With the Arrested Development movie in development, a second Sex and the City movie in production, and rumors about a movie version of Friends, the Hollywood remake machine is shifting its focus to television. Although we have grave doubts about how well most TV shows work as movie adaptations, studio heads seldom return our phone calls, so even more adaptations are probably on the way. Not every TV show can successfully become a movie, (see: Hazzard, Dukes of) but if this trend is fated to continue, here are a few shows we'd love to see on the silver screen.
Dollhouse
Friday's episode was the lowest-rated ever, with only 2.1 million viewers. The show has 11 episodes left on its current order, and there's a chance that the end is near. The excellent bonus episode "Epitaph One" proved that the show's writers have a long-term direction in mind, but they won't have time to get there if the ratings don't improve. Like Serenity, the movie version of Joss Whedon's last show, Firefly, a Dollhouse movie could satisfy viewers who will want more if the show gets canceled. Plus, 2 million people is a pretty good opening weekend for a movie. We kind of don't want this movie to happen, because it probably means the show had been canceled, but if it does, we'll buy the popcorn.
The West Wing
Our favorite show ever wrapped up with a new president (Jimmy Smits) taking office. In the same way that the show drew material from events of the Clinton and then Bush administrations, it would be easy to adapt more recent political events into a compelling movie drama. The parallels are already there, with a president from a minority background and Josh Lyman, the character originally based on Rahm Emanuel, becoming Chief of Staff -- the same position Emanuel now holds. Bring back series creator Aaron Sorkin to write the screenplay, and we'll see you at the Oscars.
30 Rock
Tina Fey's so-funny-it-hurts brand of humor is the type that's missing from current movie comedies. Every time a new Judd Apatow or Todd Phillips movie is released, critics complain about the lack of likable female characters. Liz Lemon would silence those critics, and we would get the chance to see if a female lead who is not in a romantic comedy can draw an audience the same way the male-dominated comedies do.
The Shield
There were no winners by the time The Shield ended, which means there is still plenty of conflict left to be mined. We're sure Vic Mackey didn't suddenly resign himself to a squeaky-clean life behind a desk at ICE, and we're sure he still wants to find his family. What he wants to do to them once he does is up in the air. The only drawback here is that they killed most of the Strike Team by the time the show ended, but Ronnie will probably still be pretty pissed off if he ever gets out of jail. The Shield was a fantastic crime series, it and could be the best crime movie since The Departed.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
What if the stupidest, most objectionable characters on television were given two hours and an R rating? The mind reels at the possibilities. This would be the most offensive movie since Triumph of the Will. And we mean that in a good way.
Which TV shows would you like to see on the big screen? Let us know in the comments!







i would love to see more of the shield and i think it would be amazing if they made a movie out of it its the best show iv ever seen and they could make a few films from it really
Dr. Who would make an awesome movie. Specially if they take a steam punk approach to it.
Still hoping for a Veronica Mars movie.
It could be worse, at least they didn't suggest The Office. I've forced myself to watch it and pay attention to it, just to see what the appeal was, and I almost fell asleep while doing so.
you are kidding I hope.West Wing and Sunny in Philadelphia are a couple of the worst show ever
With the exception of Dollhouse, these suggestions are rather inane. How about a REAL classic TV series like The Invaders or better yet, Coronet Blue!
flight of the conchords movie.....hell yes
30 Rock is funny? Really?
It wasn't the Dukes' fault the movie was lousy, it was the director and casting. It could've made a fine movie. I'd love to see a real Dr Who movie hit theaters. As for recent stuff, a Glee movie might go over well.
Since this isn't a serious list, Hee-Haw, Mythbusters, Cowboys of Moo Mesa, Good Times, Captain Kangaroo.
SUPERNATURAL!!! It would be really cool!
West wing would be boring would be boring, they already did a great job with the hour they were given, no need to try and stretch it, with a new cast no less. #0 rock would just have an excuse to drop the f bomb at least once (R would be great, but a hard PG13 would guarantee sales). The rest aren't so bad, but I never watched the last one.
This list is very bad. Where is Seinfeld, Knight Rider?
This is the worst list over.Where's CSI,Knight Rider or Family Guy?
This is the worst list over.Where's CSI,Knight Rider or Family Guy?
Carnivale
surface, crossing jordan
My Name is Earl, Las Vegas, Tru Calling, Dollhouse, Serenity 2, X-Files
Lost or Smallville would be cool too
I would like to see closure of FREAKS AND GEEKS & UNDECLARED.......they would translate well into movies
urk they better not do a friends movie! It would totally ruin 10 years of good comedy...let's just leave it at that! I can't wait till the arrested development movie..its been in the works for how many years now?
Family Guy the Movie!!!
I'd like to see adaptations of both Medium and Ghost Whisperer, just so we could get some good ghost movies to scare us instead of the vomit-inducing gorefests that are so common these days.
I would love to see 30 rock.The show is really hilariou.you just gotta love it and the cast is awesome
Ncis would be a great show to bring to the big screen. It has all the quailties for the big screen. But don't change the stars. Keep the ones who are on the tv show. There is where you go wrong when you try to sometime bring tv to the big sreen. Thank you
What about Pushing Daisies? That show didn't get a chance.
Dollhouse is the only halway decent show on this list; I don't expect that it'd make much more than a halfway decent movie. The rest aren't even worthy of direct-to-video efforts. I'd rather go see an Abrams & Bettes movie...
It would be great to see a Moonlight movie
Any (or all) of the current "true-to-life" cop/agent shows would, I think, make the transition to cinema pretty well: "CSI," "NCIS," "Criminal Minds," "24." I'd also like to see a feature film version of "The Sopranos"---if not a follow-up to the infamous final episode (Did Tony really get whacked? If so, did he die, or was he left a vegetable like crime boss Carlo Gambino?), then maybe a prequel, an alternate timeline, or a next-generation sort of thing.
How can BOSTON LEGAL be revived??? Many of us miss it so much. The wit! The topics! The outrageous personalities and the more normal ones. Wait, I cannot think of any.
The Shield needs to be made, Just to wrap up all the loose ends it left.
without a doubt, if done well the shield would be a phenomenal movie!!!
I want to see SUPERNATURAL. The Winchester boys are awesome on the small screen; they would be phenomenal on the big screen and Jensen and Jared would be 30ft tall - radical!
I want to see SUPERNATURAL. The Winchester boys are awesome on the small screen; they would be phenomenal on the big screen and Jensen and Jared would be 30ft tall - radical!
Moonlight!
My granddaughters and myself would love more story of our favorite show ever Moonlight. The network were nuts to end this show the way they did. There are so many unanswered questions!!!!!!!!!
The answer is obvious! THE TIME TUNNEL. Duh! I pretty certain fans of Stargate would stand in mile long lines to see that one.
I miss moonlight, which left an unended story. Please give us a happy ending, TV or movie. Older people related to moonlight instead of the bloody, sexual vampire series out now.
I just knew that because this article was written by a 'critic' and not us viewers that the unwatched 30rock would be on this list. If this not-so-funny tv show was made into a movie it would be lucky to pull in 3 million dollars which (for you dumbdowners) is very very bad.
30 Rock has the cast and the comedy to satisfy any adult hunger for really funny stuff! You almost have to see it every week to get it, but again and again I come away from that show with tears in my eyes!!!!
The only one I would see is a Dollhouse movie...and maybe The Shield.
Moonlight!
Don't get me wrong, because I liked Moonlight. But don't have already enough vampire movies.
FRIENDS!,FRIENDS!,FRIENDS!,FRIENDS!,PLEASE!
Did someone on the Moonlight forum post a link to this article or something?
Moonlight!
Absolutely Moonlight! The entire cast had a chemistry that is only matched every few years on a show. It was staked before it's time and Moonlight fans world wide deserve to have the story continued!!!!!!
Definitely Moonlight. All the shows you have listed don't hold a candle to what Moonlight has. The cast works so well together, the production crew kicked butt, the creative team did wonders. . .and yet, this incredible show was marred by a writers strike but managed to keep the numbers it had before the strike, not to mention the awards it has won since it's cancellation.
I definitely have to say Moonlight, especially with the vampire craze going strong. It was the best vampire TV show ever and it was unexpectedly canceled way before its time. Moonlight had the best cast, crew, writers, sets and wardrobe that I ever saw. Its cast had the most amazing chemistry and the music was perfect. There are still way to many stories to tell and too many unanswered questions. The romance between Mick and Beth was just starting and I really need to know what happened after the door closed.
Moonlight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!