The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

[That-Guy]

Any fans of this early 90's gem?

Just picked up the complete series from Amazon for half-price. Such a great show. It's too bad it didn't last longer. This show was what first introduced me to Bruce Campbell.

This was one of those shows that captured so many genres and did it perfectly... it really worked as a great Western and also as an Indiana Jones/Jules Verne-style sci-fi adventure. It was also hilarious and silly, but never to the point where you felt like you were watching a giant parody. Campbell is perfect as the goofy but heroic title character. Kelly Rutherford was HOTTTTTT as Daisy Cousins... damn, I can still remember being in love with her when I was like, 13. Christian Clemenson and Julius Carry were perfect as sidekicks Socrates Poole and Lord Bowler. John Astin was perfectly cast as the zany Professor Wickwire. And Billy Drago was perfect as the evil John Bly. And who could forget that epic theme song? It's awesome that it will live on forever as the theme to the Olympics.

I was sad to learn that Julius Carry passed away last year. He was really great on this show.

 

[Wiseman]

I own the show, it really is one of the best forgotten shows of all time

 

[That-Guy]

Yeah, I wish it had gone on longer. At least Campbell achieved icon status with other roles.

 

[3dman27]

theyshould make a brisco movie but would it work without mr campbell?

 

[That-Guy]

No, it wouldn't... though I suppose you could do Brisco County III, with Campbell reprising his role and mentoring the younger County. Kind of like James Garner in the Maverick film with Mel Gibson. Unfortunately though, I doubt that it would ever happen.

Or if it did, we'd probably get Shia LaBouef as County III, and I wouldn't want to see that.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Another gem by Campbell, and the chick in that show was hot too!

 

[Addendum]

theyshould make a brisco movie but would it work without mr campbell?

A movie is pretty much not going to happen. Studios would rather spend money on a proven project rather than take a chance on a series that hasn't been on TV since the mid 90s. The return they would get wouldn't justify the initial expense.

That being said, I liked the series when it was on. I haven't bought the DVDs yet, since they're still around 80 bucks in stores.

 

[That-Guy]

Another gem by Campbell, and the chick in that show was hot too!

Yep, Kelly Rutherford is a babe. She's aged REALLY well too... she's currently on the show Gossip Girl (yes, I've watched it). Not quite as hot as when she played Daisy, but still mighty fine.

Oh, and yeah, the DVD is like $80 in stores, but amazon had a sale recently... got it for about $40. The sale might still be going on.

 

[Matt]

Bump. I cast a remake film in the remake thread. Thought I'd share it here:

The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

I think Brisco would actually be a great property to remake as a film. Especially since the Steam Punk genre is now trendy and while it may not have drawn ratings as a TV series, this genre-bending gem would make a good late winter/early spring franchise, I think.

Here’s my cast.

Brisco County Jr. – John Krasinki. He can play that sort of airy, lighter hero well I think. He is a decent enough actor and has good comedic timing for the role.

Lord Bowler – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – Bowler needs to be funny enough to play off Brisco yet large and physically intimidating when need be. I think the Rock fits that description to a T.

Socrates Poole – Sean Astin. He is a great actor, would actually be available for the role and has a great look ad personality for it.

John Bly – Steve Buscemi. I can think of no one better for the role. Bly is a bad ass without looking it in the least. Despite not being physically imposing he has to be intimidating able to give off a presence of being dominant and a force to be reckoned with. No one can pull that off like Buscemi.

Gillian Jacobs – Britta from Community has a good look for the role, the right kind of attitude for the part and would be all around good in it. Alternatively, I think it is also a role that fits Krasinski’s co-star Jenna Fischer well.

The Professor – John Lithgow. Nutty, eccentric, inventor/Brisco’s mentor, he’d have all kinds of fun with this role channeling his inner-Dick Solomon.

Pistol Pete – Will Forte. Forte may not be a leading man, but he is funny enough in small, over the top roles which is exactly what Pete was.

Lee Pow – No reason that James Hong couldn’t continue with the role.

Brisco County Sr. – This is the perfect role for the original Brisco County Jr., Bruce Campbell.

 

[That-Guy]

Interesting cast choices, though I have a tough time seeing Krasinski as Brisco. If they were doing a movie remake, here's who I might go with. Some of these are pure typecasting, while others I tried to go against it...

Brisco County Jr. – Aaron Eckhart
Dixie Cousins - Christina Hendricks
Lord Bowler – Terry Crews
Socrates Poole – Jeremy Davies
John Bly – Charlie Hunnam
Professor Wickwire– Nicolas Cage
Pistol Pete – Walton Goggins
Brisco Sr. – Dennis Quaid

 

[Matt]

Hmm, I dig some of it. I love Crews for Bowler and Cage as the Professor is awesome.

That said, I can't see Eckhart hamming it up enough. Hendricks, while a sexpot, really isn't much like Ms.Cousins. Davies is a bit too rugged for prim and proper Socrates and Hunnam is too young for Bly. Also, Brisco Sr. would have to be Bruce.

I dunno though, your cast would work well for a serious reboot I think, but I don't think I'd ever want to see Brisco taken into the path of a serious movie. It should just be a fun, silly, fantasy movie.

 

[That-Guy]

Yeah, I wouldn't want a serious take either... my thought was just making it a little less silly at times and more of a lighthearted action film (similar to Guy Richie's Sherlock Holmes), but still with plenty of jokes and zany moments. I picked Eckhart since I've seen him be very funny (Thank You For Smoking) but also cocky and arrogant (In the Company of Men) and I thought it would make a good combination for Brisco. I love the idea of Bruce Campbell being Brisco Sr., though... the only reason I went with Quaid was because Brisco Sr., as depicted on the show, was a serious, no-nonsense lawman. I'm not sure I can see Campbell pulling that off.

Yeah, Hunnam is too young for Bly I guess... I was just thinking of his role in Cold Mountain where he looked a lot like Bly and played a convincing nutcase. Not sure who else might work. I know Bly's not supposed to be physically imposing but I think Buscemi is a little too scrawny. Maybe Guy Pearce? He can look like death on a stick (The Proposition) and is a great actor. Robert Carlyle might also be good.

Daisy is a tough role to cast of course... I picked Hendricks because she has a scene stealing presence and a body that would look great in a corset, but there are plenty of other options. Of course, there's always ScarJo... she'd look the part, but I think she's completely forgotten how to act.

I was also thinking of Paulo Costanzo for Socrates Poole, though he might be a bit too young.

 

[That-Guy]

Can't believe I didn't think of it until now... but Michael Jai White would be an even better Lord Bowler than Crews. I'm a huge fan of Black Dynamite; White's comedic timing and badassery could make for an awesome Bowler.