On the heels of successful American remake Veep (adapted from the fantastic British series The Thick of It), HBO has now ordered a U.S. version of the British medical comedy Getting On (and will retain the name).  The project will be managed by familiar HBO collaborators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer, creators of the network's Utah-based polygamy drama Big Love.

Getting On, which premiered in 2009 on BBC Four and instantly became their highest-rated program, takes place in a women’s geriatric extended care wing of beleaguered hospital.  The series was created by and starred Jo Brand, Joanna Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine, who will serve as executive producers of the American remake.  For more on the original and upcoming series, hit the jump.

Getting On is about the put upon administrators, doctors, nurses and staff that deal with the frustrating realities, budget cuts and dark humor that comes from life at a hospital.  Grey's Anatomy this is not. The American versions of other British series tend to be a bit brighter in tone than their original counterparts (like The Thick of It, which Getting On star Joanna Scanlan also features in, as well as The Office, all of whom share a similar shooting style), which perhaps culturally makes sense, but hopefully Getting On will be one series that retains its pitch.

Olsen and Scheffer have commented that the series hits home for them, because when HBO first approached them with the project both had elderly family members in perpetual care, and said they felt connected to both the humor and deep compassion that the series portrayed.  High hopes for this one.

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