Being Human (U.S. TV series)
Encyclopedia
Being Human is a supernatural drama
television series broadcast on Syfy
in the United States and on Space in Canada. It is being produced by Muse
in Montreal and is based on the British show of the same name
made by the BBC
.
On March 17, 2011, Syfy renewed Being Human for a second season.
who appear to be in their twenties. The trio try to live a normal life despite being a ghost
, a vampire
, and a werewolf
.
had signed to play the ghost with Sam Huntington
close to a deal to play the werewolf. On July 7 2010, it was announced that Lost
and Supernatural
alumnus Mark Pellegrino
would be joining the cast as "Aidan's charismatic but menacing mentor Bishop".
On March 17, 2011, SyFy
announced that they would be ordering a second season of its new drama series. It was also reported that since its inception there had been an average of 1.8 million viewers per premiere episode, a first for the network since 2005. Also, this is the first series in the network's history to have the most female viewers. SyFy
has announced that Season 2 will begin airing on January 16, 2012.
On June 29 2011, Variety reported that actress Dichen Lachman
had signed on as a regular to play a reclusive vampire in season two.
At the beginning of the first 13-episode season, the program roughly follows the narrative arc of the first season of the British original. However, since that season was only six episodes long, the North American program developed new stories and arcs. Some similar elements were also developed in a different manner; Carver said, "We explore these moments and what the characters experienced in the British version and say to the writers, 'What if we do this differently? However, elements of the directorial style of the first two episodes followed the original pilot and first regular episode of the UK series, in some cases shot-for-shot
.
One explicit tribute to the British series is the name of the vampire, Aidan; the character is named after Irish actor Aidan Turner
, who played the vampire Mitchell in the original series. The other main characters in the North American version at first appear to correspond to their British counterparts (werewolves Josh and George, ghosts Sally and Annie, vampire leaders Bishop and Herrick), but actor Sam Witwer was keen to stress the differences between the characters in the two programs: "These are not the same characters.... There are a lot of similarities, but for example, Bishop is not Herrick. Not in the slightest. He's not the same guy.
, the North American series' writers have seen only the first season of the British series; they deliberately avoided the second series when it aired on BBC America
. Similarly, the North American actors have seen little of the British series; Witwer told an interviewer that he had watched only the first episode, and avoided watching any more in order to avoid subconsciously mimicking Aidan Turner's performance, but that he was looking forward to seeing more of the original in the future.
Supernatural drama
Supernatural drama is a subgenre of fantasy combining elements of supernatural fiction and the drama genre. This genre deals with ghosts and other paranormal topics, but without the tone and scares associated with the horror genre...
television series broadcast on Syfy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the United States and on Space in Canada. It is being produced by Muse
Muse Entertainment Enterprises
Founded in 1998, Muse Entertainment is a Canadian producer of films and television programs. Muse Entertainment produces dramatic series, television films, mini-series for family programs....
in Montreal and is based on the British show of the same name
Being Human (TV series)
Being Human is a British supernatural drama television series. It was created and written by Toby Whithouse and is currently broadcast on BBC Three. The show blends elements of flatshare comedy and horror drama...
made by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
On March 17, 2011, Syfy renewed Being Human for a second season.
Synopsis
The series revolves around three roommates living in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
who appear to be in their twenties. The trio try to live a normal life despite being a ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
, a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
, and a werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
.
Main cast
- Sam Witwer as Aidan McCollin, who became a vampire during the Revolutionary War; in the present day, he works as a nurse at Suffolk County Hospital in Boston.
- Sam HuntingtonSam HuntingtonSam Huntington is an American actor, best known for his role as Mimi-Siku in the 1990s film "Jungle 2 Jungle" and as Jimmy Olsen in "Superman Returns". He now stars in the TV series Being Human.- Personal life :...
as Josh Radcliff, a Jewish werewolf who works as an orderly at the same hospital. - Meaghan RathMeaghan RathMeaghan Rath is a Canadian film and television actress. She has co-starred in the television series 15/Love, The Assistants and currently Being Human.-Acting career:...
as Sally Malik, a ghost who haunts the house Aidan and Josh rent. She was engaged to their landlord, and had planned to live in the house with him before her untimely death. - Mark PellegrinoMark PellegrinoMark Ross Pellegrino is an American actor of film and television. He is best known for his work on Lost as Jacob and for playing Lucifer on Supernatural.-Career:...
as James Bishop. Born in England, James became a vampire during the 16th century and turned Aidan into a vampire. In the present day, he is a member of the Boston Police DepartmentBoston Police DepartmentThe Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
. - Dichen LachmanDichen LachmanDichen Lachman is an Australian actress. She is best known for appearing in the soap opera Neighbours as Katya Kinski and Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse as Sierra...
as Izumi. A reclusive, centuries-old vampire who causes upheaval when she returns to Boston's vampire milieu.
Recurring cast
- Sarah AllenSarah AllenSarah Allen is a Canadian actress. She studied acting at Canada's National Theatre School and graduated in 2002.-Filmography:*Student Seduction Jenna*Wall of Secrets Carrie*Il Duce canadese Colleen Kelly...
as Rebecca, Aidan's one-night-stand, whom he fatally drained of blood in a moment of weakness. Instead of disposing of the body as Aidan had wanted, Bishop had Rebecca revived as a vampire. She initially hates Aidan for leaving her for dead but embraces the dark side of her new existence. - Alison LouderAlison Louder-Filmography:*Cul de sac Fanny*Rise of the Ghosts Veronica*The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Woman in Bookstore*You Belong to Me Ellen Dionne...
as Emily, Josh's sister. She came out of the closet as a lesbian just before Josh was turned into a werewolf and forced to disappear. She found Josh while visiting her girlfriend who was in the hospital because she broke her arm while "shrooming". - Gianpaolo VenutaGianpaolo VenutaGianpaolo Venuta is a Canadian actor. He is also a classically trained piano player.-Filmography:*Live Through This Kyle...
as Danny, Aiden's and Josh's landlord and Sally's ex-fiancé, who may be less friendly and helpful than he appears. - Kristen HagerKristen HagerKristen Hager is a Canadian film and television actress.-Biography:Hager was born in Red Lake, Ontario, and made her first television appearance in the mini-series Beach Girls in 2005. A year later, she appeared in the TV series Runaway, which starred Donnie Wahlberg and child actress Niamh Wilson...
as Nora, Josh's girlfriend and a nurse at the hospital where Aidan and Josh work.
Production
On June 28 2010, Entertainment Weekly reported that actor Sam Witwer had signed on to play the vampire in the remake, and Meaghan RathMeaghan Rath
Meaghan Rath is a Canadian film and television actress. She has co-starred in the television series 15/Love, The Assistants and currently Being Human.-Acting career:...
had signed to play the ghost with Sam Huntington
Sam Huntington
Sam Huntington is an American actor, best known for his role as Mimi-Siku in the 1990s film "Jungle 2 Jungle" and as Jimmy Olsen in "Superman Returns". He now stars in the TV series Being Human.- Personal life :...
close to a deal to play the werewolf. On July 7 2010, it was announced that Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
and Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
alumnus Mark Pellegrino
Mark Pellegrino
Mark Ross Pellegrino is an American actor of film and television. He is best known for his work on Lost as Jacob and for playing Lucifer on Supernatural.-Career:...
would be joining the cast as "Aidan's charismatic but menacing mentor Bishop".
On March 17, 2011, SyFy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
announced that they would be ordering a second season of its new drama series. It was also reported that since its inception there had been an average of 1.8 million viewers per premiere episode, a first for the network since 2005. Also, this is the first series in the network's history to have the most female viewers. SyFy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
has announced that Season 2 will begin airing on January 16, 2012.
On June 29 2011, Variety reported that actress Dichen Lachman
Dichen Lachman
Dichen Lachman is an Australian actress. She is best known for appearing in the soap opera Neighbours as Katya Kinski and Joss Whedon's science fiction drama television series Dollhouse as Sierra...
had signed on as a regular to play a reclusive vampire in season two.
Adaptation
Husband-and-wife team Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke were tasked with adapting the British series for North American television. Carver said that he and Fricke hoped "to use elements of the original series while reimagining a series all of our own. I think that starts with many of the new characters and storylines that we created. I think you're going to see a show that gives a very nice nod to the original version." Carver and Fricke also stated their intention to retain the original program's dark and morally ambiguous qualities.At the beginning of the first 13-episode season, the program roughly follows the narrative arc of the first season of the British original. However, since that season was only six episodes long, the North American program developed new stories and arcs. Some similar elements were also developed in a different manner; Carver said, "We explore these moments and what the characters experienced in the British version and say to the writers, 'What if we do this differently? However, elements of the directorial style of the first two episodes followed the original pilot and first regular episode of the UK series, in some cases shot-for-shot
Shot-for-shot
Shot-for-shot is a term used to describe a visual work that is transferred almost completely identical from the original work without much interpretation....
.
One explicit tribute to the British series is the name of the vampire, Aidan; the character is named after Irish actor Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner is an Irish actor. He is best known for playing Dante Gabriel Rossetti on Desperate Romantics, Ruairí McGowan on The Clinic, and John Mitchell on the supernatural drama series Being Human. He will be playing Kíli in the upcoming two-part fantasy film The Hobbit.-Early life:Aidan...
, who played the vampire Mitchell in the original series. The other main characters in the North American version at first appear to correspond to their British counterparts (werewolves Josh and George, ghosts Sally and Annie, vampire leaders Bishop and Herrick), but actor Sam Witwer was keen to stress the differences between the characters in the two programs: "These are not the same characters.... There are a lot of similarities, but for example, Bishop is not Herrick. Not in the slightest. He's not the same guy.
, the North American series' writers have seen only the first season of the British series; they deliberately avoided the second series when it aired on BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
. Similarly, the North American actors have seen little of the British series; Witwer told an interviewer that he had watched only the first episode, and avoided watching any more in order to avoid subconsciously mimicking Aidan Turner's performance, but that he was looking forward to seeing more of the original in the future.