Jack's Cast Playing Modern-Day Roles?

[David47Jens]

As anyone following the topic "Rochester/WC Fields" has seen, we've had a couple of really bizarre suggested re-castings of Eddie Anderson in more recent roles. ("Eddie Anderson as... SHAFT" indeed, Laura! )

It got me to thinking... One hears of comparisons between Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks, right? (In fact, "You've Got Mail" was loosely based on an old Stewart flick.) Well, what if a young Jimmy Stewart were somehow able to play one or more of Tom Hanks' characters instead?

In that spirit, I'd like to put forth a challenge to anyone inclined to play along. Would anyone like to suggest one or more of Jack's regulars (at any age) in modern-day movie or TV roles? This isn't a contest, so feel free to suggest serious substitutions (Phil and Dennis especially would be versatile enough to play a variety of characters, in my opinion.) or ludicrous ones, such as "The Godfather," re-done with Dennis playing Michael Corleone, and with Jack himself cast as Don Vito!

I'll start: How about Jack replacing Mel Brooks as the lead character in 1983's "To Be or Not to Be?"

[Gerry O.]

It's too bad that Jack didn't live long enough to be around for the "Celebrity Guest Star" craze on recent TV sitcoms. Shows like "Will and Grace", "Friends" and "Mad About You" are/were famous for casting famous stars in occassional or even semi-regular "guest" supporting roles (relatives, bosses, neighbors, etc.). With this type of format, an aging/elderly Jack could still have made TV acting appearances without having to endure the rigors of starring in a weekly TV series on a regular basis.

[LLeff]

In that spirit, I'd like to put forth a challenge to anyone inclined to play along. Would anyone like to suggest one or more of Jack's regulars (at any age) in modern-day movie or TV roles?

If you look back in the chats, there are a couple instances where we riffed on recasting "Star Trek" (the original and Next Generation) with Benny characters (extensive discussion on whether Scotty should be played by Rochester--since he fixed the Maxwell--or Dennis). There was also an incredibly memorable evening when we recast Pulp Fiction with Benny characters. As best as I recall:

Vincent Vega - Jack
Jules - Rochester
Mia Wallace - Mary
Butch - Phil
Tulip - Alice Faye
Marcellis Wallace - Don
Zed and pawnshop guy - Lum and Abner guest shot

We had a lot of discussion on where to put Dennis. But I think the best suggestion put forward was that he was Brad ("Because of the metric system?). Actually that I'm thinking about it now, he'd also be funny as the Wolf.

[David47Jens]

There was also an incredibly memorable evening when we recast Pulp Fiction with Benny characters. As best as I recall:
Vincent Vega - Jack
Jules - Rochester
Mia Wallace - Mary
Butch - Phil
Tulip - Alice Faye
Marcellis Wallace - Don
Zed and pawnshop guy - Lum and Abner guest shot

We had a lot of discussion on where to put Dennis. But I think the best suggestion put forward was that he was Brett ("Because of the metric system?"). Actually that I'm thinking about it now, he'd also be funny as the Wolf.

Pulp Fiction, huh? Terrific, especially because I just saw it (again) recently, so it's fresh in my mind. Of course, Phil would be perfect as the "pug," Butch!!! And personally, I prefer Dennis as the ultra-competent Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe, since it's so out-of-step with his Benny show persona. My replacement suggestion for Brett? How about Andy Devine? Can you imagine him wheezing out lines like "Because of the metric system?"

Here's a few additional roles, as filled by Benny regulars and semi-regulars:

Captain Koons - Mel Blanc
Young Butch - Joe Besser
Lance (the drug dealer) - Ronald Colman
Jody (his wife) - Benita Colman
"Buddy Holly" (the waiter) - Frank Nelson
Jimmie Dimmick - Artie Auerbach
Pumpkin/"Ringo" - George Burns
Yolanda/"Honey Bunny" - Gracie Allen

And last, but certainly not least... Fred Allen as The Gimp! Face fully covered, and no spoken lines... ! Jack would just love it!

Hmmm... One more addition. He wasn't an actor, nor did he ever appear on the Jack Benny program, but I'd like to nominate none other than John Cahill for the role of Marvin! (Think about it. )

Ah, I'll never view that movie the same way again... *sigh*

[LLeff]

Captain Koons - Mel Blanc

I can just hear him telling about hiding the watch.

Jimmie Dimmick - Artie Auerbach

Hoo hoo hoo...do you see a sign on my lawn that says...

And last, but certainly not least... Fred Allen as The Gimp! Face fully covered, and no spoken lines... ! Jack would just love it!

And Phil would get to punch him out.

Hmmm... One more addition. He wasn't an actor, nor did he ever appear on the Jack Benny program, but I'd like to nominate none other than John Cahill for the role of Marvin! (Think about it. )

My goodness...what a deeply inside Benny joke...and the prospect that made me laugh the loudest.

Check out the big brain on David...

[David47Jens]

Captain Koons - Mel Blanc

I can just hear him telling about hiding the watch.

Jimmie Dimmick - Artie Auerbach

Hoo hoo hoo...do you see a sign on my lawn that says...

And last, but certainly not least... Fred Allen as The Gimp! Face fully covered, and no spoken lines... ! Jack would just love it!

And Phil would get to punch him out.

Hmmm... One more addition. He wasn't an actor, nor did he ever appear on the Jack Benny program, but I'd like to nominate none other than John Cahill for the role of Marvin! (Think about it. )

My goodness...what a deeply inside Benny joke...and the prospect that made me laugh the loudest.

Check out the big brain on David...

You seem to have locked in on what I was thinking when I suggested those actors. (Although Jack might take umbrage that Phil got to hit Fred.) And can't you just see Benita Colman discussing her piercings?!?

[David47Jens]

Suggested cast for STAR WARS (Episodes 4-6)

Luke Skywalker - Dennis Day
Princess Leia - Mary Livingstone (No surprise there. )
Han Solo - Phil Harris
Lando Calrissian - Rochester (No surprise there, either, sorry.)
Obi-Wan Kenobi - George Burns (The later, older George, that is, since we can make up the rules as we go along!)
Chewbacca - Andy Devine (Hey, that voice... )
C3PO - Frank Nelson
R2D2 - Mel Blanc (After all, if he can do the Maxwell... )
Darth Vader - Fred Allen (Although it'd be a kick to hear Roch's voice emanating from that helmet... )

And as Yoda, none other than Jack himself. I can picture it now: "Thirty-nine I only am!"

I've also cast Don Wilson as The Emperor. Those less kind might suggest he play Jabba the Hutt, but can't you just imagine Fred Allen trying to lift Don over his head near the end of Return of the Jedi?

So, how'd I do, considering the fact that I've never sat through an entire Star Wars film?

[shimp scrampi]

Non-traditional casting - Jack and Mary as George and Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Jack: Well, I heard you were the queen of the harpies.
Mary: Oh, shut up!

[Brad from Georgia]

Jack: "Just don't ask Phil about the metric system. The only unit of measurement HE knows is a fifth."

[Clyde]

Hmmm....well....first of all, let me start this by saying I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Instead of counting sheep, I tossed around several ideas of some shows. Keeping in mind this is purely a fantasy, here we go with some of my ideas:

"The Hollywood Squares Special"
Hosted by Don Wilson
Special celebrity contestants, Jack Benny v Fred Allen
The panel, starting in the upper left corner where Wally Cox sat:
Dennis Day, followed by Gertrude Gearshift and then Mabel Flapsaddle.
The center row, left to right: Frank Nelson, Phil in the center square, and then Mary.
The lower row: Andy Devine, Rochester and Mel Blanc.

"The Bob Newhart Show"
Dr. Bob Hartley: Jack Benny
Emily, his wife, played by Suzanne Pleshette: Mary Livingstone
Howard, the ditzy neighbor and an airline pilot: Don Wilson
The Receptionist, played by Marcia Wallace: Iris Adrian
Jerry, the dentist: Phil Harris
Assorted patients: Dennis Day, Rochester, Phil Harris, et al

"The Bob Newhart Show"
(Innkeepers in Vt)
Jack and Mary in the lead roles.
Larry, Darryl and Darryl: Phil, Don and Dennis
Stefanie: Iris Adrian
Her beau (Michael?): Mr. Kitzel

"Dallas"
Jock and Ellie Ewing: Jack and Mary
JR: Phil Harris
Bobby: Dennis Day
JR's wife: Sandra Gould
Bobby's wife: Bea Benaderet
Ray Krebbs: Rochester
Charlene Tilton's character: Iris Adrian

"The Gilmore Girls"
changed to "The Gilmore Boys"

Jack and Mary as Richard and Emily Gilmore
Phil as their free-spirited son (Loreli)
Don as Phil's son (Rory)
Iris Adrian as Phil's love interest (Luke)
Mel Blanc at the front desk of the inn (Michel)

"Taxi"
Jack in the Judd Hirsch role
Frank Nelson as Louie DePalma
Mary as Elaine
Phil as Bobby
Dennis as Tony
Mr. Kitzel as Latka
Iris Adrian as Latka's love interest (Hey, at least I can understand HER!)

So there ya go. My humble offerings to this thread.

Tonight....sominex.

[LLeff]

Dennis Day as Timothy Treadwell in "Grizzly Man"

[David47Jens]

If you look back in the chats, there are a couple instances where we riffed on recasting "Star Trek" (the original and Next Generation) with Benny characters (extensive discussion on whether Scotty should be played by Rochester--since he fixed the Maxwell--or Dennis).

Hm. I missed that chat, but the above quote got me to thinking.

I don't know whose name came up for the role of Dr. McCoy; my stab-in-the-dark guess would be Phil, who certainly seemed like the type who'd want to "play doctor." But I'd like to nominate Eddie Anderson, or, more specifically, Rochester.

Why? Well, the "real" Dr. McCoy was well-known for saying things like "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer," "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic," "I'm a doctor, not a coal miner," "...not an engineer," "...not a moon shuttle conductor," etc.

So I can just hear Rochester now, saying "Sure, I'm a doctor. But with what Mr. Benny pays me, I'm also a mechanic. And a bricklayer. And a coal miner. And an engineer..." ad infinitum.

And while I'm at it, my choice for the reserved, intelligent, always logical Mr. Spock would have to be Dennis Day!

[bboswell]

I would suggest we recast "The Simpsons," but since it is a cartoon, all the voices would probably have to be done by Mel Blanc.

[Brad]

The "Jack Benny" cast in "Pulp Fiction?"

That is just....wrong.

I'm trying to get the Marcellus/Don Wilson image out of my mind, thank you very much.

Or Jack hitting Don with his car, Don looking at Jack and saying "mother......".

Let's never speak of this thread again.

[David47Jens]

The "Jack Benny" cast in "Pulp Fiction?"

That is just....wrong.

I'm trying to get the Marcellus/Don Wilson image out of my mind, thank you very much.

Or Jack hitting Don with his car, Don looking at Jack and saying "mother......".

Let's never speak of this thread again.

And Benita Colman discussing her piercings. Let's not forget Benita Colman discussing her piercings.