List of American television shows based on foreign shows explained

Many US television series are based, copied, or derived from television shows from other countries.

American showOriginal showOriginal countryclass=unsortable Notes
All in the FamilyTill Death Us Do PartUnited Kingdom
Amanda's
Payne		Fawlty TowersUnited Kingdom
America's Funniest Home VideosFun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chanJapan
America's Most WantedAktenzeichen XY… ungelöstGermany
American IdolPop IdolUnited KingdomRan 15 seasons on Fox before moving to ABC one year later.
American Ninja Challenge
American Ninja Warrior		SasukeJapan
Antiques Roadshow (American TV program)Antiques RoadshowUnited Kingdom
Being Human (North American TV series)Being Human (British TV series)United Kingdom
Big Bad BeetleborgsJuukou B-Fighter
B-Fighter Kabuto		Japan
Big BrotherBig BrotherNetherlands
BrainSurgeBrain SurvivorJapan
The BridgeThe BridgeDenmark
Sweden
Cash CabCash CabUnited Kingdom
CardcaptorsCardcaptor SakuraJapan
The ChaseThe ChaseUnited Kingdom
Celebrity CircusCircus of the CelebritiesPortugal
Celebrity Fit ClubCelebrity Fit ClubUnited Kingdom
ContainmentCordonBelgium
Coupling (American TV series)CouplingUnited Kingdom
DanceXUnited Kingdom
Dancing with the StarsStrictly Come DancingUnited Kingdom
Dangerous WomenPrisonerAustralia
Deal or No DealMiljoenenjachtNetherlands
Dog Eat DogDog Eat DogUnited Kingdom
Dream SchoolJamie's Dream SchoolUnited Kingdom
Eleventh HourEleventh HourUnited Kingdom
The Ex ListThe Mythological XIsrael
Eyewitness (American TV series)ØyevitneNorway
Family Food FightFamily Food FightAustralia
Farmer Wants a WifeFarmer Wants a WifeUnited Kingdom
Fear FactorFear FactorNetherlands
Gameshow MarathonAnt & Dec's Gameshow MarathonUnited Kingdom
Glitter ForceSmile PreCure!Japan
Glitter Force Doki DokiDokiDoki! PreCureJapan
The Good DoctorGood DoctorSouth Korea
GracepointBroadchurchUnited Kingdom
Grand HotelGran HotelSpain
Grand SlamGrand SlamUnited Kingdom
Hell's KitchenHell's KitchenUnited Kingdom
HomelandPrisoners of WarIsrael
Traffic LightRamzorIsrael
HostagesHostagesIsrael
HumansReal HumansSweden
I Am FrankieYo soy FrankyColombia
I Can See Your VoiceI Can See Your VoiceSouth Korea
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!United Kingdom
In TreatmentBeTipulIsrael
The InbetweenersThe InbetweenersUnited Kingdom
Iron Chef AmericaIron ChefJapan
Jane the VirginJuana la virgenVenezuela
Kath & KimKath & KimAustralia
Keep it SpotlessSpotlessUnited Kingdom
Killer KaraokeSing If You CanUnited Kingdom
Killer WomenMujeres AsesinasArgentina
The KillingForbrydelsenDenmark
Life on Mars (American TV series)Life on Mars (British TV series)United Kingdom
Love IslandLove IslandUnited Kingdom
Mew Mew PowerTokyo Mew MewJapan
Magical DoReMiOjamajo DoremiJapan
The Masked SingerKing of Mask SingerSouth Korea
MasterChef USA
MasterChef (American TV series)		MasterChef (British TV series)United Kingdom
Men Behaving Badly (American TV series)Men Behaving BadlyUnited Kingdom
Million Dollar Money DropThe Million Pound DropUnited Kingdom
Mighty Morphin' Power RangersKyouryuu Sentai ZyurangerJapan
The MoleDe MolBelgium
Must Love KidsSingle MomsSweden
MXCTakeshi's CastleJapan
No ActivityNo ActivityAustralia
No TomorrowComo Aproveitar o Fim do MundoBrazil
The NoiseThe NoiseJapan
Number 96Number 96Australia
The OfficeThe OfficeUnited Kingdom
Operacion TriunfoSpainThe first reality competition show ABC has made up. This show described as the Fox won't let you see "Idol". The first to compete in 2006 with NBC's America's Got Talent and CBS' Rock Star. It was canceled after a few episodes.
PokémonPocket MonstersJapan
Popstars USAPopstarsNew Zealand
Power RangersSuper SentaiJapan
Queer As Folk (2000) and Queer as Folk (2022)Queer as Folk (British TV series)United Kingdom
Rake (American TV series)Rake (Australian TV series)Australia
Ready.. Set... Cook!Ready Steady CookUnited Kingdom
The ReturnedThe ReturnedFrance
Rising StarHaKokhav HaBaIsrael
Salty's LighthouseTugsUnited Kingdom
Samurai Pizza CatsKyatto Ninden TeyandeeJapan
Sanford and SonSteptoe and SonUnited Kingdom
ScoundrelsOutrageous FortuneNew Zealand
Secret MillionaireSecret MillionaireUnited Kingdom
Shameless (American TV series)Shameless (British TV series)United Kingdom
Shark TankMoney TigersJapan
Shining Time StationThomas & FriendsUnited Kingdom
Silent LibraryDowntown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!JapanThe only show MTV was produced as it adapted from a Japanese game in a variety show.
Skating with the StarsDancing on IceUnited Kingdom
SkinsSkinsUnited Kingdom
The SlapThe SlapAustralia
SplashSterren Springen Op ZaterdagNetherlands
SurvivorExpedition RobinsonSweden
Thank God You're HereThank God You're HereAustralia
That's My DogThat's My DogUnited Kingdom
Three's CompanyMan About the HouseUnited Kingdom
Three's a CrowdRobin's NestUnited Kingdom
The Tomorrow People (American TV series)The Tomorrow PeopleUnited Kingdom
Top of the PopsTop of the PopsUnited Kingdom
Too Close for ComfortKeep it in the FamilyUnited Kingdom
Trading SpacesChanging RoomsUnited Kingdom
Ugly BettyYo soy Betty, la feaColombia
Undercover Boss (American TV series)Undercover Boss (British TV series)United Kingdom
Viva LaughlinBlackpoolUnited Kingdom
The VoiceThe Voice of HollandNetherlands
VR TroopersChoujinki Metalder
Dimensional Warrior Spielban
Space Sheriff Shaider		Japan
Weakest LinkThe Weakest LinkUnited Kingdom
Wheel of FortuneMillion Dollar Wheel of FortuneAustraliaThe Australian Million Dollar format that aired in May–June 2008 was adopted in the United States in September 2008.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (American game show)Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)United Kingdom
Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway?United Kingdom
Wife SwapWife SwapUnited Kingdom
Wilfred (American TV series)Wilfred (Australian TV series)Australia
The Winner IsThe Winner Is...Netherlands
Worst WeekThe Worst Week of My LifeUnited Kingdom
The X FactorThe X FactorUnited Kingdom
YooHoo & FriendsYooHoo & FriendsSouth Korea

See also

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