Modern Family. Iranian Style.

[Jingthing]

Ripped off the smash hit American tv show, frame by frame.

But no gays!

[onthemoon]

Maybe they bought the rights for Iran. Instead of just dubbing it into Farsi, they reshot the scenes to make it acceptable to their culture. How do you know they ripped it off?

And the scene starting at 0:20 shows a straight couple getting "too close" when the mother comes into the room in the original version. In the Iranian version, you see two guys. This looks like a gay scene to me - but then, I don't speak any Farsi and don't understand the words.

[Jingthing]

Oy vey. It is not a gay scene. They couldn't show a girl with a boy in bedroom on Iranian t.v. DUH!

Did Iranian t.v. pay for the rights of that content?

The U.S. and Iran have no relations. The show was produced by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Why would they pay if they didn't have to?

Evidence now that the show was indeed just STOLEN (which I had guessed ALREADY)

Television is a ruthless business: if you can't buy the rights to a show then the business plan generally goes that you simply copy it anyway.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-great-tv-robbery-iran-rips-off-modern-family-minus-cam-and-mitchell-20140703-zsu5c.html

The only way to watch the original version of Modern Family past TV censors in Iran is by illegally downloading it. However, an unauthorised Iranian version of the American sitcom has emerged - but without the gay couple Mitch and Cam.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10943738/Iranian-Modern-Family-remake-leaves-out-gay-couple.html

A question I have which I think I know the answer to is that IF the Iranian government t.v. had ASKED to buy the rights would they have been ABLE to buy the rights knowing they would be DE-GAYIFYING the show? I am guessing ... not.

Don't get me wrong. Iran has a right to their own culture. They even have the right to have laws which can mean the death penalty for gay people. But we don't have to LIKE it and we don't have to SHUT UP about it either.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[onthemoon]

From http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-great-tv-robbery-iran-rips-off-modern-family-minus-cam-and-mitchell-20140703-zsu5c.html

Unlike Chile's Familia Moderna and Greece's Moderna Oikogeneia, Haft Sang is not a licenced adaptation of Modern Family.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-great-tv-robbery-iran-rips-off-modern-family-minus-cam-and-mitchell-20140703-zsu5c.html#ixzz36hPOBiWQ

From http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10943738/Iranian-Modern-Family-remake-leaves-out-gay-couple.html

The only way to watch the original version of Modern Family past TV censors in Iran is by illegally downloading it. However, an unauthorised Iranian version of the American sitcom has emerged - but without the gay couple Mitch and Cam.

OK, I believe it now.

But I still think the two cute guys in the scene with the mother were doing the same as the straight couple in the original version - send me the translation of the dialogue to convince me otherwise.

[onthemoon]

Had the Iranian company asked for the rights, I don't know whether ABC would have been able to grant the rights. The US Government has some issues with "doing business with the enemy", but I don't know whether this would fall under it.

However, if there is no problem, it is really up to ABC to decide whether they compromise or not. Suppose they get loyalty fees if aspects not acceptable by Iranian law or customs are changed, they wouldn't be the first profit-oriented company to sign rather than to uphold political principles and receive no money at all.

[Scott]

They could not buy the rights to the show. The way the laws are set up such a business deal would be illegal and money earned from such a venture would be impounded.

When I worked in Iraq, I was paid from our office in Geneva, but the pay was stopped by the US because it was due to employment in a country under sanctions. It took 3 months to get it sorted out -- as I did have permission from the US gov't to work in Iraq and my passport was validated for Iraq.

[Jingthing]

...

But I still think the two cute guys in the scene with the mother were doing the same as the straight couple in the original version - send me the translation of the dialogue to convince me otherwise.

Think what pleases you regardless of the obvious COMMON SENSE conclusion that the fundamentalist Islamic government of Iran wouldn't be running show portraying two Persian gay boys UNLESS in the context of stringing them up or running them over with a bulldozer. Or on a good day to coerce them into sex change surgery. Too strong? I don't think so.

They stole the scene structure. They didn't translate the dialogue word for word.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

They could not buy the rights to the show. The way the laws are set up such a business deal would be illegal and money earned from such a venture would be impounded.

When I worked in Iraq, I was paid from our office in Geneva, but the pay was stopped by the US because it was due to employment in a country under sanctions. It took 3 months to get it sorted out -- as I did have permission from the US gov't to work in Iraq and my passport was validated for Iraq.

Good explanation, Scott.

I still don't think they would have sold the rights even if they could because of the way it would be twisted by the fundamentalist Islamic government of Iran. Of course, we will never know for sure.

Of course ripping off scripts isn't the crime of the century. Posted the item as an item of interest.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Jingthing

[Scott]

The upside to the whole story is that someone from Iran is actually watching a show like Modern Family and likes it enough to want to steal the idea.

(Personally, I've only seen a little bit of the show -- it doesn't appeal to me)

[onthemoon]

The upside to the whole story is that someone from Iran is actually watching a show like Modern Family and likes it enough to want to steal the idea.

(Personally, I've only seen a little bit of the show -- it doesn't appeal to me)

I actually love the show - every time I'm on a plane I actively search for any new episodes. I make one or two international trips per month, so I tend to catch all episodes.

I hardly ever watch TV at home.

[onthemoon]

...

But I still think the two cute guys in the scene with the mother were doing the same as the straight couple in the original version - send me the translation of the dialogue to convince me otherwise.

Think what pleases you regardless of the obvious COMMON SENSE conclusion that the fundamentalist Islamic government of Iran wouldn't be running show portraying two Persian gay boys UNLESS in the context of stringing them up or running them over with a bulldozer. Or on a good day to coerce them into sex change surgery. Too strong? I don't think so.

They stole the scene structure. They didn't translate the dialogue word for word.

Sure. Cool down. The guys are cute.

[Jingthing]

"Hanging" out in Iran.

This is no comedy sitcom what gay people have to put up with in Iran.

Sure, no gays in Modern Family Iranian style is a symptom:

http://vimeo.com/99218106