US TV Knock-Offs

K US TV KNOCK-OFFS Which shows are better, the UK originals or US versions? The US has a bad rep for shamelessly copying UK television shows, but are any of the rip-offs actually better? Let's put some of these shows to the test. UK VS US THE OFFICE SITCOM The Office cringingly awkward and hilarious scenarios The played out in a typical Office office environment. FIRST EPISODE: 9 July, 2001 FIRST EPISODE: 24 March, 2005 LONGEVITY: 1.5 years LONGEVITY: 6 years FUNNY FACTOR:99999 RICKY GERVAIS FUNNY FACTOR: STEVE CARELL AWARDS: 2004 Golden Globe for AWARDS: 2006 Golden Globe for Best Television Series, musical or comedy Best Performance by an actor in a television series (Ricky Gervais) Best Performance by an actor in a television series (Steve Carell) 2006 Golden Globe for Outstanding Comedy Series AWKWARDNESS: AWKWARDNESS: RIP-OFF LEVEL:*** The level to which the US directly copied the UK oniginal WINNER SKINS TEEN DRAMA Coming-of-age teen skins drama with a focus on skins family problems, sexuality and substance abuse FIRST EPISODE: 25 January, 2007 FIRST EPISODE: 17 January, 2011 LONGEVITY: 5 years LONGEVITY: less than 1 year RACINESS: RACINESS: RECEPTION: A hit with viewers and critics RECEPTION: Lawsuits filed against MTV for child pornography RIP-OFF LEVEL: WINNER QUEER AS FOLK QUEER AS FOLK DRAMA queer asfolk A glimpse into the lives of three gay men FIRST EPISODE: 23 February, 1999 FIRST EPISODE: 3 December, 2000 LONGEVITY: 1 year LONGEVITY: 5 years RECEPTION: High Ratings RECEPTION: Extremely High Ratings OUTRAGEOUSNESS: OUTRAGEOUSNESS: RIP-OFF LEVEL: WINNER #1 POP IDOL/AMERICAN IDOL TALENT SHOW American Idol Popldol Talent show that puts wannabe pop stars on the fast track to fame FIRST EPISODE: 6 October, 2001 FIRST EPISODE: 11 June, 2002 LONGEVITY: 2 years LONGEVITY: 9 years RECEPTION: Spawned an international franchise RECEPTION: Mostly positive. At least 20 million viewers watch the show each season SIMON COWELL: UK Native SIMON COWELL: Exported from the UK RIP-OFF LEVEL: WINNER WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE GAME SHOW WANTS TO ,WHO Trivia game show giving MILLIONAIRE MILLIONAIRE contestants a chance to walk away with a million pounds. WANTS FIRST EPISODE: 4 September, 1998 FIRST EPISODE: 16 August, 1999 LONGEVITY: 13 years LONGEVITY: 12 years Number OF MILLIONAIRES: $ $$$$$ $$$$$$$ Number OF MILLIONAIRES: $$$$$ RIP-OFF LEVEL: WINNER #1 WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY? COMEDY Whose Line is it Anyway? Improvisational sketch comedy show in a "game show" format. FIRST EPISODE: 23 September, 1988 FIRST EPISODE: 5 August, 1998 LONGEVITY: 10 years LONGEVITY: 9 years HOST (CLIVE ANDERSON): HOST (DREW CAREY): RYAN STILES AND COLIN MOCHRIE: WAYNE BRADY: 99 Appeared on the UK version for its last five episodes Appeared first on the UK version RIP-OFF LEVEL: #1 WINNER WIFE SWAP REALITY T.V. Reality show where two families, usually of different social classes, swap wives/ WIFE SWAP WIFESWAP mothers. Drama ensues. FIRST EPISODE: 1 January, 2003 FIRST EPISODE: 26 September, 2004 LONGEVITY: 10 years LONGEVITY: 9 years DRAMA: DRAMA: FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOUR, FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOUR, LAW SUITS: LAW SUITS: RIP-OFF LEVEL: WINNER # 1 TOP GEAR REALITY T.V. Classic car show full of TopGear automobile and motorcycle discussion/demonstration. TopGear FIRST SEASON: 1977 FIRST EPISODE: 21 November, 2010 LONGEVITY: 25 years LONGEVITY: less than 1 year MACHISMO: LLLLL MACHISMO: LLL RIP-OFF LEVEL:*** WINNER # 1 THE APPRENTICE REALITY TALENT SHOW THEAPPRENTICE Aspiring businessmen and women compete THE APPRENTICE to become a business apprentice. The Apprentice - UK The Apprentice - US FIRST SEASON: 16 February, 2005 FIRST EPISODE: 8 January, 2004 LONGEVITY: 6 years LONGEVITY: 7 years SCARY BOSS: SCARY BOSS: (LORD ALAN SUGAR) (DONALD TRUMP) RIP-OFF LEVEL: *** WINNER #1 Sources: www.wikipedia.com, www.imdb.com Confused.com 10 BE