In the US: Sundays, 9/8c, ABC
It’s official. The UK’s drama output has sunk to an all-time low. You know how I know? Because not only has US TV stopped plundering us for formats, it’s now started plundering New Zealand TV for idea.
Outrageous Fortune is one of NZ’s most popular shows, a slightly Shameless affair about a criminal family trying to go straight. Now ABC in the US has decided to remake it as Scoundrels – since clearly the cancellation of The Riches wasn’t warning enough.
It’s put some fair old talent into it, too: Virginia Madsen (Dune, Sideways et al), David James Elliot (JAG), Leven Rambin (The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Carlos Bernard (24), Patrick John Flueger (Brothers) and Jessica Collins (Tru Calling). So why does it fall so flat? Oh yes, because it’s mainstream summer TV and edgy is just not what we’re looking for.
Here’s a trailer for Scoundrels followed by a trailer for Outrageous Fortune: see if you can spot the difference.