Everyone's been all a-twitter (not a-Twitter, but probably that, too) about the possibility that there will be a feature film version of MacGyver, the TV series starring Richard Dean Anderson as a master of mechanical improv. While that sounds okay, I guess, it also sounds a little, I dunno, dull. If it were up to me, I'd totally greenlight a movie version of the 1986 TV series The Wizard.
Considered an extremely lucid fever-dream by most people who remember seeing the show, The Wizard starred the 4-foot-tall actor David Rappaport (Time Bandits, The Bride) as wealthy toymaker Simon McKay, who was also a brilliant scientist, designing equipment for the disabled and non-military technology for the U.S. government. With his government liaison Alex Jagger (Douglas Barr, Designing Women) and his old friend Tillie Russell (Fran Ryan, Forever Knight), he solved mysteries using high-tech equipment pulled out of his satchel, frequently crossing paths with his arch-nemesis, Troyan (Roy Dotrice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). It was like a cross between MacGyver and F/X, and the serious treatment of a character of Rappaport's height made the show stand out in a sea of normal-sized action/adventure shows. So why not translate it to the big screen and set it apart from other summer blockbusters?
We're living in the age of some of the greatest little actors of our time. Did someone say Verne Troyer? If so, please leave, because by no means should he ever be given a speaking part in a movie ever again. No, we were thinking Peter Dinklage (Nip/Tuck, The Station Agent) for the role of Simon, although that's certainly aiming high. Somehow, he seems above starring in a remake of a TV show, although he was in Prince Caspian and Elf. Martin Klebba is another possibility, having co-starred in Pirates of the Caribbean and Scrubs, but so is Danny Woodburn, of Seinfeld and Watchmen fame.
Do you remember The Wizard? Check out the opening credits here, then sign the petition to get it on DVD here!
MOST RECENT POSTS
Today's TWoP News: Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New Girl: Roomate Do's and Don'ts of the Week
Wednesday, February 20, 2013: American Idol
Today's TWoP News: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Saturday Night Live: The Best Sketches of the Night
TV on DVD: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013: Cult
I Want My DVD: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
BLOG ARCHIVES
Brilliant But Cancelled
January 2013
2 Entries
December 2012
1 Entries
November 2012
2 Entries
August 2012
1 Entries
July 2012
2 Entries
June 2012
2 Entries
May 2012
3 Entries
April 2012
2 Entries
March 2012
1 Entries
February 2012
1 Entries
January 2012
1 Entries
November 2011
2 Entries
October 2011
3 Entries
September 2011
2 Entries
August 2011
3 Entries
July 2011
2 Entries
June 2011
2 Entries
April 2011
4 Entries
March 2011
3 Entries
February 2011
2 Entries
January 2011
2 Entries
November 2010
1 Entries
October 2010
2 Entries
September 2010
2 Entries
July 2010
3 Entries
June 2010
2 Entries
May 2010
1 Entries
April 2010
3 Entries
March 2010
6 Entries
February 2010
2 Entries
January 2010
3 Entries
December 2009
1 Entries
November 2009
2 Entries
October 2009
2 Entries
September 2009
2 Entries
August 2009
5 Entries
July 2009
8 Entries
June 2009
5 Entries
May 2009
3 Entries
April 2009
2 Entries
March 2009
3 Entries
February 2009
2 Entries
January 2009
5 Entries
December 2008
2 Entries
November 2008
3 Entries
October 2008
4 Entries
September 2008
6 Entries
July 2008
5 Entries
June 2008
2 Entries
May 2008
7 Entries
April 2008
9 Entries
March 2008
1 Entries
February 2008
2 Entries
November 2007
1 Entries
Comments