It was announced last year that Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were ready to team up for Bill and Ted 3. While they have a script, there is still a lot they have to do to make it happen, like get the rights and the time. But what they need most is...a title.
So you're probably thinking "why blog about this?"
Well, I was up all night, tossing and turning, trying to figure out what the title could be. I wasted a lot of hours pondering this.
There is one consistent, having "Bill and Ted's" in the title. E.g. Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. Next you need a slang descriptive term. Since this would be their third movie after a long hiatus, I'm guessing it would be along the lines of "excellent" rather than "bogus." Plus, the sequel didn't do as well among audiences, so it would be safer to connect to the original.
Alright, so we need to find a slang term similar to "excellent."
-Awesome?
-Radical?
Or something less slangy:
-Amazing?
-Phenomenal?
But once you have your description, you need a word for their "adventure" or "journey."
-Experience? (This would make it sound a bit LSD-y)
-Enterprise? (Are they meeting Captain Kirk?)
-Crusade or Hajj? (Religious connotations)
-Exploration?
-Voyage?
-Expedition?
There are tons they could use. But then again, they could break from the formula and come up with a cheesy title.
-Wyld Stallyns Ride Again?
-Bill and Ted Party On?
I hope not. And the title I came up with? Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you...
BILL AND TED'S EPIC ODYSSEY!
Yep. I spent hours coming up with that.
So, there you have it. And remember, be excellent to each other and PARTY ON, DUDES!
It's apparent to the majority of people I meet that I love British television. Sometimes, I feel the need to stick up for it. Like now.
With CBS having announced its intention to air Elementary, a modern day telling of Sherlock Holmes, I can't help but wonder why. The BBC has already beat them to the punch with Sherlock, which brings the characters and stories to present day London. With great performances by Benedict Cumberbatch (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Martin Freeman (currently filming The Hobbit), it's hard to picture a world in which CBS will have the better version. Especially since Elementary would take place in NYC. What? 221B Baker Street in America? I can't see that working out well. Plus, I love that Freeman's Watson blogs about his adventures with Holmes. :)
So all this has got me thinking about American remakes of British television shows. Do they really work?
If the program is a reality show or aired in the 1970s, yes. Hell's Kitchen, American Idol and the game shows Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? were all hits brought to the US from across the pond. And have you heard of Till Death Us Do Part, Steptoe and Son or Man About The House?Probably not. But I bet you know All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Three's Company. Again, all three were major hits in the United States.
But what about recent remakes?In past years, many of the shows brought over and redesigned have flopped.
Viva Laughlin (Blackpool) was cancelled after two episodes.
The American version of Life on Mars suffered declining viewership and never made it to a second season.
Let's not forget Skins. MTV pulled the plug on its version after The Parents Television Council attacked the program leading to loss of sponsors and viewership.
Being Human has its counterpart on Syfy and while averaging 1.9 million viewers makes it the network's top winter series, the numbers would not hold up on networks like USA and TBS.
In all fairness, there is one fairly recent show that became a major hit when converted for American audiences. The Office. The first season struggled, but the show hit its stride during the second season and gained a vast audience. It's currently in its 8th season. The best part is that a lot of fans love both versions.
So what's my point in all this? I think that Americans should give the original British shows a shot over here. Just look at the recent success of Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. Hey! Wouldn't that make a great crossover.
And by the way, if you can't understand the accent, there's always closed-captioning.
Bromance- n. the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males.
Definition provided by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online.
Think of all your male friends, I'm sure there are two or more who come to mind that share a unique bond that is indescribable. I can call to mind at least three to four bromances I've had the fortune to witness in life. But there is a subtle art to the bond shared. Having picked apart some of my favorite bromances in life, literature and television, I've noticed a trend. Five characteristics they all share:
A Common Goal Trust Looking Past Eccentricities Sacrifice/Protection (Showing one's love by sacrificing themselves for their friend's protection.) Teasing
Join me as I break down three of my favorite bromances of all time.
3) Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert
Who doesn't love these two? With the craziness of the world, it seems that they are possibly the most sane people in news. --- A Common Goal: Like I said, the media has gone rather wild in the world of 24/hr news and these guys are here to poke fun, as well as set viewers straight. --- Trust: Whatever Jon doesn't cover, there is a good chance Stephen will within the next half-hour. Jon has such faith in Stephen, that he was a leading player in starting The Colbert Report. UPDATE: Stephen has forked over his Colbert Super PAC to Jon, so that he can run for President of the United States of South Carolina. It is now "The Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC." --- Sacrifice/Protection: Here's a video for evidence. Skip toward the end for the fight.
--- Teasing: This is more on the Colbert side of things. He's taken a few shots at Stewart on his program, but it is all in good fun.
2) Greg House and James Wilson - House
These twoare more at odds than not. But as best friends, they are one of the few constants in each of their lives. --- A Common Goal: As doctors, they do what they can to save lives. In Wilson's case, this means keeping House in line. ---Trust: Yeah, not a lot of trust coming from Wilson, but House finds his friend predictable and trusts in that. Wilson can also trust House to be an ass most of the time. ---Looking Past Eccentricities: House can be a handful, with his rude demeanor and disregard for the rules, but he's Wilson's best friend. And while House is rather mean to Wilson about the many divorces, he sticks by his friend. ---Sacrifice/Protection: How many times has Wilson had to bail out House? How many times has he tried to bring House out of addiction. While it seemed Wilson was done playing Mother to house after the stint in prison, he was able to let go of it all with a punch and then dinner. --- Teasing: Who doesn't love the prank wars and bets these two get into. Some involve loose chickens and others deal with net traps.
1) Shawn Spencer and Burton "Gus" Guster- Psych
You can't have a bromance list without these two at the top. Best friends since childhood, these two have grown up together and their is no shortage of love between them. --- A Common Goal: As the owner's of Psych these two are private detectives who solve mysteries, mostly to help the Santa Barbara Police Department. While Shawn's photographic memory and crazy attention to detail play a big part, Gus is not idle. His work as a pharmaceutical salesman has helped many times, not to mention his knowledge of rather weird facts and "the super-sniffer." --- Trust: Okay, to be honest, Gus doesn't trust Shawn as much as he should. Then again, if Shawn hadn't given Gus the wrong letter to "aggiornamento," Gus wouldn't have lost. However, Shawn has full trust in Gus and his abilities. ---Looking Past Eccentricities: Well, Shawn likes to pretend he's psychic, not to mention his inability to grow up. Gus is a bit more mature, but even he can't help goofing off when around his best friend. Shawn is able to put up with Gus' nerdiness, even though Gus believe he's one of the coolest guys around. ---Sacrifice/Protection: Shawn and Gus always have each others' backs. The best example for this would be in the episode "Gus Walks Into a Bank." When Shawn hears that the bank has been held hostage, he does all he can to get in and make sure his friend leaves safely. ---Teasing: I think this video will explain it best.
Here are some more of my favorite Bromances:
-Neil Caffrey and Peter Burke - White Collar
-Myron Bolitar and Windsor Horne Lockwood III - Myron Bolitar Mysteries
-Sherlock Holmes and John Watson
-Merlin and Arthur Pendragon (and Colin Morgan and Bradley James) - Merlin Check out this music video they made behind the scenes.
-Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins
So I've started this blog as a place where I can publish my random thoughts to the world. Some are weirder than others and most of them will probably have to do with the world of entertainment. Without out further ado, let me begin.
I've just recently become addicted to the ITV/PBS series Downton Abbey. For those unfamiliar with the program, it revolves around the upper-class family and servants who reside at Downton towards the beginning of the 20th century. And with any period piece, I can't help but wonder what would happen if The Doctor visited the country estate.
(Photo belongs to Metro)
And what sort of menace would be plaguing the inhabitants of Downton? Is Thomas really an evil alien? Has Daisy mistakenly sent a smoke signal to outer-space, bringing chaos to the countryside? What if Lady Sybil's been kidnapped by cybermen due to her compaigning that the term is sexist and there should be cyberwomen as well? Whatever it is, there is no question that The Doctor can sort it out with the help of Mary, Anna, Matthew, William and Lord Grantham. Although, I doubt Mr. Carson would approve if a police telephone box appeared in the library. He's only just gotten used to answering the phone in his room.
(Graphic not made by me)
And how awesome would it be for Maggie Smith to be on an episode of Doctor Who. And in this role? Oh god that would be amazing. The Dowager Countess would definitely be a match for The Doctor and his eccentric ways. According to this woman, electricity and telephones make her feel as if she were living in an H.G. Wells novel. I say that we put her in the Tardis and see what she makes of it.
(Photo is property of ITV)
But no matter what, let's not forget Penelope Winton. The actress plays Isobel Crawley, but Doctor Who fans would know her as Harriet Jones, former Prime Minister.
(Photos belong to ITV and BBC)
The Doctor could have some fun with this, possibly telling Mrs. Crawley, or her son, that their descendent will be one of the most powerful women in England. Until The Doctor takes her down, that is. Both characters played by Winton are strong and won't get pushed around. It's easily believable that Jones would be related to the Crawleys.
There is just no denying that this would be an awesome crossover. While odds are non-existent on it happening, it at least keeps my mind occupied. :)
