Dead on the Dead: "Ghosts" has become the biggest hit in the United States, and rightly so

The idea behind the new comedy reinvents one of the genre's most recognizable patterns, and it alone justifies watching it.

Although it takes the "ghosts" some time to find her rhythm, she soon does it and by the way always leaves the feeling that the good is still ahead of us

Ido Yeshayahu

22/03/2022

Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 00:00

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Trailer for the series "Ghosts" (CBS)

It's always funny to see how the efficient Hollywood factory takes a British gem that includes a meager number of episodes, and processes it into a new series with many more episodes - sometimes successful on its own, usually not quite.

The BBC's Ghosts' came out in 2019 with six episodes.

Since then, three seasons and two Christmas specials have been broadcast, bringing the total number of episodes to 20.

The American version of CBS, which aired in the United States last October and landed at Cellcom last week, will reach 18 episodes when its first season ends next month.

The series follows Samantha (Sam) and Jay, a young urban couple who move into an old country family estate.

An accident causes Samantha to start seeing the ghosts of previous generations in her family - or just those who stumbled upon the estate and found her dead in it - who continue to frequent the place.

The couple is played by Rose McIver ("Zombie Islands") and Outkars Ambudkar ("Truth or Duty"), who lead the diverse cast with great magic.

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Lead the cast with great magic.

Rose McIver and Outkars Ambudkar, "Ghosts" (Photo: Paramount)

Just as the original version became a hit in the UK, so did the American adaptation, which became the most successful comedy series in the United States.

In both cases it happened in absolute justice - less because of ripping jokes and more because of the immense grace that lines up in it.

The concept of "ghosts" is so clever in its simplicity and seemingly also easy to adapt culturally, its whole country and its history (yes, it's totally an invitation to a local broadcaster to pick up the gauntlet).

In the American case, the spirits are an eclectic group that includes a singer from the dry period, a militia soldier from the 18th century, a hippie who loves Sami hallucinations from the 60s, an avid scout guide from the 80s, a seafaring Viking from 1009, a slick broker from the 90s. A witty and sarcastic Native American from the 16th century, and a noblewoman from the 18th century.

This is of course a common practice in sitcoms, connecting characters who have nothing to do with each other to create comic sparks, but for the most part they at least share the same period of life.

The idea of ​​"ghosts" takes this familiar pattern to new realms, allowing it to create an absurd mix of characters, each with a completely different perspective on the modern times in which the plot takes place.

Accordingly, she can also occasionally take the plot to districts that ordinary situation comedians usually do not reach.

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The American version saves his character.

Ambudkar as Jay, "Ghosts" (Photo: Paramount)

All of this is part of the initial magic and great promise of the series.

But as in the British version, and as usual in sitcoms, the American adaptation also takes a few episodes for it to get into the rhythm and start realizing its potential.

Even then, even towards the end of the first season, there is a feeling that she is capable of soaring even further, but already during it the relationships between the characters, dead and alive alike, weave a cute and inviting dynamic.

The spirits discover the huge benefits of someone who can communicate with them and concede to their plethora of whims, while Sam and Jay can utilize the knowledge of the deceased to their advantage.

Meanwhile, the burrowing into the past of the ghosts and the circumstances of their deaths gives their characters depth and circle, thus anchoring the entire series to the ground despite the preoccupation with the paranormal.

While it's hard to say that the American "ghost" surpasses the British - both are great, and I hope the early one will finally reach Israel as well - the multiplicity of episodes required from the novelty helps him crack some things that are currently missing from the prototype.

First and foremost, the character of the partner, Jay, is good and cute dozens of times, thanks in no small part to a more successful casting (and reliable - originally it is not clear what she finds in it at all).

Although Jay has no ability to communicate with the deceased, "Ghosts" continues to find fresh and fun ways to make him a part of the story.

Second, the American series deepens the mythology and supernatural possibilities derived from its concept, and does so both in favor of plot development and options (where the dead really go if they manage to free themselves from this middle ground) and in favor of character development (Samantha tries to meet her late mother where she died ).

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Hospitals.

"Ghosts" (Photo: Paramount)

The multiplicity of episodes is helping the new processing even in the most basic senses, ones that are also becoming extinct on the western side of the Atlantic, with the weakening of broadcast networks and the rise of streaming services.

Part of what is so essential in the classic sitcom is the ability to make us viewers family members, to return week after week to socialize with our favorite characters.

The nucleus of "ghosts" serves exactly this dimension.

These are characters who seemingly have no connection between them, neither technically nor ideologically, and yet are forced to live together forever.

Despite this there is no animosity and conflict between them but quite the opposite.

This is a small community, even a family, that is fun to be with its members.

Although she initially disapproves of the arrival of foreign elements, she soon turns out to be a hospitable person, and eventually also integrates the new couple into this small community - as a good comedy series is supposed to do.

In this sense, "Ghosts" continues the tradition of sitcom classics such as "Friends", "The Big Bang" and "New Girl" - most recently the creators of the American version, Joe Fort and Joe Weissman.

And like the big ones, there is no reason why you should not continue to polish and become a timeless hit.

After all, her characters are still likely to exist forever.

Two episodes of "Ghosts" air every Monday on Cellcom TV.

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• Ghosts - American series