When good movies go bad
Despite shows like
”
Friday Night Lights
”
and
”
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
”
there aren’t too many shows based on movies anymore.
When good movies go bad
Despite shows like “Friday Night Lights” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” there aren’t too many shows based on movies anymore.
There were some classic shows based on good movies, such as “The Odd Couple” and “M.A.S.H.,” and there are some movie-based shows that never aired, such as “L.A. Confidential,” starring Kiefer Sutherland, or “The Devil Wears Prada.”
It seems like it would be a good idea to create a television show based on a successful movie, but in many cases, the stories that worked well in a large theater don’t translate well to the smaller screen. Based on this idea, I’ve made a list of some of the worst series to come from good movies.
One rule for making a movie into a good series is not to cast Hector Elizondo. The veteran actor appears three times on the list.
“Blue Thunder” 1984
The film version starred Roy Scheider, Warren Oates and Malcom McDowell. This version starred James Farentino, Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith. That should give you and idea of the quality of the show. The action scenes were fine, but when the helicopter was on the ground the show came to a screeching halt.
“Casablanca” 1983
This show lasted only three episodes. The main problem was David Soul in the Humphrey Bogart role. I wanted to like this show, but I couldn’t. The ghost of Bogart loomed over every episode. Scatman Crothers played Sam and Hector Elizondo played Capt. Renault.
“Delta House” 1979
This show was based on “Animal House” and it was pretty funny when I was in the sixth grade. When I grew up I realized how bad the show actually was. I don’t know why ABC would take one of the funniest, raunchiest movies and put a TV version on at 8:30 pm during family hour. John Vernon, Stephen Furst, Bruce McGill and James Widdoes all reprised their roles from the movie. A 21-year-old Michelle Pfeiffer played the blonde bombshell.
“Down And Out In Beverly Hills” 1987
This show has the distinction of being the first series cancelled by the new FOX network. Hector Elizondo and Anita Morris play the Beverly Hills couple that take in a homeless man who teaches them how to be better people. Really awful.
“Eddie Dodd” 1991
The 1989 film “True Believer” features a dynamic performance by James Woods as Eddie Dodd, a liberal ex-hippie defense attorney. This show has Treat Williams in the role and it is boring. I think it only lasted one episode and that was one episode too many.
“Freebie And The Bean” 1980
Here is our third Hector Elizondo series. He plays Det. Sgt. Dan “Bean” Delgado, the role that Alan Arkin played in the 1974 movie. Tom Mason plays the James Caan role. The movie was a great buddy film with the two unorthodox cops chasing criminals all over San Francisco. The show couldn’t quite capture the fun of the movies. It was cancelled after one season.
“Ferris Bueller” 1990
This terrible show lasted nine episodes and was given the boot by NBC. Charlie Schlatter, who played Ferris, was annoying. He didn’t have the charm that Mathew Broderick brought to the role on film. The only highlight of this series is Jennifer Aniston who played his jealous sister Jeannie.
