Ghosts Writers
As readers of these pages may recall, I’m a big fan of the series Ghosts. But that’s not because of the CBS version – I first became aware of the show well before the American adaptation appears on U.S. television, from its original British production that runs on the Max streaming service. That admiration for Ghosts continued with the American incarnation which has done a wonderful job adapting the show, being deeply respectful to its roots, while taking its own directions. In fact, for a while, I watched both versions simultaneously, with each one augmenting the other, giving me a sort of expanded platform – something that was much appreciated because they British production had only had three seasons available, with about seven episodes each year. (There since is a fourth British season, though it isn’t available yet on Max. And it’s been announced as the final year for the British version.)
There’s a point to all this, separate from just reiterating my great appreciation of Ghosts, so bear with me.
I wrote about both versions here. I dearly like them both, as they complement each other, having strengths that the other doesn’t, and I’d be hard pressed to say which one is “best.” The British original with Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe as the homeowners – and the ghosts -- is a total joy. The American incarnation with Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as the couple -- and the ghosts -- is a total joy. If I absolutely had to take a stance on which I prefer, it would be British original. That’s for two reasons. One, it’s done a bit more straightforward with subtle humor, rather than as a funny sitcom. And the other is that British antiquity lends itself a bit better to a) a mansion being haunted by ghosts, and b) being on land that goes back 1,000 years which lends itself to a more historic collection of ghosts.
A friend of mine and her husband love, love, lover the American Ghosts, and after a bit of polite pushing, I got them to try to British version. After the first episode, they said that it was very good but, no, they still much preferred the American show. (Side note: the U.S. premiere is incredibly close to the British original, including many of the same jokes. And they used some of the same British premises for the first two or three U.S. episodes.) However, they liked it enough to keep watching, and a month later I got an email that basically said, “You’re right, we LOVE the British version, and prefer it.” This from someone who – rightly – love, love, loves the American show.
That’s been my hurdle, getting people to watching the British original of Ghosts. Not to like it more – that’s personal taste, they’re both wonderful – but just to expand one’s appreciation of the show’s universe, especially if one likes it so much.
Which brings us to the point here. It’s something I both love and dislike. But mainly the former.
A while back, I wrote about the Fall season TV schedule that ABC announced to deal with the writers strike (and now the writers-actors strike). It was laughably dismal, thinking people would watch the ridiculous material they were trying to put on, rather than just check out all the brand new – or new to them – material that is streaming.
CBS recently announced their own Fall schedule, and it too is almost totally empty. With one caveat. A brilliantly smart idea by the network I’m sorry – and very happy – to say. CBS has said that in the Fall, they will begin airing episodes from the original British series of Ghosts.
As someone on strike with the Writers Guild, I hate that this is such a great, smart idea and I’m sure will draw pretty good numbers of viewers. On the other hand, I am so glad that people will now get the chance to watch the British original so much more easily.
By the way, there’s a small thing viewers of the American series will likely enjoy. One of the creators and stars of the British original, Matthew Baynton, actually appeared in an episode of the American adaptation. (He didn’t play a ghost over here, but rather was an actor who played the role of ‘Pete’ – one of the ghosts on the estate – in a TV documentary episode about ‘Pete’s’ death.) He said it was a very strange experience, since – when playing a ghost in England he never has to worry about ignoring what the “living characters” are saying, but as a living character, you have to block out the ghosts around you. And so it gave him great appreciation for what those actors have to do. Anyway, in the British series, he plays the flouncy, romantic poet Thomas Thorne from the early 1800s, who is madly in love with the living homeowner Allison.
Worth noting: Baynton co-created with James Corden and co-stars with him in a very fun series that streams on Hulu, called The Wrong Mans. It was only on for two seasons, before Corden left to come to the U.S. for his talk show. But it’s well-worth checking out. It’s sort of a very comic Hitchock-type story about two clueless guys who get caught up in a dangerous spy adventure, full of wonderful twists and turns.
Back to Ghosts, though, I wish there was a good trailer for the British series, but there really isn’t. However, earlier this year I posted a “reunion” sketch of sorts that the cast did in England for the “Red Nose Day” Comic Relief telethon that’s on every year to raise money for children poverty. While the sketch isn’t the show at its height, it's still a lot of fun. (And features a guest appearance by singer Kylie Minogue.) And you’ll get to see how close the American adaptation comes to the original.
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