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Post by Captain Marbles on Jan 18, 2019 15:14:38 GMT -5
Okay, I hate to throw cold water on this - especially after fantasizing about the cast and everything in another thread - but it occurs to me that a reboot series with new versions of Ralph running and flying all over the state of California wearing a ridiculous super powered super suit he got from space aliens and secretly using those powers to help solve cases with Bill and Pam just wouldn't work now.
Why? Three words: broadcast video cameras. In the eighties these were rare, bulky and expensive, with only television studios and broadcasters able to afford them - but now? They're relatively cheap and miniaturized and everybody has 'em! Well, everybody with a cell phone with a built in video camera and internet access able to upload those videos to YouTube and other internet video platforms.
Yeah, remember how Ralph's secret superhero career was utterly destroyed because he turned into an overnight media sensation because several reporters caught him rescuing that young woman and recorded it on those expensive TV cameras I mentioned earlier? Yeah, imagine that, times a million, within the first five minutes after he swoops in to rescue a bus full of senior citizens from terrorists or something with the amazing abilities granted by his suit!
Simply put, there is no way that Ralph could operate in secret in a 21st century American setting short of using his suit's invisibility power all the time, and you know how reliable that power is!
So - that could be a challenge; before thinking about who should play whom perhaps we could try to work out just how Ralph can do his secret superhero thing without exposing his secret to the world of the 21st century where video surveillance and internet voyeurism is literally everywhere.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 21, 2019 9:57:04 GMT -5
It would definitely be tough.
I think that most people might be so stunned that they don't even think to pull out their phones. But he couldn't be as blatant. That's for sure.
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Post by Videofox on Jan 21, 2019 19:15:09 GMT -5
I had thought of this before as well, and I figure the greenguys would also. If I were making a show, I would have the suit emit a disruption field that would cause so much pixelization on cameras that the hero couldn't possibly be recognized, even with the all-powerful Hollywood Earth computer software. Any heroics caught on film would just look like a bad special effect that no one would take seriously.
Of course, the hero wouldn't realize this at first, causing some humor in early episodes as he/she tries to sneak around town without being seen until they learn to multitask with invisibility.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 22, 2019 10:24:47 GMT -5
Interesting concept, videofox. That would be a neat suit power that you learn about over time.
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Post by Videofox on Jan 23, 2019 17:37:53 GMT -5
Yeah a new GAH series would have to be a little different to reflect how times have changed. I could imagine the FBI partner saying something like "Maybe back in the 70s and 80s you could run around like a clown in a cape and just get tossed in the loony bin, but today you would be shot at on sight!" Which also reminds me that Bill would threaten criminals with a psycho label if they talked about the guy in the red suit, but nowadays the bad guys would prefer the loony bin as a lifestyle choice, so that old threat would no longer work.  |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 23, 2019 20:47:07 GMT -5
You are killing my nostalgia here, videofox.  |
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Post by Videofox on Jan 25, 2019 22:55:13 GMT -5
Then my job here is done.  Nah, not really. Exit, stage right. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jan 28, 2019 11:26:21 GMT -5
Then my job here is done. Nah, not really. Exit, stage right. You need a new job. |
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Post by doc7924 on Mar 12, 2019 12:00:18 GMT -5
Okay, I hate to throw cold water on this - especially after fantasizing about the cast and everything in another thread - but it occurs to me that a reboot series with new versions of Ralph running and flying all over the state of California wearing a ridiculous super powered super suit he got from space aliens and secretly using those powers to help solve cases with Bill and Pam just wouldn't work now. Why? Three words: broadcast video cameras. In the eighties these were rare, bulky and expensive, with only television studios and broadcasters able to afford them - but now they're relatively cheap and miniaturized and everybody has 'em! Well, everybody with a cell phone with a built in video camera and internet access able to upload those videos to YouTube. Yeah, remember how Ralph's secret superhero career was utterly destroyed because he turned into an overnight media sensation because several reporters recorded him rescuing that young woman and recorded it on those expensive TV cameras I mentioned earlier? Yeah, imagine that, times a million, within the first five minutes after he swoops in to rescue a bus full of senior citizens from terrorists or something with the amazing abilities granted by his suit! Simply put, there is no way that Ralph could operate in secret in a 21st century American setting short of using his suit's invisibility power all the time, and you know how reliable that power is! So - that could be a challenge; before thinking about who should play whom perhaps we could try to work out just how Ralph can do his secret superhero thing without exposing his secret to the world of the 21st century where video surveillance and internet voyeurism is literally everywhere.Even in the show Ralph was seen or photographed quite a few times in the suit doing something super. I forget the episode but there was one where he saved a bus or something full of tourists and they were all snapping photos.
But I agree - in this day and age with everyone having a camera in their pocket - no way he could operate secretly anymore. Unless only at night - and even then. Only way is maybe if he got the invisibility down pat.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Mar 13, 2019 8:43:23 GMT -5
Okay, I hate to throw cold water on this - especially after fantasizing about the cast and everything in another thread - but it occurs to me that a reboot series with new versions of Ralph running and flying all over the state of California wearing a ridiculous super powered super suit he got from space aliens and secretly using those powers to help solve cases with Bill and Pam just wouldn't work now. Why? Three words: broadcast video cameras. In the eighties these were rare, bulky and expensive, with only television studios and broadcasters able to afford them - but now they're relatively cheap and miniaturized and everybody has 'em! Well, everybody with a cell phone with a built in video camera and internet access able to upload those videos to YouTube. Yeah, remember how Ralph's secret superhero career was utterly destroyed because he turned into an overnight media sensation because several reporters recorded him rescuing that young woman and recorded it on those expensive TV cameras I mentioned earlier? Yeah, imagine that, times a million, within the first five minutes after he swoops in to rescue a bus full of senior citizens from terrorists or something with the amazing abilities granted by his suit! Simply put, there is no way that Ralph could operate in secret in a 21st century American setting short of using his suit's invisibility power all the time, and you know how reliable that power is! So - that could be a challenge; before thinking about who should play whom perhaps we could try to work out just how Ralph can do his secret superhero thing without exposing his secret to the world of the 21st century where video surveillance and internet voyeurism is literally everywhere.Even in the show Ralph was seen or photographed quite a few times in the suit doing something super. I forget the episode but there was one where he saved a bus or something full of tourists and they were all snapping photos.
But I agree - in this day and age with everyone having a camera in their pocket - no way he could operate secretly anymore. Unless only at night - and even then. Only way is maybe if he got the invisibility down pat.
And sadly, that would take some of the charm away. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Mar 14, 2019 13:05:06 GMT -5
When I was writing a script in the 90s, it wasn't hard because the cameras were still not as advanced.
However, I got to thinking about this after reading the thread. Maybe a reboot or sequel could do like THIS IS US. Set it in the 90s or early 2000s before current technology.
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Post by doc7924 on Mar 15, 2019 12:33:32 GMT -5
Even in the show Ralph was seen or photographed quite a few times in the suit doing something super. I forget the episode but there was one where he saved a bus or something full of tourists and they were all snapping photos.
But I agree - in this day and age with everyone having a camera in their pocket - no way he could operate secretly anymore. Unless only at night - and even then. Only way is maybe if he got the invisibility down pat.
And sadly, that would take some of the charm away. Agreed. Because its been shown the suit works even if he is wearing something over it. So he could have worn the suit underneath clothes and still be able to use the powers. But what fun would that be?
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Post by doc7924 on Mar 29, 2019 20:08:52 GMT -5
In some ways the trailers for 'Shazam' make it seem a bit GAH-ish with Marvel not knowing exactly what powers he has or how to even use them.
And like Ralph, him and his partner testing out what he can do with the powers.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Apr 2, 2019 10:20:32 GMT -5
I'm excited to see SHAZAM! I like Zachary Levi from his days in CHUCK, but I concur that it seems very GAH-esque.
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roadrunner
Student
Wonder if there will ever be a Greatest American Hero film...?
Posts: 7 
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Post by roadrunner on May 8, 2019 13:33:42 GMT -5
Even in the show Ralph was seen or photographed quite a few times in the suit doing something super. I forget the episode but there was one where he saved a bus or something full of tourists and they were all snapping photos.
But I agree - in this day and age with everyone having a camera in their pocket - no way he could operate secretly anymore. Unless only at night - and even then. Only way is maybe if he got the invisibility down pat.
And sadly, that would take some of the charm away. |
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roadrunner
Student
Wonder if there will ever be a Greatest American Hero film...?
Posts: 7
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Post by roadrunner on May 8, 2019 13:46:34 GMT -5
I love the series.First off,the show's characters,and the human aspect of those characters was simply wonderful,which made the show real.It was just wonderful.3 people,with everyday problems and dealing with them,in a realisting fantasy is rarley done well these days.The story was original,fresh,perfect timing in where times weren't as bad as they are today.Who ever heard of of aliens giving a mortal a suit with super powers? It was just so original.I love that red suit,the brite red and the grey,making it look so flashy,and me,i thought and still like the way it looks.I love the actors who did a wonderful job.Robert Culp,whom i miss,even know i never knew in real life,still make me laugh as he had many many punch lines as Bill Maxwell.William katt,wo i think,did great,and Connie.Boy,she is still beautiful.I would go on,but i have an appointment today,but i'm glad the show still has fans,and to make a reboot,....ahhhh,it would have to have the same quality as the original.I have written many stories about a reboot myself and they are as realistic as you can get,and fun at the same time.Thank you GAH fans.
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