Why must we steal television shows from the UK?

All over the world television stations broadcast American television. From TV shows like Grey's Anatomy to Lost, international broadcast stations pick them up to show to their public. Why, then must the United States steal perfectly good television shows and "Americanize" them? Constantly American broadcast stations from ABC to HBO are buying the rights to every popular television series that has made it in other countries. This obsession with buying the rights to series would make sense if most of the shows that were being bought were non-English speaking broadcasts, but no. The majority of television shows whose rights were bought by American broadcast stations are British.


Why do American broadcast stations buy British television shows? Most of the time many TV execs believe it is because Americans wouldn't be able to relate to the life of a Brit. This concept is absurd. Yes, my life isn't exactly like someone living in Manchester or London, but my life isn't exactly like someone living in Milwaukee or Baton Rouge. If I can't relate to someone who lives a different life than me, then every show that takes place in another city should be changed to fit the lifestyle of someone living in Detroit or Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti, or whatever. American shows aren't "translated" for British audiences, so why do we think that "Americanizing" television is necessary?


Over the years many British television shows have been made into American shows. Some have turned into successful series, like The Office, and others have barely made it past the pilot, such as Coupling. Both of these shows were successful television series in Britain, but American television execs felt it was necessary to steal the premise of the show but put it in an American city with people that don't speak in such confusing accents. Either television execs actually believe that Americans are utterly stupid, or Americans are really utterly stupid. If this was the case, then why has BBC America become so popular over the years. This is why I have come to the conclusion that the reason why American television executives buy the rights to series is because they want to make the series their own, well after the steal the entire premise and first season of the series.


This fall is a prime example of American television stealing British shows. ABC has been promoting their new TV series Life on Mars, little does most of the American audience that has watched the incessant commercials for the new series know that Life on Mars was first a successful British show with the same exact premise. Watching the trailer for the ABC series, the show looks pretty much the same except the show no longer takes place in Manchester, but in New York City (because there aren't enough cop shows set in that city) and the characters are American (well act American, or whatever that means). The main character's name is still Sam Tyler and he still gets hit by a car sending him back to 1973. Right now the television series just finished going through a complete overhaul including a setting change and major cast changes. ABC should have just picked up the British series considering all the problems they are having. I for see this going the way of Coupling after that disastrous remake.


(This is before the overhaul)

Life on Mars is not the only British TV series being remade for American audiences. The Eleventh Hour is also being remade. Starring Patrick Stewart, or as I like to call him, Captain Bicard, The Eleventh Hour is about Professor Ian Hood who helps the government figure out weird science stuff. Well apparently Patrick Stewart isn't good enough for American television anymore, which is why The Eleventh Hour is being remade for American television. It will now star Rufus Sewell (who, I would like to point out, is British) as Dr. Jacob Hood who helps the government figure out weird science stuff (Jacob is a good American name. Ian is just too British). This one actually looks interesting, but the original was so good.



Stealing from British television has occurred for decades. Many of the most popular shows on television had their origin in Britain. To name a few: The Office, Coupling, Queer as Folk, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Blind Date, Three's Company, and its spin-off Three's a Crowd, Sanford and Sons, All in the Family, and numerous reality shows as of recently. There has even been talk of remaking Spaced for American television directed by McG (shoot me now) which is blasphemous in itself. Well it ever end? I am going to say no.