Bringing TV to the Big Screen

It’s hypothetical Wednesday here at What’s Up Movement. With the new network television season in full swing, we’ve all returned to our favorite shows and begun guessing when the new ones will get cancelled. Fresh off the Emmys, it’s an exciting time for a TV fan. But every once in a while the stars align and we are given a movie sequel to a TV show. Sometimes it’s when a failed show seems like it may work better on the big screen. The Nathan Fillion led “Firefly” was cancelled and followed by the movie sequel Serenity a few years later. Other times it’s due to a successful run, the in development “Entourage” movie, "The X Files,” “Jackass,” etc.

So with the many shows that are currently crammed in our DVRs, which ones would make worthwhile movies? Here’s our list.

-Modern Family

Most of the popular comedies would likely suffer from the effects of looking like a made for TV movie. But “Modern Family” episodes roll on with such ease that it seems like each minor storyline could probably play out, and be funny, over a 90 minute feature. It makes sense to turn the show into a film franchise if even to just avoid it being rebooted with different actors down the road. This cast should be in the movie that isn’t getting made!

-Game of Thrones

Sadly “Game of Thrones” doesn’t premiere until the spring, but there’s no denying a bigger budget and film hype would be a big reward to fans. Make the last half of the final book a movie, and see what seasons and seasons of rabid dedication can do for you at the box office. HBO likely wouldn’t let this happen. But that’s what Hypothetical Wednesday is for.

-Revenge

Shows with a fixed plot, like "Revenge,” tend to have a tough time lasting beyond a few seasons. And when they do, things tend to spiral strangely. We’re looking at you “Lost.” So confining “Revenge” to a film would allow for the drama to be more controlled and powerful. It also would prevent soap opera twists and turns.

-Survivor

I don’t have the logistics of such a conversion, reality TV to feature film, but a dramatized account of the show from the perspective of Jeff Probst would be pretty interesting. It could include the drama of the show with behind the scenes quarrels and how crew members actually have to brave nature to make sure panthers don’t attack the 22 year old bartender while she’s snuggling up to the personal trainer from Texas.

-Sunday Night Football

Whenever I look at the weekly ratings, this show called “Sunday Night Football” wins by a mile. It seems a bit violent too with Bears fighting Jaguars and Falcons versus Eagles. But people tune in. Imagine we take the team names and fight their likenesses in an animated movie like the 1987 GI Joe Movie? I can see it now. Cowboys and Patriots have to team up try and fight the superior Giants who have secured Jets to fight with them. No one over the age of 12 would want to watch this movie.