We tried this last week, and it was a lot of fun, so I’m continuing to test this as a regular Thursday feature. We take a book to adapt to TV or film — or a movie or TV show to remake — and we recast it with actors working today.
It’s another great 80s show this time: Simon & Simon, the 1981-8 CBS dramedy detective series about two brothers, Rick and A.J., who run a PI agency in San Diego.
Gerald McRaney played Rick, the older brother: he’s an ex-Marine Vietnam vet and a bit rough-and-tumble; he drives a pickup truck, wears a cowboy hat, and is generally the life of the party. Jameson Parker was A.J., who is smoother and more sophisticated, likes books and wine, dresses fashionably, and drives a Camaro. Mary Carver played their mother, Cecilia, who was pretty spunky and got into plenty of trouble of her own. And Tim Reid played Downtown Brown, a police detective who sometimes threw work the boys’ way, and sometimes helped them out on cases.
I have two dream casts — one if a movie stuck with the series’ dramedy spin, and one if it went more goofy.
Dramedy dream cast:
Rick: Josh Lucas
A.J.: Matthew Fox
Cecilia: Judi Dench
Downtown Brown: Don Cheadle
Goofy dream cast:
Rick: Luke Wilson
A.J.: Owen Wilson
Cecilia: Christine Baranski
Downtown Brown: Chris Rock
Who would you cast? Have fun!
This one had a catchy theme, too (though one without lyrics to get stuck in your head all day):
The quick-fire comedy answer is Dr.Phil and David Spade, however…
Rick: Nathan Fillion
AJ: Jason Bateman
Cecilia: Blythe Danner
Brown: Mos Def
Next up, The Rockford files re-cast…David Boreanaz in a plaid jacket and chest high trousers!
I forgot to add that MaryAnn’s inclusion of Owen Wilson makes me think of his turn in “The Big Bounce” which had a very “updated” Magnum PI vibe to it (even though it wasn’t very good) which, as we sad 30ish folk know, was the lead in for Simon & Simon for many years.
Rick: Woody Harrelson
A.J.: Vince Vaughn
Cecilia: Bea Arthur
Downtown Brown: Can’t beat Don Cheadle
Though I think the brotherly pairing of Fillion and Bateman is a hell of an idea.
Yes! All much better than mine.
Rick: Nathan Fillion/Adam Baldwin (let there be twins!)
A.J.: Sean Maher
Cecelia: Bonnie Bartlett
Downtown Brown: Ron Glass (this would be a dignified Downtown Brown, you know)
Also, you can watch eps of S&S at Hulu! I stumbled across them when I checked out the site after watching Dr. Horrible.
http://www.hulu.com/simon-and-simon
You forgot about Janet and Myron!!!
Dramedy dream cast:
Rick: Josh Brolin
A.J.: Jared Leto
Cecilia: Helen Mirren
Downtown Brown: Samuel L. Jackson
Goofy dream cast:
Rick: Bruce Campbell
A.J.: David Hyde Pierce
Cecilia: Holly Hunter
Downtown Brown: Samuel L. Jackson