By Ani Bundel
Mention American remakes of British comedies and anglophiles will immediately groan. The TV landscape is littered with decades of failures to translate brilliant U.K. shows into U.S. hits due to the barrier of a common language that does not share the same humor vibe. That’s why CBS’ Ghosts is so special. The broadcast series, which now is the number one hit on both CBS and its related streaming service Paramount+, is a remake of the currently airing U.K. series of the same name. The improv comedians behind the cult hit Horrible Histories invented the U.K. series. The U.S. counterpart also has the privilege of being produced by the same troupe.
The ”Ghosts” panel featured the American cast, whose roles have been brilliantly translated to fit America’s unique history. Producer Joe Wiseman joined actors Danielle Pinnock (Alberta), Asher Grodman (Pantless Trevor), Sheila Carrasco as (Flower), Rebecca Wisocky (Lady Hetty), Román Zaragoza (Sasappis), and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Jay) for a “spirited” discussion about Season 2. Their first big reveal: U.K. series creator and star Matt Baynton guest stars this coming season.
The panel began by showing that week’s upcoming episode, an Alberta-centric romp showing bits of her life during jazz and prohibition. Pinnock said it was the first time she’d sung on any stage since the pandemic hit, and it was an uplifting experience that reminded her of why she first fell in love with the business. But though the panel couldn’t talk spoilers, the new episode was a reminder of why the show works in American and British formats. The past is an undiscovered country, and the mysteries are endless.
With Rose McIver, who plays Sam, the one who can see their spiritual roommates unable to attend, most questions fell to Ambudkar. His character, Jay, cannot interact with most of the cast, which is unusual. “I treat them like children and ignore them,” he joked. However, he admits both he and his character long to be able to see the ghosts and hopes eventually that he will. The show now films every scene twice, once with the spirits and once without. In the second take, the actors are offstage reciting their lines. Ambudkar explained McIver does most of the work, remembering where the others were and what they did so she can react the same way twice.
As for Jay’s complete belief in Sam, Ambudkar’s reply was simple: “Happy wife, happy life.” But he agreed the idea they love the ghosts makes the show different. Though he admits, somewhere in the multiverse, there must be “a Blumhouse version” where Sam creepily talks to walls while Jay prowls the rooms in terror. The rest of the actors all perked up. “Can we do an episode where we DO THAT?” Weisman said he’d consider it; he also agreed to consider a musical episode after the cast got excited about that too.
As it is, the second season will be packed. Along with Alberta, Richie Moriarty, who plays Pinecone trooper leader Pete will get an episode, Trevor will get a very special romance come the holidays, and Carrasco said Flower would be helpful in a cult-centric adventure. Zaragoza also confirmed fans would see more of Sasappis’ father, played by the actor’s real-life father. As for the other ghosts who have appeared, Weisman explained Odessa A’zion’s teen ghost in the attic, Stephanie, is a running gag. She sleeps most of the time, waking up once a year, so she appears once a season. Also, Hudson Thames’ character, Crash, the 1950s headless motorcycle rider, will have an explanation for his absence eventually.
Ghosts Season 2 continues with new episodes every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
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