Talk:List of British television series remade for the U.S. market
|
|
I have to ask, why *do* Americans do this? Are they really so xenophobic they can't watch something made in another country? Surely not! - Khendon
That's not it. Lots of us love to watch British shows, especially Dr. Who, Red Dwarf, and Fawlty Towers -- and don't even get me started on Monty Python. However, I think there are two overriding reasons for the changes: 1) Some of the cultural differences do not translate well, often due to language variations; and 2) Americans (especially TV producers) are used to more slickly-produced shows. I don't mean to offend, but British shows are often created with minimal budgets and this is glaringly obvious, especially when the shows are filmed on videotape (in the US, this is common only with soap operas, which opens up a whole other can o' worms).
As an example of #1, imagine a British woman saying to an American man, "Would you come over and knock me up in the morning?" He would likely be shocked. To you, "knock me up" means "wake me by knocking on the door." To us, it means "make me pregnant." Similarly, if an American man were to say to a British woman, "Hey, I'm Randy, wanna shag?" he might get slapped in the face, when all he's doing is introducing himself and inviting her to dance.
As an example of #2, one need only compare something like Dr. Who, where the budget was maybe five pounds a week, with a comparable American show, which we tend to shovel money at. This is because the money is available in large quantities due to annoying commercials, whereas (I believe) funding for most British TV is provided by individual TV licenses. Sure, the writing is often better in British shows, but the cinematograpy and production values are not. Our own Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which is supported by donations, is similarly limited with its productions. Stormwriter
Thanks, that's interesting :-) Well, number 2 is a fair point, but I don't really see your first point. After all, we learn to live with importing your stuff, and we're probably better off for the variety and broadened horizons. Why does it not work the other way? - Khendon 21:10 Nov 26, 2002 (UTC)
Sometimes it does; we've seen this with rock and pop music, for example. What we call "the British Invasion" made bands and artists like the Beatles, the Stones, and David Bowie wildly popular in the US. Literature also tends to translate pretty well; witness the appeal of Lord of the Rings. I (like many fantasy fans) probably would die if I could have no more Terry Pratchett fiction, and I'm terribly saddened by Douglas Adams' passing. Similarly, I, and legions of other fans in the US, would really, really appreciate it if Dick Francis would start writing again.
And, of course, you're the world leaders as far as interesting and delicious beers are concerned, at least among those of us in the know (American beer bears similarities to having sex in a boat, you see).
Perhaps our lack of British shows is more due to lack of access than anything else. Most of what we get is shown only on PBS, which doesn't get the viewership our commercial networks do, and we often have to wait up late to see it. Even more likely is that it's due to a lack of imagination on the part of American producers. After all, they're well known for mimicking anything that works; they'd much rather do that than try a little originality. Maybe we're just cocky. In any case, there are plenty of Anglophiles here in the States, so it's not that we reject all British culture...apparently just TV shows.
In the long run, I suppose the answer to your question would be a resounding "I'm not sure." ;P Stormwriter
Another problem tends to be that American television producers expect a program to succeed right away, or they cut funding for it (it happens more often than you might think). Since the producers don't expect a British made program to catch on, they decide that they have to remake it. Basil Fawlty
A number of British shows do make it to American television, but it is really rare for prime time network TV. In fact, other than "The Prisoner" in 1968, I am trying to remember another example of a major commercial network that has shown British TV shows in prime time. Most British shows end up either on PBS ("Monty Python", various British sitcoms), or some cable network like MTV ("The Young Ones", "Ab Fab") or Comedy Central (the original "Who's Line is it Anyway?"). But when does CBS, NBC, ABC, or Fox ever show British shows? I actually do think there is some provincialism involved with this. Take a look at American cinema--foreign films from places like France only show up in the arthouses, while in France, American films make it to major cineplexes. Americans like to watch American movies and American TV shows. (It is true that some big budget British films make it to general distribution, but even there I wonder--movies like "The Full Monty", for example, started out in the arthouses and only because of major word of mouth action did it get any mass popularity). soulpatch
That's semi-true about Scrapheap Challenge/Junkyard Wars. The original show had Robert Llewellyn as a presenter and was called Scrapheap Challenge. When this was shown in the US it was called Scrapheap. When they started using American teams they called it Junkyard Wars and brought in an American presenter. But the one with British teams is still called Scrapheap Challenge.
- TLC shows both under the Junkyard Wars banner. In fact, it shows UK eps with both US and UK teams, US-made eps with US teams and US hosts. In fact, for a while Tyler Harcott teamed with Cathy Rogers for the hosting duties, making it a multinational hosting job. Anyway, it's not a true "remake"; there's nothing to distinguish the two shows. It's exactly the same show with the same footage as the UK version, possibly re-edited for commercials with a different title. -- Gregory Pietsch
- Ok I made the original note about Junkyard Wars shorter mainly because it was making the table look ugly, and now it's even more ugly so I've moved it outside of the table, and changed it to the following -The original show for Channel 4 was called "Scrapheap Challenge". When shown in the US this was re-titled "Scrapheap". When the program started to use US teams and a US presenter it was re-titled "Junkyard Wars" for both US and UK audiences. In the UK episodes involving UK teams remain under the title "Scrapheap Challenge". Ok so it's the same production company and setes etc.. so you might argue NOT a remake. However it has been remoulded or remade for American audiences in that they imported a US presenter, US teams and changed the title. The title of the UK version remains "Scrapheap Challenge".
- Just to throw a spanner in the works, the very first series in the UK, when it was the same two teams every week, was called "Scrapheap", without the "Challenge". The current format, and the name "Scrapheap Challenge", date from the second series. Dunno if that ties in with the US showing it as "Scrapheap" or not. -Nommo
- Just to throw another spanner in the works, the most recent run of Junkyard Wars (i.e. the US series) on C4 went out as Scrapheap Challenge USA. Despite all the Junkyard Wars logos around the set and the fact that it tended to start with the line "Welcome to Junkyard Wars!". And that the previous US series had indeed gone out as Junkyard Wars. Bonalaw 19:11, 17 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Running List of reasons UK shows get remade for the American market:
- Cultural differences.
- Better production.
- To produce more shows -- some UK shows only had 6 or 13 episodes a season.
- Maybe American writers think they can do a better job with the source material.
Adding to cultural differences would be the accents. Some Americans have trouble understanding regional accents that they don't often hear. For example, at least one person (American) I know said that they couldn't understand Craig Charles when he presented Robot Wars. --Mrwojo
A question about this page: Did Beanes of Boston ever actually air? As far as I know, Beanes is in the same boat as Red Dwarf on this. --Mrwojo 14:35 Nov 27, 2002 (UTC)
- I just checked and you're right. I'll change the list to include failed pilots and put a note in accordingly. There may be one or two more in the same boat.
Did "The Grubbs" ever air? I thought the show was going to be called "The Kennedys". Another remake coming -- "Get Me Out of Here, I'm a Celebrity", or whatever the title of the thing is. Unless CBS wins their lawsuit claiming it copies "Survivor". -- Zoe
- It did air, but I'm pretty sure it was a remake of The Grimleys. Reading a synopsis of the show makes me more sure and I'm off to change it.Bagpuss
- Before reading this I changed the entry on the Grubbs. IMDB say it's a remake of The Royle Family, but looking on the BBC archives they say it's a remake of The Grimleys. Well I've not seen it but if it's a family say infront of the TV it's the The Royle Family, and it it's a family and a school in the 70's it's The Grimleys. But I'm guessing Bagpuss and the BBC are right, so I'll change it back. Mintguy
- Good as the IMDB is, the "references" list is frequently crap. For example, check Fellowship of the Ring's list - X-Men my arse. Weren't they in production at the same time? Bagpuss
I'm pretty sure that the American version of Big Brother was shown before the British version, unless anyone can find evidence to the contarty it should be removed from this list.
According the IMDB the UK version was first broadcast an 5 May 2001 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257295/releaseinfo
And the USA version on 5 July 2000 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251497/releaseinfo Saul Taylor 00:46, 19 Dec 2003 (UTC)
IMDB is incorrect. It was first shown in the summer of 2000 and won by Craig Phillips. Mintguy 00:51, 19 Dec 2003 (UTC)
- If they both aired the same summer, the US one must be a copy of the Dutch one, not the British. I removed it from the list. Rmhermen 15:42, Dec 27, 2003 (UTC)
I'm not sure if 1900 House/Frontier House belongs on the list. IIRC, 1900 House was co-produced by the BBC and PBS. Frontier House would be considered to be more of a spin-off or sequel, I think. It seems they've got a series of them going, 1940s House, Manor House, Colonial House, though I guess the countries seem to be trading off for each one... —Mulad 06:03, 17 Jan 2004 (UTC)
The House series were made by Channel 4 not BBC, don't know if PBS had any involvement or not in the Brittish based ones, although I think Frontier House was made by Channel 4 and an American partner (possibly PBS, I dunno). So I don't think it should be classed as a remake. Btw, In the UK Manor House was called The Edwardian Country House, I don't remember anything called Colonial House, I only remember 1990 House, 1940s House, the Edwarian Country House and The Frontier House. Saul Taylor 03:52, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC)
"Colonial House" is coming out on PBS in May. It's a group of people recreating life in colonial Plymouth, Massachusetts. There are both American and British participants. I don't know if it's just a PBS production or not, though. RickK 03:56, 20 Feb 2004 (UTC)
Is there any consensus for changing the title of this entry and its counterpart? It's my impression that the word "show" isn't used much to describe television series or programs in the UK. Moreover, the entry title should probably include the word "television" spelled out and not abbreviated to "TV." I think "series" is a pretty good neutral term for "show," and it avoids the "program/programme" spelling distinction. So I propose the titles be changed to "List of British television series remade for the American market" and "List of American television series remade for the British market." Thoughts? Moncrief, 2 Mar 2004
Edit: Perhaps even the "US market" or, if we want to go over the top a bit, "the United States market" is better than the "American market." It doesn't really bother me, but there are people who get their knickers in a knot over the use of "American" to describe just the US (when the whole two continents have "America" in their names). Just a thought... Moncrief, 2 Mar 2004 (UTC)
As the person who started this article I prefered the original title. Firstly while it is true that in Britain "TV show" is less common than in the US it is clearly understood on both sides of the Atlantic. Secondly, it formerly said American market. Thus inclusive of "Yes, Prime Minister" -> Not My Department" which was a Canadian remake. Thirdly the word "series" is not so clearly understood in the US and excludes one off programmes or serials And finally Whilst in Britain we would write US in America they would genreally write U.S. Mintguy (T) 09:04, 4 Mar 2004 (UTC)~
- I like the new title better, but if there is consensus to change it back or to another variation, of course I'll go along with it. I moved it because no one had responded in almost two days (actually, I think it was almost exactly two days). I understand your concern about the Canadaian series, but in that case we should say "North American market," as "American" is generally understood as the adjectival form of "United States" (much to some people's chagrin). As an American (US-ian), I do want to say that "series" is absolutely, universally understood in the US. The difference is that we say "season" when referring to a particular run of a program (as in, the "2003-04 season"), whereas the British are more likely to say the "third series" of the program when referring to roughly the same thing. But as to what's relevant here, using "television series" as a direct synonym for "television show," it's absolutely understood in the US. I also think you're right about Americans generally spelling it as "U.S." but "US" is definitely understood too and to me it looks cleaner and more encyclopedic.
- OK, other people weigh in on this please! Moncrief, 09:21, 4 Mar 2004 (UTC)
- I have to agree with Mintguy. I prefer "TV" to television (why make it longer than you have to) I think "show" is better than "series" because aswell as beeing shorter its also more inclusive, many of the shows on this list only had pilot episisodes made. I also dont really like "US" because British people would talk about "American television" never "US television". Saul Taylor 14:23, 4 Mar 2004 (UTC)
Several months since this page was moved and the above discussion. Any new opinions. For the unititiated I created the page as "List of British TV shows remade for the American market" - I've no strong opinion other than the fact that it now says "series" which is exclusive of one-off programmes. Which reminds me I'd rather not settle for something that uses either program or programme. I think it's better to use something mid-Atlantic. Mintguy (T)