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Giddyup Motherfrakker

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (17)

wild-wild-west-dac.jpg

I don’t know how many reboots can be announced over the space of seven days but someone is pushing the limits. That said, if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt it is Ronald D. Moore (who by the way is totally hot). Moore is the mastermind behind the 2004 “Battlestar Galactica” series and his resume is impressive (“Caprica”, “Carnivale”, “Roswell”, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Next Generation”). Reading that list myself made me hope this remake will be set in space.

While there are no details or specifics as yet and most of us (even me) aren’t old enough to have watched the original, the show was brought about by the public’s James Bond fascination. In fact, “The Wild, Wild West” series pitch was “Bond on horseback”. Starring Robert Conrad as James West, a Secret Service agent under Ulysses S. Grant, the series ran on CBS from 1965 - 1969. Conrad’s West was joined by gadgeteer, Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin); the two characters and actors were said to have enjoyed great chemistry.

“Like Bond, West — and his adversaries — had a cache of secret gadgets that audiences loved. There were guns concealed in his shoes and sleeves, exploding billiard tables, not to mention sci-fi torpedoes disguised as dragons with radio homing devices. And like Bond, West was a bachelor who rarely seemed far from a beautiful woman…” (Los Angeles Times).

Reading about the original series and knowing how talented Ron Moore is has left me more than a little excited for this particular reboot. So say we all?









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Comments

Umm...

Why would they touch this when that movie was damn-near perfect?

[Snickers at self]

Posted by: penelope at October 6, 2010 5:19 PM

Well, this series was a decade beore my time but I still enjoyed the re-runs as a little girl, up until Will Smith got a hold of it,then I just didn't understand.

Posted by: Candy at October 6, 2010 5:23 PM

Hopefully it won't go the way of Moore's amazing Virtuality, which Fox bought and then canceled before the pilot was aired. That pilot was the best 1 episode show I've ever seen.

Posted by: The_wakeful at October 6, 2010 5:32 PM

Ron Moore is dreary. So, what, he's going to turn "The Wild Wild West" into a moody rip-off of the "Bourne" movies? No, thanks. Why not be content with the bastardization of "Trek" and "Galactica?"

Although the original "WWW" series wasn't great, it had a campy charm and real heart. Shame to see it die.

Posted by: hater at October 6, 2010 5:38 PM

So, I was watching the movie, and there it was...A giant spider.

And suddenly the reason why this movie sucked was crystal clear. A TV series would be good. Give it to USA or even ScyFy and let them market it to the niche it deserves.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at October 6, 2010 5:58 PM

The original WWW was more like the Batman TV series. Overly campy. The big bad guy was usually a dwarf (Michael Dunn) to make Robert Conrad look taller. Then again, I think Richard Kiel was in an episode, too. The main thing I remember was not being able to watch it in reruns, because it was sooooo bad.

But oh, I had a crush on Ross Martin. Don't ask me why.

Posted by: BWeaves at October 6, 2010 6:08 PM

For some reason I'm visualizing Brad Pitt and George Clooney as West and Gordon.

That's James T. West.

Posted by: BWeaves at October 6, 2010 6:10 PM

Ok,the Wild Wild west...I'll give you that one...DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE TOUCH THE ADVENTURES OF BRISCO COUNTY JUNIOR!

At least not without giving the Bruce his shot at it.

Posted by: UncleJR at October 6, 2010 6:30 PM

That horrible movie version is on AMC right now. I'm not kidding. And Kevin Kline, you hurt me inside with this role. Selma and Will, I have no qualms with you being in this horrible, horrible movie. But every time I watch Kevin Kline, I think of all the brilliant roles he's done, and the Q&A I attended that he spoke at, and I just break a little.

Of course, then I remember that I paid to see this in theaters (I was 13, ugh, the mistakes I made) and then I lose more respect for myself than I did for KK. ::sigh:: At least he got a paycheck.

Posted by: KatSings at October 6, 2010 6:47 PM

So say we all!

Posted by: Rob at October 6, 2010 6:52 PM

penelope et all. there was no movie. It was a delusion brought about by bad seafood. You will never convince me there was ever a movie.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at October 6, 2010 8:42 PM

I'm still furious about what happened to Virtuality, The_wakeful, hopefully he'll never bring another show to Fox.

I'd leave Roswell off that list, it's not exactly on par with the rest of it.

(who by the way is totally hot)

That made me chuckle.

Posted by: Uda at October 7, 2010 4:15 AM

I likewise thought Virtuality was awesome. Typical of FOX not to give it a chance.

I loved WWW as a little kid. Mr. Conrad was hella handsome, and Michael Dunn? Amazing.

The thing is, this could be a terrific premise for a movie. Checking out even half a minute of the movie that was actually made of it can tell you a lot about how fucked up Hollywood is.

Posted by: Lefty Mothersbaugh at October 7, 2010 8:00 AM

What's with all the TV western re-makes these days? I heard they are even doing "The Big Valley" FFS!

I guess "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza" cant be far behind.

Posted by: logan at October 7, 2010 9:29 AM

Ok, I am old enough to have seen the original and I can say it was one of the shows my family did not miss. I don't remember it being campy, though I have not watched it as an adult. I remember being enthralled with the gadgets, with Artemus Gordon, with the mix of history & action, with the sharp dialog (to a child's ears), and with Michael Dunn! OMG he was the best villain ever!

I'm really hoping they go all out steampunk with it, and get cool characters ala Claudia from Warehouse 13. And as long as we're fantasizing about possible actors, what about Robert Downey Jr & Christopher Lloyd, with Peter Dinklage as the recurring villain?

Posted by: Ignatz at October 7, 2010 12:44 PM

Don't let the Will Smith abortion scare you away from a re-boot.

The original series wasn't exactly campy, but it contained enough humor to let you know it didn't take itself too seriously. Great action sequences, too, especially for 60's era television. It kept me glued to the television back in the day, and my son and I are currently working our way through the series box set. And, yes, it does hold up after all these years.

Please, please, please don't let Hollywood fuck this up a second time.

Posted by: boscobarbell at October 8, 2010 10:46 AM

I'm pretty sure that those tight pants Robert Conrad wore is what made me gay.

Posted by: Drake at October 8, 2010 6:18 PM