 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
TOP SIX FORGOTTEN FILMS TO
REMAKE AS TELEVISION SHOWS
TV is a mediocre dish best served cold.
REMAKE AS TELEVISION SHOWS
TV is a mediocre dish best served cold.
 |
1987’S THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS
The movie:
Go-getter Michael J. Fox breaks into Big Business by starting in
the mail room… and impersonating an imaginary high-
powered exec! Co-starring Supergirl Helen Slater.
The TV series:
Wall Street has been having a tough time the past few years,
and with Michael J. Fox coming back to TV, what better time to
present the wacky side of Wall Street? Starring Michael Cera
as the go-getter from the mailroom impersonating an
imaginary high-powered exec. Let’s hope the FCC doesn’t find
out! Co-starring Richard Schiff as Cera’s high-powered, cranky
uncle and Supergirl Lara Vandervoort.
The movie:
Go-getter Michael J. Fox breaks into Big Business by starting in
the mail room… and impersonating an imaginary high-
powered exec! Co-starring Supergirl Helen Slater.
The TV series:
Wall Street has been having a tough time the past few years,
and with Michael J. Fox coming back to TV, what better time to
present the wacky side of Wall Street? Starring Michael Cera
as the go-getter from the mailroom impersonating an
imaginary high-powered exec. Let’s hope the FCC doesn’t find
out! Co-starring Richard Schiff as Cera’s high-powered, cranky
uncle and Supergirl Lara Vandervoort.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Friends, Fall is falling--
(at least it is at the time of this writing – if it’s not fall right now, do me a favor and
pretend it’s like early October, okay?)
--which can only mean one thing: The networks are rolling out an onslaught of
promotions for a bunch of new shows, most of which you’d never willingly watch. But
of course most of these shows look hideous and unoriginal – this is network TV
we're talking about.
But every now and then, the networks surprise me by not trying to revive some hit
series of yesteryear and instead adapting an all-but forgotten movie for the small
screen. An updated, serialized take on Teen Wolf? Why not. It worked for Buffy.
Which begs the question: What other nearly forgotten films should make the jump to
the small screen? Glad you asked. Hope you’re taking notes, television execs,
because without any further adieu, here are my…
(at least it is at the time of this writing – if it’s not fall right now, do me a favor and
pretend it’s like early October, okay?)
--which can only mean one thing: The networks are rolling out an onslaught of
promotions for a bunch of new shows, most of which you’d never willingly watch. But
of course most of these shows look hideous and unoriginal – this is network TV
we're talking about.
But every now and then, the networks surprise me by not trying to revive some hit
series of yesteryear and instead adapting an all-but forgotten movie for the small
screen. An updated, serialized take on Teen Wolf? Why not. It worked for Buffy.
Which begs the question: What other nearly forgotten films should make the jump to
the small screen? Glad you asked. Hope you’re taking notes, television execs,
because without any further adieu, here are my…
1991’s SOAP DISH
The movie:
America’s sweetheart Sally Fields, Kevin Kline, Robert
Downey, Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg take us behind the scenes
of all the soapy silliness on the set of a soap opera!
The TV series:
… which is the set-up for exactly the kind of smart, meta
comedies (cough cough COMMUNITY! cough cough) that
networks should be making more of. And who can resist the
promotional opportunities in having the stars of the network’s
soaps cross-over to appear as “themselves”? Starring
America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts in her small screen debut,
Dylan McDermott, Colin Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg
(because doing “The View” isn’t enough to fill her days).
The movie:
America’s sweetheart Sally Fields, Kevin Kline, Robert
Downey, Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg take us behind the scenes
of all the soapy silliness on the set of a soap opera!
The TV series:
… which is the set-up for exactly the kind of smart, meta
comedies (cough cough COMMUNITY! cough cough) that
networks should be making more of. And who can resist the
promotional opportunities in having the stars of the network’s
soaps cross-over to appear as “themselves”? Starring
America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts in her small screen debut,
Dylan McDermott, Colin Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg
(because doing “The View” isn’t enough to fill her days).
1991’s THE COMMITMENTS
The movie:
Alan Parker’s tale of blue-collar Dubliners who band together
to form a soul band.
The TV series:
…is the perfect set-up for the next great reality series! Follow
the excitement as real-life Irish musicians form a real-life soul
band and play in real-life pubs! It’s a time-honored formula:
American Idol + The Real World + Bono = Ride Sally Ride!
There’s travel, there’s romance, and of course, there’s rock!
And at the end of each cycle, a member of the band learns
that “we’re no longer ‘committed’ to you.”
The movie:
Alan Parker’s tale of blue-collar Dubliners who band together
to form a soul band.
The TV series:
…is the perfect set-up for the next great reality series! Follow
the excitement as real-life Irish musicians form a real-life soul
band and play in real-life pubs! It’s a time-honored formula:
American Idol + The Real World + Bono = Ride Sally Ride!
There’s travel, there’s romance, and of course, there’s rock!
And at the end of each cycle, a member of the band learns
that “we’re no longer ‘committed’ to you.”
1988’s ACTION JACKSON
The movie:
Carl Weathers IS Jericho “Action” Jackson, a Detroit cop who
drives around in his sweet ride, makes time with Sharon Stone
and Vanity, and is always getting yelled at by his captain for
being too awesome.
The TV series:
Actor-slash-model Tyrese IS Jericho “Action” Jackson, Jr., a
Detroit cop who drives around in his sweet ride, makes time
with [Guest Star of the Week], and assists his crack team of
investigators in crime procedural proceduraling. It’s just like
"CSI: Miami" and a Chrysler commercial had a baby! With
recurring guest stars Eminem as street informant Hightop and
Carl Weathers as Tyreses’s been-there, done-that uncle.
The movie:
Carl Weathers IS Jericho “Action” Jackson, a Detroit cop who
drives around in his sweet ride, makes time with Sharon Stone
and Vanity, and is always getting yelled at by his captain for
being too awesome.
The TV series:
Actor-slash-model Tyrese IS Jericho “Action” Jackson, Jr., a
Detroit cop who drives around in his sweet ride, makes time
with [Guest Star of the Week], and assists his crack team of
investigators in crime procedural proceduraling. It’s just like
"CSI: Miami" and a Chrysler commercial had a baby! With
recurring guest stars Eminem as street informant Hightop and
Carl Weathers as Tyreses’s been-there, done-that uncle.
1987’s SUMMER SCHOOL
The movie:
Mark Harmon IS Mr. Shoop, a slacker gym teacher roped into
summer school duties, where he teaches remedial English
to a bunch of misfits. With Kirstie Alley as his sexy coworker
and Courtney Thorne-Smith as a student who takes a
shining to Shoop.
The TV series:
Mark Harmon IS Mr. Shoop, and he’s been roped into
summer school duties… again! Seems like forever since we’
ve had a sitcom set in a classroom, so why not? It’s just like
"Head of the Class," but with morons! Or like "Welcome
Back, Kotter," but without all the John Travolta! Co-starring
Courtney Thorne-Smith as Shoop’s former student-turned-
sexy coworker, because if anything else, Thorne-Smith
doesn’t deserve to be known as the wife in "According to Jim.”
The movie:
Mark Harmon IS Mr. Shoop, a slacker gym teacher roped into
summer school duties, where he teaches remedial English
to a bunch of misfits. With Kirstie Alley as his sexy coworker
and Courtney Thorne-Smith as a student who takes a
shining to Shoop.
The TV series:
Mark Harmon IS Mr. Shoop, and he’s been roped into
summer school duties… again! Seems like forever since we’
ve had a sitcom set in a classroom, so why not? It’s just like
"Head of the Class," but with morons! Or like "Welcome
Back, Kotter," but without all the John Travolta! Co-starring
Courtney Thorne-Smith as Shoop’s former student-turned-
sexy coworker, because if anything else, Thorne-Smith
doesn’t deserve to be known as the wife in "According to Jim.”
1994’s BAD GIRLS
The movie:
Four former harlots strike out on their own in the Old West.
But when their past comes back to haunt them, it’s time for
the Old West to get Wild! With Madeline Stowe, Andie
McDowell and Drew Barrymore.
The TV series:
Andie McDowell returns to the Old West with a whole new
crew of former harlots: Sarah Michelle-Gellar, Ashlee
Simpson and Selena Gomez! It’s the serialized adventures of
sexy cowboy ladies as they ride around and do sexy cowboy
lady stuff! Like… wear chaps! And ride around! And there’s a
big shoot-out at the end!
The movie:
Four former harlots strike out on their own in the Old West.
But when their past comes back to haunt them, it’s time for
the Old West to get Wild! With Madeline Stowe, Andie
McDowell and Drew Barrymore.
The TV series:
Andie McDowell returns to the Old West with a whole new
crew of former harlots: Sarah Michelle-Gellar, Ashlee
Simpson and Selena Gomez! It’s the serialized adventures of
sexy cowboy ladies as they ride around and do sexy cowboy
lady stuff! Like… wear chaps! And ride around! And there’s a
big shoot-out at the end!