TV Shows America Stole From Britain - Anglophenia Ep 19 

They absolutely murdered The Inbetweeners. :/

Brits do it best and im glad us aussies have more in common with you guys than we do with the yanks.

Most of the TV I watch is British shows....Personally, I don't understand doing American remakes, just air the original British shows, they're wonderful!

I love a lot of British TV shows. In fact I think there are more good shows on in the UK than here in the US. I watch QI, Have I got news for you, Russell Howard's good news, mock the week, Dr who, versa, mi 5, Bailey and Scott and so many others.

A really successful sitcom over here (UK) in the late 1970s/early 1980s was "Porridge" about a man - Norman Stanley Fletcher - and his life in prison. The Americans wanted their version of it, which was written by the same writers as Porridge, but called "On the Rocks". However, it only lasted one or two series as it didn't really transfer so well. Also, whereas a British sitcom series is normally 6 or 8 episodes, an sitcom in American can be far more and the writers struggled to keep coming up with ideas.

Being Human. I loved that show (the original UK version).

Nothing was 'stolen', the rights were purchased from the original British station and an agreement was reached between the British and American networks.

shameless, the Inbetweeners and Gavin and Stacey will never be as good as the U.K version, we have a different sense of humour than the U.S and it shows in all these programmes. Also, The Office U.S is not good to be honest as Ricky Gervais made the show what it is with his personality.

do you know what the Americans need ... Gogglebox

Yeah but we have Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Mad Men, Entourage, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, 30 Rock, Game of Thrones, The Simpsons, Six Feet Under, Louie, Dexter, American Horror Story, It's Always Sunny, and 24 just to name a few. (And let's not pretend we didn't make House of Cards what it is.) 'murica

I loved The Inbetweeners! Then they did the American remake on MTV and it was sooooo bad. Ugh. Though, I didn't exactly have high hopes for it anyway. They literally copied everything exactly and Americanized it and it just didn't translate too well. A couple of years ago, I read that there was going to be an American version of Misfits. So glad that never happened. That DEFINITELY wouldn't translate well.

The best British shows that were imported directly (and not had American versions made), usually aired on PBS as "Britcoms": "Are You Being Served? (AYBS)", "Keeping Up Apperances", "Allo! Allo!" and "Mr. Bean"

There was a USA remake of Fawlty Towers. Bea Arthur in the Basil Fawlty role... We don't like to talk about it.

Another one not in the video, is One Foot in the Grave. In 1996, Bill Cosby did a remake of it, with Cosby playing the Victor Meldrew character. There is a Wikipedia article saying Cosby was "loosely based" on OFINTG. But the first episode had a number of lines that were directly lifted from the UK original.

I enjoy learning more about British culture, but not a fan of the off-hand comments about the USA. I didn't think that was what this show was about. Nonetheless, I do think it's interesting.

Just found your videos! As a Brit living in America, they have been very useful in educating my american friends :)

Let's not forget the disaster that was the American version of The IT Crowd. As a huge fan of the original, the remake was truly cringeworthy.

I love these episodes of Anglophenia. Keep them coming, Siobhan.

You forgot , when referencing US knockoffs of UK shows that did not make it past the pilot stages, the two (yes, TWO) terrible adaptations of Red Dwarf, which were, as you Brits say, simply dreadful.

You scared me when you mentioned The Dukes of Hazard. There's a few BBC shows I absolutely love watching reruns of; "Are You Being Served", "Keeping up Appearances" and "As Time Goes By"

They buggered up Spaced, Red Dwarf and Inbetweeners

I TOTALLY binge watched Broadchurch on Netflix over Christmas. So good!

They gave us Friends though, we can never compete with this.

Whose Line Is It Anyway is my favorite import. I liked the UK original a lot. "This is me, Clive Anderson saying, ' good night.' Good night."

You forgot Who's Line is it Anyway. This is Clive Anderson, saying goodnight. Goodnight.

I'm tentatively looking forward to David Fincher's next adaptation of a UK show: UTOPIA. The British original will be sorely missed.

Coupling, one of my favorite UK shows and of course The IT Crowd. It's like US ran over that show and is now going to back up and hit it again. Thankfully, I don't think Doc Martin or the Vicar of Dibley is translatable

I LOVE British TV! Most of what I watch is British. I adored absolutely fabulous, are you being served, shamless, doctor who is my all time favorite sense the early days. I've watched all of them, still do Also Gavin and Stacey, coupling, upstairs downstairs, and many MANY more. As to which I think is better, British is hands down. I just wish I could still get some of them like are you being served and my hero. I would like to thank you for your channel, I really enjoy it. keep them coming. 👍👍

Yes, Brits do it better. For example, Doctor Who 

I found the American version of The Office superior to the British original. It just seemed more realistic to me.

As an American who loves TV, or as you across the pond might say: a Yank who loves telly, I for one would like to point out an American TV show that the Brit's borrowed (and did quite well with if I might add)...Law & Order. While I might not be familiar with all of the colloquialisms used in the show, I thoroughly enjoyed Law & Order: UK.

This episode is purely intriguing and one of the reasons why I love Anglophenia! xD

Why does BBC America broadcast Broadchurch when it's ITV's?

I could listen to your beautiful voice all day long. So perfect.

And now they're remaking Luther- All i wanted was a fourth season...

I can't believe you didn't mention 'The Antique's Roadshow' and 'Top Gear'.

The Office is the only American remake that is better than it's English Counterpart.

I really wish the US would adopt and invest more the use of miniseries format from the UK. Makes a show more of an event if it's reoccurring, you can play a lot more with the plot with longer run times, an you'd have so much less filler.

BEST: The Office. Definitely the best American remake and until the later seasons...I'd say the BETTER of the two. It tapped into something about working in a North American office that anyone whose ever done it can definitely relate to. WORST: Skins or the Inbetweeners. Pick one. Both were super tone deaf, too censored and it always seemed like an awkward high school play rather than an adaptation. I think they failed because unlike the Office or House of Cards, they never truly adapted it for the American context. It was just a line by line import.

The British version of What Not to Wear was MUCH better than the US version. Not only did the presenters Trinny and Susannah have real-human shaped female bodies, but they also found clothes for their rescued fashion victims in small towns. Stacy and Clinton could only work in NYC.

I'm surprised you didn't mention Sherlock's horrible American counterpart, Elementary. *cringe* Sherlock rules!

The U.S. attempt at a remake of AbFab (which I did not even recall until this moment) failed because the British Original already had such a LARGE, HUGE fan base here. Can't wait for the MOVIE to open!!! Cheers, Thanks alot...

The American remake of inbetweeners could never work.

Sherlock. Wallander, Bletchley Park, Mrs Fisher, The Wipers Times, Luther.... Just to name a bit of my favorites..... Netflix is going nuts adding new BBC shows weekly... Fantastic.

An American Ab Fab LMFAO

I have a colleague in work that regularly hums the theme tune to Sanford and Son, despite the fact he has never seen the show or knows where he picked the theme up.

Lol we is everyone dissing America though?? I'm looking at the comments and I'm seeing British and "Aussies" saying all these things like dude I'm sure there's things we do better than you guys, and then there's things you guys do better than us.

What about Russell T. Davies's "Queer as folk"? I love the american remake.

this isn't a TV show, but it is something America claims is there's - Apple Pie. Britain invented it first.

I'm very glad I've found this channel. I'm obsessed with Britain and I find British history very fascinating. That's why I have chosen to study English at university. (and Japanese by the way - just to lack sleep :P). Anyway so far you're channel is fantastic! ;)

Red Dwarf USA. Vomit.

I'd love to see a video about popular American TV shows where the main "American" characters are actually played by "British" actors. It may be a very long video.

BBC version of SKINS far superior to that of US version.

I love this channel, sadly, I only found it a week ago. This particular clip is wonderful. Towards the end you mention "skins." A show I much more enjoy on the BBC. Who doesn't love Effy?! I also enjoy shows like, Dr. Who, Misfits, Graham Norton, Keeping up appearances, Vicar of Dibly, and Are you being served. I realize a few of these shows are classic...but the comedy remains!! If you have other shows along this comedy line, I'd love to know. Thank you for your information!!!

Shameless U.S is better than Shameless U.K by far.

I saw House of Card on the show called Masterpiece Theater which showcased British TV shows. Ian Richardson was genuinely chilling on that show and when he got shot I got so excited my mom thought someone real was shot.

Top Gear. The UK version was superior now they both suck

I'm surprised you didn't mention Whose Line Is It Anyway? Although it may not have been as popular in the UK. How about Britain's Got Talent? Did the come from the U.S. originally?

I wish the Americans would remake everything because they do everything better than anyone.

I recall once seeing a really bad pilot for an American version of "Red Dwarf", one of my favorite shows. I think the same happened with "The IT Crowd". I don't believe those ever aired but you can find them floating around online...

I don't understand why this channel is so american-centered. Aren't there any english culture and language lovers in the world, besides americans? It's like watching something that doesn't want me to watch it, like "this is only for U.S. residents, piss off"...

I am from London and have lived in the USA for 40 years. I believe Friends was based on our show Coupling and also the US produced Top Gear over here as well. Both show were pretty watered down compared to the originals

Sorry, but a lot of Americans already knew this. One of my favorite shows was 'Steptoe and Son'. Would it have been better if we Americans hated everything British? We just think you make better tv shows, while we make better movies.

Correct me if I may be wrong, but wasn't 'Friends' a British remake too? It if was that will always be my fave! Most of the British TV shows I am familiar with were on PBS, like the 'Goonies' and 'Fawlty Towers'. I am not sure of the spelling on the last one.

I'll tell you the latest I've spotted that the Americans stole from us: I was watching "Regular Show" when an episode called "Silver Dude" came on. In it, an guy starts "crimping" and using the same style, words and expressions that Howard Moon & Vince Noir use in "The mighty Boosh." The Boosh episode came out around 2006, but "Regular Show" didn't even exist in 2006 (I believe it came out in 2012). I wasn't too pleased to see the writers of "Regular Show" do this, as they are great writers and put out a great show. Hopefully we won't see them nick any more material from other shows.

thank god for BBCAmerica and Netflix!

Three's Company is one of my all time favourite shows. But I did fall in love with the British QAF mini series(which you forgot to mention) before the US made their version of it. But then I fell in love with the US version. I have every American season on DVD and every British episode as well.

John Cleese's Fawlty Towers was copied as a vehicle for Bea Arthur in the short-lived sitcom "Amanda's" back in 1983. John Laroquette also had a turn as an American Basil Fawlty at some point in the mid to late 1990's.

No mention of The Prisoner? Sure, the remake was done strictly as a miniseries, but really....

At least four different versions of "Fawlty Towers" failed here: one starring Harvey Korman, one starring Bea Arthur, one starring John Larroquette, and one starring Tim Curry. The last featured Steve Carrell (!) as the Manuel character.

Thank you for exercising good taste in not highlighting the worst transport ever in American Top Gear.

Ok, so more "borrowed" content from the UK I know of, Red Dwarf a Sci Fi sitcom where Dave Lister (the last man alive), Rimmer (A hologram of his dead bunkmate), Kat (A evolution of a pregnant cat which was smuggled onto the ship by Dave Lister) and Holly (The ships computer who has a severe case of bit rot) are trying to return to Earth after flying away from it for 3 million years after one of the engine drive plates vented radioactive material killing all but Lister and Kat. There was only one Pilot episode of this I'm aware of which had Jane Leeves as Holly and kept Robert Llewellyn as Kryten (A character not introduced to the UK TV show until series (season) 2. Mad Dogs is a drama series where a bunch of school mates all meet up for a bit of a reunion at one of the friends villas, turns out this friend had some rather dodgy acquaintances and it's reasonably dark, but quite funny. I watched the first episode of the US Mad Dogs (it's on UK Amazon Prime) and it was OK, but without the famous British faces or the original, it doesn't quite capture the same atmosphere, by the same token the humour is a bizarre hybrid of the two and doesn't work very well in my opinion. As for Red Dwarf, I found the US pilot of the show quite amusing and it still seemed to work, however it obviously wasn't that popular and as a result didn't get a series. Track down the US pilot out of interest but I believe that they scrapped it and imported the UK version anyway but don't quote me on that :)

I'm quite fond of what I'll call "Britcoms" such as "Keeping up Appearances" ,"Are You Being Served" & "Doc Martin".

The British version of the inbetweeners is one of the best shows ever

I just love your channel. I've always wanted to live in England and I find these very entertaining and informative

You mention quite a few American shows that were remakes of British shows. Some I knew, others I didn't. However, I would like to know what shows started in America and became popular in England.

I think Simon Cowell thought up Britains Got Talent, before he exported it to the USA, but for some reason, America's Got talent started a year earlier than BGT.

Love your channel! One of the few I subscribe to and actually watch! Also, I HAAAAAVE to know where you got this amazing gold sweater!!!

Do you have a list of famous British shows that started in the US? Blankety Blank, Geordie Shore & Blockbusters are 3 that spring to my mind

I love the accent. I could listen to it all day, every day. Oh, and nice episode, BTW.

You forgot "Survivor"! It first aired in Sweden, but was created by Charlie Parsons, a British TV producer, and has been produced in the US by a British TV producer (Mark Burnett) since the first season.

A few of our favorites that came straight over, needing no translation: Are You Being Served, Absolutely Fabulous, Monty Python..., Benny Hill, Keeping Up Appearances (actually Flying Circus political and cultural allusions went past, but still funny).

Being Human - American Version? Its a Canadian version, filmed in Montreal by a Canadian company and starring mostly Canadian actors. The credits call it a North American version. Apparently it's chic and/or sophisticated to bash American tv but not Canadian. I liked both versions up until each jumped the shark. I won't spoil it for anyone.

Can you make a video about american shows that Britain borrowed?

Great presentations. Keep up the good work! 😀

Broadchurch is an ITV show though, so surely if you're talking where it's come from you should mention that (even if it is BBC America who are showing it there)

So, the most influential American tv sitcoms are all British, except the NBC sitcoms (Friends, Seinfeld, etc, ) which are Jewish/Nordic.

You missed out The IT Crowd! The american pilot got made with Richard Ayoade in his role as Moss, but with Joel McHale as Roy and Rocky Carroll as Reynholm. It was horrible.

You forgot Beans of Boston was suppose to be an American version of Are You Being Served.

You missed "Queer as Folk", although the US version lasted way longer than the UK version.

The only thing I think America is rubbish at is soaps. British soaps are amazing but I'll let it slide as they gave us friends and for that I will be eternally grateful.

The In Betweeners was an AWESOME show! I loved it.

I'm wondering if reverse is true, i.e. British networks made their own versions of American show. The only ones I can this of is The Price Is Right and Wheel Of Fortune but their game/quiz shows.

Whose Line is it Anyway? is one of my favorites from Britain

Nice shirt. Aquaman wants it back. I kid, I kid. It did remind me of him though.

Lookin very schmart young lady. You have taught this old hillbilly many things about the mother country. Thanks so much!

I've watched both the UK and US versions of Being Human. Both shows have their strengths and weaknesses, but I think I enjoyed the UK version a bit more. Interesting that Elementary wasn't mentioned since it and Sherlock are both so popular.

I don't know about tv shows, but Siobhan looks gorgeous in this episode. 😍

There were also US versions of Dad's Army & Red Dwarf but they never got past the pilot...

I have only just discovered this channel again. Thank you for mentioning The Dukes of Hazzard. As an American that is my favorite television show however, I did realize that Sanford and Son and Three's Company were British shows before I am not completely uneducated