"The New Odd Couple" (1982 series) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 12-21-2008, 12:09 PM

This show was a bad idea. Not because they brought in Demond Wilson and Ron Glass to take on the roles of Oscar and Felix -- after all, before Klugman and Randall there had been Matthau and Lemmon in the original movie. But for two main reasons...

1. The original show had only been off the networks for a few years and could be widely seen in syndication.

And the big reason...

2. They were literally re-filming old scripts from the original show. They had no choice, because of a writers' strike that wouldn't allow new scripts to be commissioned. They should have put this show on hold until the strike was over so that new scripts and fresh takes on the characters could be explored.

catlover79 · 12-21-2008, 12:38 PM

I've never seen this show, but Ron Glass and Demond Wilson were/are both gifted actors who could carry a show together. Having said that, remaking an old show (especially such a beloved one) is almost always a bad idea.

Dr. Thong · 12-21-2008, 12:50 PM

Had they waited a few more years and had some original scripts and concepts for the characters, it might have been okay.

But I agree, generally speaking, old shows should not be remade.

Leave the classics alone.

The producers of The Honeymooners movie from a few years back will always be on my "enemies list."

That show is sacred.

catlover79 · 12-21-2008, 01:00 PM

It would be interesting sometime to see this show, but you're right...leave the classics alone.

Theda Bara · 12-21-2008, 03:02 PM

The only good thing about, The New Odd Couple, was that Ron Glass made an excellent Felix. Glass did an amazing job.

TripperFan · 12-21-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Leave the classics alone.

The producers of The Honeymooners movie from a few years back will always be on my "enemies list."

That show is sacred.

Wasn't that the WORST ever? Talk about a WTF Moment in Movies!

I fully agree. I notice remakes more and more now and it's like the writers can't seem to think of anything new to come up with. Sad really.

catlover79 · 12-21-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Wasn't that the WORST ever? Talk about a WTF Moment in Movies!

I fully agree. I notice remakes more and more now and it's like the writers can't seem to think of anything new to come up with. Sad really.

Guessing by the box office performance, almost everybody felt the same way we do!!

TripperFan · 12-21-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Guessing by the box office performance, almost everybody felt the same way we do!!

Even the trailers for that thing were brutal!!

The only "remake" of the Honeymooners that was any good was when Warner Brother's did it with the mice on the Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour!

howilu · 12-22-2008, 06:34 PM

Even the theme from the original was used in a more uptempo arrangement. Admit it. The New Odd Couple wasn't a very good show. It would have been better if there weren't a lot of remakes of original episodes.

Dr. Thong · 12-22-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Even the trailers for that thing were brutal!!

The only "remake" of the Honeymooners that was any good was when Warner Brother's did it with the mice on the Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour!

That was a classic cartoon. I would categorize that more a spoof, or a homage, really.

But if you want to look at a cartoon that was essentially an animated version of The Honeymooners, look no further than The Flinstones. But at least that had some wit and some good writing.

catlover79 · 12-22-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

That was a classic cartoon. I would categorize that more a spoof, or a homage, really.

But if you want to look at a cartoon that was essentially an animated version of The Honeymooners, look no further than The Flinstones. But at least that had some wit and some good writing.

I was going to mention The Flintstones. I call it "The Honeymooners with Kids".

Dr. Thong · 12-22-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I was going to mention The Flintstones. I call it "The Honeymooners with Kids".

I remember watching The Honeymooners for the first time when I was eight or nine and I immediately realized that The Flinstones was a copy. I still enjoyed both, though.

TripperFan · 12-22-2008, 07:42 PM

That's very true about the Flintstones, and yes, the WB mice were definitely a spoof - at least both had better writing than any of the "remakes".

Although honestly, I never really liked the "original" Odd Couple series because I had seen the movie. I LOVED Jack Lemmon. Always did as an actor, but also loved him in the movie. I never liked Tony Randall. To me, it was like he was playing the character more "gay" than just a whipped ex like Jack did. And of course, the remakes went down from there for me.

Zoneboy · 12-22-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The producers of The Honeymooners movie from a few years back will always be on my "enemies list."

That show is sacred.

Speaking of The Honeymooners, I'd love to see Art Carney's original portrayl of Felix Unger but I have no idea if it even exists or not.

catlover79 · 12-22-2008, 09:54 PM

Wasn't there also a cartoon version of The Odd Couple with a tidy cat and a sloppy dog?

12-21-2008, 12:09 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	"The New Odd Couple" (1982 series) This show was a bad idea. Not because they brought in Demond Wilson and Ron Glass to take on the roles of Oscar and Felix -- after all, before Klugman and Randall there had been Matthau and Lemmon in the original movie. But for two main reasons... 1. The original show had only been off the networks for a few years and could be widely seen in syndication. And the big reason... 2. They were literally re-filming old scripts from the original show. They had no choice, because of a writers' strike that wouldn't allow new scripts to be commissioned. They should have put this show on hold until the strike was over so that new scripts and fresh takes on the characters could be explored.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

12-21-2008, 12:38 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I've never seen this show, but Ron Glass and Demond Wilson were/are both gifted actors who could carry a show together. Having said that, remaking an old show (especially such a beloved one) is almost always a bad idea.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-21-2008, 12:50 PM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Had they waited a few more years and had some original scripts and concepts for the characters, it might have been okay. But I agree, generally speaking, old shows should not be remade. Leave the classics alone. The producers of The Honeymooners movie from a few years back will always be on my "enemies list." That show is sacred.

12-21-2008, 01:00 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	It would be interesting sometime to see this show, but you're right...leave the classics alone.

12-21-2008, 03:02 PM	#5
Theda Bara Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 7,154	The only good thing about, The New Odd Couple, was that Ron Glass made an excellent Felix. Glass did an amazing job.

12-22-2008, 06:34 PM	#9
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,959	Even the theme from the original was used in a more uptempo arrangement. Admit it. The New Odd Couple wasn't a very good show. It would have been better if there weren't a lot of remakes of original episodes.

12-22-2008, 07:42 PM	#13
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,087	That's very true about the Flintstones, and yes, the WB mice were definitely a spoof - at least both had better writing than any of the "remakes". Although honestly, I never really liked the "original" Odd Couple series because I had seen the movie. I LOVED Jack Lemmon. Always did as an actor, but also loved him in the movie. I never liked Tony Randall. To me, it was like he was playing the character more "gay" than just a whipped ex like Jack did. And of course, the remakes went down from there for me.

12-22-2008, 09:54 PM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Wasn't there also a cartoon version of The Odd Couple with a tidy cat and a sloppy dog?