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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.)
