This seems like an odd one. ABC is bringing the 2002 Jennifer Lopez movie Maid in Manhattan to the small screen. I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and I actually liked the movie (probably one of the few who did). But even I think it's a weird project to be adapting into a TV series.
The movie features Lopez as Marisa Ventura, a struggling single mom from the Bronx who works as a maid at a posh Manhattan hotel. Ralph Fiennes plays a rising politician who mistakes her for a wealthy socialite. They fall in love, yada, yada, yada. Those two stars had very little chemistry (and yet I still liked the movie).
The TV pilot will be an hour-long dramedy, written by Chad Hodge, and exec produced by Lopez, Joe Roth, and the film's producer, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.
While the lead in the TV version will still be a young Latina from the Bronx working at a Manhattan hotel, the story will focus on her relationships with her co-workers. Sounds like Ugly Betty meets Upstairs, Downstairs.
This is ABC's second stab at turning Maid into a series. They developed a script with a different writer during the 2004-05 season. The network is also developing a new take on the 1987 hit The Witches of Eastwick.
What's up with all the movies being made into TV shows? Are there no new ideas in Hollywood? (Rhetorical question, no need to answer. But, hey, I look forward to hearing your answer, so go for it.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-13-2008 @ 9:48AM
cdawg said...
well it seemed for a while that all old tv series were being made into movies, so i guess this is a nice change of pace.
thought the movie was drab, so i probably wont stick around for the show.
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8-13-2008 @ 10:54AM
Ed said...
Here's why: Anything that's unique and original gets cancelled. Jericho, Arrested Development, Journeyman... Anything with a voice is not worth listening to, unless its McDonald-ised.
The sad thing about the last five years is that even that niche of people who would watch these shows are getting disillusioned by cancellation after cancellation.
As to Maid, I got no real opinion!
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8-13-2008 @ 11:32PM
Brent McKee said...
It isn't the first (MASH leaps to mind immediately) and it won't be the last. And when you speak of there being no new ideas in Hollywood, let's just think of how many cop shows, medical shows and lawyer shows clog the schedule as opposed to shows about other professions - any other professions.
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8-25-2008 @ 2:21PM
Greg said...
This might make an interesting series, no doubt better than some of the bad shows they're bringing back.
But in answer to your rhetorical question, it does seem that there aren't many original ideas out there. When they do come up with one they don't give it a decent chance and cancel it before it can get legs. Take for example "Cane" and "Men In Trees".
I know they gave "Men In Trees" a second chance but when they go and repeatedly move it around to three or four different days and time slots, how do they expect people to continue to find it?
Cane on the other hand, which was a well written show with a star studded cast, just needed more time and more promotion. It was smart, compelling and I found myself looking forward to the next episode.
It may be the star studded cast that was the problem though. When the networks look and how much it costs them for such a cast compared to an idiotic reality show that doesn't nearly the payroll (free cast members), they opt for the cheap way out.
What ever happened to the idea of making money with quality?
Greg
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