Payne (TV series) Payne (TV series) Payne is an American sitcom based after the British program "Fawlty Towers". It starred American John Larroquette, who was also an executive producer for the series. "Payne" was a mid-season replacement on CBS and aired in March and April 1999. The show also starred JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz and Rick Batalla. Despite fairly positive reception, and receiving the blessing of John Cleese, who agreed to take a recurring role as the antagonistic rival hotelier if the show was renewed, "Payne" was quickly cancelled. Nine episodes were filmed; eight were aired. "Payne" was a remake of "Fawlty Towers",
Remake the Universe" (1983, 2002), "Knight Rider" (1982, 2008), "La Femme Nikita" (1997, 2010), "Melrose Place", "Beverly Hills 90210", "V" (1983, 2009), "Hawaii Five-O" (1968, 2010), and "Charlie's Angels" (1976, 2011). One area where television remakes are particularly common is trans-Atlantic ports, where British shows are remade for the US market or, less frequently, American shows are remade for the UK. For example "Three's Company" is an American remake of the British "Man About the House": not only was the original show re-created (with very few character or situation changes initially), but both series had spin-offs based on the Ropers (in