Unveiling the Top Reason Why Call Me Kat Surpasses the Original UK Version

Summary

Call Me Kat fails to live up to the hype of its predecessor, Miranda, with its unfunny and bland execution despite having similar characteristics.

Mayim Bialik's depiction of Kat lacks the particular wit and comical awkwardness that made Miranda Hart's portrayal in Miranda so delightful.

The excessive use of fourth wall breaks in Call Me Kat, which come across as more gimmicky and overdone, alters the essence and detracts from the spontaneous charm that made Miranda's breaks successful.

The American reboot of the British series, Call Me Kat, failed to live up to the success of its predecessor, Miranda. Despite sharing a similar premise, Call Me Kat received mostly negative reviews and was ultimately canceled after three seasons. Critics and audiences found the show unfunny and lacking the zany and eccentric qualities that made Miranda popular. Even the quirky presence of Mayim Bialik couldn't salvage Call Me Kat. Here are the main factors that contributed to Call Me Kat's failure compared to Miranda's success.

8 Call Me Kat Feels Too Gimmicky

First and foremost, Call Me Kat exudes an overtly gimmicky vibe. While Miranda maintains a consistent comedic style, Call Me Kat falls short by distancing itself too much from its humorous elements. The prime example of this is the series' use of fourth wall breaks. Miranda's unexpected and confessional fourth wall breaks were amusing, allowing audiences to glimpse into her thoughts before being pulled back into the ongoing narrative. Regrettably, Call Me Kat struggled to capture this essence, resulting in the fourth wall breaks feeling more like a forced gesture than a clever storytelling technique. Overall, the series suffered from a plastic, contrived tone.

7 Mayim Bialik Lacks Miranda Hart's Specific Humor

One major aspect that didn't transition well from Miranda to Call Me Kat was the choice of the lead actor. Mayim Bialik, known for her impressive talent and dedicated fanbase thanks to her roles in Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, couldn't quite measure up to Miranda Hart's exceptional performance in Miranda. While it's natural for a reboot to incorporate some tonal variations, Call Me Kat suffered because Bialik couldn't quite capture the same level of hilarious awkwardness as Hart. This discrepancy may be attributed to Hart's background in stand-up comedy, which unfortunately resulted in Miranda having a significantly funnier ambiance than Call Me Kat.

6 Call Me Kat Misuses Its Fourth Wall Breaks

Ultimately, Miranda's iconic fourth wall breaks are what gave Call Me Kat many of its negative reviews. As previously mentioned, Call Me Kat's use of the fourth wall break seems more gimmicky than Miranda, but worse than that, the American series generally misuses the device. Firstly, Call Me Kat excessively relies on breaking the fourth wall. There were instances where Kat addressed the audience almost as much as her peers, and this proved to be more detrimental than beneficial. Furthermore, the essence of the fourth wall break underwent a transformation. While Miranda's fourth wall breaks felt authentic and confessional, Kat's attempts seemed intended to be humorous. Kat came across as more sarcastic than emotionally vulnerable.

5 Call Me Kat Misses Miranda's Improvisational Feel

One issue with Call Me Kat's handling of Miranda's fourth wall breaks is its failure to capture the spontaneous essence of them. A noteworthy aspect of Miranda's breaks is their sudden and unexpected nature, lending an improvisational quality to the show. This creates the impression that viewers are witnessing Miranda think on her feet and navigate various situations. In contrast, the fourth wall breaks in Call Me Kat come across as more of a gimmick rather than a seamlessly integrated technique, resulting in the loss of that improvisational vibe. Consequently, what was once a delightful surprise in the form of fourth wall breaks has turned into an excessively utilized aside.

4 Call Me Kat Plays It Too Safe

One aspect of Miranda that made it stand out to viewers was its daring and risqué humor. While not excessively explicit, Miranda certainly had its share of adult moments, adding to its enjoyable and quirky nature. However, in contrast, Call Me Kat completely shied away from attempting to replicate this aspect. The American version completely omitted any sexual humor and, to make matters worse, played it extremely safe. Despite being a sitcom intended for adults, it provided a level of comfort that could have been suitable for a younger audience as well. Overall, Call Me Kat's overall aesthetic, particularly the cat café, caused the show to lose the edge that Miranda had. Unfortunately, this proved to be a detrimental mistake for the series.

3 Call Me Kat Underuses Situational Comedy

While Call Me Kat heavily relies on breaking the fourth wall, it falls short in effectively utilizing situational comedy. As a sitcom, it should harness the humor derived from its characters and settings. Furthermore, as a reboot of Miranda, it is essential for the series to embrace the main character's awkwardness. Unfortunately, Call Me Kat fails to fully leverage the potential of situational comedy and instead leans towards "oops" gags and cheesy jokes. Rather than employing cleverness, the show opts for a more obvious and in-your-face approach to comedy, ultimately resulting in a less satisfying experience.

2 Call Me Kat Feels Dated

1 Kat Is Too Different From Miranda

Placing the bland, outdated essence of Call Me Kat is a challenging task. However, one of the primary criticisms leveled against the series is its antiquated feel. Instead of infusing an older series, like Miranda which premiered in 2009, with a fresh and innovative approach, Call Me Kat seems to rely on clichés and techniques from older sitcoms. This lack of original eccentricity, perhaps attributable to its main characters or comedic style, results in Call Me Kat resembling a slightly altered version of an older sitcom.

In contrast to Miranda's unique charm - being 6'1, socially awkward, and navigating the world without disappointing herself or others - Kat's lack of these traits is what hampers Call Me Kat. Not only does Kat not face the same physical challenges as Miranda, but she also lacks the same internal vulnerability. As a result, Kat's character falls short, and had she possessed the strength and depth of Miranda, Call Me Kat may have had a higher chance of succeeding.