Film to Television: Lethal Weapon / Training Day / Shooter

With the crop of recently announced television series in the United States (from FOX, CBS and USA Network), an interesting number of them were based from past feature films, and I thought to have a quick run down of what caught my attention (and blogged about on my television-blog on #iliketeevee)!

WHAT-IS: "Based on the hit movie franchise of the same name, LETHAL WEAPON follows iconic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, as they work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles. From the moment the brash and impulsive MARTIN RIGGS (Clayne Crawford, “Rectify”) meets prudent, by-the-book ROGER MURTAUGH (Emmy Award nominee Damon Wayans, Sr., “My Wife and Kids,” “In Living Color”), it seems as if this partnership is doomed. But after their first case together, both realize this arrangement might just work out after all – if only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first."

I was trying to think of any "odd couple" flicks and projects, but I realized they are all one and the same, regardless of genre, time period, even nationality. The "straight-laced" guy versus the "crazy guy". (somewhat) interchangeable with genders too. Read more of my thoughts HERE on #iliketeevee.

WHAT-IS: "Based on the hit feature film, this crime thriller begins 15 years later when an idealistic young police officer is appointed to an elite squad of the LAPD and he is partnered with a seasoned yet morally ambiguous detective. Starring Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell, Training Day. Coming soon to CBS."

I have extremely fond memories of the Antoine Fuqua-directed feature film, starring Denzel Washington (the seasoned pro) and Ethan Hawke (the newbie), and had always felt the story neatly ended in the 2001 film … now it might be interesting to see how that premise can stretch out over more weekly episodes, set against a perpetual twilight color filter, and a "switch" in ethnicities of the characters. (Blogged on #iliketeevee).

WHAT-IS: "SHOOTER, a drama based on the best-selling Bob Lee Swagger novel by Stephen Hunter, Point of Impact, and the 2007 Paramount film starring Mark Wahlberg. Ryan Phillippe stars as Bob Lee Swagger, an expert marksman living in exile who is coaxed back into action after learning of a plot to kill the president. Omar Epps (“House”) plays Isaac Johnson, an ex-Marine and former commanding officer of Swagger. Now a Secret Service Agent, he solicits Swagger’s expertise for a clandestine operation that has disastrous results." (Read More Here on #iliketeevee)

I remembered the movie version primarily for actress "Kate Mara" (makes me sound like a dog, I know, right?) and not necessarily Mark (who's role is now filled in by Ryan Phillippe), so it would be somewhat interesting to see how Ryan fares here, in what could essentially be another "Quantico" whodunnit dragged out for an entire season :p

Scroll down for the trailers to the "original" films, and enjoy your TV viewings, folks!



The classic remain awesome til now, and hella tons to live up to too!



"Alonzo" is KING here. Hoping the intensity is not diluted too much in the new incarnation...