| The U.S. television industry has a long history of borrowing ideas from other countries, but the early 2000s ushered in a new era of globalization that legitimized the remake process, encouraged format importation and adaptation, and fostered the sharing of ideas. All of these developments make interesting topics for analysis, and this study will focus on American remakes of foreign fictional programs over the past 10 years. In order to provide an overview of the current state of international formats, this thesis begins with a brief historical account of how foreign properties have been adapted in the United States. The U.S. regulatory and industry considerations that framed the adaptation processes in the past are specifically highlighted. Then, moving on to the recent landscape of television, three specific American remakes of foreign fictional television shows are discussed. Ugly Betty, based on the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea, was very successful due to its strategically planned departures from the original program. By transforming the melodrama into a comedy-drama, expanding the cast of characters, and appealing to the growing Hispanic population in the United States, Ugly Betty found a new rhythm and a way to reach a more diverse audience. Australia's beloved Kath & Kim was chosen for adaptation after the success of The Office. The American Kath & Kim relaxed the faux-documentary techniques and style of its predecessor, which fundamentally altered how the show approached its comedy. For this and other reasons, the American version failed to catch on the way the original did. Moving into the realm of American cable television, The Killing is a fairly faithful remake of Denmark's Forbrydelsen . Both programs were well received by critics and audiences alike, but the nature of cable television schedules prevented the narrative from unfolding in America the same way it had in Denmark. Each case study examines the aesthetics, television industries, and cultures of the originals and the remakes. The final section of the thesis discusses new trends in television viewing and how they will affect the future of television adaptations. Multiple platforms of exhibition beyond the traditional television set offer more possibilities, opportunities, and creativity associated with American remakes. |
