Squee! It’s…

Nostalgia squee tonight, as Bess Armstrong pops up on Criminal Minds. Now, I got fooled last week into watching Criminal Minds (Randy Mantooth=totally worth it), but I found it to be one of those off-putting crime procedurals where putting beautiful young women in torture-bondage situations where they are fighting for their lives passes as entertainment. Not for me, thanks. But…but…Angela Chase’s mom is on tonight! <cough> Er, in addition to My So-Called Life, you may remember Bess Armstrong from shows such as Boston Legal, One Tree Hill, and The Nanny. And My So-Called Life! <cough> Sorry.

If you just can’t stomach Criminal Minds, you can get double your nostalgia fix over on the US version of Life on Mars. Not only will you swim through the 70s, but tonight you’ll do it with Jason Kravits, the most excellent ADA Richard Bay on The Practice. You might also remember Mr. Kravits from shows such as Gilmore Girls, Ed, and various crime procedurals. Speaking of nostalgia, he recently survived Liz Lemon’s high school reunion. Wonder when Angela Chase’s is? Criminal Minds on CBS at 9 Eastern and Pacific; Life on Mars on ABC at 10 Eastern and Pacific.

LIFE ON MARS: Intruding on My Kingdom of Awareness

ABC’s Life on Mars continues to be what it is. The moments ripped straight from the British version are adequate, if not as well executed as those in the original. (I still suspect they’re more fun for people who haven’t seen them before–I know I enjoyed the foot chase in Speedos more the first time I saw it.) The new material–and we’ll be getting more and more of that as the season stretches beyond the original series’ total of 16 episodes–has to date been ham-handed and obvious. Some of the new twists have the additional problem of removing the sense of menace and disorentation from the story–a charming nudist neighbor hardly allows Sam time to get lost in the maze of his own time warp, while Harvey Keitel’s relative enlightment makes him a less appalling boss, meaning that the ways he and Sam warm to each other have less weight.

What might say the most about the storytelling, however, is that instead of trying to piece together how they’ll get to the end of the season (signposted in exactly the same way the original was), the show leads me to be obsessed with the question of whether men really don’t flush urinals after using them, or whether that only happens on TV shows where the rushing water might obscure the next line. I could have lived without that journey of enlightenment.

LIFE ON MARS: If You Haven’t Seen It, It’s New to You

In fairness, that was NBC’s misguided slogan once, and the remake of Life on Mars is on ABC. But I’m curious to hear what folks who aren’t familiar with the BBC original think of the new version, which is for about 75% of the pilot a shot-for-shot redo of the brilliant British show (the small deviations aren’t terrible, but they’re not impovements). For those of us who loved the original, there’s not a lot of fun to be found in intoning, “Annnnnnd now Sam realizes the fiber under the victims’ nails is soundproofing. Riiiiiight–there!” The mind-expanding moment when Sam starts to doubt that his injured brain could create so much detail to the strains of “Teenage Wasteland” loses a lot of its magic when it’s not new. The ABC version is servicable (although the cast has yet to sparkle the way the British thespians did, that may yet develop), but the fun isn’t as much…fun the second time around. And since the original filled out a well-rounded 16 episodes, we have to wonder what this show will turn into as it stretches through a full US season of several more episodes than that.

But what about for new viewers? We’re probably never getting the British version on Region 1 DVD because of issues with music rights, so is a one-off version actually a blessing in disguise, exposing a whole new audience to a clever premise, an emotional roller coaster, and a lot of classic tunes? Tell us how you felt about your first trip to Mars.

Splattered Cops the Way They Were Meant to Be Played: Marathon of BBC’s LIFE ON MARS Sunday

I confess to feeling grim–grim–as the premiere for ABC’s Life on Mars approaches this week. The new version rips off the basic premise of the BBC’s original–modern police detective is hit by car; wakes up in the 1970s unsure if he’s trapped in his own injured brain or in the genuine past. In addition to main character Sam Tyler’s dizzying predicament, this set-up allowed for an examination of a world without political correctness or ethics committees. The BBC version was so perfectly cast, so perfectly realized, and so perfectly short (shuffling off the screen before it could wear out its welcome) that it’s hard to imagine ABC won’t screw it up.

Someone at BBC America either feels the same way or is feeling cheeky, because the expat channel is showing a mini-marathon of their version on Sunday, October 5, in anticipation of ABC’s attempt. Episodes selected from both short seasons include Sam (John Simm, terrific as a man caught between longing for home and coming to consider the 70s his home) finding himself in 1973; Sam finding out supervisor Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister, who steals the entire show as a corrupt cop who might be persuaded to go clean–if you can convince him it’s his idea) and the rest of the precinct are on the take; Sam facing the real reason his father left the family; Gene accused of murder after a bender; and Sam and Gene as swingers. Yeah, baby. Catch it in its original mindbending, eerie, and often moving glory before it gets screwed up later this week. Starting at 1pm Eastern on BBC America.

Guide to October 2008 Series Premieres

THE EX LIST (CBS)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 9:00 PM
A comedic drama about a woman (Elizabeth Reaser, Grey’s Anatomy) who begins to revisit her past relationships after she’s told by a psychic that she’s already dated her future husband and if she doesn’t find him in the next year, she’ll remain alone forever. Co-starring Rachel Boston (American Dreams), Adam Rothenberg (Mad Money), Alex Breckenridge (Dirt), and Amir Talai (Campus Ladies). From executive producers Diane Ruggiero (Veronica Mars) and Jonathan Levin (Charmed), although Ruggiero has recently exited the series.

SANCTUARY (Sci Fi)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 10:00 PM
This science fiction drama centers on a scientist (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1) who tracks strange and mysterious creatures living among us. The series, which began as a high-definition web series, is shot entirely against a green screen, in the vein of movies like 300 and Sin City. Exec produced by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1) and Martin Wood (Stargate Atlantis) and co-starring Emilie Ullerup (Battlestar Galactica), Robin Dunne (Dead Like Me), Christopher Heyerdahl (Stargate Atlantis) and Ryan Robbins (Battlestar Galactica).

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (Cartoon Network)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 9:00 PM
In the signature style of Lucasfilm Animation, this series chronicles the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano and other favorite Star Wars characters as they struggle against the dark side during the divisive, action-packed Clone Wars. Each week, a new story in the galaxy-changing Clone Wars comes to center stage, brought to the screen by supervising director Dave Filoni and executive producer George Lucas.

IN HARM’S WAY (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 6:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 7:00 PM
This reality series from Craig Piligian (Dirty Jobs, Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper, Survivor) looks at the lives of people doing dangerous jobs. Each unscripted episode will follow the brave individuals who risk their lives in a multitude of life-threatening jobs, including war photographers, oil well cappers, Coast Guard divers and minesweepers.

VALENTINE (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 8:00 PM
This one-hour romantic comedy stars Jaime Murray (Dexter), Kristopher Polaha (North Shore), Autumn Reeser (The O.C.), Patrick Fabian (Veronica Mars), Greg Ellis (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) and Robert Baker (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) as a family of Greek gods whose purpose is to bring soulmates together, while keeping their own identities secret. Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Reaper, Ed) serves as executive producer/creator for the series along with executive producer Courtney Conte.

EASY MONEY (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 9:00 PM
This one-hour drama about a family that runs a modern, legitimate version of loan sharking–an advance payday operation–features Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne) as the matriarch of the brood and Jeff Hephner (The O.C.) as her middle son, who’s brilliant at his job but conflicted about the nature of the family business. Judge Reinhold (The Santa Clause), Nick Searcy (Rodney), Jay Ferguson (Sleeper Cell), Gary Farmer (Moose TV) and Katie Lowes (The Ghost Whisperer) co-star. Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider (Northern Exposure, The Chris Isaak Show, The Sopranos) serve as executive producers.

KATH & KIM (NBC)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8:30 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 8:30 PM
This series is based on the successful Australian comedy series about the most dysfunctional mother/daughter duo in suburbia. Kath Day (Molly Shannon, SNL) is the mom, a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day (Selma Blair, Hellboy) is the daughter, a self-absorbed princess recently separated from her husband who finds consolation in stuffing her face. The executive producer/writer is Michelle Nader (The King of Queens) and the executive producer/director is Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks, The Office).

ELEVENTH HOUR (CBS)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:00 PM
Based on the British miniseries by acclaimed writer Stephen Gallagher, this adaptation from producer Jerry Bruckheimer follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, John Adams), a biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. Co-starring Marley Shelton (Grindhouse), the series is executive produced by Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Danny Cannon, Cyrus Voris, Ethan Reiff and Mick Davis.

LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:00 PM
October Road’s Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg have stepped in for David E. Kelley as showrunners of this American adaptation of the acclaimed BBC drama about a 21st century detective (Jason O’Mara, Men in Trees) who, following a car crash, mysteriously finds himself working as a cop in the 1970s. Co-starring Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Gretchen Mol (3:10 to Yuma), and Jonathan Murphy (October Road). Lisa Bonet (Enemy of the State) also appears as a recurring guest star.

TESTEES (FX)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:30 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:30 PM
This comedy series from writer/creator Kenny Hotz (Kenny vs. Spenny), stars Canadian newcomers Steve Markle  and Jeff Kassel as two best friends and roommates in their early 30s who work as test subjects for “TESTICO,” a less-than-normal product testing facility. In each episode, Peter and Ron are given a new experimental medication or treatment to test, with usually ridiculous and almost always negative side effects.

MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC)
Premieres: Monday, Oct. 13 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Mondays at 10:00 PM
Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, Bobby) is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a minivan. Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile, and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common — the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. Jason Smilovic (Kidnapped) is the executive producer; David Semel (director of the American Dreams, Heroes and Life pilots) is the director and executive producer.

CRUSOE (NBC)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 17 at 8:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 8:00 PM
Based on the legendary novel by Daniel Defoe, this is the tale of Robinson Crusoe, a young man who leaves his true love to embark on an adventure — only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane. While stranded, Crusoe encounters enemies and braves the elements. Equal parts MacGyver, Castaway and Pirates of the Caribbean, this series is an inspirational tale of survival rife with action and comedy, starrin Philip Winchester (Thunderbirds), Anna Walton (Hellboy II), Sam Neill (The Tudors), Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings), Mia Maestro (Alias), Tongayi Chirisa, and Joaquim De Almeida (24).

CRASH (Starz)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 10:00 PM
Dennis Hopper stars in the first original drama series from Starz Entertainment, based on the Academy Award-winning Best Picture. Set in Los Angeles, the series explores the complexities of social and racial tolerance and the meaning of the American dream through characters whose lives intersect and collide. The drama features a disparate group of Los Angelenos, including maverick record producer Ben Cendars (Hopper); impulsive cop Kenny Battaglia (Ross McCall, Band of Brothers); his actress-turned-police officer partner Bebe Arcel (Arlene Tur); frustrated Brentwood mom Christine Emory (Clare Carey, Jericho); her pre-bust real-estate developer husband Peter Emory (D.B. Sweeney, Jericho); former gang member-turned-EMT Eddie Choi (Brian Tee, Grey’s Anatomy); Ben’s street-smart driver Anthony Adams (Jocko Sims, Dreamgirls); illegal Guatemalan immigrant Cesar Uman (Luis Chavez, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles); and cocky, hot-tempered detective Axel Finet (Nick E. Tarabay, The Sopranos).

STYLISTA (The CW)
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Wednesdays at 9:00 PM
Eleven aspiring fashion enthusiasts vie for a much-coveted editorial job with Elle magazine in this reality series. They work as assistants to Elle‘s Fashion News Director, Anne Slowey, a demanding but well-respected fashion icon, who fires one contestant every week. From executive producers Tyra Banks, Ken Mok, Eli Holzman, Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha.

Bacon Bits: LIFE ON MARS, PUSHING DAISIES and More

- Harvey Keitel has signed on to play Gene Hunt in ABC’s revamped remake of Life on Mars, replacing Colm Meaney. Um,  Meaney was kind of the only thing that looked good about the project in the first place.

- Lee Pace and Anna Friel have all the scoop on the second season of Pushing Daisies.

- More than 3,000 props from Battlestar Galactica will be auctioned off for charity when the fourth and final season commences early next year.

- Robot Chicken announces a sequel to their Emmy-nominated Star Wars episode, to air Nov. 16.

- The self-destruction of a broadcast network: NBC fumbles their way through the TCAs.

- And in case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s Neil Patrick Harris as the Shoe Fairy on the upcoming season premiere of Sesame Street.

ABC Announces Fall Premiere Dates

This morning at the Television Critics Assn.’s press tour ABC unveiled the premiere dates for its fall schedule:

Friday, Sept. 19
10-11 p.m. “20/20″

Monday, Sept. 22
8-10 p.m. “Dancing With the Stars” (special two-hour performance show premiere)
10-11 p.m. “Boston Legal”

Tuesday, Sept. 23
8-9 p.m. “Opportunity Knocks” (new series debut)
9-11 p.m. “Dancing With the Stars” (special performance show)

Wednesday, Sept. 24
8-9 p.m. “Dancing With the Stars Results Show Special” (special day and time)
9-11 p.m. “David Blaine Special”

Thursday, Sept. 25
8-9 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9-11 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” (special two-hour season premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 28
7-9 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (two-hour season premiere)
9-10 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
10-11 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”

Tuesday, Sept. 30
9:10 p.m. “Dancing With the Stars Result Show” (regular day and time period premiere)

Wednesday, Oct. 1
8-9 p.m. “Pushing Daisies”
9-10 p.m. “Private Practice”
10-11 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money”

Friday, Oct. 3
8-9 p.m. “Wife Swap”
9-10 p.m. “Supernanny”

Sunday, Oct. 5
7-8 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8-9 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (regular time period premiere)

Monday, Oct. 6
9:30-10 p.m. “Samantha Who?”

Thursday, Oct. 9
9:10 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy” (regular time period premiere)
10-11 p.m. “Life on Mars” (new series debut)

Tuesday, Oct. 14
10-11 p.m. “Eli Stone”

LIFE ON MARS Finally Makes It to ABC’s Fall Schedule

Only one new scripted series has found its way onto ABC’s 2008 fall schedule, announced this morning at a press conference in New York: the long-delayed adaptation of Life on Mars. Otherwise, this fall’s ABC lineup looks an awful lot like last fall’s ABC lineup.

ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson did officially announce the network’s acquisition of NBC comedy Scrubs, which is scheduled to premiere midseason. Other midseason premieres include the Mike Judge animated comedy The Goode Family and an as-yet untitled Tyra Banks/Ashton Kutcher reality show.

New Series for Fall 2008 or Midseason 2009

LIFE ON MARS
October Road‘s Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg have stepped in for David E. Kelley as showrunners for this American version of the mind-bending BBC drama about a 21st century detective (Jason O’Mara, stepping into John Simm’s shoes) who, following a car crash, mysteriously finds himself working as a cop in the 1970s. Costarring Colm Meaney, Lenny Clarke and Rachelle Lefevre.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
J.D. Roth has been tapped to host this Ashton Kutcher-produced game show, in which producers show up at a home with a truckload of prizes and quiz family members on what they know about each other.

THE GOODE FAMILY
King of the Hill‘s Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky re-team for this animated series about a family obsessed with doing the “right” thing, only to have their efforts result in unintended comedic consequences. Judge is expected to voice several characters on the show, including the family’s father.

Returning Fall 2008 or Midseason 2009

· 20/20
· ACCORDING TO JIM
· AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS
· THE BACHELOR
· BOSTON LEGAL
· BROTHERS & SISTERS
· DANCING WITH THE STARS
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
· DIRTY SEXY MONEY
· ELI STONE
· EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION
· GREY’S ANATOMY
· LOST
· PRIMETIME
· PRIVATE PRACTICE
· PUSHING DAISIES
· SAMANTHA WHO?
· SATURDAY NIGHT COLLEGE FOOTBALL
· SCRUBS
· SUPERNANNY
· UGLY BETTY
· WIFE SWAP

Canceled Series

· BIG SHOTS
· CARPOOLERS
· CASHMERE MAFIA
· CAVEMEN
· MEN IN TREES
· MISS GUIDED
· NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY
· OCTOBER ROAD
· OPRAH’S BIG GIVE
· WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB

Pickups and Cancellations Abound in Advance of Upfronts

It’s upfront week again, that wonderful time of year when networks present their fall schedules to advertisers and reporters in the hopes of generating lots of hype and, in turn, beaucoup de advertising bucks (well, except for NBC, which already did theirs weeks ago). More importantly, it’s the time when we finally learn the fate of all those bubble shows, and what exciting new TV we can look forward to in the coming fall/winter season. At least it’d better be exciting, since the networks have managed to hemorrhage six million viewers since last year’s May sweeps.

The actual presentations don’t start until tomorrow, but the networks have been getting ready for upfront week by doing some housecleaning–ordering pilots to series, renewing and/or canceling old shows, and casting for new ones. Here’s a roundup of the weekend’s scuttlebutt.

Over at the CW, the highly anticipated (by some, anyway) 90210 spinoff has been picked up, and old school cast member Jennie Garth has signed on to reprise her role as Kelly Taylor, now a guidance counselor at good old West Beverly Hills High School. Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, who rewrote the pilot script after Rob Thomas exited the project, will stick around as showrunners. In addition, the network is reportedly close to picking up a new comedy based on Zoey Dean’s book How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which should mesh nicely with Gossip Girl.

As for existing shows, I’m sad to say that the critically acclaimed but little-watched Aliens in America is officially cancelled. We told you guys to watch it, but did you listen? No, you did not. But don’t worry, I’m sure there’ll be plenty more Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious in your future to make up for it. Hey, don’t complain to me, ya’ll brought this on yourselves.

In other CW news, Girlfriends spinoff The Game will be back with 22 more episodes. There’s no official word yet on Reaper, but TV Guide‘s Michael Ausiello is saying there’s a good chance it’ll be back. The CW will unveil its full lineup on Tuesday evening.

ABC’s negotiations with David E. Kelley over the Life on Mars remake seem to be close to a resolution, and unfortunately for all of us that resolution doesn’t involve the complete abandonment of the project. Kelley, who owns the rights to the American version of the acclaimed BBC series, is expected to exit the project in exchange for an agreement to bring Boston Legal back in the fall. October Road exec producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are reportedly in line to take over as showrunners for the new Life on Mars.

ABC has given a 13-episode order to animated comedy The Goode Family, from Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky. Mum’s still the word on Scrubs, but it’s expected to have a place on the network’s fall schedule, which will be officially announced Tuesday afternoon.

Fox was especially busy this weekend, dishing out series orders for J.J. Abrams’ new sci-fi drama Fringe, the Jason Bateman-directed comedy The Inn (from Arrested Development scribe Abraham Higginbotham), and (speaking of Arrested Development) Mitchell Hurwitz’s animated comedy Class Dismissed (based on the Australian series Sit Down, Shut Up). Fringe is rumored for a fall premiere while Joss Whedon’s highly anticipated Dollhouse probably won’t be ready until midseason. The network also announced some unsurprising cancellations, including Back to You, New Amsterdam and Canterbury’s Law. Fox’s upfront presentation will take place Thursday afternoon.

CBS, on the other hand, has been playing its cards close to the vest this weekend. But rumor has it the network is looking to create a new comedy block on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the fall. Some series pickup announcements are expected to come later today, including the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Eleventh Hour and The Mentalist, from writer Bruno Heller. Other likely contenders are the Diane Ruggiero-penned Mythological Ex and murder mystery Harper’s Island. CBS will announce its full schedule on Wednesday afternoon.

Foreign Imports Drive Pilot Season

With this year’s pilot season truncated by the writers strike, networks seem to be relying increasingly on foreign imports to pad their schedules.

Canadian imports Flashpoint and The Listener recently were handed series orders by CBS and NBC, respectively. David E. Kelley is doing a remake of the BBC series Life on Mars for ABC that has some of us at TV Bacon very concerned. And NBC is planning remakes of both the British Father Ted and the Australian Kath & Kim.

Yesterday, CBS picked up two more pilots based on foreign imports. NY-LON is a remake of a six-episode U.K. series that aired in 2004, about a man and a woman who attempt a long-distance romance between New York and London after a chance meeting. The Office‘s Rashida Jones starred in the original, but it’s unknown if the actress, currently appearing in Fox’s mid-season comedy Unhitched, will reprise her role. Mythological X, from Veronica Mars scribe Diane Ruggiero, revolves around a woman who begins revisiting all of her old boyfriends after a psychic tells her that she has already dated the man she is destined to married.

And today Fox greenlighted two pilots based on British series: Outnumbered, about parents struggling to raise three intelligent children, and the dreaded McG-produced remake of the Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright hit Spaced. Another Fox comedy based on a British import, Don’t Bring Frank, has reportedly begun casting, although it has yet to receive a pilot pickup.

Since I can think of all of one whole successful American remake (NBC’s The Office) and a whole string of spectacular failures (Viva Laughlin, The IT Crowd, and Coupling, just to name a few of the most recent), one must wonder why, exactly, the networks continue to cling to remakes. On its face, I suppose it must seem like an easy out–take a proven formula and refit it with a fresh American cast and writing staff. Simple as pie, right?

Not so much. Because it takes more than just a great premise to make a show work. Just like it takes more than just a great actor or a great writer. It takes a mysterious, magic formula that combines all of these things, along with a hearty does of that undefinable quality known as chemistry, to hit the butter zone.

Okay, so it worked with The Office. But only because they just happened to bring together one of the best writing staffs in television with one of the best comedy ensembles in television. And even then it took them almost a full season to hit their stride. It wasn’t until they stopped following in the footsteps of the British original and started to develop their own unique voice for the series that it really came into its own.

If anything, I’d venture to say that it’s actually much harder to turn a remake into a success, because you have to fight an uphill battle to move out of the shadow of the original, especially if you’re remaking a show like Spaced or Life on Mars that’s widely available in the U.S. To borrow a phrase from another series to spawn a limp remake, it has to be better, stronger, faster.

Otherwise, why should I watch a watered-down American copy when I can enjoy the real thing in all its glory? Which is exactly the question I suspect audiences will be asking themselves this fall.