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Recently, three different United States television stations (SyFy, MTV, and HBO) debuted three different shows (Being Human, Skins, and Shameless). What do all these shows have in common? They are all U.S. remakes of popular U.K. serials. This, in itself, isn't very new. U.S. televisions stations have been remaking television shows - from around the world - for decades. Classic shows like All in the Family and Sanford and Son were based on British sitcoms, Till Death Do Us Part and Steptoe and Son, respectively. Recently, other shows like The Office, Kim and Kath, Scoundrels, and Life on Mars and/were remakes, as well.
All of these remakes of television shows, have lead me to a question:
01. Why remake and not bring the shows over/or why remake when the shows are already airing in the States? Being Human, Life on Mars, and Skins have all aired on BBC America; Shameless has also aired in the States. My guess is that, in some ways its cheaper to just remake shows or the big wigs believe the average American citizen wouldn't 'get' shows from other countries.
There's another thing I think about: which is better - the original or the remake? Personally, I think it depends on which one you watch first. Personally, I watched the U.K./original versions first, so I liked them better. I think that people tend to prefer whichever version they see first.
Finally, I think it's unfair to call U.S. television stations "stealers" or "unoriginal", because they take shows from other countries. Many countries remake shows from around the world. The Office has been remade in five different countries; Life on Mars was also remade in Spain; the Korean drama The Devil has been remade in Japan; Wipeout has also been made in several countries, as well. Basically? Every country remakes all sorts of shows.
Do I like it? Not really. But, it looks like television remakes are the wave of the future. (That and crime and medical dramas.)
All of these remakes of television shows, have lead me to a question:
01. Why remake and not bring the shows over/or why remake when the shows are already airing in the States? Being Human, Life on Mars, and Skins have all aired on BBC America; Shameless has also aired in the States. My guess is that, in some ways its cheaper to just remake shows or the big wigs believe the average American citizen wouldn't 'get' shows from other countries.
There's another thing I think about: which is better - the original or the remake? Personally, I think it depends on which one you watch first. Personally, I watched the U.K./original versions first, so I liked them better. I think that people tend to prefer whichever version they see first.
Finally, I think it's unfair to call U.S. television stations "stealers" or "unoriginal", because they take shows from other countries. Many countries remake shows from around the world. The Office has been remade in five different countries; Life on Mars was also remade in Spain; the Korean drama The Devil has been remade in Japan; Wipeout has also been made in several countries, as well. Basically? Every country remakes all sorts of shows.
Do I like it? Not really. But, it looks like television remakes are the wave of the future. (That and crime and medical dramas.)
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Date: 2011-02-10 03:27 am (UTC)I agree. It's like that with books too, I feel. Like, whichever you find amazing first isn't so easily topped by another version.
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Date: 2011-02-10 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-10 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-13 12:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-10 05:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-13 12:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-10 12:20 pm (UTC)I'm a huge fan of Life on Mars (UK version) and I tried to watch the US version but I couldn't. Not that it lasted all that long, anyway. I'm not a fan of remakes but it seems like such a normal thing in the US. Instead of simply being satisfied with the original, they feel like they need to remake it with a director / actors that are recognizable in the States for some reason. As if the foreign versions weren't good enough to be appreciated by a large audience.
Usually, I get annoyed at it and roll my eyes, then decide to ignore it but with the Stieg Larson books / movies, it seriously pisses me off for some reason. I don't know why.
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Date: 2011-02-13 12:33 am (UTC)I'm a huge fan of Life on Mars (UK version) and I tried to watch the US version but I couldn't.
Agreed.
I'm sorry to hear about the Millennium Trilogy. I've never seen the original, but I do know a few people who are annoyed with the remake. It's all about the money.
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Date: 2011-02-10 09:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-13 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-02-12 11:34 am (UTC)But lately there seems to be an overwelming amount of remakes in America. I just don't understand that. Wouldn't it be cheaper to show the original? Does it have to be "americanized" so that people will watch it? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
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Date: 2011-02-13 12:29 am (UTC)