20 iconic American TV shows that inspired international duplicates

Everyone deserves to have quality sketch comedy. Saturday Night Live has been remade in several other countries, including Mexico, France, Japan, South Korea, and Spain. 

No show in the early 2000s had as much buzz as The O.C., and it was such a good idea that it was remade in Turkey. The show goes by a different name, of course, considering Orange County, California, is unique to the United States, but the concept is the same. 

The Nanny is a worldwide sensation. So much so that it’s been remade in multiple different countries. Among the nations lucky enough to have a Nanny remake are Poland, Russia, and Argentina. 

Law & Order is always reinventing itself in the United States. Of course, it was reinvented across the pond. Law & Order: UK exists, although it has only five seasons, compared to the original’s 24 and counting. 

Few game shows have had the success of Jeopardy! The show has been a sensation in the United States for decades and is also successful around the world. There have been remakes in Russia, Germany, Japan, and Australia. 

The most successful American animated series of all time? Yeah, it’s going to get remade somewhere else. Georgia made its own version of The Simpsons called The Samsonadzes. No word on what Georgian events the series has predicted. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is beloved in the United States, and its magic has translated internationally. Another version of the show was made in Quebec, called Escouade 99. 

Of course, another country wanted to remake The Powerpuff Girls. An animated series about powerful super girls? It’s a no-brainer. Japan did its own version of The Powerpuff Girls, and it’s worth checking out, as it isn’t a complete copy. 

Sitcoms are easy to remake in other countries, as most of them have fairly straightforward concepts. Modern Family translated well in Greece, Chile, and Iran, although the Iranian version excluded gay couples. 

The romanticization of breaking out of prison is universal, apparently. Prison Break isn’t just an American TV show. The series was remade in Russia. Which is not surprising at all. 

South Korea remade Criminal Minds after it proved to be incredibly successful in the United States. The Korean version used American episodes as its template starting in the third season. 

Hilarious nerds are popular in every country. After the major success of The Big Bang Theory in the United States, Belarus got in on the action and made a version of its own. Not everyone was thrilled about it, though. Chuck Lorre, the creator of the American series, tried to sue for ripping off his idea, to no avail. 

Celebrity culture isn’t just alive and well in the United States. The series was remade in South Korea, though it didn’t fare as well over there as it did in America. 

Don’t accuse Russians of having no sense of humor. They remade How I Met Your Mother over there, so clearly they like comedy. But if you watch it, don’t expect it to be too similar to the original. There are some noticeable differences. 

Who doesn’t love a good legal drama? Suits is one of the best, and it was proven so after both South Korea and Japan made their own versions of the hit series. 

If you think Breaking Bad is good in the United States, consider rewatching the Colombian version. The Colombian series is basically a shot-for-shot remake of the original, so maybe just stick to the American version. 

Reruns of Friends air all over the world, but it was still remade in China. The show’s name literally translates to "Planet Homebuddies," and rather than live in separate apartments, all of the characters live in the same loft. 

Another great legal drama, The Good Wife had multiple spin-offs made here in the United States. Across the world, the series was remade in Japan, Russia, South Korea, Ireland, India, China, Vietnam, and Egypt. 

Honestly, Glee should be remade in every country. That chaos needs to spread. China knows what’s up. They remade the series, and its name literally translates to "My Youth High Eight Degrees."

If there’s another country in the world as well known for its film and TV industry, it’s India. So it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that India remade one of the United States’ most popular TV series, 24.