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The Kitchen Table

People are complaining about 'Life'

16 years ago

The new Discovery Channel series, "Life," which starts this week, I think (I don't have cable), is available for pre-ordering on Amazon. It was originally a BBC series narrated by David Attenborough. I was reading complaints from people who are disappointed that the American version is narrated by Oprah. The feel Attenborough (who is certainly well qualified) did a much better job.

Apparently the original version will not be available in the US.

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Comments (24)

Jasdip
16 years ago
Oh, what a shame. David Attenborough was amazing in the Planet Earth series.
sue_va
16 years ago
Oprah???

And I was planning on watching it.

Sue
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joan_mn
16 years ago
I'm watching it anyway, I don't care who's narrating it. It sounds fabulous!
dilly_dally
16 years ago
Why would they complain that the original narrator is not being used for the American showing?? Some of those British produced shows are hard to follow because of the British accent. Using an American to narrate for the American showing makes sense to me.
erica
16 years ago
Didn't Sigourney Weaver do the American version of 'Planet Earth' (or was it another earth show?)? I much prefer David Attenborough's voice to any American. He's easy to understand, and has such a passion for his subjects that it shines through and is contagious:-)
redcurls
16 years ago
Doesn't Oprah OWN Discovery network now? In fact, I think it is going to be the OWN network meaning Oprah Winfrey Network.
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
Erica, yes, a couple of people complained about Sigourney Weaver, too. I agree with you about Attenborough.

Redcurls, I didn't know that.
wildchild
16 years ago
If she just narrates I'm ok with that. Just no commentary please. I am so sick of her. She's overstayed her welcome in my life.LOL Sick of seeing her face on her magazines and sick of hearing her opinions on everything. It's not enough to simply not watch her. Her worshipers and sycophants spread the "gospel of Oprah" where ever you go.
schoolhouse_gw
16 years ago
They have been advertising it heavily, but I doubt I will watch it. I know it's all a part of "Life", but filming animals stalking and eating each other is too much for me. There were previews that appear so interesting, but then the other images I had to look away. I'm just too emotional about that stuff.
Jasdip
16 years ago
Schoolhouse, I feel like you do. I could never watch the geography channel or animal planet.

Even watching some of the Planet Earth series, I remember watching a herd of elephants crossing their country. A little baby got separated from the herd. He started walking, and the herd was nowhere to be soon. Then the narrater (David Attenborough) said he was walking to find his mother, but in the opposite direction.
I started to cry and couldn't get that poor little tyke out of my mind, searching fruitlessly for his mom.

I know animals hunt and kill, but I don't want to SEE it.
alisande
Original Author
16 years ago
Schoolhouse and Jasdip, I agree with you, too. It's just too painful. I belong to a number of animal rights organizations. I send donations when I can, but I don't read their mail. Those pictures of abused animals would stay with me way too long.

Did you watch the Oscars? I was in tears at that brief clip from "The Cove" showing a mortally wounded dolphin trying desperately to get away.....
dilly_dally
16 years ago
Posted by redcurls: "Doesn't Oprah OWN Discovery network now?"

No. Oprah does not own it. It is all explained in the link.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979055.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

Here is a link that might be useful: Explained
minnie_tx
16 years ago
I know animals hunt and kill, but I don't want to SEE it.
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I'M with you on this. I couldn't read dog stories when I was a kid the dog almost always died in it.

I don't need death in my living room.
dotmom
16 years ago
I am another one who don't want to see the cruelty of nature. I once complained about this kind of "nature" shows and the man I talked to said, this was a natural part of nature. I told him so was taking a $hit, would that be his next special? Just because it happens in 'nature' doesn't mean it has to be filmed and shown. JMO Dottie
pekemom
16 years ago
My DH is watching it now, I watched some too. I wouldn't have chosen Oprah to narrate but overall the show is good.
lynn_d
16 years ago
I think she is doing a great job on it. I don't like seeing the predators either but so far I'm finding the series fascinating.
drewsmaga
16 years ago
I watched some of it tonight. FANTASTIC photography. But I had a hard time getting past Oprah's narration. I wish she'd just use her bajillion dollars to become a recluse.
User
16 years ago
I won't watch it either because of the killing. The brief clip of the Cove on the Oscars made me cry. I could never watch that documentary. And I heard the Japanese think we're impertinent to meddle in their way of life. They see nothing wrong with it.
Jasdip
16 years ago
LOL Dottie. I've been told that as well..."it's part of nature". I'll be sure to use your comment as a retort.
pris
16 years ago
It was shown on 7 different channels. Not that I would have watched anything shown on the other 6 but what's up with that?
jenni_ca
16 years ago
I wish I could watch it but I can't get past the killing part.
I know it's part of nature but it just upsets me to see it.
I can't watch any of the animal shows either that shows sick or injured animals.
dilly_dally
16 years ago
" But I had a hard time getting past Oprah's narration. "

I have to agree on this one. Her voice is so distinctive and she is so well known. Hearing her narrate was so distracting from the program. I kept thinking of her show, and wondering about how Stedman was doing, and what was up with Gail these days, and if those people who won the cars ever resolved their tax issues, ect.
pammyfay
16 years ago
Dilly: I'll bet you don't fall asleep easily, do you! LOL!
dilly_dally
16 years ago
I don't understand what you mean pammy. Did you find the show so boring it put you to sleep?

I just meant that having Oprah narrate something so cerebral, when she is known for stuff that is more fluffy, made her narration distracting from the content of the show. If they had had Alton Brown narrate it, it would have been the same effect except my mind would wonder to thoughts of hand pulled noodles, aging meats, and shopping for the best garlic mincer.

Certain well known voices conjure up certain things in the mind and can cause a "drift", and that can make a narrator seem "out of character" for the subject matter being presented. It would be like having Issac Asimov doing stand-up.

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