# BBC's "Faking It" - how long before FOX gets and screws it up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112 "2003-06-16T00:56:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/1 "2003-06-16T00:56:19Z")
I have caught the BBC show “Faking It” on BBC America a couple of times. The premise is simple: take a regular Joe, give him a crash course in a field, and see if experts in that field can spot the faker. I think the show works just fine as it is. I wonder why FOX (the most likely network to get it) hasn’t taken it and screwed it up yet? ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/2 "2003-06-16T01:00:36Z")
it’s already been done here, I think it’s on TLC ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/3 "2003-06-16T02:40:59Z")
Yes, it’s on [TLC](http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/fakingit/fakingit.html). Currently on hiatus, returning in July. ---
**Author:** ![Azure\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Azure\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azure_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/4 "2003-06-16T05:08:48Z")
Only two responses, and I just _knew_ that someone had already beat me to it. Guess that’s what I love about the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/5 "2003-06-16T05:17:49Z")
I’m somewhat impressed with TLC’s version. With the other two shows they’ve takes from Britian (_Changing Room/Trading Spaces; What Not to Wear_), I feel they’ve messed up somewhat, neither has the charm of the original. But I think they did a good job on _Faking It_ (although the cheerleader episode was painful, the polo playing cowboy almost made up for it). I’m looking forward to new episodes. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/6 "2003-06-16T10:09:59Z")
The BBC don’t make _Faking It_, it’s made by Channel 4, another UK terrestrial broadcaster, who sell the rights to BBC America to show it in the US. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/7 "2003-06-16T17:30:26Z")
Who owns BBC America? Discovery Communications, who also owns TLC. Maybe _that’s_ the reason why they take all the British things and make them their own. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/8 "2003-06-16T18:14:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\*Yes, it’s on [TLC](http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/fakingit/fakingit.html). Currently on hiatus, returning in July. \*\* I’ll keep an eye out for it. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/9 "2003-06-16T20:17:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mobo85 \* > \*\*Who owns BBC America? Discovery Communications, who also owns TLC. \*\* Discovery Communications doesn’t own BBC America, BBC America is wholly owned by the BBC itself. The BBC and Discovery Communications do have a [joint venture](http://corporate.discovery.com/press/press_releases/020322r.html) arrangement though. Not all the programmes you can see on BBC America are made by the BBC itself, but it’s not obvious which ones aren’t unless you keep an eye on the credits. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/10 "2003-06-16T21:49:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kallessa \* > **With the other two shows they’ve takes from Britian (_Changing Room/Trading Spaces; What Not to Wear_), I feel they’ve messed up somewhat, neither has the charm of the original.** The American _What Not to Wear_ is especially awful. On the British original, while the two hosts can be harsh, it’s clear that, in the end, they’re on the subject’s side; they’re being cruel to be kind, and they’re attacking the clothes, not the person. While the makeover target may get flustered and cry, there’s never any confusion that the hosts/stylists have her best interests at heart. On the American version, by contrast, one gets the sense that the hosts are being mean because that’s what plays well for an American audience, and the advice winds up being nowhere near as valuable. (I can’t believe I’m commenting on a fashion/makeover show. I’m a dumb married guy whose socks only usually match. Urgh! Snort! Football! Much better.) (Um, where was I?) I really enjoy _Faking It_, both the TLC and original UK versions. They had one last night on BBC-America where they took this plummy little guy out of the country gentry (I missed the opening of the show, so I don’t know exactly where he was from) and got him to give a convincing performance as a “hard man” with a working-class accent in a bouncer/doorman tryout. It was a remarkable transformation, and was especially interesting for all the undercurrents of British class relationships. Of course, given that, in the end, he did a stunning job of pulling off a performance as a wiry little kickboxing tough at the door of a club, such that the expert judges were all over the other (actual) Eastenders in trying to pick the phony and didn’t give him a second glance, I have to wonder whether or not there’s any possibility that those bouncers’ friends are going to cause trouble: “Yo, 'ey, Nige, you got walloped by a poncey little pouf! I fink ya wanna motor on up and give 'im a bit of what-for, eh?” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/11 "2003-06-16T22:11:35Z")
Just for fun, I went and looked up [the show’s home page](http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/home_living/faking_it/faking_it.jsp). More info there about Alex (who apparently is an Oxford student) and his challenge. Next week, they take a man of the cloth and turn him into a used-car salesman. Have I mentioned how much I love this show? ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbcs-faking-it-how-long-before-fox-gets-and-screws-it-up/182112/12 "2003-06-16T23:59:10Z")
I’ve only seen one episode of Faking It (American version) and thought it was pretty darn cool. It was the beer dude becomes a Sommelier episode. It’s such a fun concept, and would be a fascinating experience to try to cram all that stuff into your head in a short period of time. What Not To Watch, on the other hand, is a piece of crap, at least in the American version. I can’t believe someone who wears ruffled, barbie pink blouses feels justified in giving fashion advice to other people. Plus, the complete lack of anything even resembling character or chemistry between the hosts makes it dull, dull, dull.