American Broadchurch: Can Fox Pull Off Something So Very British?

It sounds like a treat for US viewers – Broadchurch is coming to the good ol’ US of A. But then you hear the catch – it’s not just that the show is now airing stateside (which it is and American audiences are no doubt appreciative) but Fox is also making an all-American version – presumably not named Broadchurch for obvious reasons.

Those, who remember MTV’s (at best) hilarious attempt at an American adaptation of Skins should be cringing right now. And people, who have mercifully been spared, can probably see just why this is such a bad idea. And yes, we can already hear you, oh Anglophile TV enthusiast, with your Doctor Who mug full of tea and your disgruntled cries “But what about Downton Abbey?” Let’s not forget that Downton, which, admittedly, is just breaking out of its “cult hit” phase in the US and going into the “legit success” category, is not a remake. Yes, we concede that apparently very, very British shows can find an audience stateside, but still – it doesn’t seem likely.