Red Dwarf

I just managed to see the pilot to the US version of Red Dwarf, which apparently was never screened. It is almost entirely the same dialog as the first episode of the original series. There's lots of recycled footage, in fact, I didn't see any original effects. The only major difference, except for different actors, is that they introduced Kryten from the beginning. Kryten was still played by Robert Llewellyn. There was also a funny animation of the cat's evolution. I can't imagine how small the budget must have been on this pilot. I think real Red Dwarf fans wouldn't like it because it's just a rip off of the UK version. Non-fans wouldn't like it because they failed to bridge the Atlantic comedy gap, which I assume was the point of trying to make a US version of the series. If this pilot is anything like what the US version would have been, then I guess I'm glad it failed. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I saw a pretty poor copy of this but the bottom line is that it lacks the punch, clarity and humor of the original series.

The characters are thin, unbelievable, two dimensional copies of the flawed but warm and likeable characters in the original series. The only actor who came from the original series is Robert Llewellyn who tries hard but is let down by the rest of the cast and the direction.

There's something seriously wrong with the timing of the humor. It's set up as if it was a sitcom not a comedy. The timing should be quite different however the canned laughter track is timed for a sitcom not for a comedy show and thus makes all of the comedy fall totally flat.

If you like Red Dwarf, give this a miss. If you haven't seen the original Red Dwarf then beg, borrow, steal or buy the original (or look for re-runs on PBS) but give this remake a wide, wide berth.

I have to disagree with the other comment regarding this. There is a very good reason why this never made it past the pilot. The simple fact is this was appalling.

From George McKintyre speaking directly to the camera and therefore audience to raise a laugh, if it can be called that, to the poor acting and change of original storyline to include Kryten.

Jane Leeves acting as Holly was terrible, which is a disappointment as she is usually quite good. Norm MacDonald would have made a better Holly!

The problem with the Americanised version of the show was that it was re-written for an American audience. The problem was that Red Dwarf was written so that Holly was dead pan when played by Norman Lovett, Rimmer wasnt just an annoying person who you wouldnt invite to dinner as in the US pilot but in the UK version had a totally flawed personality, seen in the UK episode "Me2" when he competed with another holographic image of himself on the most petty of things and later in a UK episode when he was placed on trial for the deaths of the entire crew and objected to his own defence. Rimmers arrogance and self defeating nature is the point of the character. The Rimmer in the US version was not flawed, just socially inept.

Lister was too smug, the Cat not self obsessed enough to the point of being totally uncaring about anyone else and generally the show was poor. Even the upbeat theme music should not even be played in a lift. The original UK theme was solemn, identifying with the futility. Then it turned to a rock version. The american theme, well its indescribable.

The US TV companies will someday realise that:

1) special effects do not "make" the TV Show. Acting has a lot to do with it. 2) Its ok to write about losers. Not everyone is a winner in life. The US TV Executives seem to think that everyone must be a winner. Part of the charm of Red Dwarf was that it was about a group of unlikely people in the worst situation, just surviving and getting into trouble along the way. Each UK episode starts in a bad situation, has a worse situation develop, and goes back to the original bad situation at the end of the show. 3) You cannot re-write a classic. Red Dwarf, Dear John, The Italian Job, Get Carter to name just a few! 4) Most of all they need to learn dead pan humour and how you cant adapt this to make it upbeat. It just doesnt work.

Overall I'd give the pilot 1/10 and thats only because Im feeling charitable. If you liked it good on you, but my opinion is dont spend the time watching it. You will feel cheated out of that time. You cant get it back!

As a lifelong Red Dwarf fan I'd obviously heard of this and seen a few clips but never until today actually sat down and watched it.

What it is is a strange re-hash of the first episode from around the time of series 5 of the UK original. It's fascinating to see what choices have been made and, strangest of all, what works. Namely - Kryten and the slicker integration of Kochanski.

The central crux of the entire of Red Dwarf is the relationship between Lister and Rimmer, and they throw this down the river in favour of a strangely out-of-place but evergreen Robert Llewellyn spoon feeding the plot to the woefully miscast Craig Bierko. He's a Craig yes, but the similarities end there.

Thankfully - it all fell apart and it stands now as an odd and forgotten curio and a testament to how remarkably well constructed, well cast and well conceived the original version is.

Having listened, read and watched Red Dwarf since its conception I cant believe that the American TV Producers had the gaul to bastardise such a wonderful series. Yes ok, lower the intelligence rating down to a level that the watching American public can understand, but since when did Kryten appear in the first series? Why did they have to use Kryten explain every little thing? Ah the term 'dumbing down' rears its ugly head once more. Since when was Lister so clean and Rimmer so nice? The time lines are so wrong, the characters so wrong its all wrong. The original BBC version of 'The End' is so superior so do your self a favour and buy it on DVD!