# Shows where the British version was way better than the American version **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218 "2012-08-02T20:59:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [August 3, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/41 "2012-08-03T14:44:35Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > Jersey Shore = Geordie Shore. šŸ˜ƒ Having been forced to watch several episodes of Jersey Shore against my explicitly expressed will, I might have to find episodes of Geordie Shore online, if only to see who plays the British Snookie. I thought _The Only Way is Essex_ (a.k.a. TOWIE) was a _Jersey Shore_-alike already. Google ā€œAmy Childsā€ for your British Snookie. Overstyled, overtanned, and overstupid.\* TOWIE is also responsible for introducing the general populace to the word ā€œvajazzleā€. \ \*Seriously, Childs was on a game show a few months ago and got no answers right at all. And they kept making the questions easier just to prevent her from striking out but no, she even whiffed on the SITC question. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/42 "2012-08-03T15:24:21Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Hmm-have the Brits ever based something on an American series? Yes. The Golden Girls. And it sucked. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/43 "2012-08-03T15:27:40Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Yes. The Golden Girls. And it sucked. I am so surprised that the creative efforts of people who copy otherā€™s ideas havenā€™t worked out. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/44 "2012-08-03T15:43:55Z")
All of them. Although if we tried to adapt US drama, I think weā€™d also make a complete hash of it. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/45 "2012-08-03T15:51:14Z")
Someone did adapt Law & Order for the UK and I think there have been six series of that so far, so that one worked. But that show is so structured that I think itā€™s a special case. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/46 "2012-08-03T17:09:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > US version of Fawlty Towers: [Payne](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182623/). Nine horrible episodes compared to FTā€™s perfect twelve. I sit corrected. I see by Wikipedia that not one but _two_ Fawlty adaptations actually made it to the US airwaves, the other being [Amandaā€™s](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084973/plotsummary) with Bea Arthur. Thankfully, neither lasted a full season. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/47 "2012-08-03T17:45:18Z")
Is it too early to predict that _Elementary_, the U.S.'s version of the British _Sherlock_, will suck? I canā€™t wrap my head around a female Watson, nor do I want to try. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/48 "2012-08-03T17:50:30Z")
Removing the perfect nature documentary narration by David Attenborough and replacing it for US audiences with narration by some US actor, actress, whoever else. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/49 "2012-08-03T19:16:52Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > US version of Fawlty Towers: [Payne](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182623/). The most astonishing thing is that it was actually shown in Britain, albeit on ITV rather than the BBC and late at night with minimal publicity. Having stumbled across it by accident, I spent a few minutes watching it and then suddenly realised that the set was a mirror image of Torbayā€™s most famous guest house. I then twigged that the whole setup seemed suspiciously familiarā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/50 "2012-08-03T19:35:07Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > I still believe [Newhart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhart)was an attempt to do Fawlty Towers, or at least something like it. I never got that impression. _Newhart_ was quintessential Bob Newhart, the only sane person in the room with the exception of his wife who was even saner (although I think Emily was saner than Joanna). I also agree on _Cracker_ and when I first saw the thread title I immediately thought about _The Life and Loves of a She Devil_. Does anyone watch _Being Human_? I havenā€™t seen the American version but the British is one of those guilty pleasure type things for me. Itā€™s a fairly stupid show but I get sucked up when BBC-A runs marathons. ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/51 "2012-08-03T19:35:10Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Removing the perfect nature documentary narration by David Attenborough and replacing it for US audiences with narration by some US actor, actress, whoever else. Seriously, they did that? Not for everything, surely? Iā€™m hoping you still get to experience some of the mastery of Attenborough. I came in to mention _Life on Mars_ but I see I was beaten to it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/52 "2012-08-03T19:44:34Z")
> [@Charley](#): > > Seriously, they did that? Not for everything, surely? Iā€™m hoping you still get to experience some of the mastery of Attenborough. > > I came in to mention _Life on Mars_ but I see I was beaten to it. Pierce Brosnan narrated _The Blue Planet_, _Planet Earth_ was narrated by Sigourney Weaver, _Life_ was narrated by Oprah Winfrey, Alec Baldwin for _Frozen Planet_. Needless to say, I made a point of watching them on DVD/Blu-Ray where the original Attenborough narration was intact. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/53 "2012-08-03T20:11:41Z")
There was a show in the '70s called ā€œSugar Timeā€ that I always thought was a sanitized version of ā€œRock Follies,ā€ which generated some controversy when it was aired in the US. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/54 "2012-08-04T10:19:24Z")
The UK version of WLIIA seemed more anarchic and chaotic, which was great, but it was the addition of US comics as guests that kept it interesting and fresh. I canā€™t imagine anyone topping The Office, it is perfection. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/55 "2012-08-04T12:31:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I thought _The Only Way is Essex_ (a.k.a. TOWIE) was a _Jersey Shore_-alike already. Google ā€œAmy Childsā€ for your British Snookie. Overstyled, overtanned, and overstupid.\* > > TOWIE is also responsible for introducing the general populace to the word ā€œvajazzleā€. \ > > \*Seriously, Childs was on a game show a few months ago and got no answers right at all. And they kept making the questions easier just to prevent her from striking out but no, she even whiffed on the SITC question. Apparently on UK shows [they make fun of Amy Childs to her face](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAr3cVSNPQU) for being so vapid (NSFW language/topic). ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/56 "2012-08-04T12:35:51Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Cybil was the enjoyable American version of Absolutely Fabulous. Ab Fab was better. I watched both, and never realised that Cybil was a version of AbFab. Iā€™d say the british version was great in first series but wasnā€™t very good in later series but I remember enjoying Cybil when it was onā€¦ ---
**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:** [August 4, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/57 "2012-08-04T13:39:25Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Apparently on UK shows [they make fun of Amy Childs to her face](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAr3cVSNPQU) for being so vapid (NSFW language/topic). Thatā€™s nothing - you should see what they do to [Jedward](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3lK2LA7PjM). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/58 "2012-08-04T15:24:21Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I have to agree. We do a very poor job over here adapting them. > > The two that immediately came to mind were Coupling and The Office. > I understand there was a time when Absolutely Fabulous was going to be remade here, and I was horrified at what might have been done to it. They were thinking of doing Fawlty Towers with Bea Arthur as Sybil and no Basil character. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/59 "2013-07-29T15:40:21Z")
I watched the entire first season of the US ā€œHouse of Cardsā€ when I finished exams. I just finished watching the entire BBC ā€œHouse of Cardsā€ series. I felt that was a worthy enough reason to bump my own thread. šŸ™‚ Kevin Spacey is a good actor, and plays a convincing Southern Democrat. But the show is too busy, the characters not evil enoughā€¦the writing just isnā€™t as good in the American version. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218/60 "2013-07-29T16:04:03Z")
Didnā€™t realize this was an old thread and was going to add **House of Cards**. The UK original oozed evil. The US version sorta sputtered. I prefer the US version of **Antiques Roadshow**. The experts give good background and are more precise with their reasoning, when they estimate value. And Keno twins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-where-the-british-version-was-way-better-than-the-american-version/630218.md?page=4)