Related
While some remake can improve upon the original , these U.S. remakes of U.K. sitcoms did not . Many endeavour have been made to conform prosperous British comedy for an American audience over the years , with deviate point of achiever . This list detail the seven worst U.S. remakes of U.K. sitcom .
Certain British sitcoms have receive a new letting of life after being refashion into American counterpart . The Officeis the premier instance of this , so successful and democratic many consider it superior to the U.K. original . However , other U.S. remakes of British sitcoms have been far less triumphant .
1The Inbetweeners
The beloved British sitcomThe Inbetweenersoriginally air three serial publication between 2008 and 2010 and breed two movies in 2011 and 2014.The Inbetweenersdetailed the exploits of teenagers Will , Simon , Neil , and Jay as they sputter with shoal life and pubescence . A U.S. remake was first attempted in 2008 by ABC , but the project was stillborn and finally vacate .
2Spaced
Spacedwas an iconic British sitcom that garner a cult fandom in the U.K. for its surreal humor . It was directed by Edgar Wright ( Shaun of the Dead ) and was publish by and starred Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson as flatmates Tim and Daisy . Spacedran in the U.K. for just 14 highly - regarded episodes between 1999 and 2001 . A U.S. remaking ofSpacedwas propose in 2008 .
The American remake ofSpacedproduced a pilot that was highly deride by creators and fan of the original series and was ultimately canceled . At the time of authorship , the U.S.Spacedpilot boasts a 1.2/10 grudge on IMDB . Edgar Wright , who was near to farm the series , observed the impossibleness of a U.S. version ofSpaced , noting that"Part of the charm of ' Spaced ' is , it ’s people in north London act out material from American films … “Without the unprejudiced separation from American culture during these scenes , the U.S.,Spacedstruggled to recreate the original ’s charm .
3The IT Crowd
The IT Crowdwas a darling British situation comedy write by British comedy caption Graham Linehan . It ran from 2006 to 2013 and detailed the daily life of the IT support staff in a London corporation , who each struggled immensely with social interactions . A U.S. remake was be after by NBC for 2007 , with British wiz Richard Ayoade reprising his role as"the nerdiest man in the world,“Moss .
Despite Ayoade , the U.S. original was badly receive , and the series was at last call off . The fender has since leak online , and many critic have suggestedThe IT gang , likeThe Inbetweeners , also remain too tight to the British version and struggled to match its sense of humour . Since then , NBC has attempted and failed to farm two more remakes , one in 2014 and another in 2018 .
4Peep Show
The longest - running U.K. sitcom ever , Peep Showwas a phenomenon and to the full infiltrated the U.K. zeitgeist , even introducing several phrase to the modern British lexicon . The sitcom starred comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb as tragic flatmates Mark and Jez . Peep Showwas praised for its novel economic consumption of first - individual storytelling , the television camera shooting from each character ’s linear perspective in a hand scene . FX is planning a U.S. remake ofPeep Show , the fifth effort at an American remake .
The third attempt to make a U.S. version ofPeep Showoccurred in 2005 and asterisk Johnny Galecki , just two long time beforeThe Big Bang Theorywas released . This fender inexplicably opted to drop the iconic first - person perspective that made the British original famous . as luck would have it forThe Big Bang Theory , thisPeep Showpilot failed and was not picked up for a full season . The latestPeep Showremake is still in preproduction and will boast two lead female role player in a grammatical gender - trade rendering of the U.K. sitcom .
5Us & Them
Us & Themwas a remake of the British sitcomGavin & Stacey . The darling British original endure 19 installment over three old age , with a Christmas extra broadcast in 2019.Gavin & Staceydepicted the romanticistic effort of the titular duo and their burgeon farsighted - distance relationship . Gavin and Staceywas spell by James Corden and Ruth Jones , who also starred in the serial as the respective better friends of Gavin and Stacey .
Us & ThemremadeGavin & Staceyalmost identically , even repeating the title fictional character ' name calling . Us & Themwas due to carry on Fox in 2013 , but it ultimately rejected the sitcom and remained unseen . That was until Sony ’s cyclosis servicing , Crackle , broadcast the seven episodes in 2018 . Despite a formidable cast , Us & Themfailed to recapture the charm ofGavin & Staceyand subsequently received incredibly indifferent reviews .
6Call Me Kat
Call Me Katis a situation comedy currently go on Fox . It star Mayim Bialik ( The Big Bang Theory ) in the deed role , a 39 - year - quondam single cleaning lady surviving in the modern world . Call Me Katis a remake of the highly successful U.K. sitcomMiranda . Mirandawas written by and hotshot comedian British Miranda Hart , initially accommodate aspect of her fend - up routine and her life .
The U.K. sitcomMirandaran from 2009 to 2014 and brag one of the big audiences on British television receiver . Mirandawas celebrate partly for Miranda Hart ’s fictitious character , ofttimes break the fourth wall and talking direct to the viewer . WhileCall Me Katcritics have praise Bialik ’s performance , most have called it an subscript imitation that suffer from wretched writing and cheap gimmicks . Miranda Hart ’s endear relationship with the audience through the semi - autobiographic textile is undoubtedly hard to emulate , but , despite this , Call Me Katseason 3 begin airing in September 2022 .
7Payne
publish in 1999,Paynewas a remake of the classical U.K. sitcomFawlty Towers . Like its predecessor , Paynedepicts the antics of the titulary grumpy hotelier Royale Payne , played by John Larroquette . Paynelasted only eight episodes before it was call off by CBS , with a ninth filmed but never let go of . Despite an indorsement from Basil Fawlty himself , John Cleese , Paynesuffered from hapless composition and was heavily criticize for it . Interestingly though , Paynewas the third attempt to remakeFawlty Towersin the U.S.
The first attempted remaking ofFawlty Towersoccurred in 1978 and star Harvey Korman and Betty White . This rendition was titledSnavelyand never made it past the pilot . The secondFawlty Towersremake , however , did give broadcast . 1983’sAmandastarred Bea Arthur as the titular hotel possessor and lasted slenderly longer thanPayne , with ten episodes . Although thirteen episodes were produced , three remained unaired , and ABC canceled the remaking due to low viewing figures . Snaverly , Amanda , andPaynerepresent the worst attempts at a U.S. remake of a classic U.K. sitcom .
