Remaker's Mark
by Murphy Trott
With televisions playing an increasing part in everyone's social lives, Murphy Trott examines some upcoming Chinese remakes of foreign television series, and looks at what had to be changed due to different conditions here in China.
24
五
The one we've all been waiting for, this is the second Chinese remake of the hit Fox series 24. The title originates from the fact that the producers ran out of budget and had to cut the series short. Jia Ke Bao is the Chinese counter-terrorist agent whose inept daughter and wife are captured by a militia hiding surprisingly close to a major city. It turns out to be a really tough five hours for our hero. Although the Chinese series finishes much less resolved than the American original, it remains true to 24's "justification of torture" agenda.
And the City
与城市
This is the series that has been crying out to be made. Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the raunchy original, which was an intelligent look at the lives of four modern hip city women, described once as "dick addicts" in the UK's Guardian newspaper TV listing guide.
The Chinese remake was keen to focus on the coolness and modernity of cities but local permission problems in Shanghai meant it had to be set in Wuhan. Highly censored for content (including the title), the producers describe the remake as the raunchy adventures of how four women hold hands with several boyfriends and lovers having established said partners to be have acceptable jobs and be possible life partners.
The Office
办公室
Here is the series that has been crying out for us to have been long awaiting it. The content is roughly the same, explains producer Ma Zhou - a slightly awkward boss blunders through some everyday office situations. The Chinese remake will focus more on Chinese "one word sounding slightly like an inappropriate word or swear word" humour, but the idea is still the same.
Changing Rooms
我国发展得非常快
The Middle Kingdom's version of the smash DIY reality hit, in which working class houses are converted into massive apartment blocks for the nouveaux riches -- the changes are unveiled to the stunned, unaware homeowners shortly before they are evicted to somewhere north of the fifth ring road. This is the one we have been anticipating.
The Evening News
晚上新闻
The remake of the multi-national hit broadcast. The title is the same, but nothing else will resemble the original foreign versions.