Dos and Don'ts of making a sitcom reunion - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JT · 08-14-2001, 01:06 PM

With the hype of the FOL reunion I thought of old reunions:

DO:
Make the characters happy to see each other.A reunion that breaks this rule is The Growing Pains Movie (the restaurant scene with Mike and Carol)

Make one of the original characters actually live in the original house or work at the same job of the original show.

DON'TS:
Make two characters live together UNLESS they were in a relationship on the ORIGINAL show.

Replace the original theme song credits with the actor's names flashing on the screen.Again TGPM breaks the rules.

Any input would be appreciated!

ClassicTVHits · 08-14-2001, 01:14 PM

I agree 100% with you JT, You need to include original things from the series, and not change stuff around too much

.

------------------
Stephen
ClassicTVHits.com

TV Guy · 08-14-2001, 05:55 PM

Don't try to give every single character an individual subplot if you have a large ensemble, a la the Brady Christmas movie. Jan's maritial difficulties were brought up and resolved in about two scenes, because there wasn't enough time to spend on it (same thing happened in the Walton Thanksgiving Reunion). Focus the action on the main/most popular characters.

Try to get some of the minor characters or recurring guest stars to return in cameos. It's always fun to see them included.

I like the comment about trying to include the original theme music. "The Patty Duke Show" reunion movie from a year or two ago used the original theme with clips from the original show, and updated pictures. Of course, the rest of the movie was pretty bad

TV Guy · 08-14-2001, 05:59 PM

Oh, yeah, one more thing...don't recast roles if you can't get the original actor to return. How disappointing it was to see Wayne Rogers show up as Tony Nelson in the "I Dream of Jeannie" reunion when they couldn't get Larry Hagman. Or Mary Frann filling in for Betty Buckley as Abby in "An Eight is Enough Reunion".

Penny Lane · 08-17-2001, 07:55 PM

Don't make a sitcom reunion show or movie serious! Like The Mary Tyler Moore movie last year!It was terrible!

TVLanFan · 08-18-2001, 07:18 AM

Great comments, folks!

I think my #1 rule would be (and I definitely DON'T expect ANY producers out there to listen to me) do NOT, I repeat, do NOT even THINK about even MAKING a reunion movie of any sitcom with 3 or fewer main characters unless they're all still around. I'm thinkng specifically of the "Get Smart Again" movie. I love Max, and I love 99, but without Edward Platt, there IS no "Chief", and there is no "Get Smart". Platt, unfortunately, died in the early to mid-1970s. But he is the ONLY person who can play the Chief of CONTROL. The guy who played the Chief in this move was horrible. I think Get Smart's credits said it best...simply, "Edward Platt as "Chief" ".

Platt, as Chief, is, in my opinion, the most underrated supporting actor/role in the history of sitcoms. And without him, Get Smart can never be Get Smart. I hope Mel Brooks is listening.

Sean Snow · 08-18-2001, 02:39 PM

And the orginal producers need to be going w/ it! I don't know if Mel Brooks or Buck Henry worked on the reunions. Also, Ed Platt died in 1974, at I think the age of 58.

08-14-2001, 01:06 PM	#1
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Dos and Don'ts of making a sitcom reunion With the hype of the FOL reunion I thought of old reunions: DO: Make the characters happy to see each other.A reunion that breaks this rule is The Growing Pains Movie (the restaurant scene with Mike and Carol) Make one of the original characters actually live in the original house or work at the same job of the original show. DON'TS: Make two characters live together UNLESS they were in a relationship on the ORIGINAL show. Replace the original theme song credits with the actor's names flashing on the screen.Again TGPM breaks the rules. Any input would be appreciated!

08-14-2001, 01:14 PM	#2
ClassicTVHits Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: Forest Hills, NY Posts: 190	I agree 100% with you JT, You need to include original things from the series, and not change stuff around too much . ------------------ Stephen ClassicTVHits.com

08-14-2001, 05:55 PM	#3
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Don't try to give every single character an individual subplot if you have a large ensemble, a la the Brady Christmas movie. Jan's maritial difficulties were brought up and resolved in about two scenes, because there wasn't enough time to spend on it (same thing happened in the Walton Thanksgiving Reunion). Focus the action on the main/most popular characters. Try to get some of the minor characters or recurring guest stars to return in cameos. It's always fun to see them included. I like the comment about trying to include the original theme music. "The Patty Duke Show" reunion movie from a year or two ago used the original theme with clips from the original show, and updated pictures. Of course, the rest of the movie was pretty bad

08-14-2001, 05:59 PM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Oh, yeah, one more thing...don't recast roles if you can't get the original actor to return. How disappointing it was to see Wayne Rogers show up as Tony Nelson in the "I Dream of Jeannie" reunion when they couldn't get Larry Hagman. Or Mary Frann filling in for Betty Buckley as Abby in "An Eight is Enough Reunion".

08-17-2001, 07:55 PM	#5
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,440	Don't make a sitcom reunion show or movie serious! Like The Mary Tyler Moore movie last year!It was terrible!

08-18-2001, 07:18 AM	#6
TVLanFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 199	Great comments, folks! I think my #1 rule would be (and I definitely DON'T expect ANY producers out there to listen to me) do NOT, I repeat, do NOT even THINK about even MAKING a reunion movie of any sitcom with 3 or fewer main characters unless they're all still around. I'm thinkng specifically of the "Get Smart Again" movie. I love Max, and I love 99, but without Edward Platt, there IS no "Chief", and there is no "Get Smart". Platt, unfortunately, died in the early to mid-1970s. But he is the ONLY person who can play the Chief of CONTROL. The guy who played the Chief in this move was horrible. I think Get Smart's credits said it best...simply, "Edward Platt as "Chief" ". Platt, as Chief, is, in my opinion, the most underrated supporting actor/role in the history of sitcoms. And without him, Get Smart can never be Get Smart. I hope Mel Brooks is listening.

08-18-2001, 02:39 PM	#7
Sean Snow moo Forum Star Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	And the orginal producers need to be going w/ it! I don't know if Mel Brooks or Buck Henry worked on the reunions. Also, Ed Platt died in 1974, at I think the age of 58.