MovieChat Forums > The Green Hornet (1966) Discussion > STUPID ABC

STUPID ABC

posted 18 years ago by ae7641
13 replies | jump to latest

The American Broadcasting Co. were idiots because they didn't know what they had. Bruce Lee was and became big. They made a 60's "Batman" movie, but no "Green Hornet" film with the internationally famous great Bruce Lee? If they did, they would still be making money from it and would have made sequels.

A while back they tried putting the 60's tv series at movie theaters, but I read the film quality didn't look good and they tried to make it appear as if it was a movie and not from the series. No, they should have been smart enough to make a "Green Hornet" movie in the first place.

Bruce Lee is a legend hard to replace and there should have been "Green Hornet" movies with him in it. With Lee, it would be a guaranteed international hit. They couldn't lose. Now all they have is Asians not as good in martial arts and not as famous or respected as Mr. Lee was and is.

[–] srb-3 18 years ago

Not only ABC was stupid, but 20th Century Fox and Greenway Productions as well. They had a great series, and towards the end started to mess with it. Proof: Invasion From Outer Space parts 1 & 2. Avoid if you can. ABC was pushing for more stories like that, as oppossed to what was established previously. Truly sad.

The cool episodes hold up well today, while Batman and the weaker Green Hornet episodes are hopelessly dated in the 1960's.

[–] Mister-UHF 17 years ago

Agreed. About ten years ago, maybe more, FX repeated the series and that was the episode I tuned into. Ugh! A villain who looked a demented Dr. Millfloss from "Dobie Gillis" (with a name ripped off from old Fritz Lang movies) and a story that seemed to be from the reject pile of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." Soured me on the series until I started watching it again on American Life.

Note that only 26 episodes were made. Budget limitations or did ABC throw in the towel early? Batman and all of the shows inspired were all crashing by early 1967.

[–] srb-3 17 years ago

Mister UHF,

ABC threw in towel early, I think. The push was to change the format from 1/2 hour to one hour which would have been great. Sadly as I have already said, either ABC or Fox/Greenway also wanted to change tone from organised crime to supervilliany. Not good. Would Batman's campiness been far behind?

The last 2 parter "Invasion From Outer Space" parts 1 & 2. Would have made a great Batman story but makes a lame Green Hornet story. I am sorry that is what you saw.

The other 2 parters "Beautiful Dreamer" and "Corpse of the Year" are excellent.
Those deal with a spa owner who uses brainwashing on his wealthy clients; and a
phony (but deadly) Green Hornet who attacks the Daily Sentinel itself.

Watch the series on American Life. You will see that the Green Hornet fights organised crime, not supervillians. Please let me know what your faves are.

[–] blocherd 17 years ago

You do have a point! I think that does make the distinguishment between Green Hornet & Batman. As far as 'Batman's Campiness', well actually it was going to go the other way around! If CBS picked up the 'Batman' series for the fourth season, it was going to revert to its darker roots, in the vein as Dennis O'Niel and Neal Adams redefined him in the comics! They would be 1-hour episodes. However when CBS was about to purchase the show, the Batcave was bulldozed and would cost $13 Million to reconstruct so they just decided to let it go!

[–] blocherd 17 years ago

The show didn't end because of poor ratings, but its because William Dozier wanted to expand the episodes for the next season to 1 hour segments instead of the reuntine 30 minutes (That is why there were so many two-parters). ABC wouldn't give him the time space, so he just finished up the remaining episodes that was under contract and pulled the plug! ABC really did want to keep the series going, but they weren't willing to play ball with the Production Company so they just said "Screw it, Hewitt!". Also, a theatrical movie was in the planning as well to make a serious 2 hour plot if the franchise would have continued!

If this series is ever revived, I hope FOX or CW11 (formerly known as 'WB') will carry it! I would base it on the modern day Green Hornet (acknowledging the older versions)and save the Silver Age Green Hornet for the big screen presentation!

[–] Ronzique 16 years ago

To add to the position of ABC cancelling The Green Hornet, if you watched the AMC documentary on Bruce Lee's life and career in entertainment, it pointed out that the networks and movie studios in Hollywood were not ready for an Asian actor (Bruce Lee or anyone else) to become a leading role player, of sorts. That's why Bruce Lee went to Hong Kong to do those kung fu films and became a national hero in Chinese cinema. He met his opportunity to do better at the right time in the right place. And the rest is history.

[–] srb-3 18 years ago

Agreed, Spider-Lou-2.

[–] blocherd 17 years ago

Definately! When they pulled the plug on "The Munsters" the producers were going to increase the cast of the family with characters in the likeness of: The Wolfman (Lilly's Brother), The Mummy (Herman's Uncle); and frequent return visits by Charlie (Herman's Con-Artist Twin Brother), Johann (Herman's deranged cousin), and a play-mate guest appearence for Spot, in the likeness of King Kong. ABC just had to cut the wire on the show!

Since Green Hornet was a drama, it would have taken an hour to make the show work, because in 30 minutes they would have to tie it all up before the action really gets hot! I wish ABC would have given Greenway Production the time slot, and make GH a bigger name to modern audience!

[–] srb-3 17 years ago

blocherd, please remember that there are 3 2parters. I think that ABC was going to making the Green Hornet an hour.

[–] stdcs05 17 years ago

Within the past several months, I have become a fan of "The Green Hornet" as a result of watching it on American Life TV while at college. I just love this show. Van, Bruce and the rest of the cast were great!! It just stinks that ABC and Greenway could not reach a happy medium so that the show could continue running and that it would have been able to grow due to the storylines that were being produced. From what it seems, ABC was shooting itself in the foot by not letting some of their successful programming at the time to do different things and to branch out even more. If they had done so, maybe some of their shows that they had would have continued several seasons after they were cancelled or ended completely.

~Donna :)
_________________________________
"Let's talk first, you can always shoot later."
~Britt Reid/The Green Hornet (Van Williams) ~ The Green Hornet: Ace in the Hole

[–] srb-3 17 years ago

Hi Donna, I'm glad you are discovering the Green Hornet on American Life! What are your favorite episodes so far?

I love your quote!

[–] stethacantus 17 years ago

ABC did not own the rights to Green Hornet and could not release a movie. They only paid for episodes. They had nothing to do with the Batman movie. The person who owned the television and movie rights to both Batman and Green Hornet at the time was William Dozier. The only reason why they made a Batman movie was so they could get the budget for a Batcopter, Batcycle, and Batboat. Footage was shot of each batvehicle which was then banked to be edited into the regular Batman episodes. Since Green Hornet was not coming back for a second season there would be no need for a movie.

There was no way of telling that Bruce Lee would have become the international star and cult icon he would later become. However, since the show was cancelled long before enough episodes were made for syndication they were able to edit them into movies. Two were made in the 1970's, "The Green Hornet" and "Fury Of The Dragon". Both were episodes of The Green Hornet edited together with additional fight scenes from other episodes edited together to pad out the Bruce Lee moments. The only reason why they stopped making movies and pulled the films off the market was that the movie and film rights expired and reverted back to the creator of the character. He never liked the Dozier adaption and sought to prevent them from ever airing on television again.

[–] 16 years ago

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