Friends banned in China

[TB4000]

'Friends' Too Sexy for Chinese Television
Sun Jan 18, 8:55 AM ET


BEIJING - The hit American sitcom "Friends" may prove too risque for Chinese television.






All television in China is government-controlled, and China Central Television had planned to begin airing "Friends" this year. Staff are trying to edit out the sex talk, but "we will face many problems in translation and abridgment," said Qin Mingxin of CCTV's entertainment unit in an article on the Web site of the Communist Party's People's Daily.


"I had thought the play focused on friendship, but after a careful preview I found each episode had something to do with sex," Qin said.


"The attitudes of the six close-knit young friends in the play cannot be generally accepted by Chinese audiences yet," Qin was quoted as saying this past week.


"Friends" is already popular in China, as counterfeit DVDs of various seasons are available on the country's streets alongside fake Hollywood movies.


"Most youths on the Chinese mainland have watched the play and feel passionate about it. If we make too much trimming, I'm afraid they will not agree. But it is also impossible to accept it uncritically," Qin was quoted as saying.


"Friends" has been running on the U.S. network NBC since 1994. The 2003-04 season is to be its last.





Personally, I despise Ross, Rachel, and the rest, so China would be better off without having to go through them like we have to over here.

[SunWuKong]

"I had thought the play focused on friendship, but after a careful preview I found each episode had something to do with sex," Qin said.

fuck. how old is this guy, that he thinks the two would have nothing to do with each other?

[ShortNBitter]

"Most youths on the Chinese mainland have watched the play and feel passionate about it. If we make too much trimming, I'm afraid they will not agree. But it is also impossible to accept it uncritically," Qin was quoted as saying.

Do they call all sitcoms plays there? Or did he say play ... jsut because... eh?

It is sort of true tho. I think I read an article which featured a letter by a Chinese foreign exchange student, and she was like shocked to see all the kids making out at school. She said that in China they just don't do those things so openly.

Is China ready for some American-style-sex-through-media-induced-television-and-movies inserted into their youth??

Did anybody find it funny when he said he thought it was going to be about Friendship? Whothe hell wants to watch anything about Friendship!?!? When people advertise "friendship" as a way to hook people... they add it to like "Love, Lust, Friendship, Honor, COurage, and Stuff BLowing Up." THey just don't say "A Story about Friendship" unless its "The Land Before Time" with all the kyoot dinosaurs. That movie rawks. All like 12 of them...

[hooligan]

friends should be banned in the us too

[Kuchana]

I hate the show.

[mr. x]

good riddance, china's better off without it

[rice cracker]

Well, pretty much any sitcom on in the US should be banned all around the world. With the exception of Off Center, which is a terrific show. Sitcoms = opiate for the masses.

[bluemonq]

ironically enough, this comes at the time tha tit's friends' last season...so anyone who wanted it banned will get his/her wish...
oh. i forgot about syndication, didn't i?

[hooligan]

oh man, i didn't know there were so many friends haters here, w00t w00t.

[Kuchana]

ironically enough, this comes at the time tha tit's friends' last season...so anyone who wanted it banned will get his/her wish...
oh. i forgot about syndication, didn't i?


ohh don't remind me :rolleyes: it's already in effect and my sister in laws watch it like i don't know what.

[AngryABCGirl]

I thought people in China loved Sex and the City though?

[TB4000]

I'm just waiting for them to start showing Will and Grace, if they ever do at all.

[hooligan]

I thought people in China loved Sex and the City though?
if anything, that's the only sitcom i watch. some friends got me to watch a couple of episodes way back last year.

[mr. x]

I thought people in China loved Sex and the City though?

my guess is its regulated in a way that Friends cant be or something iono how chinese tv works. i mean u KNOW SitC is about sex tho.

[kitty]

I really don't know how you could make Sex and the City PC enough...


would you just call it "and the City" and watch four women shop for shoes?

[Deadpool]

good for CHina. haha

[A.R.A.M.]

For all the Friends haters here who are ecstatic the series is finally ending, one word: "Joey."

[Napoleon Chynamite]

How something like 'Friends' can be deemed too sexy in a country where prostitution runs rampant and is at the very least unconsciously accepted is beyond me.

[mr. x]

For all the Friends haters here who are ecstatic the series is finally ending, one word: "Joey."

im hoping it'll die for lack of "friendship" but i shudder to think itll actually succeed.

[mr. x]

How something like 'Friends' can be deemed too sexy in a country where prostitution runs rampant and is at the very least unconsciously accepted is beyond me.

cuz this is american brand of sex which is soooo much worse

[stunninglyAsian]

Good... what a stupid show.

But you know what will happen? Some TV executive will make a Chinese version of Friends that will have the government's support.
Imagine a Chinese Phoebe...

[Craig]

Add another "Friends"-hater to the list.

[TB4000]

David Schwimmer - yes, he is handsome in an ugly sort of way. Mr. X already knows where i picked that up.

[bluemonq]

I really don't know how you could make Sex and the City PC enough...


would you just call it "and the City" and watch four women shop for shoes?
the women probably could :ducks thrown shoes:

[Kuchana]

For all the Friends haters here who are ecstatic the series is finally ending, one word: "Joey."


Oh my gosh! Why did it have to be Joey of all people??? :rolleyes:

[ShortNBitter]

That 70's Show is the only sitcom for me ^_^

[mr. x]

David Schwimmer - yes, he is handsome in an ugly sort of way. Mr. X already knows where i picked that up.

err, what DO u mean? i actually dont get what u said...

[SunWuKong]

Well, pretty much any sitcom on in the US should be banned all around the world. With the exception of Off Center, which is a terrific show. Sitcoms = opiate for the masses.

well, except for Seinfeld. that show rocked.

[SunWuKong]

actually, now that i'm thinking about it, a lot of the humour in Friends, as well as many other sitcoms, would probably be lost with a Chinese audience. a lot of the humour is American-specific. i've watched American comedies in the theaters in HK before, and i was the only one that laughed in a lot of scenes. the people just didn't get it because you'd have to know American culture to get it. this was especially true of Adam Sandler movies.

[nameless]

How something like 'Friends' can be deemed too sexy in a country where prostitution runs rampant and is at the very least unconsciously accepted is beyond me.


Because not all prostitues are sexy? :redface: Seriously, I just figure it's China trying to keep out something they figure will further "corrupt" society. Like how America will allow strip clubs, but keep out the distribution of porno to the general public.



[QUOTE=TB4000]David Schwimmer - yes, he is handsome in an ugly sort of way.QUOTE]


When Homer is the captain of the submarine, right? :biggrin:

[TB4000]

err, what DO u mean? i actually dont get what u said...
Simpsons episode where Homer becomes the submarine captain.

[mr. x]

Simpsons episode where Homer becomes the submarine captain.

dont remember that line though, though i do remember the episode

abe simpson: "my son is definetely not a communist. he may be a (something), a (something), a communist, but he is definetely not a porn star"

russian UN guy: "You only THINK we are not Soviet Union (pushes button)"

[TB4000]

dont remember that line though, though i do remember the episode

abe simpson: "my son is definetely not a communist. he may be a (something), a (something), a communist, but he is definetely not a porn star"

russian UN guy: "You only THINK we are not Soviet Union (pushes button)"
When their sub is hit by enemy fire, Homer asks Moe, "what's our condition?"

Moe: "Communcations, out. Weapon systems, out. Backup energy, out."

Homer: "Enough of what's out. What's in?"

Moe: "Iced mocha lattes and David Schiwmmer."

Homer:"Yes, he is handsome in an ugly sort of way."

The fact that I went through the entire transcript of a scene proves how much of a life I truly have.