TV remakes UK\US

HelloDan
HelloDan Posts: 712 Member
in Chit-Chat
So, I recently discover that Gavin and Stacey is being remade for the US under the name 'Them and US', so it got me wondering, why does this happen?

Most of the US remakes I can think of have been pretty terrible, thinking things like; The Inbetweeners, Faulty Towers, Red Dwarf, Only Fools and Horses.

Yet, original US programs do well in the UK, in terms of things like Friends, and original UK programs do well in the US, in terms of things like Dr Who and Top Gear.

Why do TV executives think that things need to be butchered for a US audience, when it appears this is not the case?

Replies

  • UnwrappingCandy
    UnwrappingCandy Posts: 418 Member
    Americans like to destroy things. I add Torchwood, The Office, and Skins to your list of examples. :grumble: :angry:

    ETA: I realise Torchwood wasn't exactly a remake, but it seemed to be made for the American audience only which ultimately made it terrible.
  • HelloDan
    HelloDan Posts: 712 Member
    I agree with your examples, but I'm not convinced that they enjoy destroying things. I'm sure the TV execs would rather have a hit series!

    It seems like the people in charge have an insulting view of the general public, and assume that they cannot understand anything non-american, yet given the popularity of some of the original versions suggests otherwise, I just wondered why this mindset prevails.
  • UnwrappingCandy
    UnwrappingCandy Posts: 418 Member
    It seems like the people in charge have an insulting view of the general public, and assume that they cannot understand anything non-american

    Almost exactly this, but it's not that they assume they cannot understand anything non-American, but that they assume they cannot understand anything. It seems like most American shows are designed to entertain stupid people, to not make them think or wonder. There are a few good shows like Big Bang Theory that are around, but most of the rest are 'reality' shows or mindless dramas. American television is getting so close to having the show from the film Idiocracy called 'Ow! My balls!' I live in the States and I know that there are loads of truly stupid people here, but there are also many intelligent people, which is why Big Bang Theory is a hit and probably why Doctor Who is getting so big here, I think.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
    because yank tv execs think the american populace to be morons unable top appreciate english humour in its undiluted form.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    It seems like the people in charge have an insulting view of the general public, and assume that they cannot understand anything non-american, yet given the popularity of some of the original versions suggests otherwise, I just wondered why this mindset prevails.

    I would agree with this. When I lived outside of the US I was amazed with the amount of news actually going on in the world. We are pretty sheltered from news here and other programming. Odd for a country that claims to have free press, but anyways. I agree that I would much rather keep the original programming. I never saw the remade fawlty towers but they used to play the original on the public station here and it was so funny.

    It's a shame because I'm sure we miss out on some great programming. Maybe there's more money to be made by a remake then airing already filmed shows, who knows.

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