Who’s The Upper Hand Boss?

It’s rare for a British network to remake a US sitcom, and even rarer still for that remake to be any kind of success. But in 1990 Central Television began broadcasting The Upper Hand. Produced by Columbia/TriStar, it was a remake of the ABC show Who’s The Boss, which starred Tony Danza and Judith Light. The roles were recast with Joe McGann and Diana Weston, with Honor Blackman taking the place of Katherine Helmond.

The scripts for the British version were almost all just adapted from the US version, with just the cultural references changed. Which provides for an amazing side by side comparison. This is fascinating.

They even use the same typeface for the end credits.

The only real differences are the title – apparently the UK version was originally going to be called Man-Maid* – and the opening music. For some reason, the ITV show opted to use the music from Knot’s Landing.

*Mark Lewisohn, The Radio Times Guide To TV Comedy

, , ,
Buy My Books
  • Proctology: A Bottom Examination
    Proctology: A Bottom Examination

    For a long time now I’ve been wanting to write an old-fashioned programme guide. One you can hold in your hand and thumb through, make notes on, spill coffee on. So I did. Proctology: A Bottom Examination is my deep dive into Bottom, the hit BBC Two sitcom starring Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. That’s…

Follow
Most Read
  • Re-Casting Keanu
    Re-Casting Keanu

    Keanu Reeves is 56. That makes him eight years older than Clive Dunn was when he was first cast in Dad’s Army. But don’t panic, Clive Dunn was always playing much older characters than his own age. Keanu Reeves is 56. That makes him seven years older than Stephanie Cole was when she was first…

From The Archive

Sign up for my FREE newsletter