There’s been a long and fruitful history of remaking British TV shows in the US.
Shows like ‘The Office’, ‘Masterchef’ and ‘Wife Swap’ have all journeyed across the pond and gained significant popularity.
But if you’re after American success there needs to be some tweaking on the journey over. British and American audiences want different things and most remakes are adjusted to appeal to an American audience.
Especially when it comes to reality shows.
If you want your UK remake to blow up the twitterverse you’d better have the following elements; drinking, cheesy catchphrases, weird or foolish behavior ideally leading to a fight and relationship break up or make up at the center of it all. Or at least something very uniquely and stereotypically British.
It’s simply not enough to be young, pretty and top the charts anymore.
Maybe someone should have told The Saturday’s that. Their recent reality show on the E! Network only lasted one painful season before it was cancelled. The show documented the girl group’s attempt to break the American market, but it was a little too much ‘documentary’ and not enough ‘controversy’.
Shows like ‘The Office’, ‘Masterchef’ and ‘Wife Swap’ have all journeyed across the pond and gained significant popularity.
But if you’re after American success there needs to be some tweaking on the journey over. British and American audiences want different things and most remakes are adjusted to appeal to an American audience.
Especially when it comes to reality shows.
If you want your UK remake to blow up the twitterverse you’d better have the following elements; drinking, cheesy catchphrases, weird or foolish behavior ideally leading to a fight and relationship break up or make up at the center of it all. Or at least something very uniquely and stereotypically British.
It’s simply not enough to be young, pretty and top the charts anymore.
Maybe someone should have told The Saturday’s that. Their recent reality show on the E! Network only lasted one painful season before it was cancelled. The show documented the girl group’s attempt to break the American market, but it was a little too much ‘documentary’ and not enough ‘controversy’.
Other British bands had better take heed. The Wanted’s reality show starts airing June 2 on the E! Network. Previews of the series have hinted at drunken fights and partying at showbiz events - that’s a start.
Rising stars Little Mix have admitted they dream about their own US reality show too. The female band is heading to America where they’ll release their debut album 'DNA' later this month.
My advice is take a leaf out of the show ‘Made in Chelsea’, the structured reality show based on a bunch of affluent Chelsea socialites. It’s hung on for an impressive three seasons on the Style Network.
It’s a mixture of love triangles, jet-setting, Kensington style and posh accents. American’s obsession with the young royals, especially Kate Middleton, means anything slightly upper-class and trendy is sure to be a hit.
Rising stars Little Mix have admitted they dream about their own US reality show too. The female band is heading to America where they’ll release their debut album 'DNA' later this month.
My advice is take a leaf out of the show ‘Made in Chelsea’, the structured reality show based on a bunch of affluent Chelsea socialites. It’s hung on for an impressive three seasons on the Style Network.
It’s a mixture of love triangles, jet-setting, Kensington style and posh accents. American’s obsession with the young royals, especially Kate Middleton, means anything slightly upper-class and trendy is sure to be a hit.
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