Television Producers, I Am Here To Help
With new content valued highly, I offer some new projects for the next big television event
With the recent releases of A Series of Unfortunate Events and 13 Reasons Why, book adaptations are taking over your television screens. Though, adaptations are not a new concept, they have always been a part of the television equation. Now, however, they seem more prevalent in today’s entertainment landscape because of the amount of television being produced each year. Hulu’s going all in on The Handmaiden’s Tale, HBO’s The Leftovers returns on April 16th and Amazon’s Bosch returns April 21. Some are worth the time; some are not. Regardless, book adaptations are all around us.
Even with all these adaptations, there is still room for more! Television shows always come and go. New content, to build digital libraries, is a hot commodity. So, what would make for a great new series on television? That question ate at my brain for days. I decided to give the thought some time and brainstormed what books I would love see come to the small screen.
The following four are my selections. What are your favorite books that you would love to see become a television show?
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury is my favorite author of all time. His prose is lyrical; his metaphorical stories are magnificent. There have been quite a few adaptions of Bradbury’s work: Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Martian Chronicles and The Ray Bradbury Theater. All of these adaptions come from celebrated books and stories of Bradbury’s. (Even The Illustrated Man was give the film treatment). All have their faults and are extremely dated. One can enjoy them now for their nostalgia goodness, but I would stick to the source material if new to Ray Bradbury.
In this heyday of television, bringing back the greatness of Bradbury to the small screen could (and should) be jaw-dropping. Out of all the adaptions to create into a series (or mini-series), The Illustrated Man makes the most sense. The book is a collection of short stories tied together by an “illustrated man” — literally a man covered in tattoos. The narrator of the story meets the tattooed man and undergoes a journey of excitement and wonder, as each tattoo individually lights up and transports the reader into a story.
This framing device sets up well for television. There are a total of 18 stories, the perfect amount for a season. Focusing on the producing the short stories, the emphasis is not on a confusing, complex story arc. Writers, producers, directors and actors are more focused on a strong hour of television. When I think of The Illustrated Man being brought to life on television, my head goes right to The Twilight Zone. Each week there is a new mystery to unravel, making re-watch and on-demand viewings that much easier.
The Illustrated Man has some classic stories. “The Veldt”, which already was “loosely” made into a film, is iconic. However, stories such as “The Other Foot”, where African-Americans colonized Mars and instill Jim Crow-like laws on the newly arriving “whites”, would make a terrific 2017 episode of television. Bradbury’s stories are steep with metaphor, yet insanely fresh with today’s audiences. Science-fiction may be a hard sell to some, but Bradbury’s simple take on the genre would win over many — like me. (I really want an episode like “The Other Foot” on TV. Please, television producers!)
The “Spud” series by John van de Ruit
Teenagers and young adults love television. In this day and age of the powerful Netflix and other streaming services, television is at the palm of their hands — the same place for their phones. Coming of age stories are a huge draw to this crowd, and van de Ruit’s Spud series is one of my favorites. The series has seen film adaptions on the first three books, but an adaption to television — where a series can thrive due to the longer timeframe to tell a story — would suit the series far better than a film.
The series consists of four books: Spud, Spud: The Madness Continues, Spud: Learning to Fly and Spud: Exit, Pursued By A Bear. The series details the life of teenager John “Spud” Milton and his life at school in South Africa. From dealing with family, friends and schoolwork — let alone dates, bullying and more — the books (I have only read the first two, but I have read enough to warrant a spot in this list) are sensational reads. Written in a diary form, the characters are funny, conniving and relatable. The series does not stretch the truth of the experience of being a teenager, even in the 1990s when the stories take place. I found myself entirely invested in the outcomes of each character’s arcs, a credit to van de Ruit’s writing.
The series would make an excellent show, because coming of age stories translate well to television. They also are a guilty pleasure. From Degrassi to TeenNick’s lineup, many coming of age shows come in all shapes and sizes. Most, also, find an audience. With the Spud series, the story is not meant to change the literary world. The same can be said about a television adaption. In this age of “Peak TV”, many new shows are reaching for cinematic goals. That’s great. But, not everything on television needs to feel like a “mini-movie”. Audiences — and myself — need those 30 minute feel good entertainment, filled with comedy, great characters and a relatable feel. Spud fits that bill perfectly. It’s a safe choice, but one that would greatly pay off.
The “Bone” series by Jeff Smith
Animation, I am not forgetting you! One of the greatest reading pleasures as a kid was Jeff Smith’s Bone comics. On a blind purchase in 4th or 5th grade, I bought one at those Scholastic book fairs that would come once a year to school. The colorful magazine of books for purchase was so much fun to read through — anyone else remember those? Ok, nostalgia trip over…
The series follows the adventure of the Bones: Fone Bone, Smiley Bone and Phoney Bone. Lost from Boneville, the series covers their journey back home. On their way, the be-friend a family of simple farmers, notably Thorn and her grandma Rose. Throughout the series, the main characters fight against unimaginable evils, experience magical characters and travel to breathtaking places. Along with these epic tales, the Bones experience love, loss, greed and every emotion in-between.
The colored editions of the series feature jaw-dropping art. A visually stunning series, I always took my time reading the series — sometimes re-reading a passage after several moments of art gazing. The locations are incredible and the characters so unique. This translates great to an animated series. Animators would have a field day translating what is on the page to a moving, three dimensional character. From dense forests to scenic mountain tops, the setting, alone, would be worth watching. With each of the stories, the important factor of them is always the characters. The mix of “imaginary” characters — what the hell is “Bone”? — and humans would make for a fun television cast. The series on the page jumps to life in your head while reading and imagining the series coming alive on the screen is getting me pumped. C’mon, television producers: make this happen!
“The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough
The next prestigious drama, most likely, comes from the history books. Shows like Boardwalk Empire, Band of Brothers, Downton Abbey and The Crown were all critically acclaimed. Their commonality: their stories come from the past. They are historical tales told in a compelling and entertaining fashion. While thinking of what could be the next great period drama, I turned to a master storyteller: David McCullough.
With John Adams, HBO has already turned one of the historian’s work into a great mini-series. His newest book on Wilbur and Orville Wright — the masterminds behind the world’s first airplane — is sensational. Expertly told through the lens of the brothers, their sister and the others that surrounded the brothers through their journey, the host of characters is astounding. Watching the brothers test their creations, succeed and further demonstrate their invention in public showings makes for visually stunning television. Their journey and the people they battled or were inspired by ensures great characters are attached to a fantastic story.
The greatest aspect of the Wright Brothers’ story is Orville and Wilbur themselves. Immensely private, especially about their flying project, the brothers worked day and night perfecting their dream of flying. Their story is hugely inspirational, something we need more of in television (and in life). Constant issues with their machines would have stopped many; their drive is what the Wright Brothers unique
With locations in North Carolina, Ohio, Washington D.C. and Paris, France, the series features locations with all sorts of appeal. Where success happens, tragedy is sure to follow. In the Wright Brother’s case, it almost means death. Their story features many possible ways to draw audiences in: the brother’s personalities, their relationships with family and “co-workers”, the science of flying and incredible setting of the turn-of-the-century world.
