This can't possible fail..

[Adrian Bamforth]

Hmm, it doesn't really work but perhaps it could have become something. The jokes aren't a lot different, I think maybe the problem is that despite it's space-age setting Red Dwarf is really just a classic British sitcom at heart like Rising Damp, Porrige or Dad's Army - it's all about class. We just want to see the underdog kick back, which happens almost immediately in Red Dwarf. Take that out and you just have some limp jokes.

The Americans don't do the whole class thing, the best ones are more about psychology. That's why British shows don't succeed in America, except The Office which isn't about class. They would be better off having a go with Hyperdrive and doing it more dryly.

[Roger Godpleton]

From what I heard The IT Crowd is being adapted for the US with Richard Ayoede reprising his role.

[Funt Solo]

The US Lister - isn't it that guy who plays the main baddy in The Long Kiss Goodnight?

[TordelBack]

On the subject of American TV, I'm in the middle of the Season Three box set of Deadwood.  Fuck me but it's good.  How much must it have cost per episode?  There are uncountable numbers of characters, enormous numbers of vast beautiful sets, and a script that must take forever to write, never mind learn.  Amazing achievement.

[Funt Solo]

I don't know if it's American per se - it appears to be quite transatlantic - but I watched HBO's Rome recently for the first time.  Amazing.

And Deadwood I caught some of season #1 on youtube-similar sites, and it was astounding.  I was a bit miffed when I found the later episodes had been culled from easy net access.

[Byron Virgo]

"I don't know if it's American per se - it appears to be quite transatlantic - but I watched HBO's Rome recently for the first time."

The BBC stumped up about $15 million to co-produce the series with HBO (the total budget for the first season was aproximately $100 million). The cast is mostly comprised of British, Irish and Italian actors, filmed almost entirely within Rome's Cinecittà Studios.

[satchmo]

I just bought season 1 of The Wire today. I've heard it isn't too bad? :)