Who Knew? The Underrated Sitcom 'Dear John' Was Actually A Remake Of A Britcom?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-04-2011, 06:05 PM

Few popular British TV shows replicate their success Stateside, but Dear John was an even rarer phenomenon: an American adaptation that was more successful than its English counterpart. Well, relatively speaking, at least: The Judd Hirsch series, which ran from 1988 to 1992 on NBC, is mostly forgotten now, but its sibling only lasted a year on the BBC. (Neither is available on DVD.) The U.S. series centered on Hirsch's John Lacey, whose wife dumped him—via a Dear John letter—for his best friend, and his support group for divorced/widowed/otherwise lonely people. The group was filled with character archetypes—the ladies' man (played well by Jere Burns), a wisecracking senior, the sexpot divorcée, etc.—but it at least gave the show a novel setup, and a surprisingly deep comic well.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-b...of-briti,2440/

robyrob · 06-04-2011, 09:09 PM

I remember them talking about it being a remake of a UK show before it aired.

TMC · 12-23-2023, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Not all sitcoms are classics and this week we're going to prove it by looking at the somewhat forgotten Dear John.

Running for two series in 1986-87, it was written by John Sullivan (of Only Fools and Horses fame) and starred former Hammer Horror icon Ralph Bates. Over the top characters and pointless plots are all in store.

Quote:

It's part 2 of our look at eighties sitcom Dear John, starring Ralph Bates as the hapless divorcee surrounded by wacky characters.

In this episode we take a look at what the actors did before and after their time with Dear John and attend a party at Mrs. Boyd-Peter's house (don't mention her embarrassing problem).

ThisLittlePiggy · 12-24-2023, 01:01 PM

I really like Dear John; I never saw the UK version.

dee2364 · 07-17-2024, 07:40 AM

Thought this was commonly known? I remember hearing when the show aired that it was based on a Britcom.

Chocolate Moose · 07-19-2024, 10:05 AM

I knew that too

06-04-2011, 06:05 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Who Knew? The Underrated Sitcom 'Dear John' Was Actually A Remake Of A Britcom?!? Few popular British TV shows replicate their success Stateside, but Dear John was an even rarer phenomenon: an American adaptation that was more successful than its English counterpart. Well, relatively speaking, at least: The Judd Hirsch series, which ran from 1988 to 1992 on NBC, is mostly forgotten now, but its sibling only lasted a year on the BBC. (Neither is available on DVD.) The U.S. series centered on Hirsch's John Lacey, whose wife dumped him—via a Dear John letter—for his best friend, and his support group for divorced/widowed/otherwise lonely people. The group was filled with character archetypes—the ladies' man (played well by Jere Burns), a wisecracking senior, the sexpot divorcée, etc.—but it at least gave the show a novel setup, and a surprisingly deep comic well. http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-b...of-briti,2440/
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06-04-2011, 09:09 PM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,159	I remember them talking about it being a remake of a UK show before it aired.
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07-19-2024, 10:05 AM	#6
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	I knew that too
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12-24-2023, 01:01 PM	#4
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,247	I really like Dear John; I never saw the UK version.

07-17-2024, 07:40 AM	#5
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	Thought this was commonly known? I remember hearing when the show aired that it was based on a Britcom.