#11: Only Fools and Horses (ABC)

The US networks are deep into development season and have spent the past few weeks frantically ordering pilots ahead of this year’s Upfronts and LA Screenings. TBI takes a look at some of the most interesting projects that are up for consideration.

#11: Only Fools and Horses (ABC)

There are some fantastic examples of British scripted formats becoming long running hits in the United States; Norman Lear’s hit CBS comedy All in the Family was originally based on Till Death Us Do Part and The Office: An American Workplace is arguably more successful than Ricky Gervais’ original.

However, the forthcoming version of Only Fools and Horses is unlikely to rival these.

The original British sitcom ran for ten years until 1991 with occasional Christmas specials until 2003 and starred David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst as a pair of wheeler dealer brothers trying to make it rich.

A US version has long been mooted with actors as diverse as M*A*S*H’s Harry Morgan and The Office’s Steve Carell mentioned as leads. However, this latest attempt, which is being produced by ABC Studios for its sister network, comes less than a year after the death of creator John Sullivan.

The remake stars The Kill Point’s John Leguizamo as Del Boy and is written by Scrubs’ writers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley.

Chances: Poor; unlikely to make it past former BBC executive and current ABC boss Paul Lee.