Only Fools Do Remakes
It seems as though TV executives at ABC could be running out of ideas at the moment, as they look across the Atlantic for the inspiration behind their latest planned sitcom, a proposal to re-make of UK classic comedy, Only Fools and Horses.
It is thought that the network have commissioned Brian Bradley and Steven Cragg (writers of Scrubs) to produce a pilot of the classic format, raiding the BBC’s archive for a show that premiered in 1981 (over 30 years ago), and lasted for 7 seasons through to 1991, showing its final episode (a Christmas specials) in 2003.
While it is currently unknown just how close the BBC One sitcom will be imitated by ABC (such as the names of main characters Del Boy and Rodney, and their company ’Trotters Independent Trading’), the basic premise is thought to be a good match, as they describe a soon to-be-produced American pilot episode as: ”…the misadventures of two streetwise brothers and their ageing grandfather as they concoct outrageous, morally questionable get-rich-quick schemes in a bid to become millionaires”.
Only Fools and Horses will not be the first UK-made series to be given a US re-production, as proven by more recent attempts such as E4 comedy The Inbetweeners (remade for MTV), singing contest X Factor (Fox), and Ricky Gervais’ sitcom The Office (NBC). While a number of formats have tried and failed in the USA, will this one manage to find success?
It is a former star of one of the more successful remakes, Steve Carell (The Office USA) who has given his initial support to the plans, having previously stated his desire to star in a remake as lead character ‘Del Boy’, saying: “That is my dream role. The British do sitcoms better than anybody else in the world. I think with the right scriptwriters and cast we could do Only Fools and Horses justice. If anybody wants to help me do a remake, I’d love it.”
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