"As If" got a lot of flack for being a really bad series - generally by people comparing it to the original UK version.
Re-makes have to walk the fine line of what parts of the original piece they want to use and what they want to make their own.
Generally taking a series from another country and changing it for American audiences will lead to a dramatic change - the simple fact is, every country has their own sense of humour, and they generally don't translate outside of the country (I, for one, just don't get British humour).
The American "As If" offered an new take on the standard and boring American sitcom formula - most uniquely with the editing style. "As If" took more from the music video pages then it did from TV and offered a fast cut, new style look to every episode.
Add to that the series had a really great cast with Adrienne Wilkinson (Xena: Warrior Princess) and Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Grindhouse) (though both were completely underused in the aired eps). Both actresses can be brilliant with comedy, but neither were used enough to show off this talent.
From bits I've seen from unaired episodes, "As If"'s humour started to improve and pick up.
In the end "As If" suffered from the short sighted view of the network, which killed the series after only three episodes. Quite frankly - the networks need to stop expecting the 'instant hits' and give shows time to get an audience and grow. If you look at any of the really long last series and judge them by their first five episodes only - they never would have lasted in today's "hit in one ep or gone" fever. :P
