Foreign Versions Of British TV Shows

[Arthur Pringle]

After looking at the US version of 'On The Buses' I thought it might be amusing to look at johnny foreigner's attempts to copy British tv programmes. 

'What A Country!' is based on 'Mind Your Language', like 'Lotsa Luck!' ( another show with an exclamation mark in its title ) it ran for one 'season' only in 1986/7, according to wikipedia it was  'intended as somewhat of a showcase for Ukrainian-American comedian Yakov Smirnoff, whose catchphrase provided the show's title'. 

[Sam Tyler]

I remember watching a program about "Porridge" and in that they played an except of the US version which was called "On The Rocks". I can't find any clips of it yet but it did not translate well.

The program used the original script and the section played was from the first episode where Fletcher is told to "Fill that bottle!" and his classic response: "What? From here?"

Hearing it in the US accent and with actors that did not share the same comedic timing as Ronnie Barker made it fall completely flat.

From what I recall either Dick Clement or Ian La Frenais (can't remember which one) was involved with it.

Sam.

[Arthur Pringle]

The only clip I can see of it is this trailer, I think I remember seeing that clip on the Porridge documentary.

To generalise I think US comedy is a lot more literal, if that's the right word, than British comedy, the shows don't seem to have much subtlety to them & they're more joke based. They have a positive, upbeat feel to them whereas British comedy tends toward realism if not pessimism. There are exceptions, shows like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', but even they have a sunny aspect to them.

[Gene Hunt]

The septics take on Steptoe & Son has to be one of the worst for me.
Sanford & Son ran from 1972 to 1977 on NBC and was extremely popular in America during its run. It even made Time magazines top 100 best TV shows of all time.
Personally, I just can't see it. Perhaps it's because our original Steptoe & Son was such a hard act to follow.

[Arthur Pringle]

I watched that & looked at the original Steptoe & Son episode to compare them, they certainly dumbed it down for a US audience, simplifying the dialogue. The relationship between Sanford & his son doesn't have the pathos of Steptoe & Son, all they seem to do with US versions is take the basic set up of a show & Americanise it.

[Cartman]

Steptoe and Son has similarities to Samuel Becketts play, Waiting for Godot, with two people trapped and one wanting to escape (Harold) 

The American version will completely miss this and be basic and dumb, like most American comedy programmes

[Three Litre]

Surely sitcoms are the hardest things to copy into another culture, not sure why they keep trying it.

However, as Gene posted above if they love it and we think it's weird then they're happy.

[Arthur Pringle]

It's true that Americans seem to be suspicious of anything that might require a bit of thinking, I'm sure this is about keeping the public dumbed down.

Harold was interested in 'bettering himself' through literature & the arts, there was also the political divide, Harold being on the Left & Albert a Tory. An American sitcom wouldn't touch that kind of conflict with a bargepole, they'd be afraid of losing viewers.

Also both Harold & Albert are clued up on antiques, recognising a Meissen, not so in Sanford & Son judging by this episode.

[Arthur Pringle]

American versions of Man About The House, George and Mildred & Robin's Nest- Three's Company, The Ropers & Three's A Crowd. Robin Tripp is renamed Jack Tripper, George renamed Stanley & Mildred renamed Helen. 

Three's Company was shown on ITV nighttime in the late 80's/early 90's. From memory it wasn't too bad.