British Comedies Adapted for American Television Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This comedy deals with a man moving into a flat with two girls. "Three's Company" aired in the USA and ran from 1977 to 1984. What was it called in the UK?

Answer: Man About the House

An enormously successful comedy on both sides of the Atlantic, "Man about the House" starred Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox and Sally Thompsett. Although the girls were originally looking for a female to share the flat, the fact that Robin (Richard O'Sullivan) was a catering student was too good an opportunity for them to pass up.
It ran for 169 episodes in the US as "Three's Company" and starred John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers.

2. What was the name of the British programme that dealt with life in prison, known in the USA as "On The Rocks"?

Answer: Porridge

A series that ran for three years in the UK in the early 70's, "Porridge" starred Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher (Fletch), who shared a cell with a first time villain called Godber, played by Richard Beckinsale. Fletch took Godber under his wing and explained prison life to him. Eventually Godber married Fletch's daughter Ingrid.
Sadly, after a brief career which included starring roles in "The Lovers" and "Rising Damp", Richard Beckinsale died of a heart attack at the age of 31.

3. A comedy that did well in the US was called "Sanford and Son" which portrayed the father and son as junk dealers. What was the name of its British counterpart?

Answer: Steptoe and Son

A hugely successful show which ran for 12 years in the UK, "Steptoe and Son" showed the antagonism between a father and son. The 'rag and bone' business is a prison for the son, Harold, played by Harold H. Corbett, as is the house they live in, and he dreams of escaping one day. Albert, the father, played by Wilfred Brambell thinks he has worked hard enough to take it easy during his remaining years and wants to sit at home and let his son take care of him. Harold has delusions of bettering himself but is in the grip of his father and there is no escape.

4. "What a Country" was shown in the US in 1986/7 and 26 episodes were made. The series ran for three seasons in the UK in the late 70's and another 13 episodes were made in 1985. What was the name of this British comedy that showed new immigrants being taught the English language?

Answer: Mind Your Language

Many of the laughs in this comedy, starring Barry Evans as the hapless English teacher, were derived from the linguistic difficulties of the students. In modern times this would not be deemed politically correct. It also featured several racial stereotypes as characters, including an amorous French student, Danielle Favre, an Italian lothario, Giovanni Cupello, and a humourless German, Anna Schmidt. Misunderstandings and aggression were rife, and resulted in turning the naive and inoffensive English teacher into a nervous wreck.

5. In 1973/4, NBC aired a programme called "Lotsa Luck" about a character called Stan who worked for a bus company. Stan lived at home with his mother, his sister Olive and her husband, Arthur. What was the name of its British counterpart?

Answer: On The Buses

This series was written specifically for Reg Varney. It ran for 74 half hour episodes and spawned three films. The first film, "On The Buses", released in 1971, was the top box office seller in the UK, beating the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever".

6. "Hope Island", which ran for one season in the US in 1999, dealt with a new vicar moving into a community where there was a run down church. The series, which was set in Ireland, ran for six years in the UK. What was its name?

Answer: Ballykissangel

"Ballykissangel" dealt with the interaction between the newly arrived priest who, apart from being English, had last worked in an inner city, and the local villagers. The priest, Father Peter Clifford, and Assumpta Fitzgerald, who ran the local bar, were the main protagonists in the early seasons, but left the series at the end of the third season. Assumpta had died in an electrical accident leaving a heartbroken Father Peter, who left the village and was replaced by a new man of the cloth.

7. Perhaps the most popular sitcom in the US that was adapted from British television was "All in the Family". The show portrayed the patriarch of the family as a bigot and ran for 202 episodes in the US. What was the name of the British original?

Answer: Till Death Us Do Part

"Till Death Us Do Part" ran for 10 years in the UK, the part of Alf Garnett being played by Warren Mitchell. His wife, whom he called "Silly Old Moo", was played by Dandy Nichols, who called him "Pig". Many episodes show Dandy Nichols' character Else having no lines, but still managing to steal scenes with just a glance.

A wonderful supporting cast included Una Stubbs and Anthony Booth. Racist language was rife, but was accepted then. It just couldn't happen now!

8. "Amanda's by the Sea" was a sitcom set in a small hotel by the sea in the US. Starring John Cleese of "Monty Python" fame, what was the UK version called?

Answer: Fawlty Towers

"Fawlty Towers", although running for only 12 episodes, has indelibly left its mark on the British public. Written by and starring husband and wife team John Cleese and Connie Booth, it was ably supported by Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs. John Cleese thought that the show would go downhill fast if they attempted to stretch the situation out further, also the relationship between Cleese and his wife had deteriorated, so the show ended.

9. "The Ropers", which ran for 26 episodes in the USA, was a spin off of "Three's Company". What was it called in the UK?

Answer: George and Mildred

Although they did not have starring roles in the original series "Man About the House", the parts of George and Mildred, the landlords, were expanded during the final seasons of that show. George, played by Brian Murphy, was proud of his working class roots whereas Mildred played by Yootha Joyce, always strived to better herself. Alas, the series was cut short as Yootha died an untimely death at the age of 53.

10. Running for 73 episodes in the US, "DC Follies" was not as savagely satirical as the UK show it was based on. Every US edition ended with a disclaimer stating that it was done in fun. What was the name of the UK show it was based on?

Answer: Spitting Image

During its hugely popular run of 12 years, nobody was safe from the satire of the "Spitting Image" team - even the Royal Family, although to some it was an honour to be treated in this way. "Spitting Image" was first produced during the Thatcher era and the British Prime Minister was initially portrayed as more of a man than the members of her Cabinet.

As the series progressed, Maggie was increasingly shown as becoming more and more unstable and was finally shown in a strait jacket.

Source: Author mochyn

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

American television has imported many sitcoms from the UK but had to change them slightly to fit in the with the length of the programming due to advertising in the USA. How many do you recognise?

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