# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2023, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/101 "2023-06-12T23:52:46Z")
You’re probably right. It always stands out to me but we may never know. Here’s another question (for anybody): in the Moona Stone ep, Allison plays a game of poker with neighbor Barclay and tries to get Mary to reveal his hand. She says something like “there be a person who wears a blanket that looks like another person”, which is pretty obviously a face card. Her description of the other card is “more than a three and looks like a loaf with a wrong stick”. What do you think she’s referring to? A six? Is it just nonsense for humor’s sake? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2023, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/102 "2023-06-13T06:14:01Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > What do you think she’s referring to? Clubs. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2023, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/103 "2023-06-13T09:04:38Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > The UK version is almost based on a true story. The house used for filming was left to a distant relative who had no idea about it until a solicitor contacted him. The “distant relative” being [Bamber Gascoigne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamber_Gascoigne), BTW. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/104 "2023-06-13T14:10:51Z")
Thanks! ---
**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:** [June 21, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/105 "2023-06-21T20:55:51Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Did you notice in the Brit version the basement ghosts are all played by the same actors that play the ghosts? Well except the little girl ghost. I know the other shows the actors were on was mentioned earlier but I don’t know if it was mentioned that the main ghosts (except for Mary) are all credited as being the only writers and creators of the show. It’s not that surprising they would cast themselves as the plague ghosts. They all also get executive producer credit on the American version. I’m guessing that means free money not any kind of control. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/106 "2023-06-25T05:46:32Z")
I finished the available UK episodes and started on the US. The British version isn’t exactly subtle but it’s more subtle than the US version. The soldier is not immediately obviously gay like in the US version and it’s revealed quite well. The US soldier is quite funny though from the start. I do like Robin much more than Thor. One major issue I have with the UK version is the complete lack of chemistry with the couple. Alison and Mike feel more like best buds who are rooming together than a married couple. Sam and Jay feel like a married couple from the start. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/107 "2023-06-25T14:36:41Z")
Try to watch for plot overlap between the two shows. It happens from time to time, but it’s very subtle. For example, in the British version, the ghosts tried valiantly to warn Mike when there were intruders in the house - to comic effect. In the American version, the ghosts try valiantly to warn Jay … well, I shan’t spoil it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/108 "2023-06-25T15:13:05Z")
Is the US version a laugh-track sitcom? Or is it similar to the UK show? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/109 "2023-06-25T15:19:19Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Try to watch for plot overlap between the two shows. It happens from time to time, but it’s very subtle. For example, in the British version, the ghosts tried valiantly to warn Mike when there were intruders in the house - to comic effect. In the American version, the ghosts try valiantly to warn Jay … well, I shan’t spoil it. Actually, please do spoil it. I’ve watched every episode of both series (well, at least the first three of the original because MAX doesn’t have the fourth series yet) but don’t remember what you’re referring to. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/110 "2023-06-25T15:41:14Z")
I’ve seen a couple episodes of the American version, including one a few weeks ago that showed how Flower died. She got mauled by a bear. The scoutmaster ghost (like i said, I’m not a regular watcher) has the arrow through his neck, which I assume is what killed him. If the ghosts carry with them the results of their demise, shouldn’t Flower have chunks of flesh hanging off her body? ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/111 "2023-06-25T15:43:27Z")
She showed the claw marks on her back in the first episode. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/112 "2023-06-25T15:48:54Z")
That probably saves a lot of time in the makeup chair during filming. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/113 "2023-06-25T16:09:00Z")
Somehow Sam wound up locked in the safe with Heddy. Because of the in-universe rules that govern the ghosts, Heddy couldn’t leave the safe because of the metal walls, and Sam … well, she couldn’t open it from the inside. The other ghosts knew and were trying to warn Jay. Thor did his thing and caused the lights to flicker, Isaac walked through Jay (so he smelled the fart smell), and they led him to the bathroom. There, Trevor wrote on the mirror “Sam in safe.” There’s a bit more to it but that’s the gist. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/114 "2023-06-25T16:09:25Z")
Similarly, the 80s prom girl shows scars on her back from the chainsaw that killed her. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/115 "2023-06-25T16:11:17Z")
There’s no laugh track. I think in the US that’s called a “single-camera sitcom.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/116 "2023-06-25T16:14:46Z")
Thanks for reminding me. It was pretty funny. And unlike some other US adaptations of UK series (Coupling, The Inbetweeners, etc.), this one is good. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/117 "2023-06-25T18:50:38Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And unlike some other US adaptations of UK series (Coupling, The Inbetweeners, etc.), this one is good. It’s a hit and miss experiment to adapt a UK show. The Office worked quite well and All In The Family was a hit, but Fawlty Towers has had a few attempts and none have worked. Joel McHale even made a pilot for an American IT Crowd show and it never got picked up. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/118 "2023-06-25T18:53:50Z")
I don’t think anyone really knows why one adaptation works while another does not. Some of the first episodes of The Office (US) and Shameless were almost identical to the original shows and yet the shows succeeded. But Coupling tried the same thing and it didn’t work. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/119 "2023-06-25T21:20:49Z")
> [@American Adaptations Of British TV Shows: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-adaptations-of-british-tv-shows-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/986095): > > Over in [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/117), we’re talking about a British show that was remade in the U.S. and was/is a success (“[Ghosts](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11379026/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)”). Adaptation of British shows for the U.S. audience has been hit-and-miss. American adaptations of “The Office” and “Shameless” were huge success. “Coupling” and “Fawlty Towers,” not so much. What are some others? I submit: Steptoe & Son/Sanford & Son. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428/120 "2023-07-24T15:17:14Z")
I read an article talking about what the networks plan to air this fall, given the writers’ and actors’ strikes. It said that CBS is going to air reruns of the American adaptation of Ghosts, as well as the original UK series, starting from the beginning (and apparently two episodes each week). So that may explain why MAX doesn’t have the fourth series of the original show; my guess is that CBS now owns the US broadcast rights. (So now I’m kind of hoping the strike-related disruption to productions lasts long enough that CBS is able to air the fourth series.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ghosts-british-tv-series-that-inspired-the-american-one/977428.md?page=7)