"Homicide" and "Oz" producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson are resurrecting the 1960s show The Saint and will be shooting a pilot to be shopped around to the networks. A tv show remake? I'm sure NBC is ready to jump at the chance!
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A new version of the 1960s series "The Saint" could be on its way to a network near you, thanks in part to "Homicide" and "Oz" producers Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson.
British actor James Purefoy ("Rome") is in talks to star in the show as Simon Templar, a wealthy, worldly man who's also an expert thief and uses his skills to help the downtrodden. Levinson is set to direct a two-hour movie/back-door pilot that would relaunch the series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
There's one catch, though: The pilot has no network home yet. It does, however, have financial backing courtesy of Nehst Studios, which says it's prepared to shoulder the cost of the pilot and go into production on a series should a network pick it up.
"The Saint" was part of TNT's development slate a year ago, but the cable channel decided not to go ahead with it. Producer Bill MacDonald (who also produced the 1997 "Saint" film starring Val Kilmer) and writer Jorge Zamacona ("Homicide," "Third Watch") reclaimed the rights and during the writers' strike decided to produce a pilot independently before shopping it to networks.
Zamacona also brought Fontana and Levinson to the show. The trio, along with MacDonald and Geoffrey Moore -- the son of Roger Moore, who starred in the '60s version of the show -- will serve as executive producers.
Purefoy, who played Mark Antony on HBO's "Rome," has also appeared in "Vanity Fair" and "A Knight's Tale." Casting is underway for other key roles, and production is scheduled to begin in April.
If the show stayed somewhat true to the lightness of the 1997 film, this could be a fun show. But if it just becomes "Another" crimeshow or they make into another L*O style show, it will not last long at all.
This has a good chance at succeeding, if done right.
Originally posted by TV-aholic: If the show stayed somewhat true to the lightness of the 1997 film, this could be a fun show. But if it just becomes "Another" crimeshow or they make into another L*O style show, it will not last long at all.
This has a good chance at succeeding, if done right.
I believe you said the same thing about Bionic Woman, if I'm not mistaken. This will likely show up on NBC and die miserably, just like Knight Rider will, and Bionic Woman did.
But, the audience/viewers are there and wanting this type of programming. Thats why 15 milion tuned in for the premiere.
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Originally posted by mushu_jj:
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Originally posted by TV-aholic: If the show stayed somewhat true to the lightness of the 1997 film, this could be a fun show. But if it just becomes "Another" crimeshow or they make into another L*O style show, it will not last long at all.
This has a good chance at succeeding, if done right.
I believe you said the same thing about Bionic Woman, if I'm not mistaken. This will likely show up on NBC and die miserably, just like Knight Rider will, and Bionic Woman did.
No just because people watch once doesn't mean they'll watch twice. 15 million tuned in for the nostalgia factor in Bionic Woman's premiere then fled, just like the 15 million who watched American Gladiators then fled, and just like the 15 million or so who watched Knight Rider and will flee in the fall.
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Originally posted by TV-aholic: I believe you are right.
But, the audience/viewers are there and wanting this type of programming. Thats why 15 milion tuned in for the premiere.
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Originally posted by mushu_jj:
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Originally posted by TV-aholic: If the show stayed somewhat true to the lightness of the 1997 film, this could be a fun show. But if it just becomes "Another" crimeshow or they make into another L*O style show, it will not last long at all.
This has a good chance at succeeding, if done right.
I believe you said the same thing about Bionic Woman, if I'm not mistaken. This will likely show up on NBC and die miserably, just like Knight Rider will, and Bionic Woman did.
Originally posted by mushu_jj: No just because people watch once doesn't mean they'll watch twice. 15 million tuned in for the nostalgia factor in Bionic Woman's premiere then fled, just like the 15 million who watched American Gladiators then fled, and just like the 15 million or so who watched Knight Rider and will flee in the fall.
Any show will live or die on how wel its executed. Just because the two examples you gave were "remakes" does not make a bit of difference.
Should NBC also give up on ALL new programming since no one watches that either???
Originally posted by mushu_jj: No just because people watch once doesn't mean they'll watch twice. 15 million tuned in for the nostalgia factor in Bionic Woman's premiere then fled, just like the 15 million who watched American Gladiators then fled, and just like the 15 million or so who watched Knight Rider and will flee in the fall.
Any show will live or die on how wel its executed. Just because the two examples you gave were "remakes" does not make a bit of difference.
Should NBC also give up on ALL new programming since no one watches that either???
Yes NBC should give up on some of their ALL new programming, especially the stuff that sucks. The problem with NBC's remakes is that they DO suck! I'm not saying a remake can't be done and maybe Knight Rider will undergo enough changes that it will become a decent show but the main reason why so many people watched the movie was due to nostalgia. My other beef is that direct ripoffs and remakes are all NBC has developed here as of late. Its all, based on a European show or Hispanic show of the same name. How about having people come up with some of their own stuff. Not saying that you have to do that all the time, but some originality would be nice. I know people will say everything is a ripoff. Maybe in some ways, but a lot of shows can be similar and yet their own show at the same time.
Now, Bionic Woman is the only remake to make it to series, so far.
As for original source for series, TV had used the British/European makets for about 40 or more years.
If you exclude anything made from any other market, All In the Family is never made. Sanford & Son... gone. So would 3's Company, The Office, Cosby, Ameican Idol, Ugly Betty, A lot of the game shows, and many, many more
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Originally posted by mushu_jj:
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Originally posted by TV-aholic:
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Originally posted by mushu_jj: No just because people watch once doesn't mean they'll watch twice. 15 million tuned in for the nostalgia factor in Bionic Woman's premiere then fled, just like the 15 million who watched American Gladiators then fled, and just like the 15 million or so who watched Knight Rider and will flee in the fall.
Any show will live or die on how wel its executed. Just because the two examples you gave were "remakes" does not make a bit of difference.
Should NBC also give up on ALL new programming since no one watches that either???
Yes NBC should give up on some of their ALL new programming, especially the stuff that sucks. The problem with NBC's remakes is that they DO suck! I'm not saying a remake can't be done and maybe Knight Rider will undergo enough changes that it will become a decent show but the main reason why so many people watched the movie was due to nostalgia. My other beef is that direct ripoffs and remakes are all NBC has developed here as of late. Its all, based on a European show or Hispanic show of the same name. How about having people come up with some of their own stuff. Not saying that you have to do that all the time, but some originality would be nice. I know people will say everything is a ripoff. Maybe in some ways, but a lot of shows can be similar and yet their own show at the same time.
CBS should pick this up. Sunday nights 8/7 perfect fit between 60 minutes and Cold Case, followed by split seasons of Shark and Dexter repurposing. (I can dream about the latter.)
That was my point. Sometimes good stuff does come from there but most of it still sucks. Remember Coupling?
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Originally posted by TV-aholic: Now, Bionic Woman is the only remake to make it to series, so far.
As for original source for series, TV had used the British/European makets for about 40 or more years.
If you exclude anything made from any other market, All In the Family is never made. Sanford & Son... gone. So would 3's Company, The Office, Cosby, Ameican Idol, Ugly Betty, A lot of the game shows, and many, many more
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Originally posted by mushu_jj:
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Originally posted by TV-aholic:
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Originally posted by mushu_jj: No just because people watch once doesn't mean they'll watch twice. 15 million tuned in for the nostalgia factor in Bionic Woman's premiere then fled, just like the 15 million who watched American Gladiators then fled, and just like the 15 million or so who watched Knight Rider and will flee in the fall.
Any show will live or die on how wel its executed. Just because the two examples you gave were "remakes" does not make a bit of difference.
Should NBC also give up on ALL new programming since no one watches that either???
Yes NBC should give up on some of their ALL new programming, especially the stuff that sucks. The problem with NBC's remakes is that they DO suck! I'm not saying a remake can't be done and maybe Knight Rider will undergo enough changes that it will become a decent show but the main reason why so many people watched the movie was due to nostalgia. My other beef is that direct ripoffs and remakes are all NBC has developed here as of late. Its all, based on a European show or Hispanic show of the same name. How about having people come up with some of their own stuff. Not saying that you have to do that all the time, but some originality would be nice. I know people will say everything is a ripoff. Maybe in some ways, but a lot of shows can be similar and yet their own show at the same time.
