CBS' Ghosts is One of the Best BBC Comedy Remakes in History: Here's Why You Should Give It a Try
Quaint and funny, this sitcom will brighten your day.
BBC debuted its original show, Ghosts, back in 2019. Since then, the network has released four six-episode seasons, each punctuated by a Christmas special, a long-established tradition on British TV. The fifth season is reportedly on its way.
The title Ghosts is quite self-explanatory. The show presents a group of spectres haunting a historic country manor inherited by the main characters, a young married couple. After suffering a head injury, the wife gains the ability to see and interact with these ghosts.
In a transatlantic collaboration, CBS, BBC's major partner in the US, launched the American version of Ghosts in 2021. Though the remake shares the original's premise, there are several major differences that make it stand on its own as an independent show well worth your time.
New Characters
In adapting the show for an American audience, CBS tailored the original characters to be more culturally relevant and introduced new ones, enriching the plot. Notably, the cast now includes a Native American ghost and a free-spirited hippie (pun intended).
Size
In line with the notion that everything in the US is bigger, the American Ghosts exceeds its British counterpart in length, boasting between eighteen and twenty-two episodes per season compared to the British show's six.
New Plot Lines
The expanded cast and extended runtime have paved the way for unique storylines. Indeed, it's the divergence from the BBC's established narrative that lends CBS's Ghosts its unique charm.
Simply put, Ghosts is a prime example of a foreign show remake that has flourished by carving out its own unique identity.
‘The people who made the CBS version of Ghosts understood what made the original tick and how to translate it for their audience. They left enough of the heart of the show that it’s still Ghosts, but didn’t try a boring shot by shot remake,’ a Redditor explained.
Moreover, Ghosts is a lively family comedy, peppered with witty one-liners and boasting a stellar ensemble cast, including Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Rebecca Wisocky. On Rotten Tomatoes, it enjoys a remarkably high approval rating of 92% and 100% for its first and second seasons, respectively. Additionally, Nielsen Media Research rates it between 0.5-0.7 on average. So there’s your social proof if you’re still in doubt.
The first two seasons have been so popular CBS has renewed the show for a third season. The most recent episode came out on 11 May.
Source: Reddit.