Torchwood's Third Season Will Be Toned Down

[DWF]

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a139378/new-torchwood-toned-down-for-us-market.html

John Barrowman has revealed that Torchwood's Stateside popularity has led to the third season being toned down.
The Captain Jack Harkness actor told The People: "We're not swearing or doing anything close to the bone because it's been a huge success in the US and the networks won't accept it with all that stuff in it."
"We're doing everything so it doesn't have to be heavily edited for the US," Barrowman claimed, before adding: "I'll still be getting naked and it will still be saucy - but it's done with taste."
Torchwood has achieved record ratings on BBC America and moves to BBC One for a shortened run of five episodes, expected to be screened over consecutive nights in the Spring.

He'll be tastefully naked but no swearing?

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

I Find this confusing for two reasons:

1. Torchwood is popular in the US? Really?
2. Torchwood needs editing for the US?

I think Torchwood could air on US TV just fine without being censored. Just have it air a little later if it's going to be extra raunchy. I mean, think of all of the things that appear in a new episode of Family Guy and how that's prime time television.

 

[Brendan Moody]

1. Torchwood is popular in the US? Really?

By BBC America standards, yes, it does remarkably well.

2. Torchwood needs editing for the US?

Sure. The "worst" swearing in Torchwood would have to be bleeped in the US, just as it is on Family Guy, and some of the more explicit sexual stuff probably wouldn't fly either.

It's also worth pointing out that the show is moving to BBC One for series three, and might therefore be going more mainstream for that reason.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

It is the most popular show on BBC America. Family Guy pushes boundaries but doesn't say "Fuck" and so on which is generally verboten outside of premium cable channels at least in prime time hours. BBC America is actually quite toned down from it used to be, it no longer shows things like uncensored tits on Shameless on Sunday afternoons, quite the pity...

 

[Guy Gardener]

The taste of his sauce?

Yabba dabba doo!!!

 

[Bacl]

1. Torchwood is popular in the US? Really?

Apparently Americans who watch the show enjoy the tone, style, content, excitement, and thematic elements very much.

2. Torchwood needs editing for the US?

Oh...so...since Torchwood is popular in the US they are going to change the very nature of the show? Makes...sense...

I'm sure the people who love Torchwood in its current state will still enjoy a Disney-style G version intended for the family. /sarcasm

 

[Tulin]

TW is popular ANYWHERE?!?

 

[Morfius]

TW is popular ANYWHERE?!?

For several years I heard on this board how bad Torchwood was . . . you made it sound like it was DW's Galactica 1980! I was surprised how much I liked it! A lot more than SG1 or X-Files!

I'm sorry to hear that they're dumbing it down for america!

 

[Deckerd]

I don't think 'dumbing down' is the correct analogy, since it couldn't really get any dumber. It is hilariously entertaining though. I always thought Barrowman snogging all the men and the women putting out for anyone was a teensy bit OTT anyway.

 

[Jim Steele]

I don't think 'dumbing down' is the correct analogy, since it couldn't really get any dumber.

QFT.

They call it "Doctor Who for adults". It's really The Chuckle Brothers with cumshots.

For several years I heard on this board how bad Torchwood was . . .

They've got their heads screwed on, those TBBS boffins.

 

[WillsBabe]

I know I'm not firing on all cylinders today, but... it's popular, so they're going to change it?

Also, I get a bit narked when BBC shows pander to the US market. I've seen a couple of examples of that in Who, and it annoys me.

Still, if Barrowman gets naked and snogs Ianto, I'm fine.

 

[USS KG5]

It is the most popular show on BBC America. Family Guy pushes boundaries but doesn't say "Fuck" and so on which is generally verboten outside of premium cable channels at least in prime time hours. BBC America is actually quite toned down from it used to be, it no longer shows things like uncensored tits on Shameless on Sunday afternoons, quite the pity...

You get lots of extra swearing on the Family guy DVDs - there is a truly classic scene with Brian in the car where the punchline is unbroadcastable.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

1. Torchwood is popular in the US? Really?

Apparently Americans who watch the show enjoy the tone, style, content, excitement, and thematic elements very much.

2. Torchwood needs editing for the US?

Oh...so...since Torchwood is popular in the US they are going to change the very nature of the show? Makes...sense...

I'm sure the people who love Torchwood in its current state will still enjoy a Disney-style G version intended for the family. /sarcasm

That's a good point, it's doing well in its current state so why change things now?

 

[Starkers]

Shame really, I thought s2 of TW was about right, doesn't need much more toning down, couldn't they do edited versions? In fact I thought they had since they showed the repeats at 7 not 9??

Very strange.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Well a lack of swearing will barely even be noticeable. Jack never swears anyway.... in fact in s2 I think only Angry Rhys, Angry Gwen and Alive Owen swore at all.

Still, if they keep up the toning down at this rate, Torchwood will turn into The Sarah Jane Adventures. Which, after the last series, will be a terrible, terrible thing.

Yeah, I said it.

 

[Non Sync]

HD Net had been airing the program in HD and uncut.

 

[Jax]

Toned down for Americans, am sorry I thought this was a UK show so with all due respect fuck america ...sorry edited **** America

 

[Kira's Mom]

They don't need to tone it down! Killing off two characters wasn't enough, they have to change the things that made Torchwood TORCHWOOD???? The first season was a little much in places, but the second season was just right.

 

[marillion]

I think y'all are reading too much into it.. A few less "shits" in the script won't change much...

 

[Bacl]

I think y'all are reading too much into it.. A few less "shits" in the script won't change much...

A few less shitty scripts is what they need.