This is more possible than you think. Computer Generated Imaging is in extensive use in movies and is getting better all the time. It is expected to become indistinguishable from film.
Also, the technology already exists to make anyone sound like anyone else using small vocal samples and a processor.
What would you think if someone produced TDVDS all over again with this technology? The same home and office, the same cast and characters, but new and different episodes. Would you watch, or would you say leave well enough alone?

Steve

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
What would you think if someone produced TDVDS all over again with this technology? The same home and office, the same cast and characters, but new and different episodes. Would you watch, or would you say leave well enough alone?

Interesting question there, Steve! Although I do not know too much about CGI, I would say no to doing this because it might lack the magic of the original series.

Not to get off on a tangent, but your questions got me thinking... If there is a next Carl Reiner somewhere, and he wrote a show very similar to TDVDS casting the next Dick, Mary, Rosie, and Maurie in characters similar to the original, and if they had the same chemistry TDVDS had, do you think the show would sell? Do you think a show without any swearing or sexual innuendos would appeal to the viewing public? The Van Dyke Show was obviously a character-driven sitcom, but I don't think the public has a problem with that, because there were recent sitcoms that were also very character-driven. (i.e.: Cheers, Friends)

So what I'm trying to say is...do you think a show with class, like DVDS, (NOT a replica of the series!) would be successful on network TV if the actors had the same amazing chemistry the original actors did, if there was funny, yet intelligent writing and no profanity, and maybe even a similar plot to the new series (work and home scenes)?

offtopic:Once again, I'm sorry for getting off topic Steve, but your post made me curious!


Kurt

Hi, Kurt
No prob on hijacking my post. We can share this one.
Yes, I do think a show with all the grace, charm and innocence of TDVDS could do well today. Like we both have said, it's the characters that make the difference. Look at it this way; you can't miss what you've never had. I mean, if the show started out funny, intelligent, charming, and was well casted, but clean, how could we miss the raunch? It was never there.
Another example would be to compare singer/songwriters Nora Jones and Lil' Kim. Both appeal to the same age groups. Nora's music is clean, while Kim has always had, shall we say an 'edge' to her music? Both sell millions of copies and fill venues to capacity. If Kim cleaned up her act, she'd suffer a serious drop in sales and attendance, but Nora's fans don't miss Kim's 'edge,' because it was never there.
If it can happen in music, it can happen in TV and movies.

Steve

This definitely leads into a controversial subject. I do not agree with CGI, personally, at all. It allows viewers to see the things that never actually happened. What if a new album were released by Elvis Presley with all new computer generated songs? I do not think that fans would accept this at all. The same goes for television shows; if they created say, 50 more episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show, these shows would always be labled as "the created ones" and the other 158 the "real ones". Also, you are asking people to recreate history. I think that, as very clearly seen on the "post your thoughts on the reunion here" board, that one cannot recreate history. The original series had a kind of charm and writing which is non-recreatable. Also, this is 2004, and I do not think that producers would be content just to make new episodes that are fun and clean. As seen from the reunion special, I am sure that they would add language and sexual-referenced jokes to try to attract a new audience.