Which British TV show would you remake?

Zakry Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:53 AM EST

Oh calm down Brits! It's not like you don't have reality shows of your own. Your Celebrity Big Brother caused an international incident! Your Hell's Kitchen decides who is eliminated by VIEWER VOTE! Um, are you all mailed the food? Don't be so high and mighty.

The Office US is such a different show than yours now that comparison is ridiculous. Face it, some of your humor doesn't work here. And don't you dare start with "make your own shows" when you watch American shows more than your own!

So, have another tea and biscuit and settle down.

Amanda Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:51 AM EST

How about giving Blake's Seven a Galactica-like makeover.

Oh please no. Unless it's going to be a contiuation and Paul Darrow is going to play Avon. Then hell to the naw. Plus sense he dropped out of the rivival plans it might not happen.

Amanda Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:44 AM EST

How about giving Blake's Seven a Galactica-like makeover.

Oh please no. Unless it's going to be a contiuation and Paul Darrow is going to play Avon. Then hell to the naw. Plus sense he dropped out of the rivival plans it might not happen.

Tom Clarke Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 06:33 AM EST

Rather than attempting to take a show and "Americanize" it, (which is where the problems start, as nobody seems to agree what "Americanize" means), just produce GOOD shows. Like the Middleman, which IS in many ways an American version of Doctor Who.

Badass but charming superhero with sassy assistant fighting "Peter-piping weirdos" while delivering wise but kindly advice. Also has luchadores and zombie-making flying pirahnas.

xxxoliviaxxx Tue, Feb 5, 2008 at 03:00 PM EST

wtf
an american version of little britain
right , yea coz that would work =s
plus u cant do little britain without matt lucas and david williams
it wouldnt be little britiain

stop stealing r shows, go make ur own
ones, they r amazing when u do come up with an idea, and i cant say the american office was bad coz i didnt watch it, it could have been briliant
but its just annoying, coz we all know u can make ur own ones,
and when u do, there normally great
xxxx

Brandon Sat, Jan 13, 2007 at 05:01 PM EST

Defiently Doctor Who. I love this show. It is so brilliant, and I could definetly see an American version of this show. I can't think of who should play The Doctor right now, or his companion, but hey that is what auditions are for, right? If this was turned into an American version, I would most likely watch this on a religious basis!

Bob Fri, Dec 22, 2006 at 12:54 PM EST

American television producers should leave British shows alone as everytime they try to make an American version of a British tv show, they screw it up. Leave other countries tv shows alone and start coming up with some of your own decent shows instead of all the crap that's currently being shown on network and cable channels.

SteveD Thu, Sep 28, 2006 at 10:07 AM EST

None - they should all just be broadcast exactly as they were made originally. American remakes butcher the originals to death. the Office is an exception, but again, the original should be aired here, and the remake could have distinct name.

Brandon Sat, Sep 16, 2006 at 10:41 PM EST

To add on to the casting of My Family, I came up with actors to play the parts of the (remaining) kids who I couldn't come up with, but now I have. To play Michael Harper, Rob Pinkston (Ned's Declassified). To play Nick Harper, Chris Hunter (South Of Nowhere). And to play Janey Harper, either Anneliese van der Pol (That's So Raven) or Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules). So here you go. Hopefully the future cast of the American remake of "My Family."

Brandon Sat, Sep 16, 2006 at 09:55 PM EST

I would love to see the funniest britcom I have ever seen, called My Family, be remade. My Family is hilarious and Robin Williams, if he would ever come back to tv, would be so perfect in the role of Ben Harper, played by Robert Lindsey (Citizen Smith). Susan Harper, played by Zoe Wanamaker (Harry Potter), should be played by Suite Life With Zack & Cody's Kim Rhodes. One, She looks so much like Zoe Wanamaker, and two, she is hilarious in Suite Life. The Harper Family has four kids. To play Abi Harper, Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Big Love) is perfect. For the rest of the kids, well that can be up to the casting directors. My Family is so funny, if only people could see how funny this show is, this show could very possibly save sitcoms (I'm talking about a comedy sitcom that has an audience while filming and that is funny.) We don't have many sitcoms now, unfourtunatly. You can watch My Family in America on BBC America.

Jakeem Thu, Sep 7, 2006 at 01:00 AM EST

I'd love to seen an American take on "Waterloo Road," which can be seen on BBC America. We haven't had a serious show about a public school since David E. Kelley's "Boston Public" was cancelled by FOX. I believe a U.S. version of the BBC series would have possibilities.

Stephanie Wed, Sep 6, 2006 at 05:02 PM EST

I can see Black Adder and Peep Show being made into American versions. I would love to see Chef! However after Emeril the television show, I'll stick to Lenny Henry.

Brad Wed, Sep 6, 2006 at 11:43 AM EST

Footballers' Wives, for sure... I would even hire Zoe (the delightfully evil, nervous and conniving Tanya Turner) to reprise her role. Heck, if I were a mover ans shaker in Hollywood, I'd hire her to play just about any evil, nervous, conniving role! That show is great - terrific plot twists, story archs that come together in four or five episodes, characters that leave the show when you're done with them... get it on the air now!

guinevere Wed, Sep 6, 2006 at 10:00 AM EST

anytime we "americanize" a british show, it's brought down about 25 levels. even (what i call) the *american* office, as well-done as it is, doesn't touch the original. if you can't watch british television the way it was originally done, stick with two and a half men and reality shows. stop making good british shows suck.

exiene Wed, Sep 6, 2006 at 01:58 AM EST

I go to London a lot for work and Little Britain should have been on Comedy Central and not BBC America because AbFab, another BBC show, recieved a bigger audience The Office may have never been remade if CC picked it up as well. However, I'd love to see HBO or FX pick up Avid Merrien and give him his own show here. His charchter is Bo Selecta and he's crude and charming. Pure guy humor and funny enough to rival Ali G (but not Borat, he rules.)BUT NOT EASTENDERS or Coronation Street...those soaps are borrrrring. Thanks

Toddy Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 11:21 PM EST

Red Dwarf would be the show that I wouldn't want to 'remake', but get the original cast to do a season 9 on HBO (most likely the only 'network' that could afford it justice in both budget and content). They were in the run to do a movie that continued the story, but for one reason or another, did not happen. Maybe that storyline could be broken up into episodes for an American Audience. Great comedy/sci-fi show (personalities that guys can definitely relate to at any age!).

Jeremy Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 10:54 PM EST

I know they already tried and failed at remaking AbFab...but it was for network...does anyone else think that if HBO did it, all trashy and uncensored like we love, that it might finally fill that hole we feel from the loss of Sex & the City?

Jeff Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 10:24 PM EST

I think "Hustle" would make sense, though the show is so good as it is, I think an American version may bring it down a bit.

Jon Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 10:23 PM EST

"QI," if we could find five Americans clever enough to populate the panel.

PS If you're watching *anything* on BBC America, you're getting shortchanged. Those little "huh?" moments aren't you -- there's anything from 3 to 16 minutes cut from every hour. Did you notice how last week's "Love Soup" violated the alternating-stories format and had several "him" scenes in a row? The "her" scenes were replaced by ads.

Ben Moor Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 06:40 PM EST

May I suggest One Man And His Dog (televised sheepdog trials) or Watercolour Challenge (televised painting). Both are remarkably relaxing - televisual mogadon.

Diego Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 05:29 PM EST

How about Footballers Wives? It such a great and addictive show, if done the right way, could be the next big thing on U.S.television. It already blows Desperate Houswives out of the water and having an Americanized Tanya Turner would be so great because she be so evil, if done right. Only Tanya Turner could do the things she does on that show. It could be great.

Tom Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:53 PM EST

Instead of Americanizing them, just show the British ones here - England has such a great, dry sense of humor see how it flies. There are just so many great shows that came from there - The Vicar of Dibley is my favourite, followed by Ab Fab. They had this new show when I was living there earlier this year, the IT Crowd, it was very funny about IT workers...only the Brits would think of an idea for that and it was true. BBC America should broadcast Footballers Wives on regular TV, no need to remake it - leave the priceless, guilty pleasure show as is!

robin Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:45 PM EST

I loved The Thick of It. So smart.

thwarted Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:32 PM EST

Oh please please PLEASE let them bring "Jane Hall" over here. We were just in Britain and got totally addicted to it; it's like Ally McBeal, except Jane's a geeky bus driver.

Ep Sato Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:30 PM EST

The British TV series Spaced, which featured Sean of the Dead star Simon Pegg, was one of the funniest and most pop culturally hip shows ever written. The low budget nature of the show means it could easily be re-written for Sci Fi, Comedy, G4 or Spike Networks, and the frequent references to potheads, X Men comics, Wolverine and the fact that all odd numbered Star Treks were sh*t are proof that this show's gonzo humor can cross the Atlantic unscathed.

And Monsieur Brown, I am disapointed that my frequent plugs for Spaced haven't inspired you enough to pick up some of the show on DVD. Have you also ignored my repeated pleas to give some more props to Canada's funnier than you can imagine series "trailer Park Boys"?

Lora Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:05 PM EST

I think Americans would love TopGear.

I agree Life on Mars isn't gonna work...

Dave Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:04 PM EST

I've been saying for years that Congress should adopt the format and debating style of the British House of Commons. Two parties, facing one another, with the prime minister (in our case, the president) having to defend his administration's policies regularly and in person. This would FAR more entertaining than C-SPAN is now and cable and network news might actually spend sometime, you know, covering Congress. Plus, it's not like Congress could accomplish any less than it already does...

Mark Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 03:01 PM EST

Last of The Summer Wine: Florida, anyone?

How about giving Blake's Seven a Galactica-like makeover.

Diane Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 02:44 PM EST

I totally vote for the reprised Black Adder option. Also-being an American Nerd-can I suggest that someone beat up Josh Whedon and get to make "Ripper" the Anthony Stewart Head Buffyverse series that was designed for BBC. Maybe he can release it on BBC and American TV at the same time

trapper Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 02:38 PM EST

I've been watching Mile High as of late on BBC-A. Any attempt to Americanize that show would be atrocious. All one has to do is think of Couipling and understand.

On that note, I don't think Life on Mars is going to work.

alex Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 02:24 PM EST

I think Love Soup's formula is so simple that it could easily and successfully be adapted for American television. It's a great show, for those of you who haven't seen it, about two people destined to be together. During the show they don't meet, but we see all the other relationships they've encountered and see why they are so right for each other.

Scott Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 02:21 PM EST

I read a while back that Eastenders actually was being considered for an American remake - the twist being it would be set in Detroit. I would watch that for the unintentional comedy goldmine it is sure to be. An actual suggestion would have to be the Aussie's Kath and Kim which could potentially be truly hilarious.

sean Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 02:20 PM EST

I say stop. I still can't get that bad taste out of my mouth when they tried to do an american Coupling (the UK one is brillant) and does anyone else remember Whoopi Goldberg trying to remake Fawlty Towers? Blasphemy!

Janean Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 01:57 PM EST

I'm still trying to figure out how they're going to americanize Little Britain, but I'm looking forward to it.

Footballers Wives doesn't really need to be americanized (well, maybe cleaned up a little for network t.v. and possibly subtitled when certain characters speak)--I think it could be popular as is.

I've often thought we could use something along the lines of Coronation Street. I know we have regular soaps, but I like that Corrie is only half an hour and shown in the evening.

Lesha Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 01:53 PM EST

I say Sky Mile or is it Sky High? Mile High? Well in any case, it's the show about the raunchy airline company. That show makes no sense whatsoever. I would love to see them try to duplicate it. I've only seen a glimpse of the show on BBC-A, but it would be fun for them to try to translate this show to the sensibilty of Middle America.

Rachel Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 01:45 PM EST

I heard we are getting an Americanized Footballers Wives as well. Should be a poor imitation of the original, as nobody can replace Tanya Turner.

Ben Joseph Tue, Sep 5, 2006 at 01:42 PM EST

A fifth, American-produced incarnation of Black Adder, with Rowan Atkinson reprising his starring role. (Is that cheating?)