10 US Remakes Of British TV Shows Which Were Actually Pretty Good

Early in the second season of the Steve Carell starring US version of The Office, it became abundantly clear that the “which is best” question was redundant. While the remake started as a direct adaptation of Gervais and Merchant’s masterpiece, it soon began to forge its own path, and was instantly all the better for it.

While the UK Office commits deeply to its mock-doc format and realism, the US version soon slackens its rules in both senses. It’s a far warmer, wackier proposition, with characters who could only belong in the realm of a sitcom.

This isn’t a knock - at their best, the zany contingent of the US Office (Dwight, Creed, Michael) were some of the funniest characters on TV. It also absolutely nails the central love story, with Jim and Pam given more time to percolate their will-they-won’t-they than their UK counterparts, making the story’s conclusion all the sweeter.

While its quality does dip over nine years and the cartoonishness rises to the fore, it’s a funny and heartwarming show from start to finish, and a worthy companion to its brilliant but cynical British forefather.