MovieChat Forums > American Beauty (1999) Discussion > This should become a TV series like "Far...

This should become a TV series like "Fargo" has become a TV series


It seems like it would have potential. It would be best if said series was on HBO or another network that wouldn't edit for content. No one thought Fargo would work as a series and American Beauty was a more popular movie with themes and storyline possibilities that would make for an appealing series.

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Yes, good idea, and the ending of each episode would have Lester being shot and killed ... by a different character each time!

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

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Angela: Oh my gawd, they killed K̶e̶n̶n̶y̶ Lester!

Caroline: Those bastards!


It would totally work. You had better write a treatment. Better yet, a draft screenplay. And copyright it before someone steals the idea.

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Thanks for the encouragement. I'm on it!! 

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

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I don't know if this would make a good tv show and that would be stupid if Lester would be shot in the head every episode. How could this be a tv show?

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I don't know if this would make a good tv show and that would be stupid if Lester would be shot in the head every episode. How could this be a tv show?


That is the best part of the concept: Lester dies a different way each time. Not necessarily shot in the head, but that could be a good start. Sometimes by one or the other characters; sometimes by accident; sometimes killed in another way - such as hit by a meteorite; falling down a hole; run over by a truck/bus/car/train; heart attack; during surgery; etc.

It could be an audience hook: how is Lester going to die this episode?

Pure genius!!!

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I don't comprehend the reason or beauty for him dying in the movie. Having him die constantly in the series if they did make a tv show seems depressing and horrible.

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Christopher, maybe you aren't focusing on the concept of "different fictional universes."

Since there is an unlimited number of fictional universes each episode would occupy a different one. The main characters would be the same, but with slightly different personalities and ambitions. They would react in slightly different ways to the same situation. Plus different minor characters could be introduced as main characters make altered choices.

There was an old TV series called "Colombo" where we saw near the beginning each time who committed the crime and the show was about how Colombo would solve it.

With the concept we are discussing here, fans would know (or suspect) that Lester would be killed at the end of each episode but not how or by which character! The entertainment would be to try to figure out how he would meet his end this time. They could throw in lots of surprises. Maybe in one episode he would be shot by a robber while at work at the hamburger joint. Or crack up in a spin-out while driving his new car.

Maybe in some episodes Lester would not die!

It might not work for YOU but I believe it would work for a lot of us.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

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There was enough material here for a movie, no way a weekly TV series. This took place within a small window of time. It's not sustainable. Besides, elements of it have been used in one way or another. Biggest thing is this movie had a great cast. Without Spacey it wouldn't have been the movie it was and he'd never do the TV series.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man....

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Maybe you ought to try Six Feet Under, it was created by American Beauty's screenwriter Alan Ball and had some slight parallels (dysfunctational middle class families in suburbia)

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I read somewhere Marc Cherry got the inspiration for Desperate Housewives from American Beauty, very similar themes, dyfunctional families in suburbia.

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