8 TV Remakes That Pissed Off The Original Creators
When Simon Pegg is angry, you know you've done something wrong...
As with remaking movies, rebooting a TV series is tricky business. Many are doomed before they even start, since fans of the original are so protective of the show and unable to see it working in any other way. Likewise, most are just ill-advised attempts to cash in on the the success of an idea that has already been used.
Sure, some are successful, such as The Office or Shameless, but for the most part the concept of doing a remake isn't going to go well with audiences.
Things get even trickier when you consider how the cast and crew of the original handle their idea being re-used. As this list will demonstrate, few are happy with the results, further driving home the fact that some things just need to be left alone.
The following creators and cast members are just some of examples of those who didn't take to their shows being recommissioned. Whether they were annoyed by the studios, unhappy with the end results or feeling betrayed by the networks, here are eight TV remakes that pissed off the show's original creators.
8. James Corden - Gavin And Stacy
Love him or hate him, there's no denying James Corden's talent and impact on British pop culture. Thanks to the brilliant fan-favourite sitcom Gavin and Stacey, Corden and co-creator Ruth Jones made a big mark with TV audiences, leading the show to become one of the most viewed sitcoms in the history of the BBC.
Because of its success, it was picked up by several studios who wanted to make it for US viewers. NBC tried to make it happen in 2008, ABC had a pilot set up that never aired, and finally Fox got their hands on it in 2013, remaking it with the title Us & Them.
With Fox, thirteen episodes were ordered, but only six were made before the production shut down. In the end, no episodes were ever aired.
James Corden has never been shy about his opinions of the various failed attempts to remake the show that put him on the map. Hearing about the US network's desire to show more bickering and conflict between the characters, Corden said:
"Our show wasn't about that. It was about how people's everyday lives involve very little conflict. Most people like their friends. We wanted to hold a mirror up to real life. American networks just wanted there to fights all the time. It's not a surprise they were never able to make a go of it."
It just goes to show: If it's not broken, don't fix it.