This looks great and it will certainly be interesting to watch how different the British version of the comedy 'The Games' will be as it's obviously very similar in format to our much loved Australian version done back in 2000. From the snippets I've seen so far, it looks hilarious! If you have a brain and keep up with current events surrounding the planning of the 2012 event and also have an understanding of subtle, not always blatant comedy, you'll appreciate this for what it is. Nice one BBC!
@LimeyThunder ... you have got to be kidding yourself. Have you even seen The Games? I don't have any issue with POHMs ripping off The Games but at least have the balls to admit it. Never mind.. you probably aren't allowed on the internet 'til after you've done your homework anyway.
If you want to see what all of the fuss is about, there are loads of videos of 'The Games' - just include the words **The Games John Clarke** in your search.
Written and directed by John Morton who did this same sort of thing in People Like Us back in 1999. I suppose you Aussies think he ripped off The Games back then too! The makers of The Games didn't invent the mockumentary... and neither did John Morton. The Games were surely inspired by Christopher Guest's work anyway.
I can't believe how defensive some of you are... it's only a TV show for gawd's sake!
John Morton (then head of BBC Comedy) and John Plowman were the people the makers of The Games originally pitched too. Now they're the writers and producers of this 'completely original' show?
Which plot-lines, characters or bits of dialogue are actually the same? The writers of "The Games" didn't even watch this, but cry plagiarism!
Dear makers of "The Games": You didn't invent the Olympic Games, you didn't invent mockumentaries, you didn't invent making fun of PR people and you can't copyright either of those.
The Games version 2… Hope you guys have very good lawyers… I believe the term is plagiarism – ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUE GENIUS OF JOHN CLARKE AND ROSS STEPHENSON!!!
@LiveByTheDice Did Shakespeare turn down the original writer for a contract first? The major point here is that the creators of The Games met with the producer and writer of this show several years ago to discuss the option of selling the rights and they were rejected. It's not a case of being inspired, it's a case of flat out theft.
@maxbuc It depends. What were they selling? If all the only similarity is that they're both mockumentaries about hosting the Olympic Games then a) a plagiarism charge won't stick and so b) there'd be no point in them buying the rights to it - you already have the 'right' to produce something dissimilar enough that you can't be sued for plagiarism so there's nothing to buy.
Don't get me wrong, there might be a 'moral' case here, but there'd have to be real similarity for a legal case.
@Faboba The legal line to cross is the expression of an idea (you can't copyright an idea, only the expression) and the fact that even by a casual glance at this trailer, this is the same character dynamic, the same jobs, the same situation, the same shooting and editing style. The producers of Sandford and Son bought the rights to Steptoe and Son. The producers of Three's Company bought the rights to Man About The House. The producers of The Office bought the rights to The Office. Go figure.
@maxbuc Well I haven't seen (nor do seem to be able to find on Youtube) the Aus series so am unable to comment intelligently, however from what I see in the trailer the 'shooting and editing' style is virtually identical to In the Thick of It (which wouldn't be surprising; I imagine the same team may well produce both). As for the 'situation' being the same, the counter-claim would be that the basis is a satirical take on a unique real world event; London hosting the olympics. Aaron Sorkin...
...can't sue Commander and Chief for making a drama set in the White House. The last point you mention, that 'the character dynamic is the same', that would be plausible grounds however 'having the same jobs' would not be enough, there would have to be substantial similarity in the structure of the show, after the manner of say Steptoe and Son which you mention or Stromberg vs The Office.
Let's wait and see, I guess; I can't imagine that if there were a legal grounds they wouldn't sue.
@Faboba Are you a lawyer? Wouldn't it be more plausible to think that the show has simply sold the format? I very much doubt that BBC4 stole the idea.
@LimeyThunder ... you have got to be kidding yourself. Have you even seen The Games? I don't have any issue with POHMs ripping off The Games but at least have the balls to admit it. Never mind.. you probably aren't allowed on the internet 'til after you've done your homework anyway.
@kwh71 So you think it takes balls to admit things over the internet that dont mean anything? If this is a rip off then you are basically saying that the Sydney Olympics were a rip off of the Atlanta Olympics. Why are you even watching a video of something you dont like, you obviously see something in it. Never mind.... I should probably let you finish wanking
@baysidelad1 Not that there is anything wrong with that really. It was a great show and so is this. The fact that so many POHMs can't accept that The Games was the original means nothing. Simply says that they haven't the IQ to see patterns in the world around them.
Stolen concept. This idea is an Australian show called The Games, made in the late 1990s and based on the mismanagement of the Sydney Olympics. Boo BBC.
This looks great and it will certainly be interesting to watch how different the British version of the comedy 'The Games' will be as it's obviously very similar in format to our much loved Australian version done back in 2000. From the snippets I've seen so far, it looks hilarious! If you have a brain and keep up with current events surrounding the planning of the 2012 event and also have an understanding of subtle, not always blatant comedy, you'll appreciate this for what it is. Nice one BBC!
LouDeVere 7 months ago
Tremendous!!! I haven't enjoyed TV as much as this since the days of Blackadder!! Faultless, absolutely faultless!! "Absolutely" *****
Baldricksodoff 10 months ago
At first I wondered why there was a comedy on BBC Four. Then, after watching it, it turns out it's because there's no comedy in it whatsoever.
ghelyar 10 months ago
Yeah first they notice and then they die.
Lol, calssic.
legodarknight101 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@LimeyThunder ... you have got to be kidding yourself. Have you even seen The Games? I don't have any issue with POHMs ripping off The Games but at least have the balls to admit it. Never mind.. you probably aren't allowed on the internet 'til after you've done your homework anyway.
kwh71 11 months ago
This is soooooooooooooooo funny, this is what comedy should be!
LimeyThunder 11 months ago
If you want to see what all of the fuss is about, there are loads of videos of 'The Games' - just include the words **The Games John Clarke** in your search.
iadobeyou 11 months ago
Makes me want to watch The Games again. Ross and John are brilliant! If they met with the Beeb creators, that is very, very bad.
mancdivided 11 months ago
Makes me want to watch The Games again. Ross and John are brilliant!
mancdivided 11 months ago
Written and directed by John Morton who did this same sort of thing in People Like Us back in 1999. I suppose you Aussies think he ripped off The Games back then too! The makers of The Games didn't invent the mockumentary... and neither did John Morton. The Games were surely inspired by Christopher Guest's work anyway.
I can't believe how defensive some of you are... it's only a TV show for gawd's sake!
waybexxx 11 months ago
@waybexxx it's deeper than that mate...
John Morton (then head of BBC Comedy) and John Plowman were the people the makers of The Games originally pitched too. Now they're the writers and producers of this 'completely original' show?
Shit doesn't stick me ol' wallaby.
ebag10 11 months ago
Which plot-lines, characters or bits of dialogue are actually the same? The writers of "The Games" didn't even watch this, but cry plagiarism!
Dear makers of "The Games": You didn't invent the Olympic Games, you didn't invent mockumentaries, you didn't invent making fun of PR people and you can't copyright either of those.
TessExpelliarmus 11 months ago
The Games version 2… Hope you guys have very good lawyers… I believe the term is plagiarism – ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRUE GENIUS OF JOHN CLARKE AND ROSS STEPHENSON!!!
medalsaustralia 11 months ago 2
That just makes me cross. How rude to so blatently rip off another show and refuse to acknowledge it at all.
StrontiumHalfLife 11 months ago
"The Games" ripoff, just not as funny.....
lukaas0073 11 months ago 3
Come on faceless BBC guys, credit where credit is due. You should thank "The Games" for what will be a ratings winner.
BoyMambo 11 months ago 2
Gee, what an original idea - oh, except for the two-series show "The Games" with the same concept for the Australian Olympics over ten years ago.
What a disgrace.
boskymba 11 months ago
this is brilliant. just joined the Facebook page for it too, great stuff!
sparky20 11 months ago
wow, looks like they managed to not only rip off a 12 year old show, but somehow trash it. Looks like ass.
ausdavep 11 months ago 2
Oh, for fuck's sake! Shakespeare borrowed the plot of Romeo & Juliet; this isn't exactly a new phenomenon.
Quit your bitching and move on.
LiveByTheDice 11 months ago
@LiveByTheDice Did Shakespeare turn down the original writer for a contract first? The major point here is that the creators of The Games met with the producer and writer of this show several years ago to discuss the option of selling the rights and they were rejected. It's not a case of being inspired, it's a case of flat out theft.
maxbuc 11 months ago 2
@maxbuc It depends. What were they selling? If all the only similarity is that they're both mockumentaries about hosting the Olympic Games then a) a plagiarism charge won't stick and so b) there'd be no point in them buying the rights to it - you already have the 'right' to produce something dissimilar enough that you can't be sued for plagiarism so there's nothing to buy.
Don't get me wrong, there might be a 'moral' case here, but there'd have to be real similarity for a legal case.
Faboba 11 months ago
@Faboba The legal line to cross is the expression of an idea (you can't copyright an idea, only the expression) and the fact that even by a casual glance at this trailer, this is the same character dynamic, the same jobs, the same situation, the same shooting and editing style. The producers of Sandford and Son bought the rights to Steptoe and Son. The producers of Three's Company bought the rights to Man About The House. The producers of The Office bought the rights to The Office. Go figure.
maxbuc 11 months ago
@maxbuc Well I haven't seen (nor do seem to be able to find on Youtube) the Aus series so am unable to comment intelligently, however from what I see in the trailer the 'shooting and editing' style is virtually identical to In the Thick of It (which wouldn't be surprising; I imagine the same team may well produce both). As for the 'situation' being the same, the counter-claim would be that the basis is a satirical take on a unique real world event; London hosting the olympics. Aaron Sorkin...
Faboba 11 months ago
...can't sue Commander and Chief for making a drama set in the White House. The last point you mention, that 'the character dynamic is the same', that would be plausible grounds however 'having the same jobs' would not be enough, there would have to be substantial similarity in the structure of the show, after the manner of say Steptoe and Son which you mention or Stromberg vs The Office.
Let's wait and see, I guess; I can't imagine that if there were a legal grounds they wouldn't sue.
Faboba 11 months ago
@Faboba Are you a lawyer? Wouldn't it be more plausible to think that the show has simply sold the format? I very much doubt that BBC4 stole the idea.
kwh71 11 months ago
What a blatant ripoff of "the Games" .....
baysidelad1 11 months ago 9
@baysidelad1 It is a completely different type of comedy to The Games... and its far better
LimeyThunder 11 months ago
@LimeyThunder ... you have got to be kidding yourself. Have you even seen The Games? I don't have any issue with POHMs ripping off The Games but at least have the balls to admit it. Never mind.. you probably aren't allowed on the internet 'til after you've done your homework anyway.
kwh71 11 months ago
@kwh71 So you think it takes balls to admit things over the internet that dont mean anything? If this is a rip off then you are basically saying that the Sydney Olympics were a rip off of the Atlanta Olympics. Why are you even watching a video of something you dont like, you obviously see something in it. Never mind.... I should probably let you finish wanking
LimeyThunder 11 months ago
@baysidelad1 It is, but it doesn't matter too much because it's better.
automat3000 11 months ago
@baysidelad1 Not that there is anything wrong with that really. It was a great show and so is this. The fact that so many POHMs can't accept that The Games was the original means nothing. Simply says that they haven't the IQ to see patterns in the world around them.
kwh71 11 months ago
Australia did it first with "The Games"! why no metion of this? "2012" producers should have given the Aussie production some credit.
shinawillful 11 months ago 2
Rip off. Look up the australian original
gjaplin 11 months ago 2
Stolen concept. This idea is an Australian show called The Games, made in the late 1990s and based on the mismanagement of the Sydney Olympics. Boo BBC.
dynamitentertainment 11 months ago 2
Massive rip off of the Australian comedy TV series "The Games" aired prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympics
chanlord 11 months ago 4
Me likey!
Hornbag77 1 year ago
make a program about anything now LOL must be running out of ideas
andrewcul 1 year ago
Might be okay.
silvatek 1 year ago
you know who should actually carry the torch next year? david tennant... it only makes sense lol
Altmetalpunk 1 year ago 24
That was the worst made trailer I've ever seen. Dunno about the show yet.
JoshRoweice 1 year ago
FIRST :L sorry had to :P
TheLegalGamers 1 year ago