American Versions of English Shows

[manaman]

The american remake of Life on Mars was pretty good.

Get out!

I'll sit here and listen to peoples opinion on this. But they royally missed the mark on that one,

Sounds like you might be stating as a fact that something is bad.

I find this hilarious after how much effort you put into trying to "prove" the story to the first Gears of War as good.

Stalking me now?

And the comment was meant to be slightly humorous. Hence the 'Get out.'

But yea, my opinion of the show is that they completely missed the mark. It attempted to be a carbon copy of the original only without any of the style.

Stalking you? Yes of course. I will fallow you to the ends of earth now because we disagreed once on a forum. Either that, or I happened to recognize your name or something.

<color=aliceblue>.
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I am watching you...

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

I find the American version of the "Office" much better. I find a lot of the British characters offputting... can't really say why...

 

[J Tyran]

The only one i can bring to mind is Dragons Den, or Shark Tank as you Americans renamed it.

And it remained good to me simply because the only difference i notice between the two shows is that Shark Tank takes place in a considerably nicer room.

That show is a pretty good example of the different tastes from each side of the Atlantic. Dragons Den is set in an empty and slightly dark and oppressive warehouse, only the entrepreneurs and the dragons are in the light. This adds atmosphere, the US version though values presentation more. The set feels business like and crisp, almost like an executive meeting room.

The differences are subtle but its a very good example.

 

[uzo]

I say the American versions of Wilfred and The Office are much better and funnier than the Aussie and British versions.

Indeed ... but does the American version of Wilfred include a scene of Cindy Waddingham in the NEWD ??!!?!

That damned dog annoys the shit out of me but I'll gladly watch it for Cindy.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

Honestly, I give the US Office the first 4 Seasons, and even then 5 wasn't bad, it's 6 that was garbage, and 7 was great in it's second half (Finishing up Michael's story). Season 8 is absolutely horrible, and retroactively makes the UK version the better show...

 

[DSQ]

Stricly Come Dancing (UK) = Dancing With The Stars (US)

and

Steptoe and Son (uk) = Stanford and Son (us)

It think ScD is better than the US version DwS. Bruce Forcyth makes the show, he is an honest to goodness entertainer.

But while Both Stanford and Steptoe have their charms I think Stanford wins out on the orginal Steptoe since the Rag and Bone trade was dying even then so the context was alway the most baffeling part of that show even if the humor was more to my darker taste.

I think the American Office can be seen as better since Rickys humor is very... unique when he is not being provoctive. I LOVE his humor but as we can see by the middling sucess of his film vehicles not everyone gets him.

 

[Frybird]

The german version of The Office is the best one, trust me on that.

Unfortunately, that means that 99% of EVERYTHING else sucks in german tv.

(The attempt to do an exact remake of The IT Crowd over here is legendary in it's awfulness)

 

[The Dutchess]

I've heard the American Queer as Folk was better than the British one. Mostly by virtue of not being written by Russell T. Davies. Who then went on to write Torchwood: Miracle Day, the American reboot which was necessitated by his ruining of the original series through Children of Earth. ...Let's not talk about either of those any more than we have to, okay?

... Russel T Davies also created the revamped Dr Who (until the latest series which is much worse without him) and created the original Torchwood. Also I liked Queer as Folk but I haven't seen the American version.

 

[Crazy Zaul]

There's an American version of dragons den? I knew there was a Canadian version but somehow not an American one.

Anyway, I wondered why NBC remade Free agents when the British version wasn't even good or popular in the first place.
I watched the first episode of the Office and Office USA 1 time and they were word for word exactly the same so whats the point? (Well except that Carrel>Gervais but not enough to spend the money on.)

And Cougar Town is probably better than Cougarton Abbey

 

[lRookiel]

I watched the American top gear (Top gear USA), it was an abomination.

They just rehashed the challenges that Top Gear UK did..... with less humour and more stupidity.

:3

 

[nsqared]

Whos Line is it Anyway? was a good adaptation of a British show. Both are pretty awesome, and i haven't watched a lot of the British version, but I still prefer the american version.
So many lolz in both of the shows.

 

[Syzygy23]

There is a circle of Hell reserved for American producers who re-make British shows. Actually, truth be told, I don't mind game-show remakes too much, since they aren't particularly 'British' to begin with, and can be easily adapted for an American audience (unless it was something like 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks,' which I don't think they'd really get). But anything with a real script or storyline, or even the occasional joke, is a complete no-no.

Personally, I prefer not to touch American remakes. Why would I? It's basically the same show, but with most of the stuff that's culturally relevant to me taken out so as not to alienate the US. If it's a good show, and good enough to be remade, then the US can just sit down and watch the damn unedited version. I love Dexter, but I don't feel a need to change all the coffee cups to cups of tea. If I have to sit there not-quite-understanding around 40% of the jokes in a given Family Guy episode, they have to go and google what the word 'wanker' means. Fair is fair.

On a side note to the US; If you ever, EVER, touch Doctor Who, we will officially declare war.
. . . We'd lose, but then they wouldn't be able to steal our shows any more.

Why would we need Dr. Who when we have Star Trek?

 

[Andy Shandy]

No idea if anyone has mentioned Shameless. Haven't seen the English version of it, but holy hell does William Macy make the American version so good.

I quite enjoyed the first few seasons of the British version of Shameless, although I never found out when it was on again and lost track of it. Definitely worth a watch though. Launched James McAvoy's career as well (although whether that's a good or bad thing is down to personal preference)

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

*Que girly squeal*

Cue.

"Queue" is to line up, or a line itself ("On queue.")

"Cue" is to prompt.quote]

Thank you for correcting my English. I usually pride myself on my correct grammer, but you can't be perfect. But thank you anyway.

Anyway, I loved both "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" versions! I can't belive that I forgot that one.

Also, I did like the UK version of the Office more than the *Ahem* MERICAN! version.

On a side note to the US; If you ever, EVER, touch Doctor Who, we will officially declare war.
. . . We'd lose, but then they wouldn't be able to steal our shows any more.

Don't fret. If anyone ever does this, I will join the UK side. No one touches the Doctor.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I've always liked the office (the American one), but never much cared for the British version. I think its Ricky Gerbaine or whatever his name is.

 

[Carl The Manicorn]

Thank you for correcting my grammer. I appreciate it. Usually I pride myself on the way I talk, but I slip up every so often.

But OT: I loved both versions of "Who's Line". I forgot about them because I haven't seen them is such a long time.

And to the users who fear about the Americanization of Doctor Who. Don't fret. I'm pretty sure there would be rage so bad, that the world would implode.

 

[Von Dean]

The American Office is the only really good example I can think of,the humour in in has been changed for stateside audiences but it is a very well written and absolutely funny as hell show

 

[molester jester]

British TV is so much more witty and enjoyable. Aside from Doctor Who, I watch a number of British shows regularly and still watch old shows. Just to name a few, Peep Show, Spaced, This is Jinsy, misfits, the office, shameless, The IT crowd, coupling, kingdon, Gavin and Stacy, an idiot abroad, pulling, The shadow line, and Saxondale

Quite a few of those have been remade by an American company or are going to be remade, last i heard they are currently working on an adaptation of Misfits.

 

[molester jester]

No idea if anyone has mentioned Shameless. Haven't seen the English version of it, but holy hell does William Macy make the American version so good.

The american version is ok, and i like William Macy but he is not a patch on David Threlfall, Macy just does not look grimy and fucked up enough to play Frank.