TV

EW Presents...

Television News

Silver Screen to Small Screem

Remade for TV: hit or miss -- We look at the best and worst of films adapted for TV

More

By Paul Katz

Didn't get enough of Crash or Barbershop in theaters? Just wait. Both films are being adapted into TV series. But when jumping from the silver to small screen, a successful landing isn't guaranteed. (Clueless? Yep, it was.) Consider these six historical examples.

THE BEST

M*A*S*H 1972-83 (CBS)
BASED ON Robert Altman's 1970 antiwar farce
ROLE PLAYING Alan Alda inherits Dr. Hawkeye Pierce's scalpel from Donald Sutherland.
WHY IT WORKED The sharp comedy never hit a false note. Not even Klinger in a negligee could make us look away.

FAME 1982-87 (NBC, Syndicated)
BASED ON The 1980 film set in New York's High School for the Performing Arts
ROLE PLAYING Unknown Erica Gimpel subbed for now-forgotten Irene Cara.
WHY IT WORKED Teens actually played teens! The WB should be calling them any second now.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 1997-2003 (The WB, UPN)
BASED ON The campy 1992 film
ROLE PLAYING Sarah Michelle Gellar nails Kristy Swanson's movie role.
WHY IT WORKED The concept — high school really is hell — played better as a serial than a film.

THE WORST

FERRIS BUELLER 1990 (NBC)
BASED ON The 1986 John Hughes comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off
ROLE PLAYING Future Friend Jennifer Aniston won Jennifer Grey's part by a nose.
WHY IT DIDN'T WORK Nothing could save Ferris with Charlie Schlatter subbing in for Matty B.

DANGEROUS MINDS (ABC) 1996-97
BASED ON The edgy 1995 drama of the same name
ROLE PLAYING Michelle Pfeiffer = Annie Potts. Yes, Annie Potts.
WHY IT DIDN'T WORK Potts' homey-room teacher never caught on as the gritty film became a barrio Head of the Class.

MY BIG FAT GREEK LIFE 2003 (CBS)
BASED ON 2002's My Big Fat Greek Wedding
ROLE PLAYING Everyone returned — except John Corbett. Good call, John.
WHY IT DIDN'T WORK Indie wit-turned-sitcom sap and Nia Vardalos' clashes with CBS led to a big fat Greek flop.