It’s said that there are really only a few stories under the sun, with most stories in the world being some retelling of another. This is true in television, in which popular shows are remade all the time. While remakes are often made for the sake of preexisting fans of the original work, there are other times when fans of a show would be surprised to learn a show they like is based on an older work.
Often, this is because one show is a foreign remake of the other, with the original not being well-known or even airing in other countries. Sometimes, the remake takes the story in a completely different direction, often making it read like a completely different series.
Occasionally, the original show might have been short-lived, with the remake ending up outliving the original’s run. If the original was popular enough, it might have actually spawned quite a few remakes and spin-offs around the world.
10 Sanford and Son (1972)
Sanford and Son revolves around the titular Fred G. Sanford, a widowed junk dealer, and his long-suffering son Lamont, played by Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson respectively. Grouchy and sarcastic, Fred gets involved with a variety of get-rich-quick schemes, much to the chagrin of his son, who wanted to improve his lot in life. Other prominent characters included “Aunt Esther,” Fred’s acerbic sister-in-law, and Fred’s best friend, Grady Wilson.
This Wasn’t the First Attempt at an American Remake
The series has its origins in a British sitcom, Steptoe and Son, which revolved around Albert Steptoe, an old “rag-and-bone” man and his ambitious son, Harold. When comparing the two, the American series is generally regarded as less cynical than its predecessor. Early on, Sanford and Son‘s episodes were more directly based on Steptoe and Son scripts, with many of the former show’s more famous characters not being introduced until later on.
Interestingly, an attempt at making a more direct American remake of Steptoe and Son had been attempted in the 1960s, though the project never went past the pilot stage.
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9 The Good Doctor (2017)
The Good Doctor revolves around Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young, autistic surgeon who starts working at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, after leaving behind a troubled past in Wyoming. Mentored by Dr. Aaron Glassman, Murphy starts to build up his relationship with his new co-workers.
The Original Only Lasted a Season
The series is based on a South Korean drama, Good Doctor, which similarly stars a young surgeon with autism, Si-on, who also starts his residency at the hospital his mentor works. The original lasted for one season of 20 episodes, while the American remake would go on for seven seasons. The series would also inspire a few more remakes in other countries, such as Good Doctor in Japan and Mucize Doktor in Turkey.
8 All in the Family (1971)
All in the Family revolved around family patriarch Archie Bunker, an outspoken working-class man who is vocal about his prejudices, his wife Edith, their daughter Gloria, and her husband Mike Stivic. Set in Queens, New York, the Stivics live with Gloria’s parents to save money, causing Mike to frequently butt heads with Archie. Thanks to this, the series was often used as a platform for various social and political issues. In popular culture, the series was also known for inspiring a few famous spin-offs, such as The Jeffersons, as well as a more direct continuation in Archie Bunker’s Place.
Much of the Original’s Early Seasons Were Destroyed
The famous American sitcom was inspired by the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part, in which working-class Alf Garnett lived with his wife Else, daughter Rita, and son-in-law Mike Rawlins. The series would later gain a spin-off, In Sickness and in Health. There were also a few other internation remakes, such as Germany’s Ein Herz und eine Seele. Many early episodes of the original show are believed to be lost media, having been destroyed, as was a common practice.
7 Three’s Company (1977)
Three’s Company was a sitcom revolving around three Santa Monica roommates: Jack Tripper, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow. Rounding out the cast were their landlords, the Ropers. The series was known for switching up the cast over the years, most notably the addition of Don Knotts’ Ralph Furley, who became the tennants’ new landlord after the Ropers left.
The Spin-Offs Got Remakes, Too
The show has its origins in the ITV sitcom, Man About the House, which revolved around a student chef, Robin Tripp, who also similarly had two female flatmates, Chrissy and Jo. Notably, the American show also remade a few of the original series’ spin-offs. These include a show about the original two landlords, The Ropers and George and Mildred, and another revolving around the further life of the male lead, Three’s a Crowd and Robin’s Nest.
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6 Euphoria (2019)
Euphoria
- Release Date
- June 16, 2019
- Seasons
- 2
Euphoria revolves around a group of California high school students. In particular, Rue Bennett has been plagued with an emptyness in her life, causing her to fall into drug addiction. Having returned home from rehab, she encounters various people with troubled pasts and takes on the role of a narrator as she comments on their lives.
The Original Took Place In the 1990s
Euphoria is a remake of an Israeli drama, which similarly revolves around teenagers engaging in various vices. That said, the two series do have some noticeable differences. While the American version often gives focus to the kids’ parents, adult characters rarely appear in the Israeli show. The Israeli version is also set in the 1990s, while the American remake favors a more contemporary setting.
5 Veep (2012)
Veep
- Release Date
- April 22, 2012
- Seasons
- 7
Veep is an American political satire that stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, a ficticious American Vice President. The series focuses on her political career, including a few runs for her ultimate goal, the presidency, as well as her personal life.
A Few Actors Were In the Original’s Spin-Off Movie
The series has origins with the British sitcom, The Thick of It, which focuses on the people involved with the fictitious Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, including a government minister and his advisers. There had been a previous attempt to produce a more direct American remake of the show, though the ensuing pilot did not get picked up. While not a direct spin-off, Veep was developed to have a similar style and also featured American actors who appeared in The Thick of It‘s movie spin-off, In the Loop, such as Anna Chlumsky.
4 House of Cards (2013)
House of Cards starts off with political whip Francis “Frank” Underwood being betrayed by the President-Elect Garrett Walker, who goes against his campaign promise to appoint him Secretary of State. An incensed Underwood schemes to get his revenge while elevating his political rank, with the help of his allies.
It Started With a Book
The political thriller is a remake of an earlier British series of the same name from 1990. In the original, the main character was Francis Urquhart, who schemes to take down and supplant the Prime Minister. The story itself is an adaptation of the Michael Dobbs book of the same name. Notably, the American version greatly expands on the original, which was made up of three miniseries and lasted twelve episodes in total. By contrast, the American series went on for six seasons.
3 Homeland (2011)
Homeland
- Release Date
- October 2, 2011
- Seasons
- 8
Homeland is a spy drama which starts with the rescue of the previously M.I.A. USMC Sergeant Nicholas Brody. However, former CIA Operations Officer Carrie Mathison suspects Brody might be a sleeper agent. She seeks to uncover the truth with the help of her mentor, Saul Berenson.
The Original Focused More On the Soldiers
Homeland was loosely based on the Israeli drama series Hatufim, which is also known as Prisoners of War. In Homeland, there were two prisoners, with only one showing up alive, while Hatufim had three, with two surviving and the third returning home dead, although things might not be as they first appear as the series goes on. The earlier show focuses more on the soldiers returning to their old lives, while the American series gives more focus to political intrigue. That said, many of Homeland‘s early episodes do incorporate a lot of the earlier show’s situations and dialogue.
2 Ghosts (2021)
Ghosts starts off with freelance journalist Samantha inheriting a family estate, which she and her husband Jay hope to convert into a bed-and-breakfast. After a near-death experience, Sam learns the place is haunted by a variety of spirits that she can now see and they soon become part of her life.
Pete’s Reenactment Actor Should Look Familiar
Ghosts was an adaptation of a British sitcom of the same name, which similarly started off with a couple, Alison and Mike, inheriting a haunted house. When comparing the two, the ghosts in the American series tend to be friendlier from the get-go than their British counterparts. Notably, Sam’s accident was caused by one of the ghosts trying to scare her, but Alison’s near-death experience came about from a ghost trying to kill her. Likewise, due to the different settings, each series makes use of different national histories.
The original British series features a few actors and comedians who worked on the series, Horrible Histories. This group would collectively become known as “The Six Idiots.” The group also served as executive producers for the American remake. Mathew Baynton, who played the character Thomas Thorne in the original, also appeared in the American series as an actor hired to play the character of Pete in a reenactment.
1 Antiques Roadshow (1997)
Antiques Roadshow is a program aired on PBS stations which features antiques owners and experts appraising various goods. The series proved popular, with viewers tuning in to see if people had just uncovered a lost treasure or were about to learn that a family heirloom was virtually worthless. The series’ popularity briefly inspired a short-lived spin-off, Antiques Roadshow FYI, which took a look at the fates of various antiques profiled on the show.
From Convention Centers to Historical Sites
The American series was based on a long-running British series of the same name, which also inspired a few other international versions. Early on, the American version was mostly limited to convention centers, while the British version would film at various historical sites. During the 22nd season, however, the American version was start filming at historical sites, similar to the original series.
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