It’s difficult to be original and successful, so apparently it’s easier to steal and have the same success. Often you hear the expression “Hollywood is out of ideas” but that isn’t always so. Years ago the greatest idea ever was conceived.
Take a great idea, tweak it slightly and make it your own.
We’ve see a sundry of TV shows pop up over the years that seem all too familiar. What is it that you just can’t put a finger on? Oh yeah, the fact that they were ripped off from existing shows. Doctor shows, cops shows, angry-horny chick shows… we see these airing every night. Are they groundbreaking? No, they’re more like cut and pasting. That doesn’t stop the studios from pooping them out. Here are 10 Blatant TV Ripoffs.
10. “Dawson’s Creek” and “The O.C.”
Teenage anxiety and unbelievable virginity is more than anyone can stand, but it doesn’t stop millions from watching it. After watching James Van Der Beek stalk his way through a window each week, it seemed mindless and flat chested teens wanted more. From there we saw “The O.C.” and a slew of other teenybooper dramas all being played by people in their 20s pretending to be in their teens being parented by people in their 30s pretending to be in their 40s and all of us just wondering who will make the first sex tape. 
9. “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy”
Alright, let the flame war begin. I’m not saying that one is better than the other. In fact, each is brilliant in their own way. But to not point out the similarities beyond just both being animated is just silly. Although now that “The Simpsons” is entering it’s 198th season and “Family Guy” is operating just as strong, by the year 2043, I’d think every network prime time schedule will resemble Adult Swim.
8. “Survivorman” and “Man Vs. Wild”
Personally I can go all day long without watching someone eat camel testicles and drinking snake eye juice to stay alive, but each of these shows keep trying to out do each other. Am I the only one who hopes the cameraman is getting overtime?
7. “The Mentalist” and “Lie To Me”
Hey everyone! I’m a super smart cop in a nice suit who can solve a crime just by looking at you. Doesn’t anyone solve crimes via bribery and planting evidence anymore? Well, at least no one ripped off “Cop Rock.”
6. “Muppet Show” and “30 Rock”
I’m not the first to point this out, nor will I be the last. But put the two side by side and you’ll be saying “Waka Waka.”
5. “Wife Swap” and “Trading Spouses”
The thought of getting to trade in your wife isn’t new. It’s been on the mind of every man since some idiot first conceived of the notion of marriage. It was only a matter of time before reality TV made a few bucks off the idea. These two shows are so similar that I can’t even tell which is which when I’m watching them. Which one always has the fat kid who wants to eat bacon all day and that crazy kid in the balloon? Hmmm, I think it’s both.
4. “Sex and the City” and “Lipstick Jungle”
I get it, women like to shop and discuss sex. It’s gross, and I’d like to only witness it from across the mall, not weekly on our television screens. If I wanted to watch old ladies talk about their vaginas, I’d go with my Mom to the gynecologist. Then slit my wrists.
3. “True Blood” and “Vampire Diaries”
Dear “Twilight,” I hate you for every thing you’ve done to our great planet. You forced people to sit through a 90 minute Abercrombie and Fitch commercial and to spawn a new line of vampire television shows convincing us it’s cool to be dark, mysterious and to occasionally suck blood. You suck.
2. “ER” and “Chicago Hope”
I point out “Chicago Hope” because it was the first rip off medical drama. Unfortunately it wasn’t the last. It’s hard not to turn on your television today without seeing hunky doctors and awkwardly sexy nurses in their 20s populate an ER. They suffer through sexual tension while saving lives. Why is it that each time I go to the ER, my nurse is a 90-year-old women who can’t find a vein, and the doctor… well he just never seems to appear.
1. “C.S.I.” and “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: NY” and most of the schedule on CBS
It’s too bad that TV cops can’t solve crimes anymore and need scientific teams to follow up to find the killers. I think all 50 states are going to have their own “C.S.I.” show soon enough. Each one I watch always brings up the same question. How do they solve so many crimes when their their labs have such bad lighting?
Feeling nostalgic? How about checking out 10 Classic “Let’s Make A Deal” Moments. and 13 Most Ridiculous Very Special Episodes Of TV Sitcoms.
This post was written by Bill Doty who is a rip off of George Clooney.
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