# In Praise of 'Ghosts' (British TV Series That Inspired The American One) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [December 31, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428 "2022-12-31T21:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/201 "2023-10-23T18:17:43Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I was inspired to go and watch the BBC [charity special (Red Nose Day) featuring Kylie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfwfFLcrXnw) - I’m not sure if this YouTube link will play across regions - the BBC might put a blocker on it. It played fine to me. I saw it on YouTube when it came out ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2023, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/202 "2023-10-23T20:40:28Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > I only recall one overt “fanny” joke( though I could have missed others) There are loads, most of them very cleverly throwaway. I recently rewatched the whole series in anticipation of the final, and not only did I hear all the Fanny jokes, but all the implied references about the Captain, and other things that are more obvious in retrospect. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Do we now know how all our Ghosts died? That was the real point of the final series. To conclude the stories of how each of them died. I think we got two reveals per season. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/203 "2023-11-08T04:47:45Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I’m fairly certain I read that somewhere in the last month. Paramount+ will have the UK Ghost episodes after they air. I just checked, and now there is a trailer up on Paramount+, and it’s listed as “coming November 16”, and was able to add it to my list. So it is defiantly coming to Paramount+. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/204 "2023-11-08T14:25:41Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > So it is defiantly coming to Paramount+ So it doesn’t want to come to Paramount+ but is being forced to? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/205 "2023-11-08T18:35:11Z")
There’s no end the the amusement autocorrect can cause, is there? But I think it would be the opposite – Paramount+ doesn’t want it, but UK Ghosts is like “Screw you, I’m coming anyway.” ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/206 "2023-11-09T11:36:58Z")
I’ve got to give respect for a couple of scenes in a recent episode. Spoilerized: The usually uptight Fanny contemplates a “bucket list” for doing things she never tried in life. She approaches a pond, then the camera shows her from behind as she lets down her hair, which goes all the way to her ankles, then prepares to jump in. The scene cuts to her fully clothed, deciding not to take the plunge. Later, a neighbor drops off more used baby goods and drives off on his motorcycle. In the next scene, she’s on the bike with him, her hair trailing 20 ft behind, as she screams a big whoop. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/207 "2023-11-09T12:48:15Z")
The scene cuts to her fully clothed, deciding not to take the plunge. That’s not what happened. In the _Ghosts_ reality, anything they were wearing or holding when they died can only be separated from them for a few seconds before they reappear again exactly how they were. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/208 "2023-11-09T17:55:17Z")
Split hairs much? I thought it was a beautiful and meaningful scene, regardless of the technicality. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/209 "2023-11-09T18:11:06Z")
I don’t think it was splitting hairs or a technicality. It didn’t happen because she was defeated by the rules of the afterlife, not because she chose not to. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/210 "2023-11-13T23:40:37Z")
This Thursday November 16, 2023 at 9pm Eastern Time Ghosts UK will be airing as “Who do you think you are?” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/211 "2023-11-13T23:57:29Z")
To be clear, that’s the title of the first episode, not a rename for the series. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/212 "2023-11-14T00:14:39Z")
That is CBS sending out the wrong info. To be clear. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/213 "2023-11-14T00:34:24Z")
It must be a screwup in a press release. The CBS site lists the series name and the episode title for episode. So for Thursday they list: 8:00pm Young Sheldon A Baby Shower and Testosterone-Rich Banter 8:30pm Ghosts The Perfect Assistant 9:00pm Ghosts UK Who Do You Think You Are? 9:30pm Ghosts UK Gorilla War 10:00pm SEAL Team Nine Ten > **[TV Listings and Schedule for CBS Shows](https://www.cbs.com/schedule/)** > > See TV Listings and the latest times for all of the primetime CBS Shows lineups. A full schedule of programming for the next few weeks of what will be airing on CBS. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/214 "2023-11-14T01:48:44Z")
The DVR feed info is borked, they’ll probably fix it before Thursday but it may cause some recording issues. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/215 "2023-11-14T08:36:49Z")
A couple of nuggets from recent publicity here in the UK: I saw an interview with Martha Howe-Douglas (who plays Fanny). It was interesting to hear that she was originally considering taking the Alison role, because she’d got used to being the “straightwoman protagonist” in the troupe’s previous show _Yonderland_ and she wasn’t sure if she could still play a comedy character. Also, a lot of Robin’s comedy mispronunciations are the result of the actor’s prosthetics affecting how he can shape words. They write around it, and sometimes lean into it. Yonderland is very much worth seeking out if you like Ghosts, by the way. Imagine Labyrinth if it was written by the Monty Python team. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/216 "2023-11-14T13:38:28Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > 9:00pm > Ghosts UK > Who Do You Think You Are? > > 9:30pm > Ghosts UK > Gorilla War So I see they’re doubling up on episodes, which is good I guess for those of us who’ve seen all but the most recent season. Still means, by my calculation, several months before they catch up, though. Oh well. Also, d’oh, I thought well, I’ll have to just wait until they’ve caught up with the most recent season and get Paramount+ long enough to binge it (which I may still do). Then this post reminded me that oh yeah, that ancient practice of Network ‘appointment TV’ still exists 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/217 "2023-11-20T15:36:56Z")
In the previous Christmas panto episode, they had some difficulty in this regard around Kitty’s shoe. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/218 "2023-11-24T15:17:38Z")
Here is an [excellent article](https://www.primetimer.com/features/ghosts-uk-ghosts-cbs-british-sitcoms-darker-than-american-shows) that explores the tonal differences between the UK and US _Ghosts_. Basically, it covers the points that have been raised here: that the American version is significantly more optimistic, in keeping with American optimism vs. British pessimism (or realism, if you prefer). It also covers the fact that the British ghosts are more prickly and demanding and less enamored (save for Thomas’ crush on Alison) of their Livings. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/219 "2023-11-24T22:17:45Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > On last week’s episode (March 27, 2023), one of the characters said something to the effect of, “I don’t get British humor.” Obviously an inside joke, considering that the show is the U.S. version of a British comedy of the same name. Yeah, but the humor is different. I do not like the Brit couple as much as the Yank couple. Their reaction upon seeing the library- meh. Also, witches were not burned in England. They were hung, etc > [@What\_Exit](#): > > They both have certain advantages. The US husband is a better character. The first 2 seasons of UK Ghosts, all I could think was why was Alison with this loser and why do they have to have the husband so 90s sitcomishly useless. Alison (UK) and Samantha (US) are both excellent. Right. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The problem with the UK husband is that he’s not really part of the ensemble. The US version interacts with the ghosts as much as the wife even though he can’t see or hear them. Exactly. The UK Ghosts are pretty cool tho. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/220 "2023-12-26T01:18:23Z")
_Sniff_. (Wipes nose on sleeve.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=12)