'Prom Queen' Gets Local, Globally

Michael Eisner’s new media  production company, Vuguru, and independent production house Big Fantastic are expanding their hit series, Prom Queen (Tilzy.TV page) from a strictly sensationalized SoCal lifestyle to encompass some international locales. The micro teen murder mystery replete with bikini-chested and washboard ab-ed high school coeds is going global, with French and Japanese versions of the show airing to overseas audiences in 2008 and possible other locations in Europe and Russia to follow.

### The series that’s been viewed by a reported 17 million people since its debut last April won’t be repurposed, but the concept will. Instead of syndicating and subtitling the US version, Vuguru and its local partners will translate the basic premise of an American high-school prom queen and good-looking US soap opera-based plots and characters to represent local flavors.

“Each individual country will have their own model,” Eisner said to the LA times.

It’s like how Kate Modern is a British LonelyGirl15, or as NewTeeVee’s Chris Albrecht notes, it’s exactly the model that BBC’s The Office used to get an audience across UK borders.

So, what to expect? Manga and anime formats and hopefully some highlights of Japanese street fashion, and maybe some TinTin references and a gastronomique or two. The format might also be tinkered with slightly, as the deal also plans to develop the new incarnations for internet, television, mobile, and DVD formats.

I’d also like to see US subtitled versions. Lots of times foreign remakes can be far more entertaining than the original. (Thanks to Valdezatron for turning me onto Russia’s Perfect Strangers.)