Reading about this on another site, it sounds like if they bring over Barrowman, it will be in a guest role capacity, which makes me think that this will focus on a branch of Torchwood based out of America maybe? And I think that even if Fox manages to screw this up as badly as they could, that shouldn't really put the British version of the show in jeopardy.

Let us also not forget that Fox has already dabbled in the Dr. Who universe with the 8th Doctor, who was at least redeemed in my eyes by his performances in the Big Finish audio dramas, and to an extend the novel line.

I hate that you're so right, Rob.

The truely scary part is the last paragraph you didn't quote in which they refer to Tranter wanting to reboot Dr Who as a US show as well.

I admit we all owe Russel and Julie a debt of gratitude for Dr Who and Torchwood, but seriously if this goes pear shaped, they'll make an army of enemies...

Why? Why does Fox hate us?

They should just sign Joss Whedon to the project and make it an official kill.

Fox brought my beloved Colbert Report to the UK. Then they fucked with its timeslot, failed to promote it, and cancelled it. Some things never change.

Clearly 2010 is the year that network executives band together to destroy popular entertainment.

We already have an americanized Torchwood like series, Fringe. Fox will fuck it up royally, like Dollhouse, Firefly, any other scifi show they tried with the exception of Xfiles.

You know what else Fox has?

Fringe. Fringe is on Fox. Arguably the best sci-fi show on broadcast television, and it's on Fox.

And it's doing fine in the ratings. It never needed corporate brass to babysit it while it built its audience.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Fox has canceled some shows prematurely, but their two of their more recent cancellations, Dollhouse and Terminator, both had plenty of time to build their audiences, and they couldn't do it. I enjoyed them as much as the next person, but they were expensive shows that couldn't recoup their expenses.

I bet it's a megahit.

NO, GODDAMNIT!

Give it a chance?

It's taken me this long to realize, but, "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccckkkkkkk," is pretty much your catchphrase.

WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS?

I also suspect that an American version would focus on an American division of Torchwood, so if it went down in flames, it probably wouldn’t kill the original version. But my gut says this is a bad idea. Who knows, they might actually give Davies a fairly free hand and he might put together a good cast and some good plots. But there are so many ways that it could go horribly awry. And, yeah, that’s true for any new show...but a remake has the added pressure of being constantly compared to the original, both by fans and by programming executives who are looking for a big hit.

I also think that for a lot of BBC shows, what American fans like about them is their Britishness, the feeling that the show is giving us a glimpse into a different world just because it’s filled with customs and slang and products that are different from ours. If they just set the remake in L.A. or New York and hire plastically-pretty actors in all the roles, then I doubt I’ll be interested no matter how exciting the plots are.

I'm sorry but I found the premise of Torchwood good but the sexuality too overboard. The Doctor can in my opinion be played by a male of any ethnic or country background but it is BRITISH. I grew up watching it on PBS, watched it on Syfy and now BBC America. I refuse to watch a US version. It would not be cannon in my mind (the same applies to Torchwood). We don't need a US Torchwood we have Warehouse 13 and Sanctuary. I'm tired of good British stuff being dumbed down or changed for the US. It is like Discovery stripping Planet Earth and Life of David Attenborough and giving us us actors or talk-show hosts. Content is king. if you have a good show and content people will watch. You don't see the UK adapting a version of Lost. There is no need be cause the content is good.

I bet you anything Fox premieres this in the Friday night 9:00pm time slot, thereby making damn sure NOBODY watches it.

I can easily imagine the BBC part funding this instead of producing another series of their own Torchwood as a cost-cutting thing (like how they're doing with the resurrected Primeval, so they get first screening on the UKTV channel). I would be overjoyed if there were two separate TWs, but I can't see it happening.

BAD IDEA! They should just let the original stand on its own. It already has an established audience both in the UK and on BBC America. We don't need a new American Torchwood just as we don't need a new American Doctor Who.

God damnit! Leave Torchwood alone! It's perfect where it is? Why must you rape us Fox?! WHY?!

This is some kind of joke right? Somebody say it is, like an early April Fool's thing? Awwww, hell. It's like decent shows on Fox have a 1 in 100,000 chance. I would say the odds are even less than surviving, but between the fact Fringe has survived, and they brought back Family Guy, there are shows that seem to slip through the cracks of Fox execs vice grips of DEATH.
Still though, if they make it, I will watch it, at least till it gets canned.

Torchwood? You mean the one with the graphic violence, salty language, and explicit sex that you can only show on cable in the US? On Fox?

Sensors detect fail, Captain.

NO! NO! NO! This is just wrong!

Is it bad that all I can think of is "I can't let you do that Fox"?

For the love of GOD fox, LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO LIFE ON MARS! JUST NO!

ugh... such a very very bad idea!!!!

there are so many things wrong with this idea... most of them are Fox... and America... guh... Torchwood would just NOT work on american television... it sooo would not...

OPTIMISM:

At first I was like, "Noooooooo", but after reading these comments, I'd be totally down with a spin-off show about the American branch of TORCHWOOD. It would open up possibilities for some truly geek-tastic, hop-the-pond-y crossovers, too!

REALISM:

There's no way FOX is going to give Davies free reign over the series like he had under the jurisdiction of the BBC. No producer/creator/writer of television has that kind of autonomy in this country. Love him or hate him, Whedon is a fine example of this. DOLLHOUSE, as a show, barely resembles its original concept (and that's unfortunate). It will probably just be a re-tread of the original TORCHWOOD: same story arcs, dumbed-down scripts, "pretty" cast. Boo. And don't forget tongue-in-cheek "sightings" of Cap'n Jack on AMERICAN IDOL (a la FRINGE's The Observer)! *Cringe*

Why is it that American TV cannot simply get people with good ideas and hire them? I mean, exactly how many series are we going to steal from the UK and re-tool for Americans?

The Office, Big Brother, The Prisoner, American Idol, Life on Mars, etc.

Then on the other side of things you have rampant remakes of everything Asian in the horror film market.

No new damned ideas in Hollywood.

Sucks balls.

Fox has a habit of dropping the ball on sci-fi. But what the hell, it could be good.

I like British TV but being mostly confined to Cardiff, IMO, worked against the original Torchwood. If the US branch of Torchwood is more globetrotting then that sounds good to me.

The problem is, without Captain Jack, it's not really Torchwood, it's another show with the same name. If they are going to air it with Captain Jack in charge (and it actually would make a certain amount of sense that post-COE, Jack decided to move Torchwood somewhere else), I can't imagine them not toning down the character. They'll probably make the inevitable blond bimbo his love interest and hope we forget that Jack would hit on anybody, male, female, or alien.

I don't get it. Why not just... I don't know... show Torchwood? You know, the one that they made all ready? I'm so confused.

Why can't BBC Wales and Fox partner to make the next series/season of Torchwood that way its the same show with more budget and more episodes per series/season. And it makes sense in a way for it to go more global.

"As for the new show's plot, the U.S. version will contain a global story line compared to the more localized sensibility of the first two BBC seasons."

Right. Like American sci-fi writers know what 'other countries' are. :P

I guess its going to be Torchwood: Miami then.

how did fox manage to get the rights from Russel and co and the bbc to do an american version of torch wood when fans know they are just going to make it put in the death slot and only after fans save it kill it in the end.plus captain jack will proably be a guest star and have nothing to do with this version of torchwood. fox once again proves how evil it truely is.

Well my first reaction is, as you so aptly put it: Fuuuuuuuuucccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkk.

Now I could deal with like an 'American branch' of Torchwood, as other commentators have said. As in, I could deal with it existing. Separately. Where I don't have to watch it. Everyone knows full well Fox would water the wrong parts down and amp the wrong parts up (no matter who they cast) and it'll be a fucking disaster.

The only consolation here being that RTD is pretty bull-headed about how he wants his shows to be and - wait. Does that say a 'more global storyline' ? There are different branches of Torchwood for a reason you know I just -
...
*cries*

I've never quite understood the love so many people have for Torchwood. Children of Earth aside, I think the show tends to be okay at best. I never quite understood why the Torchwood of the eponymous series bore so little resemblance to the regimented, militaristic (and UNIT-like) Torchwood from the last couple episodes of Doctor Who's second season. While I realize that one was Torchwood's main branch in London and the other was the lowly Cardiff branch, I have no clue why the organization would appoint five people (who are supposedly adults but all behave like children) to watch over a rift in time and space. And after the London branch was destroyed, why not move much of the remaining personnel and resources to this Cardiff branch to allow it to function as a new headquarters? I'd have much rather had a UNIT series.

FOX attempted (and failed) to bring Doctor Who to the US in the mid-1990s. What this sounds like, instead, is Russell T Davies trying to copy the success he had in the UK, in America. This is the reason it will fail, for the following reasons:

1) It's Russell T. Davies
2) Torchwood is a Doctor Who spin-off. Doctor Who for all intents and purposes does not air in America.
3) Russell T. Davies.
4) Torchwood succeeds on BBC; it will fail on Fox. RTD's "Queer as Folk" succeeds on BBC, was minor success in the US *written by entirely American writers*.
5) Because it's fucking Russell T. Davies.
6) Even if the U.S. version keeps the title, the universe, or any story continuity -- which is no guarantee -- I'll be shocked if they keep Captain Jack. Torchwood will lose most of its original flavor. And if they do keep Jack, he'll be relegated to a peripheral character so there can be some blond American bimbo as the female lead.
7) RUSSELL T DAVIES
8) When it fails on Fox, there's no guarantee Russell T Davis' ginormous ego will allow him to come back to BBC. Fox might destroy Torchwood forever.
9) RUSSELL T DAVIIEEEEEEEESSSSS
10) I'm not watching it, because it's on at the same time as the new US comedy "Rex is Not Your Lawyer," starring David Tennant.

I'm sure to make it more palatable for American audiences, Captain Jack will be 100% straight, but his sexy side-kick will be a lesbian who is inexplicably in love with Jack and makes out with him whenever she's not making out with her sexy college roommates.

$#!%^ #^&!!!1!
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Kill me now...right through the eyes, stab me, because that is what's going to happen with this show. Damn, they're going to get rid of Jack's pan-sexuality, Gwen, some of the better macabre touches and replace them with red-blooded hetero-Jack, a balloon-breasted bimbo, and too many effing explosions. Essentially, anything distinctly Torchwood. FFF will be less painful than what FOX is doing to us.

I agree on the "FUCK FOX!!!! FUCK IT FUCK IT FUCK IT!!!!" argument but I disagree with your other points. I fucking hate Gwen. I hate her to the Mary Sue level. I also fucking hated the third season. Let me rephrase that, I hated the third season so bad I had no less then five rants about it with friends. They killed the only Welsh space butler in existence and I will never forgive TRD for it.
But yeah, American Torchwood would suck hard.

From what I've read, the idea is to make Series 4 of Torchwood about an American team. It's not a "remake" or "American version" but the continuation of the show, on American soil, and aired first-run on American TV.
-
That was the rumor a few weeks ago, anyway. Considering that the team is pretty much all dead, aside from Captain Jack and Gwen, it's not such a big deal to see some American faces in the group now.
-
Now, as to whether this will work or not... Well, the American version of Red Dwarf was atrocious, and the American Doctor Who had plenty of problems, too. I guess we'll see.
-
Either way, I'll tune in. I love Torchwood.

"...Unlike U.S. adaptations that have gone awry, "Torchwood" fans can take comfort that the original producing team is on board...."

Yes, because that worked so well in the past with "Red Dwarf". http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/features/history/red-dwarf-usa/index.cfm

I wish America (and any other country guilty of the same crime) would just NOT remake stuff because the original did well.

To tell you the truth, I was never much of a big fan of Torchwood. I mean, I like it, but I'm more of a Doctor Who guy. So, right now, I'm not quite disgusted by this bit of news.

Now, a US Doctor Who? THAT's bad.

they already set back Who by a decade when they effed up the 7ty doctor's movie (that was supposed to lead to a tv show)... how can RTDavies not see that and get wary?

>A more straight-faced spinoff of "Doctor Who,"

Yeah, because when I think Torchwood - whose main viewer demographic seems to be HoYay shippers - I think 'straight-laced.'

Actually, if ANY of these types of things were ever treated seriously (instead of trying to keep up with the campiness or adding it on its own), a serious treatment of Torchwood and Dr. Who would be great.

The problem is, American creators cannot seem to understand that the semi-comical mod style in British programs does NOT translate well into American products.

It's like trying to find a true Irish pub in America. It will never be an Irish pub because its missing the people and culture that make an Irish pub what it is.

If they could just make something good, serious, and forget what they think they know, it would be OK.

WHY WHY WHY WHY???

As the article (and press) already report: Torchwood broke ratings-records on BBC America. This tells me two things:
1) There's an audience FOR THE ORIGINAL VERSION! There's no need for an Americanized remake.
2) The original is airing on BBC America, which tells me there's no need for a FOX version.

Oh, wait, I've discovered the reason in my own logic: *because* the show got such high ratings, FOX thinks an American version will do just as well.

How many British shows survived an Americanization?
1) The Office: probably the only good example.
2) Who Wants to be a Millionaire/ Big Brother/ Weakest Link: these are game shows and don't count.
3) Coupling: lasted all of 3 weeks on NBC, yet the British version was written by Steven Moffat, who's taken over Doctor Who from Russell Davies.
4) Doctor Who 1996 movie, which was made by FOX, and which failed to get ratings.

John also forget the US version of Davies' Queer as Folk, which was a huge hit, albeit on cable.

The only way for Torchwood US to work is for it to be a spinoff, not a remake or a reboot (anyone see the reference in Hollywood Reporter that said an American reboot of Doctor Who might be in cards, too? God help us all). If it's a spin-off, it can tie in to the original show, and maybe give Who a bit of a PR boost as well. Best of all, when Fox cancels it after 12 weeks or 6 weeks or 4 weeks (RIP Wonderfalls) it won't bring down the original series or, potentially, the franchise.
This is a very bad idea and, sadly, is likely to leave a bad taste in the mouths of Who fans who enjoyed the contributions of Davies and Julie Gardner. The good news is they do listen to fans so if enough people complain, they might think better of the idea -- or as I say it might become a spin-off rather than a remake. That said, there is already a US version of Torchwood on Fox. It's called Fringe.

Fox will probably make John Barrowman drop his British accent like they did to Hugh Laurie in every episode of House.

Like...this probably sounds stupid...but the reason I like Torchwood I think is in large part BECAUSE it's British. It just has a certain unique flair and quirkiness to it that I enjoy greatly.
Well that and listening to the accents.

Fox would never let someone as unique looking and as talented as Eve Myles be the female lead of their version.

I've often wondered about this. I think she turns in a remarkable performance as Gwen over the course of two series and a mini-series. She's strong, confident, vulnerable, human (the scene where she cries into her pizza was some of the best acting I've seen in either Dr. Who or Torchwood). No way American audiences are ready for someone like that (and by "that" I mean, gap-toothed).

and i Quote
[ "6) Even if the U.S. version keeps John Barrowman -- which is no guarantee -- I'll be shocked if they keep Gwen. Torchwood will lose most of its original flavor. And if they do keep Gwen, she'll be relegated to a peripheral character so there can be some blond American bimbo as the female lead." ]

i think this is the first of the nightmare because WE ALL KNOW SOME NO-TALENT hack who gives great blowjobs and a flat ass will be cast . due to the "CASTING COUCH" syndrome

i hope that BBC is aware of the high SERIES suicide rate that has become FOX's Legacy.
and that they have a built in clause that BBC retains ALL CREATIVE rights in it .

Jag

I can't see this going well. I'd go on, but that would just lead to a long-winded rant. I'm too tired to bother.

Besides, isn't the Rift ONLY over Britain? Maybe I just imagined that part.

This has to be some kinda of joke the BBC can't really be letting Russell bring the Whoverse to the United States. I'm from the US and I think this is a bad idea. Doctor Who is a classic UK show that has been around since 1963. They tried once to area a Doctor Who movie that was made in the US. It just wasn't the same. I like to watch them because there British. And loved Torchwood being filmed in Wales if you take that away its just another stupid American show that even if its good will get cancelled anyway. I've seen this over and over again. And airing a show like Torchwood in primetime in the US will totally change what will be showed. Too much has already changed in Torchwood I liked the show before Children of Earth now it just seems destroyed. There is nothing left. Without pressing reset forgetting that COE ever aired how can they possibly go on. I know that I will never forgive or forget how Russell has ruined Torchwood. And yes I know he did write the first episode but only after the BBC turned down his idea for a show staring Eve Myles called Excalibur. Instead they wanted a Doctor Who spin off. So Russell wrote the first episode and abandoned it to work on Doctor Who. To bad he did just leave it alone. DON'T LET FOX AND RUSSELL DO THIS!!!

Oops that last line should say too bad he didn't just leave it alone. Maybe then I would of had to suffer through Children of Earth.

It's dead, Jim.

Start trying to accept that now, and it won't hurt as much when they finally cancel it despite it's quirky brillance.

Fucking Fox.