much so that it requires capitalization.
I love the episode where Kath is picking out wedding dresses, and the two of them fall in love with the most hideous one, a Little Bo Peep outfit. I love it when Kim says, "We'll get some sheep to follow me up the aisle, and then serve them as kabobs at the reception."
I agree, I almost don't want to watch the Australian version, because the American one is such a great indictment of everything bad about our culture.
It is eerie to me how much Molly Shannon looks like Jessica James in those photos. Jessica will be remembered for the "Gemini" commercials: "I'm not hungry, I'll just pick" back in the 70's. But Molly looks just like her!! Freaky.
I really want to love it, but its just to undependable. Sometimes it is really funny, and then it is really bad.
I had to laugh at the last aired episode, w/ Maya Rudolf. episode: Sacrifice, character of Athena Scooberman. Some great moments, and loved the Mollie & Maya reunion.
At the ending credits, Kath & Kim talk about a recent movie (forget which). They say something to the effect of can't blame the actress for trying when the writing is so bad. One of those art imitating life imitating art imitating life spirals...
I must say that I really wanted to like the show...especially because I was in an episode, but those first three were not up to snuff (Including my episode) but, I'm glad I stuck with it because the next few had some really good laugh moments fo rme. I think it's finally hitting its stride and they've found who they are. I hope it lasts!
Danny
P.S. Everyone on the set was really nice, despite the fact that they had us in costume & make-up ten hours before we shot our scene. Micah was very good about making sure we had all we needed. Molly is sweet and John Michael Higgins is a doll!
Trust me, the Aussie version is much, much, much funnier, even if it takes a bit of work to figure out some of the cultural differences, like what the hell is netball?
If you find the American version funny, then it's probably best that you haven't watched the Australian. You just wouldn't get their sense of humour.
Netball is a version of basketball, usually played by females.
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