US sitcom Cheers in line for UK remake – 30 years after hit comedy’s end

US sitcom Cheers in line for UK remake – 30 years after hit comedy’s end

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for international cinema and a special affinity for shows hailing from the UK, I must say that the prospect of a British remake of Cheers is an intriguing one. Having grown up watching the original version in the 80s and 90s, I can’t help but wonder how this classic sitcom will be reimagined for modern audiences across the pond.


It’s uncommon for American adaptations of British shows like ‘The Office’, ‘Ghosts’, ‘House of Cards’, and ‘Shameless’ to be successful, but it’s seldom that the reverse happens. In simpler terms, it’s rare for UK versions of American shows to thrive as much.

In contrast, it’s been reported by Deadline that the British production company, Big Talk Studios – known for creating shows like The Outlaws and Ludwig – is working on and proposing a U.K. adaptation of the beloved sitcom, Cheers.

Hi there! The show “Cheers,” featuring Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Woody Harrelson, and Kelsey Grammer (and others), aired for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, resulting in two spin-offs. One of these, “Frasier,” has been rebooted following its highly popular debut, and can now be watched with new episodes on Paramount Plus.

The British version of Cheers is being developed by Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly, The Durrells), and is currently being pitched.

US sitcom Cheers in line for UK remake – 30 years after hit comedy’s end

Kenton Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Big Talk, expressed his deep appreciation to Deadline for being given the responsibility over the comedy, stating that it would also be a significant task to execute it perfectly. He humorously implied that he might be taking on a somewhat daunting challenge.

He explained: “British pubs are becoming rare and endangered, which explains the ‘Why now?’ question. The atmosphere in Cheers during the ’80s was significantly different compared to today, so there’s a huge effort required to draw inspiration from the original characters while still creating something new and innovative.

According to recent updates from Allen’s interview with Deadline, it has been disclosed that duo Ben Willbond and Laurence Rickard, the masterminds behind Ghosts, are collaborating on an animated project. This upcoming series takes place in a hospital within the UK, reminiscent of Family Guy.

The title of that series is “In Case of Emergency,” a project being jointly produced with Blue Zoo Animation Studio, the studio responsible for creating “The Adventures of Paddington.

You can now stream the classic Cheers series on Paramount Plus! Go ahead and sign up for Paramount Plus today.

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2024-10-01 15:33