TVSquad

Did you know they're making a big screen version of The Equalizer? It's true, and it seems like a really bad idea to me.

Not that there's anything wrong with the show (as you'll see in my review after the jump) it's just that this type of lone, ex-spy hero bit has been done to death in the past 20 years, and there's nothing really special about it anymore. And like all big screen versions of a TV show, it's not only going to miss the boat by just being BIGGER than the show (big name stars, celebrity villains, explosions, explosion, explosions), it's going to miss the point of what makes an audience love the original TV show in the first place. It's not the plot or how they did the show, it's that the show came at a certain time (in our lives and TV-wise), in a certain way, and it starred a certain person. Just look at the Charlie's Angels movies or that horrid Beverly Hillbillies movie. It's not that either of the original shows had original plots or any incredible innovation, it's that they were of a time, the way we experienced them.

So I cringe when I hear there's going to be a big screen Equalizer. Thank God we have the DVDs of the original.

One of the big regrets of my life was not seeing The Police in concert when they were together in the late 70s and early 80s. They're one of my favorite bands, and I don't really know why I never made an effort to see them live. I saw Sting live once and it was great, but it wasn't the same.

I might be able to get another chance. There are rumors swirling that the band is going to get together again this summer for a 30th anniversary tour, but before that happens they'll open the Grammy Awards on ABC on February 11. It's official now. Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland will open the show. There are also rumors that they are rehearsing in Vancouver for that world tour, though nothing has been said beyond the Grammys gig.

Now...what song should they play to open the telecast?

• On the cover: the hot guys of CSI. William Petersen isn't there though. Hmmm, I wonder how he feels about that?
• Matt Roush likes Matthew Perry in The Ron Clark Story, but isn't too thrilled with IFC's film satires.
• A Q and A with comedian and writer Laura Kightlinger.
• Another Q and A, with ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland, who now does soundtracks (he did The Equalizer). He talks about his documentary about his days with the famous band.
• In the print edition: How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor is looking for love in real life too; a guest column from Carnie Wilson (who is going on Celebrity Fit Club for reasons only she can understand); an interview with The 4400's Billy Campbell; and stuff on Lost (of course) and David Hasselhoff.