Farrelly Bros. To Remake BBC's "I'm With Stupid" For U.S. TV
The Hollywood Reporter, um, reports edgy filmmakers Peter and Bobby Farrelly have joined forces with the producer of the U.S. version of "The Office" to bring the new British comedy "I'm With Stupid" to American viewers.
"Stupid" centers on a down-and-out guy who befriends a young wheelchair user and winds up moving into his group home. Yes, that kind of group home. The show (well, the British version, at least) is funnier than it sounds. The pilot for the BBC 3 original earned kudos in Britain last year for its multidimensional portrayal, and perhaps even better yet, it's casting of people with disabilities which eventually led to a six episode series last Summer.
Whereas the producers of the original series took great pains to be more mainstream, the Farrelly approach is likely to be quite different if one considers what they've done previously.
Peter Farrelly is set to direct the pilot, and both brothers will serve as executive producers. The Farrelly's have covered disabilities (to both acclaim and derision) in such films as "The Ringer" and "Shallow Hal." Known for outrageous, high-concept comedies, their most recent feature credits include last year's "Fever Pitch" and 2003's "Stuck on You."
Also executive producing is Ben Silverman, riding high with NBC's Emmy-winning "The Office" and ABC's promising newcomer "Ugly Betty," an adaptation of the hit Colombian telenovela. Wil Calhoun ("Friends") will write the pilot.
With Josh Blue winning "Last Comic Standing" and now "I'm With Stupid" set to hit TV screens all across the United States with an A-List of writers and producers, could comedy spearhead the next wave of American crip culture? Moreover, will the sometimes touchy American disability community lambaste or support these programs and will audiences -- disabled or not -- watch?
Stay tuned.
Lawrence Carter-Long is the Founder, Curator & Janitor of The disTHIS! Film Series: disability through a whole new lens which showcases quality narrative, short, documentary and feature films with disability themes beyond clichés. He was interviewed by NPR's Weekend America on the "best and the worst depictions of people with disabilities in popular culture" (including The Farrelly produced film, "The Ringer") in December 2005.
I, for one, think it's great that this is going to be out there on the forefront of American culture for awile. Let's face it, most folks don't discuss the latest bills in congress and pending lawsuits at the watercooler, they talk about T.V.
If even the faintest discussion can begin about these topics, no matter how reserved, eventually this will do for the Crip culture, what shows like Sanford and Son, The Cosby Show, and even The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, did for the Black culture of America, use humor to bring out even the detestable things that most people never realize are occurring.
Posted by: matt | October 24, 2006 09:35 AM
I'm a Brit who knows one of the disabled guys from the UK version of I'm With Stupid. All of the disabled characters were played by genuine crips and I thought that it dealt with disability in a very funny way. I agree with Matt that humour (sorry! humor ) can really help to change attitudes and public perceptions.
I'm hopeful that we will get to see the US version over here at some point.
Posted by: Frank | October 26, 2006 05:10 AM
I really hope they cast genuine disabled actors to play the part of the disabled characters. If they do not, they've missed the point!!!!
Posted by: Alan M | October 26, 2006 01:28 PM