THUD: DAISY STEINER WILL HAVE HER REVENGE ON MCSPACED
- By Devin Faraci
- Published 03/5/2008
- THUD
Over the weekend Simon Pegg released a statement about McSpaced, the American remake of the classic TV series he created along with Edgar Wright and Jessica Hynes. Like Edgar before him, Simon was more calm and reasoned than I find myself in this situation (and I had nothing to do with the show!), but he also mentioned that nobody seems to be saying Jessica's name in the trades. My main problem with the notion of a Spaced remake is the sheer lack of respect that Granada/ Wonderland/Warner Bros have displayed in respectively selling out and appropriating our ideas without even letting us know. A decision I can only presume was made as a way of avoiding having to give us any money, whilst at the same time using mine and Edgar's name in their press release, in order to trade on the success of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, even professing, as Peter Johnson did, to being a big fan of the show and it's creators. A device made all the more heinous by the fact that the press release neglected to mention the show's co-creator and female voice, Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson).
Now Jessica herself has weighed in, and while Simon and Edgar have taken the high road of classy protest, she's decided to hit McG where it hurts.
"Spaced in America by Jessica Hynes. March 4th 2008
Things have really hotted up in the last few days – 'Simon Pegg vs Mc.G!' 'Mc.G is a fat douche bag!' 'It's a f***ing travesty!' (that's fucking). I felt a tear come to my eye when I went on PINKRAYGUN.COM, because she kind of said it for me. When someone else fights your corner and feels your injustice for you it rocks, let me tell you. So can I just say thank you for that. You know who you are. x
It might make everyone feel better to know that I am planning a counter attack; A British re-make of 'Charlies Angels' called 'Charlies Angles' – about three female architects who love to design buildings make biscuits, and wear button up cardigans. That's gonna hurt you Mc.G huh?– a remake of one of YOUR films with no titties?? Huh??! HUH!!!
Anyway I'm going to keep it short – just wanted again to reiterate that Simon, Edgar and I were not approached – at any stage or consulted in anyway. In fact I approached THEM in a very English way wondering if, you know I'd been in the garden when they called, but have been politely told that no official, meaningful involvement ( save wheeling us out to placate the fans) is possible.
So don't watch it, don't think about it – buy our D.V.D coming out in America in the summer and SAVE YOUR SOUL!!!!!"
The fight continues, friends, although as Jessica mentions, the Spaced DVDs are coming this summer (I'll be double dipping so I can finally have a copy I can watch on any DVD player). I love that these guys are making their thoughts heard on the subject.
In the meantime, I have to speak to all the folks out there who are saying things like, 'Well, Chuck and Supernatural are McG shows and they're good.' One: no, they really are not. They're both passable. Two: You have obviously never seen Spaced. This show isn't just good - it's special. It's obviously a labor of love, and I don't mean that in the way it's usually used, to denote cheapness. It's a show that is infused with the spirit and soul of the people who made it, a show that's as much about Edgar and Jessica and Simon as it is about Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner and Mike and Marsha and Brian and Twist and Colin the Dog. If McG wants to make a US Spaced, he should go out and find some unique comedy talents and give them the money to put their own lives on screen in funny and inventive ways. And then call it something else.
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Comments
Comment #1 (Posted by TVs David)
Huzzah for Region 1 Spaced dvds! Huzzah! And fuck McG.
Comment #2 (Posted by Bombjack)
McSpaced is less palatable than a pint of Bovril.
Comment #3 (Posted by atomo)
I got half way through Chuck and just couldnt be arsed watching any more. Its not that I hate it, really, its just I cant be bothered.
Having said that, I was over my mates house and we polished off both seasons of Spaced in a day. Essential fucking viewing, y'see.
Fuck McSpaced. Fuck McG. Fuck watching this. I will boycott it because listening to the Hot Fuzz commentary was like sitting and talking with friends, and friends dont let friends watch terrible tv.
Comment #4 (Posted by an unknown user)
I get so annoyed when people worship Wright and Pegg and completely ignore her. It's nice that she busts out the good response. She doesn't have to play nice with McG she can just go be best friends with Doctor Who.
Comment #5 (Posted by McMeatbag)
McG is the second coming of Duane Benzie. Get that fucker to a paint ball course and shoot him in the nuts again. Bring on the Spaced DVD!
Comment #6 (Posted by Lucidz)
Quite honestly Supernatural is more than a Guilty pleasure for me. I really dig that show. Sorry if it means I'm low class (or from Ohio). But its got a lot of self referential humor and the episode where they go to Hollywood and meet Mc.G. and he's a colossal prick is hilarious.
Comment #7 (Posted by Three Oranges)
omg slackers who make pop culture references i sooooo identify w/ that <3 spaced soo much lol
Comment #8 (Posted by Ronald Bryan)
The two actors playing the brothers on Supernatural are the only thing holding that show together. They work well together with the humor and seriousness. But the show isn't that great. McG is no Damon Lindelof.
Comment #9 (Posted by Ryan S~)
I agree that at time Dean and Sam are the only thing holding together Supernatural but damn, they do it well. Without them Devin would be correct, it would be passable. With them, it's a decent fun show.
Comment #10 (Posted by the hedonist)
McG's shows are passable at best, and at worst are actually bad. And did anyone see Charlie's Angels?
*sigh*
Yet another great British show is going to be the bukkake victim of a bunch of moronic Hollywood coke-heads. The horror. The horror.
Comment #11 (Posted by mcnooj82)
"Daisy Steiner... WINS!!"
"Ha ha HA HA ha!"
Comment #12 (Posted by AGraCru)
I actually have a lot of fun with Chuck, but I'll definitely say that in the grand scheme of things it's nothing truly special or new. It's diverting and charming in it's own right, but at the end of the day is really just a televised cheeseburger. That said, being able to create a show like Chuck does not prepare one for remaking a series as special as Spaced. "Special" isn't even the word I'd use to describe it as much as "personal", which it certainly is.
With all the immediate backlash in response to the announcement of McSpaced, I'm wondering if the project will ever ultimately get filmed. It probably will, but one can always hope.
Comment #13 (Posted by cock)
McG is from my neck of the woods - I've met the fucker on occasion few years back. I'll see if I can track him down and beat the living shit out of him.
Comment #14 (Posted by Grae)
Why mess with a classic g33kcore show. I am behind the boycott. Simon, you will be avenged. Screw McG
Comment #15 (Posted by lyttleton)
If X-Files was a 'great' show, than 'Supernatural' is, as well. The backlash against all McG shows because of this is going to be ridiculous (or, I suppose, is ridiculous, as it has begun with this article). Before this McSpaced stuff, people on this site and other sites (as well as in Print media) were praising both Supernatural and Chuck (Chuck is a fun diversion, not great, but it was this site that said it took all the good aspects of The OC Season 1, for what that's worth). So, be pissed about McSpaced (I think it's terrible what's happening from an artist's rights point of view, but have never seen the show and have no personal need to get bitter about it), but don't turn it into a diatribe against other unrelated projects just because of the Producer. That's the kind of random, baseless vitriol that a site like CHUD used to be the voice of reason against. Sadly, I'm seeing less and less of that 'reason' that once made CHUD a must-read site (and I don't just mean in the talkbacks.)
Comment #16 (Posted by Phoenix)
American Version of the Office, anyone? This is just different because McG and Co. didn't get permission first. But he does suck anyway.
Comment #17 (Posted by Who dat?)
You gotta be shitting me!!! I don't really understand why it even HAS to Americanized, isn't already good enough to watch as it is? Christ, look at the feeble attempt to make Red Dwarf in the states. It was aweful! I think I'll pass with the american version.
Comment #18 (Posted by diaglo)
The American version of The Office is executive produced by Gervais and Merchant. One episode was even written by them. Not even close to being the same.
Comment #19 (Posted by Andy Larsen)
I couldn't give five flying fucks for McG and his Spaced. Don't watch the show and it'll go away. I'll be busy watching the original, thank you.
Comment #20 (Posted by diablomonkeyboy)
I think that certain things about the show are so British, that McG will miss the point. Everybody will try too hard to be cool, when they should be acting like dicks. And lets not go into how they will fuck uo the character Mike....
Comment #21 (Posted by Jacen)
If it's planned for Fox, it'll be cancelled after 5 episodes anyway....

