Top 10 Copycat TV Shows

Created by Howard Overman (the same man behind British sci-fi series “Misfits”), “Crazyhead” follows a young woman who’s unhappy with her life and works at a bowling alley. Oh, and she can see demons that disguise themselves among humans. Sounds like a neat idea for a TV show, but also way too much like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, which follows the titular heroine as she hunts vampires and demons. Granted, “Crazyhead” was able to stand on its own with its compelling characters and humor, but the commonalities it shares with Joss Whedon’s “Buffyverse” might be the reason why so few people watched, resulting in “Crazyhead” getting cancelled after one season.

Adapted from a French television series, “The Returned” presents a great hook; what if the deceased mysteriously returned several years later? Reviews were mixed, with most critics deeming its source material as the superior series, and it was cancelled a month after its first season ended. And just one month after that, a shockingly similar show took its place. In “Glitch”, a police officer finds seven people have mysteriously risen from the dead, each of them holding some link to each other. Unlike “The Returned” however, “Glitch” has been nominated for several awards thanks to its excellent writing and performances.

Gordon Ramsay yells so much at such a high volume, it’s amazing that he hasn’t ruptured his vocal chords. But that’s part of what made “Kitchen Nightmares” so entertaining to watch. It would seem that celebrity chef Robert Irvine knew what made people tune in and decided to launch his own show with a similar premise in 2011. “Restaurant: Impossible” follows Irvine as he visits failing restaurants, wretches over rotting food and mold, and helps owners restore their businesses. So, if you want another food show where a top-of-the-line chef yells at failing business owners, “Restaurant: Impossible” is for you.

#7: “The Glass House” (2012) “Big Brother” (2000-)

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Sometimes, tried and tested formulas work again and again. And other times, you get disasters like ABC’s “The Glass House” - a shameless attempt to copy “Big Brother”. “Big Brother” is of course a reality show that forces people to live together while competing in various challenges. Each week, contestants and viewers vote for who gets booted out of the house. ABC tried to replicate this formula with “The Glass House”, which not only copied “Big Brother’s” structure, but also employed crew members who previously worked on the show. This prompted CBS to file a lawsuit against ABC a month after “The Glass House” premiered, claiming their crew members had violated nondisclosure agreements. The show became a legal mess that only lasted one season.

#6: “The Mentalist” (2008-15) “Psych” (2006-14)

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Before CBS took ABC to court for “The Glass House”, they copied one of USA Network’s popular shows, “Psych”. When “The Mentalist” premiered two years after “Psych”, viewers couldn’t resist comparing the two. After all, both shows were about a fraudulent, self-proclaimed psychic working in law enforcement. The only difference was that “Psych” was much more comedic than CBS’s more serious version. Even “Psych’s” cast and crew saw how blatant of a ripoff “The Mentalist” was and would take potshots until the series ended in 2014. To its credit, at least “The Mentalist” was a quality knockoff, sure to please if you like your crime dramas extra gritty.

Yep, it’s another competition between reality game shows. Since 2001, “The Amazing Race” has placed contestants in various challenges taking place across the globe. Considering its success, it’s actually surprising that a copycat series didn’t arrive sooner. “Expedition Impossible” first aired in 2001, and once again, ABC seemed to be taking notes from CBS. Immediately, people started comparing “Expedition Impossible” to “The Amazing Race”, so much so that show creator Mark Burnett tried to point out the show’s uniqueness, calling it “...a very, very much more difficult competition.” Alas, “Expedition Impossible” was cancelled after one season, and “The Amazing Race” continues to air.

#4: “Channel Zero” (2016-18) “American Horror Story” (2011-)

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“American Horror Story” is one of the biggest shows to look forward to every season thanks to its fleshed-out characters, unique stories, and terrifying atmosphere. Again, it’s actually kind of shocking that few shows have tried to steal the show’s success. There was one, however - Syfy’s “Channel Zero”, a horror anthology series based on popular creepypastas. While “Channel Zero” was a critical success, it arguably tried too hard to compete with “American Horror Story”, often airing its episodes in the middle of its competitor’s seasons. With ratings dipping every year, it’s no wonder Syfy ultimately cancelled “Channel Zero” after four seasons.

#3: “Z Nation” (2014-18) “The Walking Dead” (2010-)

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Ever since “The Walking Dead” premiered in 2010, networks have been trying to ride the show’s coattails with their own zombie apocalypse series. One such case was Syfy’s “Z Nation”, which aimed to bring a little more comedy to contrast with “Walking Dead’s” perpetually grimness. Despite the different tone, “Z Nation’s” efforts came off as too desperate to cash-in on “Walking Dead’s” success. There were far too many narratives to keep track of, and the campy humor was more of an acquired taste. Clearly, we know which show has come out on top...even if many also feel that “The Walking Dead” might have overstayed its welcome.

#2: “Elementary” (2012-19) “Sherlock” (2010-17)

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Sherlock Holmes in a modern day setting? That’s an idea we can get behind! The only problem is that there are two shows competing for our attention. At first we had “Sherlock”, which starred the illustrious Benedict Cumberbatch and put Holmes in modern London. Then, two years after “Sherlock” premiered, we got “Elementary”, which Americanized the detective by placing him in modern New York City. While “Elementary” was great in its own right, crafting a unique identity, we can’t help but feel that CBS was trying to cash-in on BBC’s success. Well, at least the settings made it a little easier to distinguish between the two.

#1: “Friends” (1994-2004) “Living Single” (1993-98)

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“How I Met Your Mother” featured a cast of characters reminiscent of Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Monica, and Phoebe. But for “Friends” to have copied another show? Yeah, we’re shocked, too! Before “Friends” premiered in 1994, we had “Living Single”, a show about six friends living life in Brooklyn, New York. Yes, the setting and premise are pretty common, but the kooky personalities of the main characters in each is what really makes the two series feel similar. Of course, while “Living Single” found its own success in its five-year lifespan, “Friends” would go on for an entire decade, becoming the most memorable sitcom in TV history and continuously airing reruns.