Trivia / Coupling

• Creator Backlash: Richard Coyle's sudden, unplanned departure was implied to be a case of this by Steven Moffat. Given that his roles since have mostly been straight-faced procedurals of the cop, government, or paranormal variety, it's not hard to imagine Coyle declaring, "I Am Not Jeff."
• Disowned Adaptation: Steven Moffat blamed the American remake's failure on NBC's intervention during the creative and production processes. In 2007, he said: "The network fucked it up because they intervened endlessly."
• Executive Meddling: The original pilot for the U.S. version was based off the episode "Inferno" and was more faithful to the original show, which confused NBC execs, so they gave showrunners Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont and original series director Martin Dennis the heave-ho, along with Kaplan's husband, Breckin Meyer (Melissa George had also been fired and replaced by Rena Sofer a month earlier) and Emily Rutherford; Cheers executive producer Phoef Sutton was subsequently brought in to redevelop the show.
• Follow the Leader: This was often considered to be Britain's answer to Friends, but Steven Moffat has stated that he was more influenced by Seinfeld.
• Missing Episode: Only four out of ten episodes of the U.S. version aired on NBC before the show was cancelled. Though the remaining episodes did air in Europe, the original pilot for the U.S. version (which featured Melissa George as Susan) has never aired.
• Real Song Theme Tune: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps.
• Word of God: Responding to a message board request, Steven Moffat wrote a breakdown of the characters' lives several years after the fourth and final series. This gave Moffat the chance to write an "ending" for the character of Jeff, despite Richard Coyle leaving the previous year. Unfortunately, because the primary source (an old Doctor Who forum called Outpost Gallifrey) has closed, The Other Wiki wouldn't keep it on the show's page anymore because of lack of citation, so if it pleases the crowds, here is the text to be preserved for everyone to read:
  "Sally said yes to Patrick, they got married and are very happy... especially as Sally beat Susan to the altar, and finally did something first. Patrick is now a completely devoted husband, who lives in total denial that he was anything other an upstanding member of the community. Or possibly he's actually forgotten. He doesn't like remembering things because it's a bit like thinking.

  Jane and Oliver never actually did have sex, but they did become very good friends. They often rejoice together that their friendship is uncomplicated by any kind of sexual attraction - but they both get murderously jealous when the other is dating. Jane has a job at Oliver's science fiction book shop now - and since Oliver has that one moment of Naked Jane burnt on the inside of his eyelids, he now loses the place in one in every three sentences. People who know them well think something's gotta give - and they're right. Especially as Jane comes to work in a metal bikini.

  Steve and Susan have two children now, and have recently completed work on a sitcom about their early lives together. They're developing a new television project, but it keeps getting delayed as he insists on writing episodes of some old kids show they recently pulled out of mothballs. She gets very cross about this, and if he says "Yeah but check out the season poll!" one more time, he will not live to write another word.

  Jeff is still abroad. He lives a life of complete peace and serenity now, having taken the precaution of not learning a word of the local language and therefore protecting himself from the consequences of his own special brand of communication. If any English speakers turn up, he pretends he only speaks Hebrew. He is, at this very moment, staring out to sea, and sighing happily every thirty-eight seconds.

  What he doesn't know, of course, is that even now a beautiful Israeli girl he once met in a bar, is heading towards his apartment, having been directed to the only Hebrew speaker on the island. What he also doesn't know is that she is being driven by a young ex-pat English woman, who is still grieving the loss of a charming, one-legged Welshman she once met on a train. And he cannot possibly suspect that (owing to a laundry mix-up, and a stag party the previous night in the same block) he is wearing heat-dissolving trunks.

  As the doorbell rings, it is best that we draw a veil."
• Write Who You Know: The series was based on Steven Moffat meeting his wife, Sue Vertue, and on the issues that arise in new relationships.

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