With the recent boom of old television shows going big screen, such as The Dukes of Hazzard, Bewitched, and The Honeymooners, we thought it was only appropriate to pay homage to some previous television-turned-feature film incarnations.
The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
Small-screen sensation: “Come and listen to my story ’bout a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer, barely kept his fam’ly fed. Then one day he was shootin’ at some food, and up from the ground come a bubblin’ crude. Oil that is. Black gold. Texas tea. Well the first thing you know ol’ Jed’s a millionaire. The kinfolk said, ‘Jed, move away from there!’ They said, ‘Californy is the place you oughta be,’ so they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly. Hills that is…” You get the picture.
Big-screen dud: Although the ’60s TV Hillbillies lit up the small screen in its day, its 1993 big-screen debut was nothing more than a mere spark. Starring Jim Varney as Jed and Cloris Leachman as Granny, the expectations of this movie were greater than its actual success.
What they did wrong: Considered a slap in the face, the movie couldn’t sustain the comedic chops of its TV predecessor. The movie just wasn’t as funny as it should have been.
Starsky & Hutch (2004)
Small-screen sensation: The ’70s show revolved around San Francisco detectives Dave Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser), a dark-haired muscle man, and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson (David Soul), the blonde intellectual, bust criminals with the help of their snitch, Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas). Fans loved the Grand Torino, the banter, and, most of all, the close friendship between Starsky and Hutch.
Big-screen success: The movie–starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as well as a group of star supporting actors, including Snoop Dogg and Vince Vaughn–struck gold by not taking itself too seriously and lampooning the whole premise.
What they did right: Casting Stiller opposite Wilson, plain and simple. Theirs is a match made in comedic heaven and have an on-screen chemistry that keeps you laughing your butt off.
S.W.A.T. (2003)
Small-screen sensation: S.W.A.T. , the 1975 television series about the L.A.P.D.’s special weapons and tactical unit, was short lived because it was considered too violent for the time.
Big-screen success: When is something considered too violent in today’s world? Quick, make it into a movie and watch the box office bucks roll in.
What they did right: With the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, and LL Cool J and a lot of shoot ’em up action, how can you lose?
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Small-screen sensation: Our favorite Great Dane, Scooby, and his friends Freddie, Velma, Shaggy and Daphne have been keeping the world safe from ghosts and other forms of evil since its start in 1969.
Big-screen success: Making a live-action movie version–starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and Sarah Michelle Gellar–along with a CGI Scooby turned into box office gold. The first movie grossed $130 million at the box office, with its sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, earning a respectable $84 million. But they may want to end it here, on a high note, as it were.
What they did right: Between the cereal, board games, comic books, action figures and even Scooby snack dog treats, people were ready for a revitalized Scooby-Doo.
Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
Small-screen sensation: As a Saturday morning cartoon, this was girl power at its best with Josie and her friends, jamming as rock stars, touring the world and solving mysteries.
Big-screen dud: But as a film, the idea was just too lame for words, despite the best efforts from its live-action cast, including Tara Reid, Rachel Leigh Cook, and Rosario Dawson.
What they did wrong: Having the movie be about putting subliminal messaging in rock music so kids can turn into brain-dead zombies who do nothing but buy, buy, buy. Huh? The film could have at least had a mystery for the Pussycats to solve. Geez.
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
Small-screen sensation: Let’s do the whole song thing again. “Here’s a story, of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls…” The model family that only existed on television, the Brady’s were the family we all wanted but would never have. The picture of perfection lasted five years as a series in the early ’70s but lives on forever as the unlikely family we love to make fun of.
Big-screen success: As a spoof, the movie version took the Brady family from the 70’s to the 90’s without changing a thing. Their ’70s mentality and clothing make them stand out because they are culturally unaware they are living in a totally different era.
What they did right: For brilliantly keeping the Bradys exactly the same and have everyone living around them deal with it. Poking fun at what was once thought as the perfect family is sure to make anyone laugh.
Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Small-screen sensation: The original ’70s show introduced three beautiful women–Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith–working for the Charles Townsend Detective Agency, solving crime. The girls were often seen using their sexuality as well as their extensive knowledge to fight criminals and save the world.
Big-screen success: In the action-packed, sex-driven feature film, we’ve got Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore as the Angels with the mostest. The film raked in the big bucks and spawned the sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, which turned out to be a box office disappointment. Oh well, guess we can only tolerate so much heavenly activity.
What they did right (at least the first time): The casting, hands down. And maybe some of the special effects.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Small-screen sensation: The highly successful series originally ran from 1966-1973, with three seasons added in 1988 and told the story of secret agents, who wear many disguises, working for the government to fight dictators, evil organizations, and crime lords. Good stuff.
Big-screen success: It was kind of a no-brainer turning this one into a movie, especially with power of producer and star, Tom Cruise, behind it. Mission: Impossible was the third highest grossing film of 1996 and generated an equally successful sequel, with a third installment in production.
What they did right: Tom Cruise, natch. Whether the movie is good or not, his clout will undoubtedly make an film gross an obscene amount of money at the box office.
