10 US Adaptations Of UK TV Shows That Didn't Make It Past The Pilot
Cast a wide net and you're going to get some trash.
When it comes to American TV, the idea is to throw as much content out there as possible and just hope that something lands. This means that countless shows are dead on arrival and, despite best efforts, never make it past the first episode.
Sometimes it's a shame, as pilot episodes rarely capture the magic of your favourite TV show. For instance, Parks and Recreation's pilot episode was a dull, awkward affair with minimal chemistry between cast members. Even as the first season continued, the show struggled to find its rhythm before turning into the comedy juggernaut it finished up as.
Of course, when it comes to casting such a wide net, it doesn't take long before ideas start to run dry and producers turn to the relative ease of a remake.
Thankfully for them, the British TV schedule has been blessed with a number of fantastic shows and, thanks to the success of The Office, American producers see dollar signs when they flick through our archives.
Yet, it rarely works out as they want to and more often than not, these adaptations fail to pick up any network interest. Not that us Brits are complaining.
10. The Vicar Of Dibley
To even suggest that The Vicar of Dibley could be made without Dawn French would send fans into the kind of of rage not seen since your weird uncle put milk in his tea before pouring in the water. (Uncle Barry, you're a disaster. Please get help.)
Incredibly, the original series only ran for ten episodes in total, with six in season one during 1994 and a short run in 1997. However, its short time on the airways was all the show needed to become a British comedy classic.
The show has been given another ten special episodes for various public holidays and events, as well as a whole host of shorts for BBC charity shows such as Comic Relief. French even reprised her role for a quick lockdown special back in April.
So, given its incredible success over in the UK, former Fraiser co-stars Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin decided to try and bring the show over to America with Cheers star Kirstie Alley taking the lead role.
Unsurprisingly, despite announcing plans to create the series with Fox, the show never got off the ground and everyone just got on with their lives.