Who would you cast in a modern JB movie?

[grittys457]

Kevin Spacey popped into my head for Jack.

I'm too tired to come up with the rest of the cast so come up with some for me.

[JohnM]

Ha, good call. He would make a good Jack. Someone mentioned Kelsey Grammer before - he would be OK too, but to me he is too identified with the Frasier character.

How about Julia Louis-Dreyfuss as Mary. Andy Richter as Don Wilson. Or, maybe Joel Murray.

[Mister Kitzel]

When Jim Carrey played Andy Kaufman in Man In The Moon all I could see on screen was Jim Carrey. He may have wanted the part more than anyone else and immersed himself in Kaufman's life, but he was not the best person to portray Kaufman. Jim Carrey was a big name in Hollywood who could bring patrons into theaters. Depending on how a movie would be released, television or theaters, a big name actor might trump a realistic choice to play Jack Benny.

Lena Horne nixed Janet Jackson's hopes of portraying Horne in a movie. Ms. Horne did not want to be represented by someone that she found unladylike. This was after the Super Bowl show with the planned "wardrobe malfunction." Whoever plays Jack Benny could have such baggage that the Benny faithful would not approve.

It is easy to see Kevin Spacey as a possible choice to play Jack Benny because of his physical appearance. How about Illeana Douglas as Mary?

I would rather see a good cast of unknowns that successfully recreate the feel of the original cast than famous people whose purpose is to bring hype at the cost of accurate portrayals. At this moment in Hollywood history Charlie Sheen could be cast in any role and people would watch just to see Charlie Sheen regardless of his character's name.

[Stallone]

Kevin Spacey, definitely. I've always felt for years he'd be the best pick. Can't really think of anyone else as Jack.

[Mister Kitzel]

There could be a trap in this for us. If we want Kevin Spacey, then all we will see is Kevin Spacey and not Jack Benny.

[Jack Benny]

I think a TV show about the inner workings of the Benny show and private lives of the cast would be more interesting than a movie. I would set the series in 1950 with jack getting ready for his first forays into television, while still being able to focus on his radio cast and show as well. I would have a disclaimer at the beginning that would state the show was based on the lives of Benny and his cast but some events would be time shifted for dramatic purposes. Story arcs focusing on Mary's "Mike fright," and "Mel Blanc's nearly fatal auto accident would be great to have woven into the first couple of seasons, even though in reality Mel's accident happened a decade later. The turmoil caused by Phil leaving the show, and cast reaction to Phil's "drive by" 2 minute performances could be an ongoing undercurrent in the first few seasons. Stories about the writing sessions with the four writers and Jack could be fun, and the drama of deciding which of the radio writers and cast would make the jump into television and which folks wouldn't make the cut could be entertaining.

[Moose Hatrack]

TV show is a great idea. Many character roles would have to be filled for the stars who did guest shots on Jack's show. Bing, Bob, George, Jimmy... even Fred MacMurray. It would be interesting to sew the show together so that we saw the actual archived show footage when the script called for the original production.

[mrdj]

I mentioned in a similar post a couple of years ago that I thought Greg Kinnear might make a good Jack. Nothing he's done has changed my mind. He can go from Jack Kennedy to Jack Benny.

[Mister Kitzel]

Greg Kinnear never crossed my mind, but he could do it.