Rake

Once again the USA is remaking another brilliant show, this time from Australia. Why they'd feel the need to remake a show in English, and replace the cast with B-listers (at best) is beyond me, however being a massive fan of the original series, I figured I would give this a shot.

The overlying plot is basically the same - a smarmy lawyer getting up to shenanigans, and getting himself into situations that are borderline criminal.

However, with shows like this it is impossible NOT to compare them to the original, and this version falls far, far short. The jokes are delivered in a more sitcom fashion, and rather than having little funny bits amongst the drama, they are forced upon and delivered like one-liners. The characters are hard to relate to, and become dislikeable very quickly, especially Cleaver (sorry, I mean Keegan) who has a likability in the Australian version.

I, in all good conscience, cannot recommend this to anyone. If you want a gritty drama with occasional humour, I highly suggest you watch the original series, which is in its 3rd season currently.

This, I suspect will go the way of so many remakes, and end up failing miserably.

Due to the usual remake that adds copious amounts of substituted water and sawdust.

Don't blame the recipe, blame the wannabe cooks.

Greg Kinnear is just too bland and nice to fill the lead role. The original Rake* is so much the author of his own self destruction, but still retains sufficient redeeming qualities to tip us over to forgiving the flaws, just as his many loves do.

The US version doesn't fill the rakish side sufficiently for us to care whether we forgive him or not. It all reminds me of those unfortunate wannabe clowns who think a cheap frizzy colored wigs, red nose and big shoes are all it takes. The timing, wit and novelty, having all whizzed right over their heads.

This pale version has not just whizzed over my (indifferent) head, but the heads of the puzzled US audience for whom it is all too strange and unpredictable, despite the attempted remake to do just that. Not frighten the trite sensibilities of middle America, thus rendering the whole exercise pointless.

*It occurs to me having read some of the other reviews that most Americans do not even understand the real meaning of "rake" as it is used here. Therein lies the problem.

I think this show has so much potential. It's funny, smart and it's entertaining. Hello!? Fox are you listening!?!? I spoke about this show at work and someone said they heard it was good. I like that there is diversity in the characters who ate not just window dressing for a PC weigh-in. Come on Fox create some buzz, advertise, back this show. Everybody's griping that shows are being dumped ridiculously fast. Set a trend. Actually let this develop. Other shows in TV history that were almost canceled went on to be hugely successful such as Cheers, MASH, Seinfeld. Need I say more? If networks keep airing shows and then give up on these shows, people are going to stop watching. It's happening already because we all figure "why bother? Why get into it because it's only going to get canceled. Thanks for listening.

When a show is really good just show it, do not make a p1ss poor attempt to remake it. This goes for any show but when it's also in the same language it really is incomprehensible why they'd bother!

First off let me clarify, the original Aussie Rake is one of my top 10 shows of all time. I haven't yet seen the U. S version as can't seem to get hold of it here in the UK, but will judge it on its own merit and not compare it to the original when I do find it. So, even though I'm yet to see it I feel compelled to make a comment purely based on some of the frustrating comments on here about the original and in particular the main characters behaviour and questions about why call it Rake? First off, you need to understand the meaning of the word Rake. In a historical context, a rake (short for rakehell, analogous to "hellraiser") was a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly womanizing. A rake wastes his money on gambling, wine, women, and song, incurring huge debts in the process. Now, anyone who's seen the original please tell me that Richard Roxburgh captures this perfectly. I like Greg Kinnear a lot and look forward to seeing what he brings to the character, but for me there will only ever be one Clever Greene, and he has an Aussie accent.