TV on the big screen

By Casey Gillis

Published: August 2, 2008

The X-Files: I Want to Believe,” the movie sequel to the popular TV series, hit theaters last weekend with a whimper. It only earned $10.2 million, good enough for a fourth place box office finish.
Still, its release — plus the huge success of the “Sex and the City” movie earlier this summer — got me thinking: what TV shows, cancelled or still airing, would I like to see on the big screen?

So, here goes:

Veronica Mars. This one is a given. It was one of my all-time favorite television shows and was truly cancelled before its time.

The writing was fantastic, star Kristen Bell is a great leading lady, and the rest of the cast was just perfect: Enrico Colantoni as V’s dear old dad Keith; Jason Dohring as her star-crossed love Logan; Percy Daggs III, as best pal Wallace; and Tina Majorino as tech geek Mac. Heck, I even liked annoying private investigator Vinnie Van Lowe, played by Ken Marino.

The show left us hanging, with Veronica in a very sad place. She and Logan hadn’t reconciled (that’s the bane of my existence!), and her dad had just risked his career as sheriff to save her butt.

Talk of a movie follow-up was rampant immediately after its cancellation at the end of last season, but has since died down. I’m trying to revive it now — I need some resolution, people!

Heroes. When this series first began, I remember thinking it felt like a movie every week, with its beautiful cinematography, special effects and intriguing characters.

You’ve got my man Peter Petrelli, who can absorb the powers of anyone around him; Peter’s brother, Nathan, who can fly; indestructible cheerleader Claire; time-traveling Hiro; and bad guy Sylar, who has killed to obtain his powers.

The series has made several missteps during its two-season run, mostly when the writers sent the characters their separate ways in separate storylines. But I’m hopeful about the third season. Rumor has it there will be more interaction among the players, which is very good news. When they all team up, the show is at its best.

With the recent popularity of comic book and superhero movies, now could be the time to strike with a “Heroes” flick.

On a similar sci fi bent, I also wouldn’t mind seeing a big screen take on Supernatural, which follows two brothers as they investigate monsters and other creatures that go bump in the night.

It’s one of those series that gets dismissed because it airs on the CW, a network many believe is full of teenybopper fare. That’s true in some cases — see “Gossip Girl” and the upcoming “90210” update — but not when it comes to “Supernatural.”

The writers do a seamless job of weaving in monsters-of-the-week with the series’ overall mythology, and offer up a good mix of heavy drama and light comedy. And as Dean and Sam, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are the two hottest brothers since, well, pretty much ever.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I’d give my left arm to see Buffy and the Scoobies back in action again. Giles, Xander, Willow. Angel and Spike. Even the annoying Dawn. I miss you all dearly.

OK, readers, did I miss something? Is there a TV series you’d love to see revived in movie form? Shoot me an e-mail at , or leave a comment on the Couch Potato blog at http://www.the-burg.com.