Is Ghosts TV show a remake?
# Is Ghosts TV show a remake?
The popular sitcom Ghosts first premiered on BBC One in the UK in April 2019. In October 2021, an American adaptation of the show premiered on CBS. While both shows share the same overall premise and character archetypes, there are some key differences between the UK and US versions of Ghosts.
## Overview of the UK and US Versions
### Ghosts (UK)
– Created by Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond
– Premiered on BBC One in April 2019
– Currently in its 4th series on BBC
– Follows a young couple who inherit a haunted country estate inhabited by ghosts from various historical periods
– Ghosts have distinct personalities and backstories from British history
### Ghosts (US)
– Adapted for CBS by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman
– Premiered on CBS in October 2021
– Currently airing its 2nd season
– Follows a young couple who inherit a haunted country estate inhabited by ghosts from various historical periods
– Ghosts have distinct personalities tied to American history
## Differences Between the Versions
While both shows have the same basic premise of a haunted house filled with quirky ghosts, there are some notable differences:
### Setting
– **UK**: Set in the fictional West Horsley Place estate in Surrey, England
– **US**: Set in Woodstone Mansion in New York
### Main Characters
– **UK**: Couple is Alison and Mike Cooper
– **US**: Couple is Samantha and Jay Arondekar
### Time Periods of Ghosts
– **UK**: Ghosts span British history from the medieval era to the 20th century
– **US**: Ghosts represent different eras of American history
### Humor Style
– **UK**: More subtle, dry British humor
– **US**: More outwardly wacky, slapstick humor
### Tone
– **UK**: Slightly darker, spookier vibe
– **US**: Brighter, more sitcom-like tone
## Why Remake Ghosts for American Television?
There are a few key reasons an American version of Ghosts makes sense:
– The haunted house/ghost premise has universal appeal and translates well across cultures
– Opportunity to tailor the ghosts and their backstories specifically for an American audience
– Allows for humor references and historical figures that American viewers will recognize
– UK version was a proven success, increasing the odds an adaptation will also do well
Adapting successful British shows for American television has a long tradition in the industry. Other shows that received popular US remakes include The Office, House of Cards, Whose Line is it Anyway? and Hell‘s Kitchen.
There are some unique comedic opportunities in updating Ghosts with American culture references. For example, the ancient Roman ghost in the UK version could be changed to a Revolutionary War soldier for the US. Different historical eras like the Wild West or the 1970s Disco age can also be tapped into for humorous effect.
## Side-by-Side Character Comparisons
While the ghosts in the UK and US versions of Ghosts don‘t line up exactly one-to-one, there are some clear character archetypes that translate across both versions:
### The Leader
– **UK**: The Captain, a militaristic WWII army captain
– **US**: Isaac, a pompous nobleman from the 1860s
### The Neurotic One
– **UK**: Thomas, an anxious, depressed Georgian-era poet
– **US**: Flower, a peppy hippie from the 1960s
### The Troublemaker
– **UK**: Julian, a sly Tudor-era courtier
– **US**: Thorfinn, a Viking explorer
### The Older Woman
– **UK**: Lady Fanny Button, an Edwardian socialite
– **US**: Alberta, a prohibition-era lounge singer
### The Naive Young One
– **UK**: Kitty, a overly-eager Georgian lady-in-waiting
– **US**: Sasappis, a Native American scout from the 16th century
While the core personalities are similar, the historical backstories of course vary between the UK and US ghosts.
## Behind the Scenes: Adapting Ghosts for America
Adapting Ghosts for an American audience was a creative challenge for the US writers. Certain jokes and cultural references that landed well in the UK version didn‘t necessarily translate directly for American viewers.
The US version went through extensive re-working in the writer‘s room so the show aligned more with mainstream American sitcoms in tone and pacing. While the BBC version has a more niche, subtly absurdist appeal, the CBS version aimed for a broader audience demographic.
The cast and crew of the CBS Ghosts also consciously worked to differentiate their version from the BBC original. The two shows were developed and filmed simultaneously, without direct collaboration between the creative teams. This allowed the American Ghosts to take on its own unique vibe and sense of humor separate from its British predecessor.
## Is the US Version a Success?
In October 2021, CBS picked up Ghosts for a full season based on strong initial ratings and reviews. The show debuted as one of the top 3 new broadcast series of the 2021-2022 season.
Critics praised the show‘s sharp writing and talented ensemble cast. The series won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2022.
In 2022, CBS renewed Ghosts for a second season set to air during the 2022-2023 TV season.
While it remains to be seen how many seasons the US adaptation will run, the future looks bright for Ghosts on CBS. The series found a receptive audience hungry for original broadcast comedies in the mold of past hits like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Beetlejuice.
## Looking Ahead: Future Remakes or Spin-Offs?
Given the success of both the UK and US versions of Ghosts, its possible producers may explore additional remakes or spin-offs tailored for other markets.
For example, a Spanish language Ghosts set in Mexico or South America could bring the premise to an entire new continent of viewers. An Indian adaptation with ghosts spanning Indian history and mythology could also work well.
There‘s also potential for entirely new shows leveraging the supernatural housemates premise while branching off creatively in different directions.
Imagine a version set in the future with hologram ghosts of various eras haunting a high-tech smart house. Or, an adaptation involving ghostly creatures like vampires, aliens and fantasy beings rather than just deceased humans.
The mix of comedy and supernatural appeals to a wide audience, so Ghosts likely won‘t be the last series to tap this rich creative vein. Both the UK and US versions proved the premise has strong legs; now producers can run wild dreaming up fresh takes on the friendly phantom house-sharing formula.# Is Ghosts TV show a remake? A deep dive into the UK and US versions
Ghosts first premiered as a BBC sitcom in April 2019. The series quickly drew acclaim in Britain for its quirky paranormal premise and absurdist humor. Riding this wave of popularity, CBS debuted an American adaptation in October 2021.
But how exactly does the US Ghosts compare to its UK predecessor? What are the key differences, and why remake such a recent British hit for American audiences? Let‘s take a deep dive into the details between both shows.
## Overview – The Premise
The core premise of Ghosts remains identical across both versions:
A young couple inherits a beautiful but crumbling country estate, only to discover it‘s inhabited by an eclectic group of ghosts from different historical eras.
Hijinks ensue as the couple works to renovate their new home while coming to understand – and attempt to help – their new phantom housemates.
So the shows match in basic storyline. Where they differ is in the specifics – the settings, characters, tone and cultural references all receive an American facelift.
## Comparing the UK and US Versions
While the UK and US shows share the exact same elevator pitch, upon closer inspection there are notable distinctions between the two.
### Setting
The original UK series is set in a fictional estate called Button House located in Surrey, England. The American version moves the location to Woodstone Mansion in New York‘s Hudson Valley.
### Main Characters
In the UK show, the central couple is Alison and Mike Cooper, played by Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
The US counterparts are Samantha and Jay Arondekar, played by Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar.
So the core duo goes from a white British couple to an interracial pairing in the American adaptation.
### Time Periods
The ghosts in the UK series represent a wide swath of British history – medieval knights, Tudor nobles, Romantic-era poets, even a politician from the 1990s.
The American ghosts similarly span different eras, but tailored to US history – colonial soldiers, Prohibition bootleggers, 1990s Wall Street brokers.
While the archetypes match (i.e. medieval knight = colonial soldier), the characters themselves differ between the UK and US shows.
### Tone and Humor Style
The vibe and comedic sensibility also shifts noticeably between versions:
– **UK**: Subtle, deadpan, and absurdist. The ghosts behave in illogical ways. Jokes are crafted with sly wit.
– **US**: More outward wackiness and physical humor. The tone is brighter and bubblier. Jokes are more obvious punchline setups.
So the US version adopts a more accessible, primetime sitcom style compared to the niche comedy appeal of the UK original.
## Why Remake Ghosts for US Television?
This raises the question – why remake Ghosts at all? Especially when the UK version is still ongoing.
There‘s actually a long tradition of American remakes of British shows. Everything from The Office to House of Cards to Whose Line Is It Anyway got US makeovers.
Certain factors make a show like Ghosts a strong remake candidate:
– **The premise translates easily.** A haunted house with ghosts works universally across Western cultures.
– **It allows localization.** Tailoring ghosts/jokes to US history helps American viewers connect.
– **Building on proven success.** The UK original was a hit, suggesting an American remake has a strong chance too.
According to a Sony executive involved in developing the US version, *"We think this has all the ingredients to make a big splash in the American market."*
## Side-by-Side Character Comparisons
While most of the ghosts differ between versions, we can pinpoint some clear character archetypes that carry across:
### The Leader
**UK**: The Captain, a militaristic WWII officer
**US**: Isaac, an entitled 1700s nobleman
### The Neurotic
**UK**: Thomas, a Romantic-era poet prone to melancholy
**US**: Flower, a1960s hippie with New Age eccentricities
### The Troublemaker
**UK**: Julian, a sneaky Tudor-era courtier
**US**: Thorfinn, an overzealous Viking explorer
### The Older Woman
**UK**: Lady Button, an Edwardian former mistress of the house
**US**: Alberta, a sassy 1920s lounge singer
So while the backstories vary, the core personality types remain consistent between the UK and US shows.
## Notable Character Differences
That said, certain UK ghosts received major makeovers for the US version:
### The Politician
– **UK**: MP Michael Havers, a Conservative politician from the 1990s. Relatively recent, allowing topical jokes.
– **US**: Trevor Lefkowitz, a Wall Street Ponzi schemer from the 1980s. Going further back in time creates more potential for irreverence.
### The Young Woman
– **UK**: Kitty, a dismissive Georgian aristocrat eager to marry
– **US**: Sasappis, a 16th century Native American scout more innocent and wise
So the adaptations allow tailoring ghosts to align with American culture and humor.
## Behind the Scenes: Developing the US Version
Creating a US version of Ghosts provided opportunities – but also major challenges:
– **Opportunity**: Recruit comedy veterans like executive producers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman and showrunner Branden MacRaven to craft a distinct American tone and style.
– **Challenge**: Differentiate from beloved UK version but keep enough similarities to appeal to fans of the original.
According to Port and Wiseman:
*"We adored the BBC version and didn‘t want to just copy it. We spent a long time in the writers‘ room figuring out how to put our own spin on these characters and stories. It was a tricky balancing act but we feel we‘ve struck the right tone for US viewers."*
The team consciously worked to give the show an optimistic, accessible vibe compared to the drier humor of the UK original.
MacRaven estimates at least half the U.S. pilot script was reworked before creators felt it properly balanced the haunting and heartwarming elements that define the series.
## Is the US Remake a Success?
So far, the ratings suggest the new Americanized take is finding an audience:
– In October 2021, CBS ordered a full first season following strong early ratings
– The show debuted as the #2 new comedy series among adults 18-49 during the 2021-2022 season
– In 2022, CBS renewed Ghosts for a second season in 2024 based on continued solid viewership
The remake also earned critical praise, winning the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Reviewers generally agree the remake manages to replicate the warmth and whimsy of the UK original while succeeding on its own comedic merits.
## What‘s Next? Future Remakes or Spin-Offs
The popularity of both Ghosts series raises the potential for additional adaptations, remakes or spin-offs down the road.
Some possibilities:
– **Regional Remakes** – A French version with ghosts from Paris‘ past. Or a Mumbai edition featuring Indian historical figures and myths.
– **Genre Twists** – Expand beyond sitcoms with a horror movie take or animated children‘s series.
– **Creative Spin-Offs** – New supernatural housemates ideas like ghosts of the future, aliens, or fantasy creatures.
Ghosts has proven the appeal of its whimsical premise. Now producers can explore taking the friendly phantoms concept in inventive new directions tailored to different countries and genres.
## In Conclusion
While clearly adapted from the UK hit, the new American Ghosts succeeds as its own unique comedic vision.
It localization of setting, ghosts and humor demonstrates the upside of remaking proven British properties for US audiences. Fans win twice over getting two fun variations on the phantom house-sharing formula.
And with promise shown by both versions, we likely haven‘t seen the last of these hilarious haunted hijinks.
