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Subject: British shows made for American TV

Written By: whistledog on 10/19/07 at 11:56 pm

It seems like past and present, alot of popular British shows are turned into successful (and some not so successful) American versions.

Question 1:  Is this vice versa?
Question 2:  What are some


Here's a few ...

♦ Popular British comedy 'Home to Roost' was made into a short-lived mid-80s US version called 'You Again?' starring Jack Klugman and John Stamos

♦ Popular British sitcom 'Man About the House' and it's popular spin-off's 'George and Mildred' and 'Robin's Nest' were made for US TV all in the same spin-offs as well:  The legendary 'Three's Company', it's short-lived spin-off 'The Ropers' and the unsuccessful 'Three's-A-Crowd'

♦ The British sitcom 'Keep it in the Family' was remade for the US as 'Too Close For Comfort'.  The latter ran more seasons than the former

♦ Legendary British music show 'Top of the Pops' attempted a US version in the 80s as hosted by Nia Peeples (from the TV series Fame).  It was not a success

♦ The big one in the 2000s is the British 'Pop Idol', which spawned versions all over the world like American Idol, Australian Idol and Canadian Idol

♦ British game shows 'Deal or No Deal' and 'Who Wants to Be A Millionaire' both gained major fame with American versions.  Both shows also attempted Canadian versions: 'Who Wants to Be A Millionaire: Canadian Edition' got cancelled, and 'Deal or No Deal: Canada' aired only 5 episodes in a test market.  No word yet if it will be picked up for a full series

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: whistledog on 10/20/07 at 12:03 am


Question 1:  Is this vice versa?


To answer my own question, it is as I have just thought of a few ...

Popular US game show 'Family Feud' was remade in the UK as 'Family Fortunes'.  Watching clips on game show blooper shows, that Les Dennis guy is quite funny!

Another US game show 'Match Game 7X' was remade in the UK as 'Blankety Blanks'

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: woops on 10/20/07 at 12:17 am

"The Office" and also "All In The Family" (though a different title)

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: GoodRedShirt on 10/20/07 at 12:30 am

A lot of game shows are remade in various markets: It's In The Bag, Deal or No Deal, The Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Family Feud and others all have had different versions playing in different countries.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: ladybug316 on 10/21/07 at 12:16 am

YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK.  GOODBYE.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: danootaandme on 10/21/07 at 6:09 am

Steptoe and Son became Sanford and Son

They are planning a USA version of The Vicar of Dibley

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: HawkTheSlayer on 10/26/07 at 3:00 pm

I used to watch both versions of "Cracker".

The British version starred Robbie Coltrane, and ran many seasons.
The American version w/the late Robert Pastorelli ran maybe 1 season.

I was sold on both.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: Paul on 10/26/07 at 3:10 pm


It seems like past and present, alot of popular British shows are turned into successful (and some not so successful) American versions.

Question 1:  Is this vice versa?


One off the top of my head...

Some years ago, 'The Golden Girls' was so popular that some bright spark in British TV thought it'd be a great wheeze to concoct a British copy...

This became 'Brighton Belles' which died a death almost as soon as it hit the screens...

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: lorac61469 on 10/26/07 at 3:13 pm

Trading Spaces and What Not To Wear are both programs on TLC.  They started out in England, Trading Spaces was know as Changing Rooms in England.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: CeramicsFanatic on 10/26/07 at 3:24 pm

British auction show 'Cash In The Attic' has an American counterpart (which, to me, is not nearly as good!)...

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: Paul on 10/26/07 at 3:33 pm

Heh!

And not forgetting our 80s attempt at 'Soul Train'...which was swiftly 'derailed'!  ;)

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: whistledog on 10/26/07 at 11:12 pm


One off the top of my head...

Some years ago, 'The Golden Girls' was so popular that some bright spark in British TV thought it'd be a great wheeze to concoct a British copy...

This became 'Brighton Belles' which died a death almost as soon as it hit the screens...


a UK Golden Girls?  I never would have thought.  A show like that I can see not translating well in other versions.  They always called each other slut and bitch, and I don't see that translating well in British slang lol

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: snozberries on 10/27/07 at 1:09 am

Fox poached Kitchen Nightmares from the UK
Lifetime poached How Clean is Your House

both shows kept their original hosts

what about Amedican Idol (or did someone mention it already? I've already forgotten...)

Um BBC also has a show about two guys who try to out gross each other. I have seen it but my friend talks about it alot. It sounds like a version of Jack Ass but I hear now that some one wants to bring that show to the US too... help me with the title I think its named after the two guys.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: HawkTheSlayer on 10/27/07 at 4:29 am

Don't forget "Whose Line Is It Anyway"!

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: Henk on 10/27/07 at 6:15 am


Steptoe and Son became Sanford and Son


Steptoe and Son became "Stiefbeen en Zoon" in The Netherlands. It aired in the late 1960s.


A BBC show that I enjoyed watching (but was cancelled after several successful seasons, totally to my surprise): Robot Wars.
I know it had an American counterpart, called BattleBots.

Another series that I enjoyed watching: Scrapheap Challenge (aired on the Discovery Channel over here) and its US counterpart Junkyard (Mega) Wars. I seem  to remember they did some UK vs US junkyard challenges too.

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: lorac61469 on 10/27/07 at 9:49 am


Don't forget "Whose Line Is It Anyway"!


I love that show!!

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: Gis on 10/27/07 at 10:49 am

There was a fantastic comedy series Coupling in the U.K which they tried to do an American version of which died a death. I did watch the first episode of the American version and didn't think it was that bad.

My favourite U.K to U.S bears no resemblance translation would be Gimme,Gimme,Gimme with Kathy Burke became Will and Grace in the U.S !!

Subject: Re: British shows made for American TV

Written By: Reynolds1863 on 10/27/07 at 10:53 am

I think British Television should not be copied by American TV.  You cannot Americanize "As Time Goes By" without ruining it.

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