Jack Benny life movie. Will it ever happen???

[midwave]

Can I play George Burns! I'm short, thinning hair, under 40, and I can be a pain in the behind if need be

[LLeff]

Four words (although it's a bit late to do this)...

Don Wilson............Ed McMahon.

Which, of course, takes you to the concept (concept only now) of Johnny Carson as Jack, but I think if you put Johnny and Ed together, then you'd never forget that they're Johnny and Ed and not Jack and Don.

[David47Jens]

Four words (although it's a bit late to do this)...

Don Wilson............Ed McMahon.

Which, of course, takes you to the concept (concept only now) of Johnny Carson as Jack, but I think if you put Johnny and Ed together, then you'd never forget that they're Johnny and Ed and not Jack and Don.

Hey, now here's a thought (The following is from a Salon article about Johnny Carson by Jack Boulware):

In his 1998 autobiography "For Laughing Out Loud," Ed McMahon recalls walking into Carson's office, to find Johnny standing at the window, looking out in silence. Finally he turned and asked McMahon where he went to school.

"Catholic University," McMahon answered. "In Washington, D.C. I studied speech and drama."

Carson replied that was very interesting, and thanked him for coming by. McMahon left confused, thinking perhaps he'd blown it, and didn't hear anything for three weeks, until the show's producer called and told him he will be wearing suits on the show to emphasize his size. He realized he got the job.

I should add, for those who don't already know it, that the above anecdote refers to Carson hiring McMahon in 1958 for the show "Who Do You Trust?" a few years before Johnny landed the coveted Tonight Show gig...

Anyway, here's my thought: It's a known fact that Johnny admired and emulated Jack Benny, especially in the earlier days of Carson's career. I wonder (thanks to Laura's "casting suggestion" of McMahon as Don Wilson) if Carson was influenced by the Benny/Wilson connection when he picked McMahon to be his own sidekick. It's doubtful Carson chose McMahon merely on the strength of the above-quoted "job interview," after all. And the line about McMahon wearing suits "to emphasize his size" just makes me more inclined to suspect that the similarities between Ed & Don were a major factor in Carson's decision!

In fact, now that I think of it, it's also in the realm of possibility that Carson's on-the-air portrayal of Doc Severinsen and his band members as a bunch of rowdy party boys has roots in the Jack Benny Program's scripted portrayals of Phil Harris and his orchestra!

Thoughts, anybody?

[ZEjackbennykid]

Good news folks,
this monday i watched opera ( "everyone get's a free car" woman) and she had simon cowell on and he introduced a new group called IL DIVO coniting of 4 men from different parts of the world, one from america. I think I have found ladies and gentlemen my movies Sportsman Quartetet :

[Maxwell]

Four words (although it's a bit late to do this)...

Don Wilson............Ed McMahon.

[Incredible snippage]

It's a known fact that Johnny admired and emulated Jack Benny, especially in the earlier days of Carson's career. I wonder (thanks to Laura's "casting suggestion" of McMahon as Don Wilson) if Carson was influenced by the Benny/Wilson connection when he picked McMahon to be his own sidekick. It's doubtful Carson chose McMahon merely on the strength of the above-quoted "job interview," after all. And the line about McMahon wearing suits "to emphasize his size" just makes me more inclined to suspect that the similarities between Ed & Don were a major factor in Carson's decision!

In fact, now that I think of it, it's also in the realm of possibility that Carson's on-the-air portrayal of Doc Severinsen and his band members as a bunch of rowdy party boys has roots in the Jack Benny Program's scripted portrayals of Phil Harris and his orchestra!

Thoughts, anybody?

You know, I never thought of that before, but you may be on to something there. Even before Doc Severinson, Johnny had similar interplay with both of Doc's predecessors, Skitch Henderson and Milton DeLugg, certainly more so than Steve Allen had with Gene Rayburn and Henderson or Jack Paar with Hugh Downs and Jose Melis. And of the three teams, only Carson's had the overweight announcer. (Can I nominate myself for the role of Don? I don't have the mellifluous voice, but I certianly have the girth.)

[shimp scrampi]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good news folks,
this monday i watched opera ( "everyone get's a free car" woman) and she had simon cowell on and he introduced a new group called IL DIVO

Hey ZE did you see Phil Harris at that opera?

Seriously, glad you found your ideal sportsmen! Of course, selling cigarettes quartet style is a much tougher job these days. Make sure they're up to the challenge.

[bboswell]

Of course, selling cigarettes quartet style is a much tougher job these days. Make sure they're up to the challenge.

hehehe, That reminds me of hearing Mel Blanc as Tweetie Bird sing the commercial for Lucky Strike on one of the shows. Wouldn't that raise a few eyebrows today!

I'm afraid it's illegal for Tweetie to sell cigarettes nowadays too. Our options are getting slimmer. Is there a law against square-dancing cigs yet? Let's act quickly!

[shimp scrampi]

hehehe, That reminds me of hearing Mel Blanc as Tweetie Bird sing the commercial for Lucky Strike on one of the shows. Wouldn't that raise a few eyebrows today!

Not to mention it would take a year and a dozen lawyers to negotiate the character license deal on that, even if it were possible.

Reminds me of a Benny bit that threw me for a loop recently, I was listening to a show (I *think* it is the Dorothy Kirsten 4/25/48 'oh shut up' show) where Jack runs into Mel (as himself) on the street and Mel asks if there is a bit for him on the show this week, and Jack replies there isn't one. A real delightful head-scratcher throwaway! But what shocked me is hearing Mel totally unaltered, speaking in what I presume is his normal speaking voice. I assumed, wrongly, that it was more like the Christmas clerk than it really is!

[Andy Klein]

Am I the only one who thinks that Kevin Spacey is the perfect one to play JB?

His normal affect is already pretty close to the JB character. Certainly a lot more than it is like Bobby Darin.

He's also a pretty good age for the radio years.

And the bonus is: he's a really great actor.

[ZEjackbennykid]

Am I the only one who thinks that Kevin Spacey is the perfect one to play JB?

His normal affect is already pretty close to the JB character. Certainly a lot more than it is like Bobby Darin.

He's also a pretty good age for the radio years.

And the bonus is: he's a really great actor.

Andy Klein, whoever you are, your a genius. as the person to begin this topic I must say among all suggestions I like yours a lot. Spacey is a stupendous idea. and to all you benny fans out there, the script I promised you all I would write is well under way. I am just about up to where Jack will ask Sadie (aka Mary) to marry him. The film will deal with the form of Sunday Nights at 7 telling the story through both Jack and Joan's view. It will also deal with the small yet unfortunate tradgedies in his life (ex. Albert Chaperau) but over all it's the story of one of the nicest men in hollywood.

[ZEjackbennykid]

new casting idea
Mel Brooks as jacks father. I can picture him saying to jack speaking about someone that never heard of his son" don't worry son he was just an old jew"

[ZEjackbennykid]

hey everybody, i've been on a bit of a break. recently i went to the muesem of radio & tv and saw jacks first tv show and the only benny tv apperance of phil harris, this gives me more to work with on the script

[WaltP]

Any thoughts on Greg Kinnear as Jack?

Interesting. He did a good job as Bob "Col. Hogan" Crane.

[Roman]

I hope they never do a movie on Jack's life. Knowing Hollywood, they'd feel the need to "sex" up the story with tales of Jack's "wild days" and I'm sure they'd add all sorts of fictitious moments to enliven the narrative. The last thing I want to see is a mopey dour tour exploring the "dark side" of Jack Benny.

[Alan]

I hope they never do a movie on Jack's life. Knowing Hollywood, they'd feel the need to "sex" up the story with tales of Jack's "wild days" and I'm sure they'd add all sorts of fictitious moments to enliven the narrative. The last thing I want to see is a mopey dour tour exploring the "dark side" of Jack Benny.

Well, JB did have a lifelong blood-feud with Fred Allen and he was hated by many hollywood stars (apparently, Ronald Colman couldn't even stand the sight of him). Also, he had to be replaced by Orson Wells for 5 straight weeks cuz he was in rehab.......

Just in case someone who doesn't know about Jack Benny reads this post: My comments are just a joke, i'm being sarcastic cuz Jack Benny didn't really have dramatic negative traits.