Announcing Library of Congress Bibliodiscotheque

Comments (4)

1. Jake Jackson says:

   March 23, 2017 at 5:14 pm

   I would sincerely like to know why you are showing the British version of Queer As Folk instead of the American one at The Library of Congress, an American institution supported by American tax dollars.. The American version of Queer As Folk celebrated disco every week during its five year run on Showtime. “I Will Survive” was used in the final episode of the series. In fact, the final line of the entire series — referring to a bombing at the fictitious dance club, Babylon, which killed and wounded many people, similarly to the real life atrocity in Orlando — was, “As Miss Gloria Gaynor sang to us, ‘We Will Survive.'” This is very hurtful to everyone who worked on the American series, as well as to millions of American fans.

   • Nicholas A. Brown says:

     March 24, 2017 at 7:48 am

     Dear Jake,
     Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are aware of the importance of the American series and hope to program a screening of episodes on a future occasion. As you know, the American series was inspired by the British version and Russell T. Davies is credited as a creator for both versions. The goal is not to replace the American series, but start with the origin of the project and show the evolution and transfer of culture between the UK and the U.S. over time.
     Best wishes,
     The Library of Congress

2. Jake Jackson says:

   March 24, 2017 at 8:38 pm

   Dear Nicholas A. Brown,
   Thank you for your response, but I wish to correct your information. Russell T Davies did not create the American version of Queer As Folk. If you look at the opening credits on every DVD of every episode of the American version, it clearly states that the American version of Queer As Folk was “Developed for American television by Ron Cowen & Daniel Lipman BASED ON THE BRITISH SERIES created by Russell T Davies.” Mr. Davies had no creative participation whatsoever in the American version. In addition, Tony Jonas Productions did not produce the British series. The American version was produced by Cowlip Productions, Temple Street Productions and Tony Jonas Productions for Showtime Networks. As you represent the Library of Congress, it is your responsibility to present to the public the correct information. Therefore, you need to contact The Writers Guild of America West Credits Department, 323-782-4651, as it is the WGA who has the legal authority to determine these credits as they appear on screen. You may also contact Gary S. Levine, President of Programming at Showtime Networks, 310-234-5200 ext. 5266, [email protected] and/or Jackie Ioachim, VP Consumer Public Relations at Showtime, 212-708-1220, [email protected]. Both Mr. Levine and Ms. Ioachim were executives who worked on Queer As Folk during the years it was produced who will verify for you that Mr. Davies had no creative participation in the American version of Queer As Folk. By choosing to screen the British version of Queer As Folk based on your misinformation, The American Library of Congress is denying the American creators of the American version of Queer As Folk, as well as all the Americans who worked on the show, the recognition they deserve. If your wish to show the “transfer and evolution of culture between the UK and the U.S.” then it stands to reason you would show episodes from both series as part of your evening.

3. jake jackson says:

   March 24, 2017 at 9:22 pm

   Dear Nicholas A. Brown,
   Thank you for your response. However, I wish to correct your information. Russell T Davies did not create the American version of Queer As Folk. If you look at the opening credits as they appear on every DVD of every episode of the American version, it clearly states that the American version of Queer As Folk was “Developed for American television by Ron Cowen & Daniel Lipman BASED ON THE BRITISH SERIES created by Russell T Davies.” Mr Davies had no creative participation whatsoever in the American version. In addition, Tony Jonas Productions did not produce the British series, which was produced by Channel Four. The American version was produced by Cowlip Productions, Temple Street Productions and Tony Jonas Productions for Showtime Networks. I am certain you would agree that it is the responsibility of The Library of Congress to present to the public the correct information. Therefore, you need to kindly contact The Writers Guild of America West Credits Department in Los Angeles, California who have the authority to legally determine these credits as they appear in the writers’ contracts and on screen. You may also contact the President of Programming at Showtime Networks in Los Angeles and the Vice President of Public Relations at Showtime in New York, both of whom worked and oversaw the production of the series during the years it was produced, and who will verify for you that Mr. Davies had no creative participation in the American version of Queer As Folk. In fact, he would be the first to tell you that himself, as it was his decision. It is regrettable that in choosing to screen the British version of Queer As Folk based on certain misinformation, the Library of Congress is denying the Americans responsible for the American version of Queer As Folk the recognition they deserve. If you wish to show “the transfer and evolution of culture between the UK and the U.S.” then it stands to reason you would show episodes from both series as part of your evening. It would be most enlightening, as well as entertaining. Thank you.

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