|
Post by MelMac on Sept 29, 2014 23:10:59 GMT -5
So, just for fun, let's play a little prediction game while we wait for more information about this Hero show. What could they possibly do to intentionally alienate the fans that made the show they want to bring back a hit in the first place? Here's mine: - There will be no aliens. The suit is a top-secret government experiment that is stolen and accidentally ends up with this "Isaac" character. He decides to wear it to a costume party and when it bonds to his DNA, he is forced to become a government operative against his will. (Think "Chuck" or "Jake 2.0") If there is any alien connection, the suit would be engineered from technology recovered from Roswell/Area 51. Just for fun, people! :-) We can still hope for the best. Mine: 1. There will be more than two aliens, and they will act all high and mighty like the greenguys in "Greatest American Hero" who could wipe people's minds by simply handing over the superhero suit - nevermind that we knew that Ralph had the mind push and could've gotten his hands on uranium, suffered the migraine and tried to wipe all their minds to begin with. 2. Either Isaac or his handler will be a know it all and treat the other person like dirt (think Bill and Holly - Ralph and Bill may have had their gripes with each other, but realized each had benefits that when combined worked quite well together). 3. Isaac already is a teacher in inner-city schools, which makes me think he'll be Ralph 2.0 or worse Holly 2.0. While I have no problem with another teacher, he's going to have to have his own spin on what he teaches and how he teaches or he'll fall in one of these two personas, and that's a problem. 4. IF it's a comedy - Isaac won't be able to even fly without crashing into something throughout the series. Ralph did crash a lot, but most of his were just not knowing how to land on his feet. He rarely crashed into something to stop mid-season two. If serious - he'll always perfectly land, never mind he is a human with a superhuman suit. 5. He won't have a girlfriend like Pam - a steady one. He will definitely have the flavor of the week most likely, unless they have his handler female, and then it'll be her all the time. I could go on right now but these are off the top of my head.
|
|
scenario
Agent
"We all do what makes us feel good."
Posts: 335
|
Post by scenario on Oct 28, 2014 22:58:42 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I can add anything to this discussion that hasn't already been said. My views on this potential project pretty much aligns up with the majority here. I don't like it and has all the makings of a disaster.
Without Stephen J. Cannell around, I just don't think a GAH series would work. I too never liked how they treated 21 Jumpstreet, a movie that apparently Cannell gave blessings too as did a couple of cast members (like Johnny Depp) from the original. This sounds like the Ghosbusters reboot, the Robocop reboot and the Karate Kid reboot. Just bad ideas all around.
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Oct 29, 2014 0:04:00 GMT -5
I've seen good remakes done by folks other than Stephen Cannell. The web series done by Frank Zanca was a good modern take on it (though I wasn't fond of the suit cloning and the copy going to a cheerleader). Still, even with that addition, they cast the three characters well and the interaction between the three fit the older days of the show.
It *could* be done but it would need to have someone who truly understand the show and realize that the stories and legend of the suit in "GAH" are timeless - you don't have to change anything.
But too many folk will go the extreme one way or another, and I see that here.
Not to mention the ONLY movie I've seen based on a TV series that was close to the original version was "Maverick." The shenanigans that Bret got himself into were similar to the original run of the series, but the only exception was the romp in the showboat wouldn't have happened back when the original series was on.
|
|
|
Post by Captain Marbles on Feb 18, 2015 6:57:48 GMT -5
and and lets face it green guy, you are going to watch it too You will be too curious not to. If the promos look anything like the theatrical previews of the 21 Jump Street movie I won't be watching. You mentioned the new Trek films, I'm a huge fan of TOS and after seeing both sets of previews for those films I had and still have zero interest in seeing those. Same with the film remakes of Starsky and Hutch, I Spy, and The Wild Wild West. I grew up watching all of them, and the previews of all three left such a bad taste with me I've never watched them. I did try a season and a half of the new Battlestar Galactica until I could stand it no longer. I can't deny it was very popular, but just not with me. I wish the new team luck, but I find it doubtful they will be able to accomplish the same balance of comedy with the action/adventure. They will go too far one way or another, or completely miss the point all together and have the new hero fighting mutants, and aliens, or other beings with superpowers as if it's a Smallville meets TGAH. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. In this case I'd like to be wrong. At least I will be able to stop reading crap such as "Will Ferrell should play Ralph, and Bryan Cranston should play Bill" You mean like in "The Shock Will Kill You" or "The Beast in Black" or "Heaven Is In Your Genes"?
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Feb 18, 2015 14:32:16 GMT -5
You mean like in "The Shock Will Kill You" or "The Beast in Black" or "Heaven Is In Your Genes"? I would have a problem if they had aliens or monsters in EVERY story. The three here at least made some sense to what Ralph could deal with wearing the suit - as it IS after all an alien item in its own right - and still had the real life aspect. But, "TSWKY" featured an electric monster on a ship during a time when some people had wild theories that astronauts would bring some sort of pandemic/world ending virus or monster back with them. This case, the electric monster probably would've eaten all the power and we'd had something like "Revolution" if Ralph and Bill didn't save the day... ... though Ralph did absorb enough electricity that he probably could've repowered all the generators to produce electricity after defeating the monster so there you go... "BitB" I admit I can't figure out a plausible reasoning as to where they could try and fit a real life fear/worry in there, except a dear friend or loved one is "reincarnated" or resuscitated and have a completely different personality. Add to it the stories of the wealthy being murdered for their money you have the real life part into the surreal environment. "HiiYG" - The monster in building A reflects many people's fears of new experimental drugs or other tests going on for drugs having monstrous results. It also reflects people's fears of being guinea pigs for new drugs - willingly or not. I think my fear with this reboot in that area is that they'd have the hero fighting aliens or other monsters all the time but not be able to tie it into a real life fear. There are so many ways this reboot can go wrong it isn't funny... ... though it IS funny (interesting) to note there hasn't been a whole lot of news on the pilot since they announced it in August. I'm wondering if it's been filmed and flopped or they're really keeping tight lids on it because they know there are enough folks who are fans of the show who know how poorly they treated "21 Jump Street" and don't want them mad at how they're handling "GAH."
|
|
|
Post by greenguy on Mar 8, 2015 12:50:55 GMT -5
... though it IS funny (interesting) to note there hasn't been a whole lot of news on the pilot since they announced it in August. Last week I had a look at a list of FOX pilots for 2015. Some already cast, some in the middle of casting or in various phases of pre-production. There was no TGAH reboot on the list. Not sure what that means.
|
|
|
Post by greenguy on Mar 8, 2015 13:15:32 GMT -5
If the promos look anything like the theatrical previews of the 21 Jump Street movie I won't be watching. You mentioned the new Trek films, I'm a huge fan of TOS and after seeing both sets of previews for those films I had and still have zero interest in seeing those. Same with the film remakes of Starsky and Hutch, I Spy, and The Wild Wild West. I grew up watching all of them, and the previews of all three left such a bad taste with me I've never watched them. I did try a season and a half of the new Battlestar Galactica until I could stand it no longer. I can't deny it was very popular, but just not with me. I wish the new team luck, but I find it doubtful they will be able to accomplish the same balance of comedy with the action/adventure. They will go too far one way or another, or completely miss the point all together and have the new hero fighting mutants, and aliens, or other beings with superpowers as if it's a Smallville meets TGAH. If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. In this case I'd like to be wrong. At least I will be able to stop reading crap such as "Will Ferrell should play Ralph, and Bryan Cranston should play Bill" You mean like in "The Shock Will Kill You" or "The Beast in Black" or "Heaven Is In Your Genes"? For YEARS I had a problem with The Shock Will KIll You. That's changed now, and I appreciate the comedy in the episode, plus the fact that Cannell was backed against the wall with ABC and basically did it to get them off his back a bit. I never had any problems with The Beast in The Black, that episode opened up the format and it's too bad we didn't see other ideas like it. The time travel proposed episode would be a good example of that. Heaven Is In Your Genes wasn't a problem either. We don't even see the creature until the end. Now, had EVERY episode of the show had stories like the three mentioned above, it would not have been the series I love.
|
|
|
Post by Videofox on Mar 20, 2015 14:49:13 GMT -5
What I liked about these types of episodes is that even though Ralph was the one with the superpowers, he was absolutely scared to death to go up against the monsters. Even Bill, who freaked out at the mere sight of the UFO, was somewhat more gung-ho about it. That's what kept these stories human; it wasn't so much about the aliens, the supernatural, or the science gone awry, but the characters' reactions to them that kept it grounded.
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Mar 30, 2015 10:37:05 GMT -5
... though it IS funny (interesting) to note there hasn't been a whole lot of news on the pilot since they announced it in August. Last week I had a look at a list of FOX pilots for 2015. Some already cast, some in the middle of casting or in various phases of pre-production. There was no TGAH reboot on the list. Not sure what that means. I'm wondering if it's production hell (i.e. trying to get it cast, the script not being even close to "GAH"), a fight with that supposed "owner" of the words "The Greatest American Hero" (Collazo - and yes this IS farfetched but possible) or other aspects beyond their control. Maybe they rewatched "21" and "22 Jump Street" and after seeing the travesty this duo made that series, decided to remove them completely and will get new producers. (One can hope). Or, for all we know they want Nathan Fillion (probably the ONLY reason I'd give a "GAH" reboot a chance - he understand the show), but given "Castle" is still highly popular, they can't cast him any time soon so they're putting it on hold. I do think it's unlikely to be coming in 2015 like they planned.
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Mar 30, 2015 10:45:01 GMT -5
What I liked about these types of episodes is that even though Ralph was the one with the superpowers, he was absolutely scared to death to go up against the monsters. Even Bill, who freaked out at the mere sight of the UFO, was somewhat more gung-ho about it. That's what kept these stories human; it wasn't so much about the aliens, the supernatural, or the science gone awry, but the characters' reactions to them that kept it grounded. "The Shock Will Kill You" also to me has at least a tiny element of real world worries in a surreal situation that still fits the series. There has always been fiction around that has people dying of a bacteria or other thing brought back from Astronauts. So, it *is* in a way a fear of space plague or such coming to earth and we have no immunity. This case of course it's upgraded to an alien monster that takes away electricity, but can't survive if doused by it's green energy type base (hydroplant). And not to mention the very real feeling for Ralph of possible not being able to be around people for fear of being attached to them - literally, and not being able to take off the suit ever or he die. When he was electrified, not a magnet, it was that fear of touching someone and killing them with the electricity. Sure, I admit freely that it's a stretch, but it felt to me that SJC still tried to keep that human element in the stories with the addition of the out of place situation (the monster). Oh, and like with the Loch Ness Monster, the monster works best when NOT actually shown. That mouth on the puppet that was the electric monster still to me was implausible. The only monster I've seen worse was in the "Doctor Who" episode "Creature from the Pit" which you have to see to believe. (Let's just say the description would borderline on good taste as far as the message board. )
|
|
|
Post by Videofox on Apr 6, 2015 16:31:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Apr 6, 2015 16:57:11 GMT -5
Mind you I'm not entirely sure here, but this may further my belief that the show has either done a pilot and it wasn't picked up or it's as greenguy said in production hell. When you're attached to a project - at least a pilot, you I think usually are still tied to it unless it's not picked up or production is canceled. Of course I say this and "The Wild Wild West" had four producers in its first season on air, and I think they swapped the pilot's with another person for four episodes, then another, and then back to him until he tragically died and then Bruce Lansbury took over pretty much the rest of the series. Personally, I think if they had Frank Zanca take a swing at a proper project and not just that web series episode (mind you WITHOUT Ashley Rizzo and the cloned suit) it would have a better shot. He understood the series and I think balanced the original series humor with updating it for a present day audience.
|
|
|
Post by Videofox on Nov 2, 2015 18:42:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Nov 4, 2015 1:15:24 GMT -5
My understanding is that they still need to do the pilot and if it - pardon the bad pun - flies, then FOX will pick it up as a series. Reading this article though, I still have some huge reservations. I just fear it's going to turn into another "22 Jump Street" or get too dark. They have to be even more careful now with "Supergirl" being on CBS - which does have the feel of dramedy that "GAH" was known for. That said, the one advantage is that "GAH" normally has more smaller issues than save the world, but in this day and age, they'll have to do more stories that Cannell, Katt and Culp hated: the save the world type stories. But - it does have a shot.
|
|
|
Post by butterfingers on Dec 3, 2015 11:15:39 GMT -5
From what I was reading, a pilot was already done by these guys and seems that it didn't fly, so they are doing it again. Okay, now that all fine and dandy, but I wanna see that pilot!!
|
|
|
Post by greenguy on Dec 7, 2015 18:07:38 GMT -5
From what I was reading, a pilot was already done by these guys and seems that it didn't fly, so they are doing it again. Okay, now that all fine and dandy, but I wanna see that pilot!! No pilot was shot, FOX turned down the previous pilot script. Had it even been cast and NOT shot the news would have came out just like it does on pilots made every year. The original deal had a "Put Pilot Commitment" which usually means the network will air the pilot no matter if they pick up a series or not. If they don't air it there's usually some sort of huge fee they must pay to the studio. My guess is that since FOX is part of the 20th Century Fox family there was some sort of deal to give the producers a 2nd attempt at a pilot without incurring those fees. Who knows for sure, but obviously something happened to give it a 2nd chance.
|
|
|
Post by MelMac on Dec 16, 2015 0:08:43 GMT -5
From what I've read of the newer plot idea (guy wakes up to find this suit and causes problems) I think that's actually WORSE than the original script idea that I've read.
It's a gamble - a second chance can work out for the better i.e. The Love Boat, which had two pilots with different actors in some spots - ran 9 seasons, or worse , such as an American version of "Red Dwarf" where even recasting it was horrible and a disaster.
You know, come to think about it - I think those attempts to do an American version of "Red Dwarf" actually were worse than the "Greatest American HeroINE" pilot. At least "GAHeroine" could've possibly been redeemed if they recast Holly with someone who understood dramedy and changed the reason why Ralph gave up the suit.
|
|