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There's A US Version Of Gavin & Stacey And People Aren't Happy About It

There's A US Version Of Gavin & Stacey And People Aren't Happy About It

They changed Smithy's name to Archie

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Beloved sitcom Gavin & Stacey is coming back for a Christmas special later this year and fans are already pretty excited. However, even the most die-hard fans might be (blissfully) unaware that a US version of the show was made, titled Us & Them.

Brace yourselves - here's the trailer:

The remake had Gavin & Stacey writers James Corden and Ruth Jones on-board as executive producers and was adapted for the US audience by David J Rosen.

In this version Gavin (played by Jason Ritter) is a New Yorker who meets Stacey (Alexis Bledel) from Pennsylvania. They begin an online relationship before the pair meet up six months later and...well, you know the basic story - the couple have an odd collection of family and friends who love to interfere in their relationship.

In the US version, which was made in 2013, Smithy became Archie and was played by Dustin Ybarra. Rob Brydon's Uncle Bryn was known as Uncle Brian, played by Michael Ian Black.

According to a quick bit of Internet research, it seems as though, blessedly, this didn't actually make it on to TV screens in the US, with Fox deciding to can it before production even finished, meaning only six of the planned 13 episodes even got made. Now, before you think 'harsh', please go back and look at the clip again.

The seven-episode series was picked up by a Korean network though, and also aired in South Africa.

The remake is being slated by Brits online.
Sony Pictures

Americans finally got their chance to watch it in 2018, when it was picked up by streaming service Sony Crackle.

The trailer is going viral online and is already racking up thousands of angry comments from fans of the original.

One said: "Why do they have to remake everything? Just watch the British version."

While another added: "I'm sorry but that's an absolute disgrace."

Others branded it 'horrific' and 'disgusting'.

Now, while we can (mostly) agree that American version of The Office is watchable - if not completely different from the UK one - other attempts at Americanising British shows have often failed miserably.

Take for example Peep Show, which Fox took a chance on 2008. It starred Big Bang Theory's Johnny Galecki - and bombed.

Although, it's not put them off - it was recently revealed another US version of Peep Show, with women in the lead roles, will be made.

America, please leave British sitcoms alone.

Featured Image Credit: Sony Pictures

Topics: TV and Film, UK Entertainment