A Fan's Perspective

[Danisel331]

Hi all!
Well, I've been reading on several of these boards how their shows are being redone into movies. A lot of people are not happy with the upcoming Bewitched Movie because it won't be very much like the show they all love. There have been plenty of movies based on old TV shows, but they are all handled differently. Some are almost like the shows in that they set up similar situations, ie The Beverly Hillbillies. Then some have the same characters, but different situations that would have never been on the show, ie The Addams Family. Still some others are based on a TV show but are an updated version of the show, ie Charlie's Angels. So here's my question to all of you...

If they were to make a movie of Chico and The Man, what kind of movie would you want? One that would have a similiar situation or an updated version, or maybe just the characters but not necessarily the show? Would you include all the characters, like Della and Raul or leave them out? Who would be the best possible actors to bring Chico and Ed and all the rest of the gang to life? Also, so many people mention about the possible cross over of Chico and Sanford and Son, would you maybe want to have that happen in the movie?
Can't wait to see some of your answers.

[Joy]

well i think it should be close to the show as possible and if you went older George L should play chico, if you went younger of coarse Jr should play the role his dad made famous.
Myself i tenmd to like movies that try and keep true to the show.
but as i don't care for sanford and son i wouldn't like to see them cross
i don't know who could play the rest of the cast but as i think of it i will post more.
I also don't think raul should be on there, i wouldn't want the movie to be THAT clsoe to reality. JMHO

[Cheryl Harrell]

I couldn't see them re-doing the show without Freddie & Jack & all the origionals in their roles. So we'll just have them make a new movie on some other show with Mando as the lead star...

[Danisel331]

Originally Posted by Cheryl Harrell

I couldn't see them re-doing the show without Freddie & Jack & all the origionals in their roles. So we'll just have them make a new movie on some other show with Mando as the lead star...

Aww C'mon now. That's not playing along with the question, Ms Cheryl. There got to be a way it could be worked out.

[Cheryl Harrell]

Let's see. George Lopez is Chico. And Jerry Stiller is the man... Della Reese is still Della. Mando is still Mando...

[Karen64]

You know the Brady Bunch movie, where the Brady family is hopelessly stuck in the 70's, but in a naive and geeky sort of way?
I picture a CATM movie plot in present-day, or maybe situated in the 1990's where the characters are stuck in the 70's, but in a COOL sort of way!
My plot would be, a snooty, high powered executive (Maybe from the Enron corporation ) gets lost while driving in East LA, his car breaks down and he happens to be in front of Ed Brown's garage. He soon realizes that Ed and Chico are not your average mechanics! He feels as though he's stuck in a time warp-- His cell phone doesn't have any reception in this neighborhood, and a series of hilarious events keep him from bailing out of this place while Ed and Chico try to get his fancy car running again!
The executive guy eventually learns how to let his hair down, let loose and have some fun!
Maybe Gabriel Melgar ("Raul") could play a cameo as a vendor or something, who finds a stowaway child in the garage and tells him to "beat it, kid!"

[Cheryl Harrell]

You just came up with an idea for a fan fiction! How about it fan fic writers?

[Joy]

that's a cool idea Karen!

[Danisel331]

That's a good one Ms Karen.
My idea was to have Chico and Ed work through a bit more on problems they had on the show. Like Ed's talking to God and Margaret and Chico's mother/father trials. I don't know maybe just go into a bit more depth and maybe show why chico and Ed really meant so much to each other.

I stayed up trying to think of just the right people to bring them to the big screen and here's what I come up with so far.
Chico....either Freddie Jr or an Unknown.....Chico has to bright, good looking and hard working. A bit of a Ladies Man but in a sweet way.
Ed Brown....Tony Curtis or James Garner......Ed has to be crusty, honery and sometimes down right mean, but also lovable and honest.
Della.....Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique, Phylicia Rashad....Della was very mothering, especially toward Chico but she was no shrinking violet when it came to Ed.

I thought too about having Mando come in as his part, after all Mando was supposed to be a little older than Chico anyway. I honestly think though that if such a movie were to happen, George Lopez and Freddie Jr would have to be the ones behind it.

[hue_mee]

Hee hee that is a great idea Karen. A year ago atleast anyway I did write a story about Chico and Ed and the gang going back in time ina time machine courtesy of Mikloss the gypsy and meeting up with the Rat Pack but never finished it and it is still sitting in the back burner so to speak to be worked on. I had Chico as a headliner in Vegas competeing with frank and the rest of the rat pack. it was a riot! That makes me want to finish it now! Reverend Bemis and Franks ex doing some "swinging" OMG! I'm going to start writing... see you all later!

[Luckymama58]

This one would be interesting, but I have to say, I haven't really liked ANY of the movie remakes of the old shows. I guess they were what they were for the time frame they were in. So I am going to be a party pooper and say I hope they don't mess with CATM.

Cause on the other hand, I have TONS of great story lines in my head for the gang at the garage. Writing fan fiction and doing a movie are two different things IMHO. We can still picture all the same characters with the same actors in their roles this way.

I know that if they were to make a movie about the show, that George and Jr should be in on it, and I would hope that Della Reese and Isaac Ruiz would have input too. IF I were to see a cast with people today....

Chico: I agree with Joy on this one, either George, if Chico were going to be older or Jr. (or maybe even our friend Laz) if he were going to be the same age (24) as he was in the show.

Ed: This is a toughy, cause the actor who could have played it just died... Jerry Orbach. I will have to think about this one more.

Louie: OMG I could sooo see Eddie Murphy play this! LOL

Della: If we were setting this in 2005, let Della play it, but I like Dani's suggestion of Queen Latifa. She would do a great job.

Mando: Well I would be highly disappointed if Isaac didn't play this part... if we were in 2005 time... cause if we were going younger, George Lopez could do it opposite Jr.

I could so see George playing another neighbor in the Barrio too, a new role, with a large part. IF we were to come up with a new story line, we could add characters.

I would also like to see some of the older parttime characters come back: Mabel, Rev. Bemis, Miklos.... etc. Too bad some of these old character actors are no longer with us. OMG it would be very hard to replace Ronny Graham as the Rev. He had a very unique style IMHO.

[hue_mee]

Great choices Luckymama. I can just picture Eddie Murphy as Louie! Hee hee. That would be a riot!

[Joy]

Yes Lucky i agree Ronny is as irreplaceable as Rev Beemis as Freddie is for Chico they were awesome.
Jerry stiller as the man...hmmm I could see that he is kind of a groucht charecter on the king of queens LOL

Off topic a bit
Is Jerry Orback the guy in law and order? he was the voice of a charecter in beaty and the beast too but i can't remember which

[Danisel331]

Originally Posted by Joy

Off topic a bit
Is Jerry Orback the guy in law and order? he was the voice of a charecter in beaty and the beast too but i can't remember which

Yes, He was the voice of the candellbra in Beauty and the Beast as well as on Law & Order. He will probably be best remembered though as the mean Daddy on Dirty Dancing.

[Joy]

I love that movie!