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

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'

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

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.

YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK.  GOODBYE.

Steptoe and Son became Sanford and Son

They are planning a USA version of The Vicar of Dibley

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.

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...

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.

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

Heh!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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


I love that show!!

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 !!

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

Now Litlle Britain can be added to the list with Little Britain USA

The American version of Life on Mars starts next Thursday.  I think it's set in New York

I remember Brighton Belles - it was truly awful!  ;D

I remember Brighton Belles - it was truly awful!  ;D
Is that The Golden Girls in the USA?

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.



Actually Coupling(2000-2004) was a take on the U.S Friends.  Friends(1994-2004) was sometimes called a derivative of Seinfeld.  Seinfeld is the only one that got it right.

The American version of Life on Mars starts next Thursday.  I think it's set in New York


it is set in New York.... of course they had the obligatory tribute to the Twin Towers which were still standing when the lead character awoke in 1973. 

it is set in New York.... of course they had the obligatory tribute to the Twin Towers which were still standing when the lead character awoke in 1973. 


Yep I watched the first episode on Thursday

Yep I watched the first episode on Thursday


Did you like it?

I'm still on the fence but intrigued enough to give it another shot.

Did you like it?

I'm still on the fence but intrigued enough to give it another shot.


Likewise. 

I don't think they've quite got the right actor for Gene Hunt which I thought was annoying.

Likewise. 

I don't think they've quite got the right actor for Gene Hunt which I thought was annoying.


yeah Harvey Kietel's a little over the top with his brash LT routine.

Actually Coupling(2000-2004) was a take on the U.S Friends.  Friends(1994-2004) was sometimes called a derivative of Seinfeld.  Seinfeld is the only one that got it right.
No it wasn't, it was inspired by the relationship between writer Steven Moffat and his now wife producer Sue Vertue.

No it wasn't, it was inspired by the relationship between writer Steven Moffat and his now wife producer Sue Vertue.


Ohhh!  Didn't know that.  On face a lot of people over here thought it was a take off on Friends

Ohhh!  Didn't know that.  On face a lot of people over here thought it was a take off on Friends
Yeah, I guess that is understandable, they even called the main characters Steve and Susan after themselves!  ;D


Jeff was my favourite character. I saw the actor who played him once at Oxford train station and I wanted to run up and say 'Gusset'  ;D ;D

Yeah, I guess that is understandable, they even called the main characters Steve and Susan after themselves!  ;D


Jeff was my favourite character. I saw the actor who played him once at Oxford train station and I wanted to run up and say 'Gusset'  ;D ;D


I am a Jeff fan myself  ;D

I liked watching the original BBC version. But as typical with these "unfolding mystery" shows, they get cancelled before revealing the secret.


Errm, how many episodes did you watch?  It was only ever written for two series and I think the ending made a lot of people go "huh?"

Really? Are we talking about BBC America or regular BBC? From what I remember seeing like 5 episodes (plus repeats) before it seemed to have vanished from the line up. I'll have to Google it now to see if I can find the end. Isn't ironic that this thread isn't in the "Life on Mars" category?  :P :)


I was talking regular BBC.  I watched Life On Mars in the UK before we moved out here.

'Til Death Due Us Part=All In The Family.  I can't comment because I had never seen the British one.
Mind Your Language=What a Country. I loved Mind Your Language but the American one  8-P .
Prefer the British Cash in the Attic to the American one.


Those are the ones I can think of.


Cat

Thanks for the info. Here's a Wikipedia about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_mars_bbc


The article says the last episode was broadcast in April 2007 in the UK but BBC America finish broadcasting the first series until August 2007.

I watched the show in the UK and then moved to the US in August 2007.  When talking to people here who had just watched the first series it was difficult not to mention things from the second series!

If you get the chance to watch the whole thing you should.

I just said this in the last thing you watched on TV thread but....


The ABC show American Inventor (about the search for the next great invention) is based on the British Series Dragon's Den. 

I knew it was a British concept because it was produced by Simon Cowell and Peter (Jones?) one of the judges for the American series was a regular on the Britsh version.

I like Dragon's Den a lot better. sure they have some pointless inventions but none as over the top and insane as the American "inventors"

Plus the way they dole out the money is far more intriguing.

The latest series of Little Britain was a complete disaster.

I watched a couple of episodes on Netflix and really like it.

The latest series of Little Britain was a complete disaster.


You mean Little Britain USA? If so I have to agree. The regular characters seemed to have been pushed to their limits. I did like this new couple though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXimBJaoyyE

You mean Little Britain USA? If so I have to agree. The regular characters seemed to have been pushed to their limits. I did like this new couple though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXimBJaoyyE
Yes the new characters did make a change, but when set in in the final episodes, it all became tiresome.