Update: Thomas Lennon to Play Felix Unger in "Odd Couple" Pilot - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-25-2014, 08:36 PM

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CBS has officially ordered Matthew Perry’s remake of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” to pilot, Variety has learned.

The half-hour comedy will star the “Friends” alum as the messy Oscar Madison, the sometimes-friend and sometimes-foil to neat freak Felix Ungar. This project marks Perry’s return to multicamera work, as his recent TV roles have included appearing on “The Good Wife” and “Cougar Town” and starring in the short-lived “Mr. Sunshine.”

Perry, who penned the pilot with “Frasier’s” Joe Keenan, will exec produce along with Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum and Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman.

CBS had announced a script commitment plus penalty to a reinvention of this project in December.

“The Odd Couple” originated as a theater production and was adapted into the 1968 Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau feature film before seeing two runs on ABC, the first of which starred Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. A femme-focused version of the play opened on Broadway in 1985 and starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.

Duster76 · 03-04-2014, 11:07 PM

It's hard enough to be a star on a hit TV series, it's even harder to do it twice. Add to that trying to do it with recycled material. To some extent Sheldon and Leonard are a reimagined version of Felix and Oscar. Perry may still be too big for TV Land, but that's where I see this material working best.

Zoneboy · 03-13-2014, 08:35 PM

Link

Thomas Lennon will play fussy Felix Unger to Matthew Perry’s Oscar Madison in the CBS remake of “The Odd Couple,” Variety has learned.

The half-hour multi-camera comedy pilot based on the famous Neil Simon characters comes via CBS Television Studios and is exec produced by Perry, who penned the pilot with “Frasier’s” Joe Keenan, with Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum and Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman.

Lennon, who appeared in “Sean Saves the World” and “Reno 911!,” is also known for his work behind the scenes. He’s an exec producer, with writing partner R. Ben Garant, of Chris Hardwick’s Comedy Central show “@midnight.” He also appeared with Perry on “Friends” and in the 2009 New Line film “17 Again.”

“The Odd Couple” originated as a theater production and was adapted into the 1968 Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau feature film before seeing two runs on ABC, the first of which starred Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. The second, titled “The New Odd Couple,” went after a minority audience and starred Ron Glass and Demond Wilson. A femme-focused version of the play opened on Broadway in 1985 and starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.

Retro4Life · 03-13-2014, 08:47 PM

I like Perry a lot and wish him well in this venture.

I do think that we need another remake/reboot like we need a hole in the head, but maybe I will be proven wrong. I hope so.

treky · 03-14-2014, 01:53 AM

I think it'll work, I can see Perry as Oscar.

02-25-2014, 08:36 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,346	Update: Thomas Lennon to Play Felix Unger in "Odd Couple" Pilot Link CBS has officially ordered Matthew Perry’s remake of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” to pilot, Variety has learned. The half-hour comedy will star the “Friends” alum as the messy Oscar Madison, the sometimes-friend and sometimes-foil to neat freak Felix Ungar. This project marks Perry’s return to multicamera work, as his recent TV roles have included appearing on “The Good Wife” and “Cougar Town” and starring in the short-lived “Mr. Sunshine.” Perry, who penned the pilot with “Frasier’s” Joe Keenan, will exec produce along with Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum and Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. CBS had announced a script commitment plus penalty to a reinvention of this project in December. “The Odd Couple” originated as a theater production and was adapted into the 1968 Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau feature film before seeing two runs on ABC, the first of which starred Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. A femme-focused version of the play opened on Broadway in 1985 and starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads. Last edited by Zoneboy; 03-13-2014 at 08:37 PM.

03-13-2014, 08:35 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,346	Thomas Lennon is Felix to Matthew Perry’s Oscar in CBS’ ‘Odd Couple’ Pilot Link Thomas Lennon will play fussy Felix Unger to Matthew Perry’s Oscar Madison in the CBS remake of “The Odd Couple,” Variety has learned. The half-hour multi-camera comedy pilot based on the famous Neil Simon characters comes via CBS Television Studios and is exec produced by Perry, who penned the pilot with “Frasier’s” Joe Keenan, with Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum and Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman. Lennon, who appeared in “Sean Saves the World” and “Reno 911!,” is also known for his work behind the scenes. He’s an exec producer, with writing partner R. Ben Garant, of Chris Hardwick’s Comedy Central show “@midnight.” He also appeared with Perry on “Friends” and in the 2009 New Line film “17 Again.” “The Odd Couple” originated as a theater production and was adapted into the 1968 Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau feature film before seeing two runs on ABC, the first of which starred Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. The second, titled “The New Odd Couple,” went after a minority audience and starred Ron Glass and Demond Wilson. A femme-focused version of the play opened on Broadway in 1985 and starred Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.

03-13-2014, 08:47 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I like Perry a lot and wish him well in this venture. I do think that we need another remake/reboot like we need a hole in the head, but maybe I will be proven wrong. I hope so.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

03-14-2014, 01:53 AM	#5
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I think it'll work, I can see Perry as Oscar.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

03-04-2014, 11:07 PM	#2
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,641	It's hard enough to be a star on a hit TV series, it's even harder to do it twice. Add to that trying to do it with recycled material. To some extent Sheldon and Leonard are a reimagined version of Felix and Oscar. Perry may still be too big for TV Land, but that's where I see this material working best.