TV Series based on movies that preceded them?

[Orrex]

Off the top of my head, M*A*S*H* and the short-lived Starman come to mind.

Name a few others.

[ohiosmith]

1. The Adventures of Superman, Lois and Clark, Smallville.

[skygazer]

2. Iffy at best

I would say all of those (and the movies) were inspired by the comic books.

[ohiosmith]

3. And Mash was inspired by a novel.

[skygazer]

4. Excellent point

Which leads me to wonder when the last truly original idea came along.

[ohiosmith]

10. 321 BC

[Orrex]

11. But the series derived more from the film than the books

No one went to 20th Century Fox and said "We have a great idea for a comedy show based on a series of books that you may have heard of." The show would not have existed if not for the film, so that's why I identify it as based on the movie.

But honestly I'm really not interested in reaching the ur-source of all fiction here--it was a light-hearted question intended to provoke a wandering down pop culture's memory lane!

[Orrex]

5. I have to side with Skygazer, but...

You're right about The Adventures of Superman, but the other two are based on the comic rather than an antecedent film.

[ohiosmith]

8. OK for you then. I'm not gonna play no more.

[ceile]

6. Buffy n/t

[deucemagnet]

7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. n/t

[deucemagnet]

9. Stargate n/t

[Bossy Monkey]

12. Alice, Paper Moon, Planet of the Apes, Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

Used to be bazillions of them, but memory draws a merciful curtain

[Orrex]

19. Nice!

I didn't know about Alice, but I should have thought of the other two.

[ceile]

13. Enemy Mine?

I think that's what it was called. Kind of a sci-fi show w/ Mandy Patinkin....

[Orrex]

16. Alien Nation--good call! (nt)

[ceile]

18. Yes, that one!

[Deja Q]

14. James Bond

(a book series, with 'Casino Royale' adapted by CBS in 1957... the UK produced a successful run of movies, starting with "Dr. No", in 1962)

[Orrex]

17. Wait, I'm confused

Was there a TV series based on the films (either in the US or UK)?

But you raise a tricky issue: a tv series based on a string of films which are themselves based on a series of novels is IMO different from a tv series based on a single film that was a derivation of a series of novels.

Gosh gosh gosh. This is a more intricate matter than I'd anticipated!

[Orrex]

15. Good calls on Stargate and Buffy.

I don't/didn't watch either of them, so they slipped my mind.

[ceile]

20. The Odd Couple!

Just saw the movie for the first time last week. Loved it!

[Orrex]

22. Ooh! Bonus points for being a series based on a film based on a play

Nicely done!

[ceile]

24. Sweet! n/t

[CBGLuthier]

21. Flipper, Courtship of Eddie's Father, Stargate

And yes, Eddie's father was also a book first, but TV producers don't read, they watch for popular movies to adapt. :-)

[Ohio Joe]

26. oop's, you got Eddie before me

[Ohio Joe]

23. The Courtship of Eddies Father - Ghost and Mrs. Muir

I think they were both movies first.

[ceile]

25. Working Girl

I saw a Sandra Bullock bio-type-thingy the other day and she did a series in 1990(?) based on that Melanie Griffith movie. Bad, very bad.

[Orrex]

30. Oh, ick. I remember that one.

I think that the network yanked it halfway through the first airing of the pilot.

[sarge43]

27. Flash Gordon

[VOX]

28. Delta House (Animal House), Alias Smith & Jones (Butch Cassidy)...

and "The Bad News Bears," from the movie of the same title.

On edit: Although "Alias Smith & Jones" did not use the specific character names from "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," it is nevertheless an overtly obvious influence.

[Orrex]

29. Wow--good ones

I sort of remember Delta House, and who could forget The Bad News Bears as a vehicle for Meeno Peluce?!?

[mockmonkey]

31. Daktari

"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and "Logan's Run"

[RedStateShame]

32. Friday the 13th: The Series

Of course, it had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the storyline of the movies--no Jason Voorhes, no Crystal Lake, nothing--but who the hell would watch a show called "Satan's Antique Shop?"

And then, there's the Nightmare on Elm Street show, I think it was called "Freddy's Nightmares," where the gloved one attacked people in their sleep with nobody retaliating against him. Apparently, not everyone's parents were in on killing the guy.

These syndicate turds were both during my childhood, when I could have been reading more.

[RedStateShame]

33. Dupe. My bad

[calico1]

34. Fame, My Big Fat Greek...what ever it was

based on the movie but they had different names. Strange.

My favorite of all time is The Odd Couple. I think the casting was perfect. The TV pair was as good as the movie pair. They really did the movie justice and this is something you rarely see. All fine actors. Sadly, only Jack Klugman is still living...the one I always thought would go first because of his throat cancer.

[skygazer]

35. Planet of the Apes

See what happens when you log off and start cleaning? You think of answers to DU questions! :bounce: