Welcome Back Kotter woefully adapted to the big screen

[savafan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20060314/en_movies_eo/18561



By Gina Serpe Tue Mar 14, 4:18 PM ET

Bring out the Welcome wagon.

Ice Cube has signed on to play the title role in a film adaptation of the classic 1970s TV series Welcome Back, Kotter, it was announced Tuesday.

As part of his deal with Dimension Films, Cube will also coproduce the redo of the former ABC series that turned
John Travolta into a household name.

"There was no bigger fan of the original show than me, and I'm very excited to be able to put a new twist on it," the Barbershop star said in a statement.

Cube will play the titular Gabe Kotter, a slacker turned teacher who returns to his inner-city alma mater and who sees himself in the new batch of underprivileged troublemakers. He works to inspire the seemingly apathetic students, known as the Sweathogs.

The gang of kids is led by scatterbrained himbo Vinnie Barbarino, played in the original incarnation by Travolta. The original 'hogs also included the super suave Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington (originally played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), the tough-talking Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein (
Robert Hegyes), and nasally nerd Arnold Dingfelder Horshack (
Ron Palillo) and were responsible for injecting retorts like "up your nose with a rubber hose" into the cultural vernacular.

Gabe Kaplan, who played Kotter in the original 1975-79 series, also created the show with partner Alan Sacks and retained the rights. He said that despite heavy interest from studios over the years, they held out on adapting Kotter until the right pitch came along.

"We were skeptical about selling Kotter because making a great movie from a TV show can be challenging," Kaplan said. "After meeting with the Weinsteins [Harvey and Bob Weinstein run Dimension], we knew they were the right ones to bring this project to the screen."

No word on whether any of the original stars will make cameos in the film, though if the recent influx of box office remakes are any indication, it's highly likely that some of the old gang will pay their respects. Likewise, we assume that Cube will give a hip-hop spin to the classic "Welcome Back" theme song, originally crooned by
John Sebastian.

The Hot Chick's Tom Brady has signed on to write and direct Kotter.

Production is expected to kick off this fall, after filming is complete on Cube's next project, Are We Done Yet?, a sequel to last year's surprise hit Are We There Yet?, which happens to be another remake--this time based loosely on the Cary Grant film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse. Cameras roll on that film in Vancouver this June.

[flyer85]

The head sweathog makes his living playing poker these days.

Signed

Epstein's Mother

[Johnny Footstool]

Is Hollywood really that hard-up for scripts? Where are the movie adaptations of "Flo", "The Facts of Life", "Gimmie a Break", and "Three's Company"?

[KronoRed]

Is Hollywood really that hard-up for scripts? Where are the movie adaptations of "Flo", "The Facts of Life", "Gimmie a Break", and "Three's Company"?

Give it a few years.

[Steve4192]

What's the problem?

If you are going to remake Kotter in the present day, he pretty much HAS to be a minority. The fact of the matter is, there aren't a whole lot of jewish folks running around in inner city schools these days. Hiring a Gabe Kaplan clone would be about as realistic as using Michelle Pfeiffer as an tough ex-military school marm in the middle of the ghetto.

[Steve4192]

Is Hollywood really that hard-up for scripts? Where are the movie adaptations of "Flo", "The Facts of Life", "Gimmie a Break", and "Three's Company"?

Kiss my grits!

[Chip R]

Is Hollywood really that hard-up for scripts? Where are the movie adaptations of "Flo", "The Facts of Life", "Gimmie a Break", and "Three's Company"?

Oh, it gets better. Word is they are doing a "Dallas" movie. They want John Travolta as J.R., Luke Wilson as Bobby and JLo as Sue Ellen.

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/eo/2...245862002.html

[flyer85]

We really need to see the movie versions of "All in the Family" and the "Jeffersons".

[Steve4192]

We really need to see the movie versions of "All in the Family" and the "Jeffersons".

Actually, I would love to see those. I also think AITF would work pretty well if they reversed the races and hired a black guy to play Archie Bunker. That would also make it an easier sell in todays PC climate.

[Red Leader]

What about the A-Team? That needs to be made into a movie.

[KronoRed]

What about the A-Team? That needs to be made into a movie.

Pretty sure I read somewhere that they are planning one.

[Red Leader]

They need a Square Pegs movie, too. w/o Sarah Jessica Parker, though.

[pedro]

They need a Square Pegs movie, too. w/o Sarah Jessica Parker, though.

Square pegs, square pegs. Square, square pegs
Always never quite right.
I’d like it if they liked us, but I don’t think they like us.
So tell me where’s the party, and how come we weren’t invited?
One size does not fit all.

Don’t wanna wear my glasses, I have to wear my glasses.
Why are we wearing this year what they were wearing last year?
Yeah, I’d be cuter without gum in my braces.
I hope the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.

She said that she was, but we know she isn’t
And she said that she would but he hasn’t asked her.

He did - and we know it. But with whom? We can't guess it.
And they think that we’re the.

Square pegs, square pegs. Square, square pegs

Really funny - who broke the π button on my calculator?
May you be eternally grounded.
Me? Get juiced with The Cool Patrol?
Uh . . . no thanks . . . Why do you think they call it beer?
I mean...listen to him!

(sax solo)

Square pegs, square pegs. Square, square pegs

Ya know, our school colors should be black and blue.
Yeah. I mean no. Huh? What?
No. I don’t think I have a bad attitude. Why?
Suspended? Suspended for what?
But they told me it was Senior Wig Day!
Honest, I don’t even know how those worms got there.
Now, what would I do with 200 peanut butter cups?
One size does not fit all

[Red Leader]

Soooo cool. :dancingco

[flyer85]

well if they reversed the races and hired a black guy to play Archie Bunker.

That would be George Jefferson.