Censored bits of American Coupling

After watching the premiere of Coupling last night -- yes, far inferior to the original and with no reason for actually existing -- I know the network probably left out Jeff's "Unflushable" definition because they considered it too vulgar for American TV-watchers (ha! I say). But why did they change the bit from the British version where Steve nipped out of the restroom cubicle to get a condom from the machine to that of the U.S. version where instead Steve called Jeff on the cellphone to get a condom? (Which, by the way, led to the best original -- I.E., non-U.K. -- punchline, from Patrick: "No, I don't know him, but I DO know what it's for."). I thought I read something about this, but I can't remember exactly what it was or where I read it. Makes no sense if you ask me. Especially when they left in "I'm not... COMPLETELY SHAVED?! I mean shallow!" (which was really funny in the original, but fumbled -- like most of the jokes -- here). There must be an NBC memo floating around somewhere that says, "Pubic hair jokes, okay. Condom machines, no."

Also M.I.A: "The Zone"; any good explanation for Sally's appearance with Patrick in the restaurant; "No, we want the good one!" when Susan goes to flash her breast.

One improvement over the original was the transition from Susan saying (I'm paraphrasing here) ". . . show you all how stupid you look" to the shot of the waiter looking at her breast too, and then immediately leaving to find them a table after Susan says something to him about seating all of them. It was like, bam-bam-bam, the three things following each other in a quick succession. Worked very well joke-wise.

When I tuned into BBCAmerica afterwards, I found myself watching the British version of the same episode (which I also have on DVD, but hey, since it's already on I might as well watch it, right?) I was struck by how, even in that first episode, multi-emotional each character was. For example: Susan was flirty with Steve, but later, showed some anger at Jeff; Jane was by turns bubbleheaded, pouty, and seductive; Steve, slightly sarcastic with Jeff, and not a total wimp with Susan.

In the American version, on the other hand, all the characters were one-dimensional, one-note: Susan, confident; Sally, neurotic; Jane, air-headed; Steve, unconfident; Jeff, perverted; Patrick, arrogant.