“Cowboy Bebop” was one of my first Adult Swim cartoon addictions. I’ve seen every episode and love watching them when AS shows them every now and again. Seeing how it’s one of my favorites, I’m not exactly thrilled that Fox may be developing a live action remake.

I understand that other anime remakes are in production and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (cartoon version that is) did well, so I suppose it sounds like a viable proposition. But maybe we should wait to see if Leonardo DiCaprio’s Akira goes over well first? Though even then, I still rather them just put out another anime movie.

Source: Firstshowing.net

“Friends” is the next tv show up on the film adaptation block. I say, no thanks. The world doesn’t need to see six neurotic New Yorkers on the big screen. Wasn’t ten seasons enough?

This news really got me thinking about the value of movies based on tv shows. Are they ever good (or necessary)? I definitely could have lived without the Sex and the City movie. Get Smart didn’t get such good reviews, so there’s more evidence against the notion. Can you even name five decent films in this category?

I’m racking my brain and these are the only shows I could find:

Superman: The Movie (1978)
The Muppet Movie (1980)

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) (‘Khan’ is the best sequel ever!!!)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
Batman (1989)

The Fugitive (1993)

Top Animated Adaptations:
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Care Bears Movie (1985)
The Jetsons: The Movie (1990)

I had to really stretch the tv show definition. Did I miss anything? Leave a comment with whatever’s missing from the list.

The last episode of “The Wire” ever aired yesterday. And I have to say, it was pretty satisfying without wrapping up every storyline in a neat little bow.

Spoiler Alert!!
That big fat lying newspaper man, Scott Templeton got called out, though not entirely punished for his lies. Slim Charles handled some bizness. And Marlo had to give up the crown.

Unfortunately, Herc, who got canned for losing an undercover camcorder, is still snitching to Leavey. Why give the number of a drug dealer that you wanna bring down (aka Marlo) to the cops and then at the same time sabotage the case in court by tattling to said drug dealer’s lawyer?! That character is a tool shed.

I shed a single tear for the end of “natural po-lice” McNulty. What’s he gonna do now, huh?

UPDATE: Get answers and thoughts of the finale from the horse’s mouth (David Simon) on Salon. Follow the speculation and episode convo at Slate for a laugh as well.

During the WGA strike last fall, the online series “quarterlife” got upgraded to network television. The show focuses on a group of twentysomethings who are struggling to find their place in the world. Oh and the twist is that they are blogging about each other and getting into fights. The pilot episode premiered last Tuesday to extremely low ratings, and as such, NBC downgraded it to Bravo.

I’m not all that surprised, since the plotlines and low production design reminds me of MTV’s “Undressed”. Remember that show? Check this youtube clip to jog your memory. Quite a few young actors got their skills, or lack thereof, on that cheaply produced college soap opera. Many of them got gigs on the WB/CW, UPN, and sometimes movies.

Dan from Pajiba/Willamette Weekly attempt’s to explain the lack of viewers last week: “But here’s the second problem: Quarterlife was anything but specific; it was, in fact, as generic and broad-based within its setup as possible. It’s about a group of kids whose lives are chronicled online in blog and video format, which means every person you know under 30 could, in some conceivable way, relate to the series’ concept. And they still didn’t watch.”

I totally agree with Dan’s assessment. I don’t think it was the segments made with consumer dv camcorders that alienated viewers. It really didn’t work because it was just boring and lame.