MovieChat Forums > Are You Being Served? (1972) Discussion > If they tried to remake the show...

If they tried to remake the show...

posted 11 years ago by Low_Rent
14 replies | jump to latest

...would you watch it? It think I would. If they did it right. I feel that enough time has passed that it could be done. For me they would have to get actors that most closely resemble the characters that were developed by the original actors. It would also need to be set in the 1960's or early 1970's just like the original show. And they would have to be British!! No American actors and I wouldn't want it to be set in America. I know that Gary Marshal was trying to do Beanes of Boston but I don't think that would have been a good show to watch.

Thoughts?

[–] christopherbkk 11 years ago

They remade this in Australia in the 80s. Even with John Inman there and good actors (like June Bronhill as a Mrs. Slocombe look-a-like) it didn't work. The episodes were the same stories but the show just wasn't the same.
Would it work now, I'd love it to work but I don't think so.

[–] Low_Rent 11 years ago

You are probably right. Just wishful thinking on my part.

[–] amyghost 11 years ago

What would be the point?

--The actors would have to resemble the original cast

--They would have to be British

----The show would need to be set in the same time period as the original

Why not simply be content with the original show? To do what you suggest would be to just create a clone, and a probably not very satisfactory clone at that.

[–] Low_Rent 11 years ago

Well, yes I guess it would be a clone but it would be nice to have more episodes. The original cast only made 6 or 7 episodes per year. I love the original show but I would like to have new stories to watch. Oh well, I think I will just have to go watch my DVD collection again.

[–] laurence01 11 years ago

Also (as much as I personally hate to say it) I don't think a remake would be accepted because of the PC brigade.

Let Zygons Be Zygons.

[–] tseybert 11 years ago

I knew somebody was going to say this.

So predictable!

Janet! Donkeys!

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

It's 'predictable' because it's so bloody true.

[–] velcronewsletter 11 years ago

bad idea. i wouldn't watch it probably. they can't recreate it the same way

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To Spamalot or not to Spamalot?

[–] december_roses 10 years ago

I don't think it would.

"Crouton! Crouton! Crunchy friends in a liquid broth."

[–] maggierose1978 10 years ago

While this is an old topic. If, for some reason, people tried to remake the show it would be completely different.

First, many of the jokes that were common place in the original series could not be broad casted today. First of all they are politically incorrect (which is a load of bull, but people would howl about how offensive it was with Mrs. Slocumbs Pussy and the remarks that Mr. Lucas made to Miss Brahms, etc).

Second, there are rare occasions in sitcom history when there is a perfect cast, and this was the perfect cast for this show. If they tried to find another cast, even for a remake, they could not find one as perfect as it was today.

Third, there are too many elements in the original series that cannot be transferred to this time.

[–] dpcole7 10 years ago

Nope.

The format would have to change so much that it'd not be recognizable.

Why not just make a new show instead, influenced by AYBS with the humor and satire, with the occasional bit of homage?

[–] Future_Games 10 years ago

I wouldn't watch it.

[–] hugh1971 9 years ago

It couldn't be remade now. The PC brigade would insist on so many changes that it wouldn't bear any resemblance to the original; plus, even in the 1970s Grace Bros store was old fashioned. There aren't really any places like that left. The nearest thing in recent years that makes fun of British workplaces was probably 'The Office'.

Also, Lloyd and Croft are on record as saying they ended the series because they'd run out of story ideas. Unlike most British sitcoms it did have a very long run.

'Monsters? We're British!'

[–] shiftylee 9 years ago

looks like this is happening.