LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter)--The harrowing, human face of the war in Iraq, as portrayed in Steven Bochco's drama Over There, will be seen around the world starting in the fall on pay cable channels in about 100 territories.
Despite some early apprehension on the part of some foreign buyers that the series might skew to US politics, Bochco drew praise for his handling of sensitive issues.
"I was concerned it would be too politically correct, too 'Hurrah patriotic,'" said Hans Seger, chief programming officer of fiction and special interest for Germany's Premiere channel. "But once I received and read the script overnight, once I heard who's attached as producer, I had no doubts this series would be something very different, very special."
Bochco said he was looking forward to getting feedback from the international marketplace.
"I have been doing this long enough to know that with a show like this you are going to push buttons. ([All in the Family] producer) Norman Lear once said to me that when people are angry at you it doesn't necessarily mean they don't like what you are doing."
At least three-quarters of the international outlets have scheduled the series for prime-time showings, said Peter Levinsohn, president of Pay Television and Digital Media for 20th Century Fox Television Distribution.
Among the leading channels signed up for prime-time showings are Showtime in Australia, Sky One in the UK, Sky TV New Zealand, YES TV in Israel, Movie City in Latin America, and History TV in Canada.
I am Australian, and not particularly in complete agreement with the war in Iraq. However, having said that, I found this show, (and this surprised me)left me with a greater understanding of the men and women who fight in the war. This show, did the one thing, that possibly is a necessity during this time, and that is remind us, that on both sides of this war there are people, and unlike the 'media's' portrayal, this show humanises those that fight. It presents them as professionals, who are not afraid to question themselves, or what is happening, and yet, still stand up and do their duty. It recognises a heroism, that is often ignored, the heroism to keep going. I think it is an incredible show, with incredible writing, production and actors. It will be sorely missed.moreless
I was really disappointed that fx decided not to renew this show. I really looked forward to seeing this one. Shows are supposed to be entertaining & this was what it was in spades.
I cannot believe that Over There is not coming back to FX! One question! Who is it that lost their God given minds & decided not to bring this back? This is a FANTASTIC show not to mention the cast! It was one of the only shows my Husband actually fought to stay awake for that late in the evening! Yes,it deals with the issues in Iraq & "hits home",but that's what we as Americans need! So many people go on with life each day forgetting we are STILL at war & our soldiers are still being killed! We need to be reminded of what they are going through & how blessed we are to have them fighting for us! Over There was a reminder of that & a kick a__ show! Wise up & bring it back!moreless
ughhhhh i can't believe over there is not coming back man me and my husband loved that show i was so looking forward to another season besides that fx has become my #1 tv network to look at!!!now i'm gonna go buy the first season man that really bites it was a good story line loved the characters!!!! that was the best show i've seen in a long long time!! PLEASE PLEASE bring it back so what if people can't deal with the realism of what happens in a WAR!! i live it everyday i'm married to a soldier so i know!!! he's in Iraq right now!!o well i loved it while it lasted.
I loved the TV Show "Over There", I love movies with suspense and realism that can keep my attention. I think the producers did a really good job on the show as well as the actors. I wish Fox would reconsider its'decision to bring the show back, cause they have a sure fan in me.
My husband and I loved "Over There". I just got online to see when the 2nd season was going to start and couldn't believe it had been cancelled. Then again, I could. It seems like all of the good shows get cancelled, and all the reality shows multiply. This show brought to our living rooms what some of us will never experience in real life. It allowed us to have a better understanding of what goes on in a better way than any war movie I've ever seen. I know, because I've never experienced it, how could I know it was close to real? It just felt real and allowed me to feel closer to our military and what they do. Very disappointed that it has been cancelled, especially since other countries have picked it up and it was made for us to better understand the sacrifices that are made for us!moreless
Just finished watching the series on DVD and was absolutley blown away with the quality of it.<br />
Sure, as "DENHEMYMCHL" said there's a few things that might not be true to life over there but as the staff sergent military advisor states in the extras section, it had to be written with the general public in mind, so some of the diologue was spoken so we could understand. I'm Australian, and in no way did any of the episodes reflect badly on US forces, to the contry, it showed what a hazardous environ those guys and girls are working in and why, whether for or against our respective governments policy, should back those soldiers risking their lives.<br />
regards<br />
Kym<br />
Australia
I think this was one of the best shows ever put on TV. It weaving story lines and inter-personal plot makes this a great show. To me this wasn't a WAR show or a statement but a true people show and how the whole country feels. I think everyone is conflicted and this program shows that confliction fairly. I am very saddened to see this program canceled and wish there was something to do to bring it back. Thank you... Joe Wilson, Colorado Springs
Give us another 13 episodes. This was great Drama. <br />
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I guess the public likes the Soprano's wacking up a storm, but finds Desert Storm a little too sobering.<br />
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Suck it up America ! You just GOT REAL.
As an American Contractor currently working in Iraq, I think this show is phenominal and shouldn't be cancelled because some "can't handle" the reality of war. These men and women are here, to give the Iraqi people FREEDOM, and nothing worth having comes easy, but they sure do a hell of a job whether they like it or not.
Hey M1abrahms, not every military show has to reflect how YOU remembered it. I enjoyed the show for its entertainment value. I did not try to compare it to my past military days. It's a freakin' tv show. Get a life and get over the past. If you know so much about how a military series should be written and produced, then stop writing about Over There and write your own damn series. I'm sure you'll get great ratings...NOT
Please, please bring back "Over There"!!!! I loved the characters and the story line was great!!! Kudos to FX for airing it!! Please bring it back!!!
I just want to say this is the best show that i had seen in several years. It gives everyone that watchs this show a idea what is going on, and how it affects people . i have family fighting there as i type. and i think it will help me try and under stand what they are going threw.
This is long but worth the read.<br />
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This is another terrible example of the media making the news, not reporting it. Being in the military for the last decade and in Iraq right now, I can tell you that this fictional army portrayed is near impossible to watch without feeling like I have been spit on while walking through the airport. This series does not "support the troops" it only makes us all look like the bottom of American society. My guys and I watched as much as we could get our hands on here in Iraq and we were dumbstruck. How could anyone possibly claim this reflects "reality not politics?" This is as hard core anti-war/anti-GI as it gets. There is a reason why Europeans are clamoring to get this stuff and Americans boo-ed it off the air. I guess Bunchco way of supporting the troops is sending hate video of us to Europe.<br />
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Let's not even talk about how much contempt there is for officers in this series. In my last seven years as an active duty commissioned officer, I have seldom have told a troop "That's sir to you, soldier!” particularly in a combat zone. In the series, it is said each time there is an officer in the scene. Did they get this from old Vietnam movies? This is a prime example, to us real soldiers at least, that this producer simply did not do proper research and instead made things up along the way. <br />
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The absolute worst part of the series, and most unforgivable, is the prison guard episode when the young black soldier plays the race/religion card and directly compares the militant Islamic insurgent movement to civil rights activists in America. How can this series make that claim with the intent of keeping its' reputation intact? That is simply indefensible and over the edge. If I were an army spouse I would be particularly upset. Is there an army spouse anywhere in this series who isn't sleeping around on the deployed soldiers? Does it happen? of course. Is it a result of the military and deployments? No, so why is it shown to the extent it is as if it is somehow to be blamed on the army?<br />
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Now let's talk about the word soldier. Do you people really think we walk around saying "Hey Soldier!" all the time? I haven't heard anyone refer to me as soldier, or vice versa, in years, even if then. Why do I bring that up? Simple......anyone who really did their homework on us would not have caught this obvious mistake. Actors or producers who sought the feedback or input of real soldiers prior to publication would have caught this simple but blatantly obvious mistake. In other words, this was an army flick thought up and played without any real army people helping out. How accurate do you really think it could be? The only accuracy I saw was the obvious distortion the media takes part in when covering a soldier story much like the series itself.<br />
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I should have expected this-----a great show comes along so seldom.......and what happens---it is cancelled. Can someone at least pass this on-to the writers---some of us "over here" appreciated their work, and BEG for it to come back on!
BTW: the reason they use Hueys in this show is because they probably didn't get the cooperation of the U.S. Army, as this show isn't unwaveringly in favor of the Iraq War. So they had to procure military equipment on the open market and there are a lot of surplus Hueys out there.
The U.S. isn't the only country with soldiers in Iraq. I'm Dutch and a friend of mine has served for 4 months in southern Iraq.
A bad idea. Foreign audiences can't understand, empathise or relate to American Gi's in Iraq. It will create more anti-americanism, as if we need more.
This show has nothing to do with the military and if you went on military blogs I think they would want this show off the air. It hasall of the stupid Vietnam movie characters and it gets everything wrong. The middle east isn't like 1930's chicago. The radicals believe that if you kill innocent children and women you will go and have action with 70 virgins in a "***house in the sky" as elequently quoted by michael Medved. There are no mines with flags on them, They don't use hueys with the messed up first aid symbol. There were no tanks used against the mosque and a leg was walking without its top body. A soldier smoking pot in uniform. A commander ***ing to a bunch of soldiers in combat. This show does not depict realitymoreless
I think it's a good show maybe it's eraly to do a show wich US army in Iraq is the subject but its a good show.
I hope that this truthful TV show does not get cancelled or buried even here in the USA. I am a Vietnam era Vet and I still hurt and sting from some of the things that people did to me. No, I have not an ax to grind. I said my good-by to my friends at the "Wall" a long time ago and we will all see each other in a future life after this one. It is just a shame that their lives had to be lost in the first place. That's OK as I understand now what the stupid madness of that time was all about. It was very different than the most importance of this conflict. My Dad was in WWII and this is like WWII and NOT like VietNam. VietNam was nothing BUT stupid and hurtful. As for my friends serving in Iraq, I IM and email each and every one of these guys and gals that I have come to know every time that I can just to let them know that their country and it's people are still supporting them and will always do so. When they need some thing that I can help them with then I do it as are many thousands of people all accross America are doing. These "kids" are not even as old as my young son who is 33 but I feel a kinship with each and everyone of them all just the same. After all...... you don't really just fight for your country. You really fight for and try to keep from harm each and every person that you know in your company, battery, wing or platoon. They would all do the same thing for you as well. It is just a military kind of thing that must seem strange to TV and movie critics. One word to the "know-it-all" people critics... DON'T"...cancel this most IMPORTANT TV show or suffer the wrath of no one else ever trusting you ever again at least the "grunts" of the military.<br />
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Alan Smith<br />
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Non mi sembra la scelta giusta presa dal governo, oltretutto in concezione dei militari