I get enormous pleasure writing this column for Forget the Box but sometimes I also wish I could write about another great love of mine, television. So this week I’ve found a way of combining my two loves; by creating a list of my top five television shows I’d love to see adapted to the big screen:
1-NORTHERN EXPOSURE (1990-1995)
Starring Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, John Corbett, John Cullum, Cynthia Geary and Barry Corbin
Created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey
When I worked at a video store a few years ago, my manager and I would often watch this quirky 90s comedy about a New York City doctor who tries to readjust to life in small town Alaska. I quickly went through the first two seasons we had at the store and over the years I’ve managed to watch the rest of the series through the joys of syndication. Besides having an adorable cast who have a great chemistry, I love the warmth, charm and the smart writing of this series. I think if the script was done right this could be an easy pitch to studios.
2-ALIAS (2001-2006)
Starring Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Micheal Vartan, Carl Lumby
Created by J.J Abrams
Even though the last two seasons are one giant mess, seasons one through three contain some of my favorite episodes in television. I loved that as the focus of the show Sydney Bristow wasn’t a sexy sidekick to a male spy but rather was the one who made the split second decisions and did all the ass-kicking. While women do flock to see crap like The Proposal or 27 Dresses, thank god there’s also a market for women who want to see more movies where women kick ass- or else Angelina Jolie wouldn’t have a career. It’s only been three years since the show’s been off the air so the original actors from the show could still be in the film version. I know you wanted to move on Garner but just one more time, pretty please?
3-FREAKS AND GEEKS (1999-2000)
Starring Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, James Franco, John Francis Daley, Martin Starr, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty
Created by Paul Feig
Finally getting my hands on the DVD set of Freaks and Geeks was a very exciting moment for me. I couldn’t really afford it but damned if it didn’t go on my credit card anyway. Just like any other fan I love Freaks and Geeks because it reminds me so much of how confusing/exciting/just plain awful it was to be in high school. I also love this show because it introduced me to the madcap world of Judd Apatow. The actors are too old now to play high school kids, even by Hollywood standards, but I could see some of the protégées of the Apatow gang taking over some of the roles… I could see someone like Emma Stone being Lindsey and McLovin being a geek…what a stretch, I know…
4- ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS (1992-2004)
Starring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha
Created by Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French
Ab Fab is my favorite British comedy show of all time. While I’m disgusted by the idea of an American adaptation (I was just searching on IMDB and saw an American pilot has already been shot! gasp!), I love the idea of a big screen version. The wild adventures of two hedonistic middle aged fashionistas just doesn’t make sense unless portrayed by Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. A main character having a baby usually means death for a show, but I found the last season just as entertaining as hilarious when Edie became a grandmother- I think there’s still more then enough material to make for a great film version because Sin is still in baby.
5- ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (2003-2006)
Starring Jason Bateman, Micheal Cera, Portia DeRossi, Will Arnett, David Cross, Tony Hale, Jessica Walter, Jeffery Tambour, Alia Shawkat
Created by Mitchell Hurwitz
While 30 Rock is coming pretty darn close, to date Arrested Development is still my all time favorite American comedy show. There have been quite a few rumors about this show being made into a film and all I have to say that if it doesn’t pan out there’s some studio execs who are going to get it. And by get it I mean a very strongly worded letter from me about how much they suck.
