That, ITV, is how it should be done. Being Human apparently piloted last year but I missed it; now it’s back for a series. It has everything that I feel Demons lacks - character, writing, comedy and drama.

A werewolf, a vampire and a ghost housesharing. The first episode hooked me with how they became that way - some explanations were given but I think there’s more to it. And whereas Demons felt like it was trying way too hard to be Buffy and a potential American sale, this was funny in a very English way, I thought. I can’t quite pinpoint why but it definitely felt that way. There’s some mythology already built up but not too defined yet - why can the ghost pick up mugs to make tea but not drink it? Can she feel? It was suggested by her voiceover that she couldn’t but there was a hint of something between her and the others. Given that it felt British, though, I suspect it may end up being another one that American remakes for itself.

The only thing that irritates at the moment is that it’s yet another six episode series. Why can’t British channels commit to anything? So many series seem to be six episodes - American networks give you at least twelve to prove yourself; with six if you don’t make an impact instantly then it’s over. There’s virtually no time for word of mouth to take effect, no time for critics to give you column space and get you an audience. You’re reliant on your own channel’s marketing which, on BBC3, is limited anyway. It just doesn’t give them a chance to build an audience. I don’t know whether it’s because the commerical (ie viewing figure) success is not important - though surely on ITV at least this is not the case - or because they don’t want to put the initial investment into producing a decent length series. There’s little time for character and plot development in six episodes; you’re just  getting to know the characters and become truly involved with them when the series ends. Perhaps it’s why we have so few true ’series’. Whereas America has definite seasons, of around 22 episodes carefully scheduled through the year, we don’t have anything similar. Our shows that have run for ten years are either soaps - Coronation Street, Eastenders and the like - or soaplike dramas - Casualty, Heartbeat. We don’t often do long running tv drama.
Why does America remake British shows? Reproducing them with an American cast and American locations. Isn’t that patronising, an assumption that Americans either won’t be bothered to watch or won’t understand the series? As far as I know, there’s no examples vice versa - though there’s a great list here which has details of American versions and how they did. It seems like an incredible waste of money and effort really particularly when the originals do so well and obviously have a good storyline worth having - so why recast them? Patronising.