NBC's 'Coupling' Undergoes More Changes
Tue, Feb 18, 2003 12:38 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - A big shakeup behind the camera has also resulted in a change in front of it on NBC's pilot "Coupling."

Veteran writer-producer Phoef Sutton ("Cheers," "The Fighting Fitzgeralds" ) has been brought in as the executive producer and showrunner for the pilot, according to news reports. He'll also write the pilot script for the show, based on the British hit of the same name.

Sutton replaces Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont ("Can't Hardly Wait" ) the original showrunning team. Leaving with Kaplan is her husband, cast member Breckin Meyer ("Inside Schwartz").

A replacement for Meyer hasn't been named. He's the second member of the cast to leave the pilot. Melissa George ("Thieves") departed last month and was replaced by Rena Sofer ("Just Shoot Me," "Ed").
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I wasn't planning on watching Coupling but now that Phoef Sutton is writing the pilot I think I'll tune in. How do you guys feel about this?

First of all, taking a British show and making it "American" is a hit and miss proposition.
I've seen a few episodes of the British series "Coupling" and it looks like a ripoff of Friends, but with the joke being that the characters have all slept with one another. So there will be comparisons to Friends right off the bat.
Changing writers and showrunners is never a good sign either. But, since it is still very early in the production, this shouldn't be a problem. If they were firing people a month before the show premiered, then things would be bad.

Good move adding Rena Sofer. NBC loves her, which is pretty obvious since she's been on so many shows the past few years.
Glad that Brekin Meyer guy is gone. I bet he's stil carrying around the stench of that "Inside Schwartz" show.

Hopefully, this show will work. NBC need a new ensemble comedy that is actually funny. They will need strong shows when some of their veteran sitcoms call it quits.

Originally posted by TJL

Hopefully, this show will work. NBC need a new ensemble comedy that is actually funny. They will need strong shows when some of their veteran sitcoms call it quits.

If Coupling doesn't work I think NBC will have some other good sitcoms that will. Here are some links to possible NBC fall sitcoms:

Alliagtor Point (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16707/)
Happy Family (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-17129/)
Once Around the Park (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-17239/)
The Ripples (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16961/)
Touch 'Em All McCall (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-17259/)
Untitled Political Comedy (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16965/)
Untitled Tracy Morgan Project (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16754/)
Kathy Griffin Project (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16768/)
Mr. Ambassador (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-11004/)
The Ortegas (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16984/)
Spellbound (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16774/)
Untitled Restaurant Comedy (http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-16964/)

I think Kelsey Grammer may be involved in the Untitled Restaurant Comedy..so we'll have to wait and see if it ever airs. His last shows that he worked with ,behind the scenes, failed ("Fired Up", "In-laws"). Hopefully, this project will be a success.

I don't want to toot my own horn here, but the new Heather Locklear comedy "Once Around The park" was my idea.

Think I'm crazy? Look up a thread i started several months back entitled "Everybody Wants Heather."
In one post I give an idea for a show for Miss Locklear to star in.

The similarities are eerie...

;)

In Laws? didn't that show just start? And it's alreafy gone? haha.

Originally posted by TJL
I don't want to toot my own horn here, but the new Heather Locklear comedy "Once Around The park" was my idea.

Think I'm crazy? Look up a thread i started several months back entitled "Everybody Wants Heather."
In one post I give an idea for a show for Miss Locklear to star in.

The similarities are eerie...

;)

"I have a strange felling she'll be doing a family sitcom... "-TJL

Your idea was very similar that post was so great because you said she'd be in a family sitcom and everyone else said she wouldn't make a good mother. So, do you have any other predictions for what star will be in what type of shows?

Originally posted by Dr. Frasier Crane
So, do you have any other predictions for what star will be in what type of shows?

I'm getting a vision...It's getting clearer...

I see Harvey Firestein, fresh off his truimphant broadway turn in "Hairspray" in a remake of that famous detective series - "Mrs. Columbo."

I see Emmanuel Lewis and MC Hammer in a sitcom about long lost twin borthers who reunite and decide to open a hip hop nightclub/day care center where wackiness and hijinks will surely take place...

I see Jennifer love Hewitt and Katie Holmes starring in the hit WB series "Perky And Adorable." There is no plot, storyline, or supporting characters, it's just Katie and Jennifer (Love, to her friends) sitting around looking so darn cute while Coldplay songs play in the background.

The visons are gone. I'm going to take a nap now...

;)

Originally posted by TJL


I'm getting a vision...It's getting clearer...

I see Harvey Firestein, fresh off his truimphant broadway turn in "Hairspray" in a remake of that famous detective series - "Mrs. Columbo."

I see Emmanuel Lewis and MC Hammer in a sitcom about long lost twin borthers who reunite and decide to open a hip hop nightclub/day care center where wackiness and hijinks will surely take place...

I see Jennifer love Hewitt and Katie Holmes starring in the hit WB series "Perky And Adorable." There is no plot, storyline, or supporting characters, it's just Katie and Jennifer (Love, to her friends) sitting around looking so darn cute while Coldplay songs play in the background.

The visons are gone. I'm going to take a nap now...

;)

Thanks for telling us your predictions. This will definitely be a great season for brand new shows.:eek3: :wink2:

I know I shouldn't judge a show without watching it first, but Coupling doesn't look appealing to me at all. It looks like a carbon copy of Friends, a show that I can't stand.