Tv networks and streaming companies are at all times scouring overseas manufacturing corporations’ massive hits and trying to scoop up the rights and make their very own model. Typically they find yourself with hits, like The Workplace, some of the in style American exhibits of all time which was itself based mostly on a British sequence that was equally in style (however not as long-running) in its house nation. Actuality competitors exhibits like Dancing with the Stars and American Ninja Warrior (imports from the U.Ok. and Japan, respectively) are as inescapable as dramas like Homeland (based mostly on Israeli sequence Prisoners of Warfare) and Survivor (based mostly on Swedish present Expedition Robinson).

However, generally—statistically, more often than not—overseas hits simply don’t translate to American successes. Perhaps the humor simply doesn’t work, or the content material isn’t one thing People are involved in, or a contest or sport that’s in style abroad simply doesn’t break massive over right here. Regardless of the cause, the historical past of TV is filled with flop diversifications, in addition to one or two simply as terrible successes, that remind us to suppose twice at any time when we get the notion that what’s in style over there may take off over right here. A few of these could be shocking—Do you know The Slap was initially an Australian present??—whereas others, like Coupling or The Inbetweeners, you might shudder to recollect. We apologize upfront to any followers of The Good Physician.

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