Roundup: What happened to Da Bears, Da Movie?
Published: May 20th, 2010 | Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Bart Starr, Blues Brothers, Bob Odenkirk, Brett Favre, George Wendt, Green Bay Packers, Joe Mantegna, Mike Ditka, Richard Roeper, Robert Smigel, Ronde Barber, San Diego Chargers, Saturday Night Live, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tiki Barber, Wayne's World
“Saturday Night Live” does not have the best record for translating sketches to movies — aside from “Wayne’s World” and the “Blues Brothers.” Two others — “It’s Pat” and “Superstar” — drew about as many fans as your typical late-season Jaguars game. And let’s not even talk about “A Night at the Roxbury.”
One has to wonder though, what would have happened had a film on Da Bears Superfans been produced. Fans at this summer’s Just for Laughs festival in Chicago will get a chance to find out with a live reading of Da Bears Movie Dat Wasn’t (via the Chicago Tribune).
- “Da Bears Movie Dat Wasn’t” will be a live reading of a never-produced screenplay, to star George Wendt, Joe Mantegna, Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, Richard Roeper (as a narrator) and Mike Ditka (as himself).
- The story: Da’ Bears have been sold, and the beloved Soldier Field is to be converted into all luxury boxes for the rich. And here’s the thing: This really was a screenplay, written back in the mid-1990s by Smigel and Odenkirk for Paramount based on characters from the “Saturday Night Live” sketch, said Smigel after the announcement Tuesday. It never got made.
Really? “MacGruber” gets made, but this awesomeness does not? Really, “Saturday Night Live?” Somewhere the “Lady’s Man” gets the green light, and yet this cinematic (just guessing) masterpiece never gets made. Disappointing. Honestly, “Coneheads” … ah, you get the point.
To quote a former SNL castmember John Belushi — “Road trip!” Seriously, a movie with Mike Ditka? The Academy could not overlook this one.
Other news (these about football) making its way Around the Web on a Thursday:
- The Chargers have released details on a proposed downtown stadium (via the San Diego Union-Tribune). The current proposal by the team would put a new Chargers stadium just blocks from PetCo Park, home of the Padres. Honestly, anybody who has ever been to a game at PetCo would likely endorse this idea. The Union-Tribune has an artist’s rendering, too.
- Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had some pressure replacing legend Brett Favre in Green Bay. But Rodgers does have the endorsement of another legendary Packers quarterback, Bart Starr according to the Green Bay Press Gazette. Said Starr, “I think he is an outstanding quarterback, and they’re getting an even stronger team around him. I like his style, just everything about him. I think he executes the system, how they run their offense. I’m thrilled that they’ve gotten some offensive support around him. I think he’s going to be a great quarterback.”
- Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber told the Tampa Bay Tribune that he is wary of pursuing a career in television, in the wake of his twin brother, Tiki’s recent dubious publicity.