10 US Adaptations Of UK TV Shows That Didn't Make It Past The Pilot

We know what you're thinking. "Why the smeg would they want to make Red Dwarf American?". It's a fair question, especially as it's been attempted on more than one occasion. Unfortunately for the Yanks, unlike Craig Charles' other show "Robot Wars", Red Dwarf didn't translate very well across the pond.

NBC originally ordered a pilot back in 1992 after the original series received encouraging numbers over on PBS. Linwood Boomer (Malcolm in the Middle) was tasked with writing the episode.

However, when cast members were unhappy with his efforts, Doug Naylor and Rob Grant were brought in from the UK version to re-write. Despite the new script being far better in everyone's eyes, the episode turned out closer to Boomer's script.

This didn't work out well. The episode tested well with the live audience; however, NBC execs were unimpressed and handed the project over to Naylor and Grant for another attempt.

Attempt two still missed the mark, with criticism of the casting choices landing it the nickname "White Dwarf" by Craig Charles. Though it was never aired, die-hard fans can track down bootlegged copies of the pilot, though I'm not sure why they would want to.