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Spaceballs Animated Series in Production

Keith Russell writes "CNN is reporting that production has started on Spaceballs: The Animated Series, which will start a 13-episode run on G4 next year. Brooks himself will provide the voices of 'two characters', although they don't mention Yogurt or President Skroob by name." From the article: "Like the 1987 movie, which parodied well-known science-fiction movies, 'Spaceballs: The Animated Series' will spoof current blockbusters as well as every genre of entertainment from movies and reality TV to culture and politics. It is set to debut on cable network G4 in fall 2007. Production has already started on an initial batch of 13 episodes."

176 comments

  1. KEWL! by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now maybe we'll finally get to see "Jews in Outer Space".

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
    1. Re:KEWL! by bwcarty · · Score: 1

      That would be....a miracle!

    2. Re:KEWL! by mockchoi · · Score: 0, Troll

      I don't know how cool it is. I think Mel's realized he's out of ideas. First he does the stage version of 'The Producers'. I can see that, but hardly original. Then re-doing the movie. Why? The original was perfect. Now this? Then again, at least it's not 'Dracula: Dead and Loving it.'

    3. Re:KEWL! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      He's just following George Lucas' example of milking the Star Wars crowd for all it's worth. Throw in Weird Al's newest video, you can see where this is all going.

    4. Re:KEWL! by Jonny_eh · · Score: 1

      Jews in space:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilan_Ramon

      Quite the tragic ending :(

    5. Re:KEWL! by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 1

      I know you're being serious, but GP was referring to the post-teasers from "History of the World, Part 1", which included "Hitler on Ice" and "Jews in Space".

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    6. Re:KEWL! by ackthpt · · Score: 1

      Now maybe we'll finally get to see "Jews in Outer Space".

      I just hope we don't see "Jump The Shark in Outer Space"

      The original film is still funny, but seems to become a little bit less with each viewing. It's also a challenge to be be funny on a regular basis and Brooks used to be very funny, but mostly through R rated films.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    7. Re:KEWL! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      We're jews!
      We're jews in space!
      We're zooming around defending the hebrew race!

    8. Re:KEWL! by Stormwatch · · Score: 1
      The original film is still funny, but seems to become a little bit less with each viewing.
      A comedy that becomes less funny with repeated viewings?! I'm shocked. -_-'
    9. Re:KEWL! by ackthpt · · Score: 1

      A comedy that becomes less funny with repeated viewings?! I'm shocked. -_-'

      I've found quite a few comedies are much funnier on later viewings as I pick up more humour than I did the first time. Spaceballs is full of great lines, but some of the comedy actors used I never really thought of as terribly funny to begin with.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    10. Re:KEWL! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, well done, there's nothing like explaining a joke that everyone had already got.

    11. Re:KEWL! by Svartalf · · Score: 1

      All this is would be, Spaceballs2: The Search for More Money, in reality- and he'd already
      joked about doing it in the first place in the orginal, live-action feature.

      Hell, if Lucas can try, why can't he? Besides, I suspect he'll bring that in as part of
      the overall joke (When is one of Mel's movies anything other than one Gigantic sendup
      anyhow?) I'm willing to wait and see how lame/cool this ends up being. As it stands, it'll
      probably have a cult following just like Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein, and Blazing Saddles
      does- unless it's an outright stinker.

      --
      I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
    12. Re:KEWL! by Schraegstrichpunkt · · Score: 1

      There. See, she can be reasonable. Continue with the operation; you may fire when ready.

  2. Further detail. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Informative

    This version does specify Yogurt and Skroob.

  3. recursion by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Spaceballs: The Animated Series' will spoof current blockbusters as well as every genre of entertainment from movies and reality TV to culture and politics.

    But will it spoof the spoof genre? Or is that like crossing the streams?

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:recursion by da3dAlus · · Score: 3, Funny

      Right. That's bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.

      --

      Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
    2. Re:recursion by Mikya · · Score: 5, Funny

      But will it spoof the spoof genre? Or is that like crossing the streams?

      I would say it's more like jumping the shark.

    3. Re:recursion by mythosaz · · Score: 1
      'Spaceballs: The Animated Series' will spoof current blockbusters as well as every genre of entertainment from movies and reality TV to culture and politics.
      My fear is that it becomes something akin to the Scary Movie line, where they just spoof everything in the genre...badly.
    4. Re:recursion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      But will it spoof the spoof genre? Or is that like crossing the streams?

      That's called a documentary.

    5. Re:recursion by Andrew+Kismet · · Score: 1

      Actually, Scary Movie 1 and 3 weren't so bad. the second and fourth were downright abysmal.

    6. Re:recursion by Wdomburg · · Score: 1

      I can't fathom how they could have out-sucked the first. I'd be tempted to watch out of sheer morbid curiosity, but I fear my brain would crawl out my ear in self defense.

    7. Re:recursion by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      So Scary Movie is like the inverse of Star Trek (where the good movies tend to be the even-numbered ones)?

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    8. Re:recursion by Bodrius · · Score: 1

      If by 'good' you mean 'less painfully bad, but still horribly, painfully, disgustingly bad', sure.

      --
      Freedom is the freedom to say 2+2=4, everything else follows...
    9. Re:recursion by sadler121 · · Score: 1
      So Scary Movie is like the inverse of Star Trek (where the good movies tend to be the even-numbered ones)?
      Star Trek broke it's own rule with Nemesis.
    10. Re:recursion by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Yes, I agree. I guess B&B can make anything suck!

      It's still a good general rule of thumb, however.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    11. Re:recursion by rtyall · · Score: 1

      I'm hoping it goes the other way and they pull in Genndy Tartakovsky to do the animation as in "Clone Wars".

    12. Re:recursion by dangitman · · Score: 1

      What happens when jumping the shark jumps the shark? Does it create an anti-gravity machine?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  4. Memorabilia? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I really want my Spaceballs, the flamethrower. Wonder if they'll make it for the series....

    1. Re:Memorabilia? by aneurysm36 · · Score: 1

      the kids love this one.

      --
      ------ hi mom
    2. Re:Memorabilia? by patrixmyth · · Score: 1

      I don't know about flamethrowers, but I feel fairly certain about Space Balls Dolls (err, Action Figures!)

      Oh, and it should really be a prequel, or they are missing a whole lot of obvious jokes from the genre!

      --
      "Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey?"- Peter Gabriel
  5. Finally a sequel... by RiskyChris · · Score: 5, Funny

    The search for more money?

    1. Re:Finally a sequel... by Mr.+Flibble · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Spaceballs III, the search for Spaceballs II.

      --
      Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
  6. Animated series.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    That sucks... no wait, now it blows.

  7. Poor Mel Brooks by sinner6 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    His career must really be in the hole for him to even talk to G4.

    1. Re:Poor Mel Brooks by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, that whole multiple-award-winning, multi-bazillion-dollar-earning "The Producers" musical must have really ruined the guy. He must be crying himself to sleep in his money bin.

  8. I liked it better when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It was called Futurama!

    1. Re:I liked it better when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was called Futurama!

      Actually, it sounds more like Tripping the Rift. Strike that, it sounds exactly like Tripping the Rift...

  9. ObQuote by Randolpho · · Score: 4, Funny

    SPACEBALLS??!?

    Oh, shit! There goes the planet.

    --
    "Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
    -Marilyn Manson
    1. Re:ObQuote by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      You just had to say that, didn't you -- now I've got the mental image of them crawling out of "The Screen Savers" host's nose!

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  10. only if his schwartz is as big a smine. by Brigadier · · Score: 2, Insightful



    Thats a classic, figured it woudl ony be a matter a time given the star treck prequels. Think of all the bad acting that they can make fun of.

    1. Re:only if his schwartz is as big a smine. by hey0you0guy · · Score: 1

      don't you mean star wars prequels...you petty excuse for an officer.

    2. Re:only if his schwartz is as big a smine. by freakmn · · Score: 1

      Not necessarily. It seems that there is a movie scheduled to come out in 2008 that is a Star Trek Prequel. Also, I think that Star Trek: Enterprise was (is?) set before all the rest of the TV series'. I guess it could go either way.

      --
      warning: This post is likely to contain gobs of dripping sarcasm. Consume at your own risk.
    3. Re:only if his schwartz is as big a smine. by Phroggy · · Score: 1

      To my great surprise, Enterprise didn't suck (most of the time). The Star Wars prequels were disappointing.

      --
      $x='S24;r)>63/* h@<5+oZ)32"5cz';$me='phroggy'x$];
      $x=~y+ -xz+\0-Tx+;print$_^chop$me for split'',$x;
  11. Hmmm... by Otter · · Score: 0, Troll
    Production has already started on an initial batch of 13 episodes.

    I'm thinking it's highly unlikely that this will stay on for 13 weeks. I suppose they need to at least have enough for a DVD set.

    Has Mel Brooks done anything worthwhile since -- I can't even remember a recent Mel Brooks movie -- Young Frankenstein?

    1. Re:Hmmm... by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      The Producers?

    2. Re:Hmmm... by PerlDudeXL · · Score: 1

      A highly successful Broadway production "The Producers" and a recent movie based that musical.

    3. Re:Hmmm... by truthsearch · · Score: 1

      He asks for a recent Mel Brooks movie and you name his first. Now that's funny.

    4. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, he adapted his movie The Producers to a hit broadway musical play starring Matthew Broderic and Nathan Lane in 2001. In 2005, the play was in turn adapted back into a movie musical which didn't fare to well at the box office.

      He's in recycle mode, kinda like aging rock star bands from the 70's and 80's.

    5. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's probrably referring to the play, but I agree with you.

    6. Re:Hmmm... by Bryansix · · Score: 1

      He wrote the music for and was an actor in the 2005 version. Blazing Sadles was his best only second to Spaceballs.

    7. Re:Hmmm... by generic-man · · Score: 1

      Also his most recent (as a producer).

      --
      For more information, click here.
    8. Re:Hmmm... by gurps_npc · · Score: 1

      Most people consider the broadway play The Producers to be a very succesfull play. While it is a re-work of a movie, they changed quite a bit of it and put in lots of new jokes.

      --
      excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    9. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that IS the most recent Mel Brooks movie. It was a critical and box office - what's the word I'm looking for? - Ah, yes, flop.

    10. Re:Hmmm... by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 1
      Has Mel Brooks done anything worthwhile since -- I can't even remember a recent Mel Brooks movie -- Young Frankenstein?

      I was about to say "You have High Anxiety (1977), History of the World (1981), Spaceballs (1987)". Then I realized that Spaceballs is a 19-year-old movie. So, let's try this: Young Frankenstein is arguably the funniest movie of all time (Personally, I try to watch the DVD every year or so and I laugh hysterically every time). So, I think Mel deserves at least a small bit of extra credit for that movie.

    11. Re:Hmmm... by MinutiaeMan · · Score: 1

      He also did Men in Tights (1993) and Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). Not everybody loved those, but I thought they were both reasonably amusing, to say the least.

    12. Re:Hmmm... by Poruchik · · Score: 1

      Mel also provides the voice of Wiley the Sheep on "Jakers! The adventures of Piggley Winks." If you had a child between 2 and 7 years of age, you'd know what I'm talking about.

      --
      $signature =~ s/$signature//;
    13. Re:Hmmm... by Abreu · · Score: 1

      Men in Tights had the best quote:

      - And why would the people listen to you?

      - Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent.

      --
      No sig for the moment.
    14. Re:Hmmm... by Paolo+DF · · Score: 1

      Did anybody say: "Silent Movie"?

      --
      Pumbaa! I don't wonder; I know.
    15. Re:Hmmm... by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      I'll grant you that he hasn't done much recently--mostly voice work. He was Bigweld in Robots. His last movie was in 1995--Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

    16. Re:Hmmm... by smbarbour · · Score: 1

      I'll argue that. My top 5 list:

      1) Blazing Saddles
      2) Young Frankenstein
      3) Robin Hood: Men in Tights
      4) Spaceballs
      5) History of the World: Part One

    17. Re:Hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      Mel also provides the voice of Wiley the Sheep on "Jakers! The adventures of Piggley Winks." [imdb.com] If you had a child between 2 and 7 years of age, you'd know what I'm talking about.


      Well, some of us actually believe in raising our kids rather than letting the TV do it for us.

    18. Re:Hmmm... by tehcyder · · Score: 1
      I thought they were both reasonably amusing, to say the least
      Best lukewarm recommendation ever.
      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    19. Re:Hmmm... by Poruchik · · Score: 1

      Ahh. Snap judgements. Gotta love 'em.

      --
      $signature =~ s/$signature//;
  12. All I can say is... by Billosaur · · Score: 1

    All Hail President Skroob!

    --
    GetOuttaMySpace - The Anti-Social Network
    1. Re:All I can say is... by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 1

      *comined up yours/hello gesture*

  13. Yogurt?!? by truthsearch · · Score: 1

    Yogurt! I hate Yogurt! Even with strawberries.

    1. Re:Yogurt?!? by Myself · · Score: 1

      But only one man would dare give me the raspberry!

  14. I was looking for a joke... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... with Spaceballs' quotes "Use the fork" and "May the Schwartz be with you", related to Sun/Java. Anyone? :)

    1. Re:I was looking for a joke... by generic-man · · Score: 1

      "Use the fork(s)" is from the Simpsons episode where Mark Hamill guest starred. Spaceballs had "use the Schwartz."

      --
      For more information, click here.
    2. Re:I was looking for a joke... by franksands · · Score: 1

      Actually, the Blue Rajah used to say "May the forks be with us".

  15. Hollywood needs to close for a few years by hsmith · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Till they can come up with a new idea.

    1. Re:Hollywood needs to close for a few years by gurps_npc · · Score: 1

      Have you seen Little Miss Sunshine? Funny, innovative, not derivative, well worth it, if only for using the gay porn to distract someone from the fact that they have a dead heroin addict in the trunk of their vehicle.

      --
      excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    2. Re:Hollywood needs to close for a few years by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      This seems like as good a place as any to add this obligatory quote. I knew it, I'm surrounded by Assholes.

    3. Re:Hollywood needs to close for a few years by Mistshadow2k4 · · Score: 1
      I knew it, I'm surrounded by Assholes.
      Well, yeah, this is slashdot.
      --
      I dream of a better world... one in which chickens can cross roads without their motives being questioned.
    4. Re:Hollywood needs to close for a few years by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Hollywood needs to close for a few years Till they can come up with a new idea.

      You've got to remember that these are just simple actors, directors, producers and gaffers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.

    5. Re:Hollywood needs to close for a few years by Myself · · Score: 2, Interesting
      The idiots who patronize Hollywood need to boycott them for a few years, until they come up with some new ideas, and a new profit model.

      Take the amount of money you spent on Hollywood movies during the last year (tickets, DVDs, rentals, merchandise) and divide it by the amount of money you gave to EFF and ACLU in the last year. This is your Hypocrisy Quotient.
      • If it's less than or equal to 1, thank you.
      • If it's between 1 and 3, your heart's in the right place but your wallet is weak.
      • If it's greater than 3, kindly wear a bright "I sponsored the DMCA!" t-shirt when you attend the Defcon Shoot.
  16. Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by Jonah+Hex · · Score: 1

    Actually they are probably paying him to lend his name to the network. Why the hell this isn't considered for Adult Swim is beyond me.

    Jonah HEX

    1. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by jandrese · · Score: 0

      Because if it was on Adult Swim they would probably hire a couple of 8 year olds to draw and write the series, like most everything else they put on there these days.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
    2. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by maxume · · Score: 1

      Oh, I completely disagree, the success of Adult swim is not due to Futurama and Family Guy, it is completely due to their awesomeness. Wait, I got that backwards, it is completely due to Futurama and Family Guy.

      The Venture Brothers is actually pretty good though.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    3. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Correction: Futurama, Family Guy, and INUYASHA!!!

      (just kidding (but not really))

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    4. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I assume you're talking about Tom Goes to the Mayor. What a turd that show is.

    5. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by kidcharles · · Score: 1

      I concur, Venture Brothers is a very fine show indeed.

      --
      Ceci n'est pas une sig.
    6. Re:Anything but G4! Please nooooooo.... by jandrese · · Score: 1

      Tom Goes to the Mayor, Squidbillies, etc...

      Venture Brothers is a damn fine show however.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
  17. ob by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's the combination to my luggage!

  18. Merchandising! by bricklayer · · Score: 4, Funny

    Any news on Spaceballs: The Flamethrower?

    1. Re:Merchandising! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The kids love that one...

  19. more info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5434494

    Lots more interviews and info there!

  20. Whatever happened to Spaceballs sequel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What ever happened to the Spaceballs sequel that was announced a couple years ago?

    Mel Brooks Writing Spaceballs Sequel
    Source: Ain't-It-Cool-News
    September 28, 2004


    In a Q&A with Playbill magazine, Mel Brooks says that he's currently working on a Spaceballs sequel. Here's the clip from the interview which starts off by talking about the big screen adaptation of The Producers.

    Playbill: Will you have a role in it?

    MB: It's doubtful, but I'm writing myself back into the Spaceballs sequel that I'm now writing, so you haven't seen the last of my face. Why another Spaceballs? It wouldn't feel right have anyone else play Yoghurt and the first one was the best experience I've had making a movie since Blazing Saddles.

    Playbill: When can we expect that?

    MB: Best case scenario: a week before the new Star Wars opens. Worst Case Scenario: a year after the new star wars opens.

  21. Development by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Brooks has said for years he wanted to do a Spaceballs sequel, and incorporate the prequels. Studios have been pushing for a TV show so they could spoof other fandoms and pull in more people. Specifically they kept demanding a LotR spoof, which I'm not sure how well that fits in the Spaceballs universe. But LotR makes huge money, and Lords of the G-Strings is a very weak parody (and porn for that matter). So someone has to do it.

    Given budget limitations and Brook's age, a cartoon seems like the best way to cut back on the costs of all the new locations, space sequences, etc.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    1. Re:Development by StumpMan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I remember hearing once that the movie's name was to be Spaceballs 3: The Search for Spaceballs 2. At the time the big movie in theaters was Kevin Costners "Prince of Theives". Brooks dropped the script and wrote "Men in Tights" instead.

    2. Re:Development by a_nonamiss · · Score: 1, Informative

      The South Park spoof of LotR was absolutely hilarious. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend getting your hands on it. If I recall, the title is something like "The Return of the Lord of the Rings to the Two Towers Video Store" or something. Classic.

      --
      -Arthur
      Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules
    3. Re:Development by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOTR was very well parodied by South Park (The Fellowship of The Lord of the Rings), so it has been done.
      Lord of the G-string was pretty bad, but it was kinda funny. Very stupid, but still funny.
      What? It came on cable one night when I was having trouble sleeping!

  22. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by sinner6 · · Score: 2, Informative

    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=producers. htm Made $38,054,424 Cost $45 million Net loss $7 Million I wish I had 7 million to lose. I assume the play is doing better, but how much of cut of that is he getting? I don't think playwrites get very much in the way of royalties.

  23. Packaging for the DVDs by SecretAsianMan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is wonderful news. I have long held that Spaceballs is one of mankind's greatest comedic achievements. Finally, there will be new material! This fanboy is excited.

    ...

    And when they release the DVD box set, it better come in Spaceballs: The Lunchbox!

    --

    Washington, DC: It's like Hollywood for ugly people.

    1. Re:Packaging for the DVDs by Babbster · · Score: 1

      Whenever I see the word "comb" meaning "search," I picture a giant afro pick. It's been way too long since I've seen Spaceballs...

    2. Re:Packaging for the DVDs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, they're out already. There's this amazing new technology called instant DVD's--they're out before the show is even finished!

  24. A quote from Spaceballs comes to mind..... by 8127972 · · Score: 4, Funny

    .... As I read this:

    Barf: I know we need the money, but...

    Lone Starr: Listen! We're not just doing this for money... We're doing it for a SHIT LOAD of money!

    Barf: Oh, you're right. And when you're right, you're right. And you - you're always right.

    --
    This is my opinion. To make sure you don't steal it, it's covered by the DMCA.
  25. What about the long-lost sequels? by DNAspark99 · · Score: 1

    I'm still waiting for the first sequel, "Spaceballs 3: In search of Spaceballs 2" to hit theaters! ...seriously, I heard rumors about this way back in 93, and I'm _still_ waiting for it!!

    --

    --
    Society has traditionally always tried to find scapegoats for its problems. Well, here I am.
    1. Re:What about the long-lost sequels? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Its going to be an easter egg within Duke Nuke'em Forever. Don't worry... it'll happen.

  26. What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? by LochNess · · Score: 1

    Chicken?

  27. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 1

    I seem to remember Brooks saying that he made the movie version just to have a permanent record of the Broadway show. However much the show earns him, it's enough where he could afford to do that.

  28. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Monkelectric · · Score: 1
    The problem with the producers movie: What works in theatre *DOES NOT* work on film. Repeat it with me, WHAT WORKS IN THEATRE DOES NOT WORK ON FILM!!!

    The producers movie was a fairly accurate recreation of the producers brodway production. Matthew Broderick's sniveling character just did't work on film.

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  29. Step up by nedwidek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Actually compared to what is on G4, this may be a step up in quality.

    --
    Post anonymously - For when your opinion embarrasses even you!
    1. Re:Step up by maxume · · Score: 1

      Video of a steaming pile would be a step up in quality.

      --
      Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
    2. Re:Step up by aztracker1 · · Score: 1

      After the TechTV buyout/gutting, I no longer have a need for "digital cable" as that was the only extra channel I really watched... *shrug* ...I don't care for G4 at all... I miss good ol' TechTV (Or even when it was ZDtv)...

      --
      Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info
    3. Re:Step up by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 1

      I'd agree with you except for two things (three actually) - Time Warner in my area has the following on digital only:

      1. Sleuth (can you say Homicide: Life on the Street?)
      2. SiTV (OK, pretty useless, but they run Dark Angel every weeknight)
      3. BBC America (How else am I going to get my Monty Python fix?)

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    4. Re:Step up by bladesjester · · Score: 1

      How are you going to get monty python?

      How about this way

      --
      Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
    5. Re:Step up by Manchot · · Score: 1

      Up until a couple weeks ago, I'd agree with you. Unfortunately, they had to go and start showing reruns of Arrested Development, forcing me to watch the network.

    6. Re:Step up by TheSpoom · · Score: 1

      Through a bit of a fluke we recently got all the channels on our digital cable box, including G4 TechTV, which I hadn't previously been able to see. I was somewhat excited to finally be able to see it... only to find out that they were playing some crappy "games-sports-wedon'tknowwhattocover" show with annoying hosts who think they're funny and/or cool EVERY FUCKING TWO HOURS with very, very little else to offer. I was disappointed.

      Someone start a good geek channel. Please?

      --
      It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
      - E. Debs
  30. If you look closely at the horizon... by Rinzai · · Score: 1

    ...you can just see the tops of the helmets of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse coming into view.

    1. Re:If you look closely at the horizon... by stile99 · · Score: 1

      Naw. That's not until The Spaceballs Holiday Special.

  31. She's gone from suck to blow by tokki · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fuck! Even in the future nothing works!

  32. COMB THE DESERT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Find anything yet?

    1. Re:COMB THE DESERT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We ain't found shit.

  33. Is the sequel dead? by BobSutan · · Score: 2, Interesting
    --
    "On a scale from 1 to 10, people are stupid"
  34. Finally by DarkHelmet · · Score: 1, Funny
    For all this time, you slashdot users have mocked me.

    But HA! Look! Now I have a legitimate use for my nickname on here!

    And since I'm on Slashdot, let me reword one of my more famous quotes:

    Windows will always win because Linux is dumb!

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
    1. Re:Finally by SpaceballsTheUserNam · · Score: 0

      cheers

      --
      \.
  35. Or proudly command... by ab0mb88 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Keep firing, assholes!

    That seems to be the plan currently.

  36. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 1

    The main page you link to only lists "Box Office" receipts. If you click on the DVD Rental/Sales link, you'll see that they made $25 million in DVD sales. So, the movie made a nice buck. And the Broadway show opened on March 21, 2001. While it may not be selling out anymore, it is STILL running, over 5 years later. Trust me, Mel is raking in the cash.

  37. why by goarilla · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why spaceballs really sucked imho

    1. Re:why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good afternoon! I'm here to inform you of a revolutionary new phenomenon known as punctuation. It helps others differentiate your valuable insights from that of a methed up chimpanzee humping a keyboard. With punctuation, you too can convey what you are really thinking versus hunt and pecking a singular strain of babbling idiocy that requires your readers to to pause a precious moment to understand precisely what the holy fuck you were going on about.

      But wait, it gets better. Punctuation costs you nothing more than a few minutes of your time! Quick, act now!

  38. Can we have a Spoof of G4 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll have more quality production then the real channel, which has the lowest rating of any channel even Weather Channel beats it

  39. bogus by fountainpen · · Score: 1

    Barfolemew? no john candy no spaceballs..
    and the last thing brooks did that was alright was show up on curb your enthusiasm

    1. Re:bogus by popeye44 · · Score: 1

      I dunno man, Robin Hood men in tights has the same feel as many of his old spoofy stuff.. The man has been in show business since 1950's and he's had a damn good bit of success. He's an Icon of goofyness.

      --
      Inane Comments are Generously Disregarded
    2. Re:bogus by fountainpen · · Score: 1

      no denying he's an icon...and yea i did forget about men in tights, but thats still not much in almost the last 20 years

  40. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Manmademan · · Score: 1

    Six time oscar winning film "Chicago" disagrees with you....

  41. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by lucabrasi999 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The problem with the producers movie: What works in theatre *DOES NOT* work on film. Repeat it with me, WHAT WORKS IN THEATRE DOES NOT WORK ON FILM!!! The producers movie was a fairly accurate recreation of the producers brodway production. Matthew Broderick's sniveling character just did't work on film.

    You are forgetting that the Broadway Play was simply an accurate recreation of the 1968 ORIGINAL Movie (starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder). And, Gene Wilder's sniveling character did work on film.

    For the record, I thought the 2005 version of the movie was pretty good. Mel had to update some of the jokes for 2005, (but he kept the 'blonde bombshell'). Very funny. He also wrote a couple of pretty good new songs.

  42. Voice talent? by mgabrys_sf · · Score: 1

    Has anyone heard Mel's voice lately? He's 80 YEARS OLD for chrissake. His voice makes a showing in the broadway version of "the producers" for a scant 4 seconds - when he was less than 80 years old - and it's a raspy squeek.

    Don't get me wrong - I think it's fantastic that he's staying involved in projects in his twilight years, but "voice talent"? There's plenty of professional voice-actors out there who could nail his voice back when it was in it's prime.

    For him to be a voice actor - it might help for him to have a voice in the first place.

    1. Re:Voice talent? by Poruchik · · Score: 1

      Mel already provides a voice for a cartoon: Jakers! I did a double take and ran to imdb to see if it's really true. It is. Since then I tolerate Jakers better than all other stuff that my 3 year old watches.

      --
      $signature =~ s/$signature//;
    2. Re:Voice talent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He didn't seem to have any problems voice-acting in Robots.

  43. You're obviously lost by RLiegh · · Score: 2, Funny

    The "googling for ATM passwords" article is further down the page.

  44. tag: merchandising by SnprBoB86 · · Score: 1

    merchandising! merchandising!

    Spaceballs THE FLAMETHROWER!

    --
    http://brandonbloom.name
    1. Re:tag: merchandising by ArcherB · · Score: 1

      merchandising! merchandising!

      I believe the proper spelling is MOICHENDIZING!

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  45. boo on a cartoon by EdDivinity · · Score: 0

    I would much rather see a live action sequel! Don't we have enough animated series making fun of pop culture? South Park, Family Guy, Simpsons, American Dad, Futurama, etc...

    1. Re:boo on a cartoon by cashman73 · · Score: 1

      I live action sequel would be better, yes. But who would they get to play Barf? The loss of John Candy was really a tragedy. At least now, all they have to do is just somebody to replace his voice -- but it still won't be the same,...

    2. Re:boo on a cartoon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think Jack Black would make a good Barf

  46. Spaceballs Quote by nawtykitty · · Score: 1

    What's the matter Col. Sanderz?...CHICKEN!?!?

    --
    There's no place like 127.0.0.1
  47. No! No! No! by TheZorch · · Score: 1

    NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

    THEY DID NOT!

    Ugh! G4 will show just about anything!

    --
    Michael "TheZorch" Haney
    thezorch@gmail.com
    http://thezorch.googlepages.com/home
  48. Just happy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that the page didn't go plaid when I clicked the topic link...

  49. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by DurendalMac · · Score: 1

    I love Mel Brooks and tasteless comedy, but I found The Producers movie to be fucking DULL. A few good laughs and that's about it. What works on stage does not necessarily work on film. I probably would've enjoyed the stageplay, but the movie just plain sucked.

  50. WTF? by eosp · · Score: 1

    Someone went over my helmet!

  51. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by DurendalMac · · Score: 1

    Probably because they did all sorts of nifty tricks that film allows and stage doesn't, like cutting between real life and fantastical musical numbers. Chicago was spiced up and visually adapted to fit a movie. The Producers looked like it was filmed on a stage set using the exact script, blocking, etc. It was painfully dull as a result.

  52. still waiting by AlgorithMan · · Score: 1

    mel brooks promised "jews in space"! when the heck will he do that?

    --
    The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
  53. Had enough quotes yet? by ArcherB · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ludicrus speed!

    When?
    Now.
    Now-Now?

    Comb the desert...

    It's gone from suck to blow...

    Mog...Half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend.

    --
    There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  54. Yohgurt by Delight-Delirium · · Score: 1

    Like the man, er ...yohgurt said, "It's all about the moychandizing!"

  55. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by crystalattice · · Score: 1

    Funny, the Rocky Horror Picture Show seems to be doing quite well three decades later.

    --
    Free Programming BookLearn to program
  56. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Go rent the 1968 original version -- which was not an adaptation of a stage play, but was written specifically for the screen.

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  57. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

    Ooh... Zero Mostel? I guess now I'll have to go find that movie -- he was great in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!

    --

    "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  58. Portal too please? by Tz-Auber · · Score: 1

    Maybe they'll revive Portal too? *crossing fingers* I can't live on Webisodes alone!

  59. Merchandising question by cyberfunkr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's a little known bit of trivia, but when Mel Brooks went to George Lucas asking permission to make the parody (not required but all the cool guys do it) George said sure, on one condition: You can't make any Spaceballs merchandise. Why? Because as pointed out in the movie, "Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made." George didn't want to lose out on a Star Wars lightsaber sale for a Spaceballs-the lightsaber sale.

    That's why it's so heavily referenced in the movie; Spaceballs-the T-shirt, Spaceballs-the Coloring Book, Spaceballs-the flame thrower, Spaceballs-the towel, Spaceballs-the etc. Because they can't (couldn't) actually make a single item.

    So does that same limitation exist? Could "Spaceballs-the animated series" be considered merchandising? Or did they get a new deal for parodying "Star Wars, the animated series" without limitations?

    1. Re:Merchandising question by geekoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or maybe they told George to blow himself.

      You go to someone out of Curtesy and they start putting limitations on you.

      Screw 'em.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  60. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Erasmus · · Score: 1

    I really doubt Mel Brooks paid for the The Producers move out of his own pocket. The studio that financed it might have taken a hit but chances are he came out just fine.

  61. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Wdomburg · · Score: 1

    "Better" is a massive understatement. The Broadway show has been running for over five years now. There's also a national tour and productions in London, Melboure, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Copenhagen, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo. There's a UK national tour coming up, as well.

    And Brooks wasn't just a "playwrite". He's one of the producers, the writer, the composer, and the lyricist.

    Hard to get any hard figures on how much the show has made so far, but just the advance ticket sales for the original production topped $17M and Nathan Lane was rumoured to be pulling down £30,000 a week for his performance in the London production. I think maybe possibly the show has been just a wee bit profitable. :)

  62. Hooray for my second favorite jew! by Stonent1 · · Score: 1

    Next to the Jesus of course. But seriously, we really need History of the World part II!

  63. I say... by Drakin020 · · Score: 0

    Ape#1 "What are thoes things coming out of her nose?"

    Ape#2 "Spaceballs??"

    Ape#1 "Aw shit...there goes the planet"

    --
    The greatest revenge in life is massive success.
  64. Obligatory by JeepFanatic · · Score: 1

    I for one welcome our Spaceball overloards.

  65. Am I alone in hating this movie? by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 1

    I was in college when it first came out, saw it in the theaters with a bunch of friends. They liked it, I thought it was stupid. I've seen it on cable a couple of times in the intervening years...I still think it's stupid. My current friends (in their 30's and 40's) think it's great. I think I'm alone in hating this movie...not just hate, but loathe. It's one of the worst movies ever...right up there with "Mad Dog and Glory". I like other movies by Mel Brooks...Blazing Saddles is hilarious, but Spaceballs, no.

    1. Re:Am I alone in hating this movie? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      "Am I alone in hating this movie?"

      Yes.

      Honestly it's not his best, but it has some pretty good lines that get quoted to this day.

      OTOH, no movies is liked by everyone.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Am I alone in hating this movie? by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1
      While this movie had one of the funniest moments I've seen in film, featuring Rick Moranis acting dazed after flying across the deck of a star destroyer, the rest I found dumb and highly forgettable.

      I certainly wouldn't waste time watching it again.


      -FL

  66. Yoghurt was right! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I considered this movie "funny" but never really liked it. But I guess he was right: The search for more money hath begun.

  67. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Lars+T. · · Score: 1
    Made $38,054,424 Cost $45 million Net loss $7 Million I wish I had 7 million to lose.
    That's just box office, what about DVD sales and rentals?
    --

    Lars T.

    To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

  68. too bad it's going to be on g4 by The_Rook · · Score: 1

    too bad it's going to be on g4. otherwise, people might see it.

    --
    when religion is no longer the opiate of the masses, governments will resort to real opiates.
  69. Sci Fi looking backwards - again by beaverfever · · Score: 1

    I've posted a couple/few times in the past about my opinion that sci-fi is sick, out of ideas (more like "head up its ass, eating its own shit and declaring how delicious it is") and we are forced to look to the past for fantasy about the future - and so it seems to be the same even with sci-fi parody.

    Here's an open letter from me:

    Dear anybody/everybody involved with creating sci-fi entertainment product.

    Can we have new ideas please?

    Thanks.

  70. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  71. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by Monkelectric · · Score: 1

    There's no explaining that piece of crap :)

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  72. Spaceballs : Special Edition? by Terminus32 · · Score: 0

    Like Lucas' film got updated CGI treatment, how funny would it be if they did a parody with awful CGI effects done on a BBC Micro?

    --
    http://nathanlindsell.blogspot.com/
  73. Re:Poor Mel Brooks The Producers LOST MONEY by glesga_kiss · · Score: 1

    Never trust Hollywood accounting. Films rarely make a profit. Remember how Stan Lee had issues getting paid? Spiderman didn't turn a profit. They simply need to mark a whole load of things as expenses and do a lot of shady inter-company purchases of footage/equiptment and the IRS doesn't see a dime of the profits.

    Example: In the fightclub cave-dream, the fog from his breath is actually a digital effect originally used from Titanic. Some of the "profits" for Fight Club were funneled via the Titanic accounts in order to make them disappear.

  74. Like StarWars they should have made a prequel by rubberbando · · Score: 1

    To be in line with what Lucas did with StarWars, they should have made a Spaceballs prequel.

    Perhaps they could have called it something like:

    Spaceballs Episode 0: Attack of the Clone of the Phantom Prequel

    It could have featured how Scroub met Dark Helmet.

    Perhaps Dark Helmet being a student of Yoghurt and turning on him to join Scroub. :-P

    --
    DEAD DEAD DEAD DELETE ME
    1. Re:Like StarWars they should have made a prequel by Kehvarl · · Score: 1

      Spaceballs Episode 0: Attack of the Clone of the Phantom Prequel

      Spaceballs Episode -1: Menacing Phantom Clones Return and Strike Back

  75. Animated. . ? Ugh. by Fantastic+Lad · · Score: 1
    Mel Brooks' brand of dumb humor only works with live action. Humor in animation relies much more on charisma and human reactions to impossible things. Rick Moranis in a big helmet is funny. An animated Rick Moranis in a big helmet is not. --95% of animated characters are mis-proportioned, so where's the joke?

    Humor in animation stems from entirely different sources, and a team of writers trying to ape Mel Brooks isn't one of those sources.

    The only value I can see in this project is in that it further solidifies a valuable cultural mythology by lampooning it. (You don't lampoon that which is not deeply rooted in society). Star Wars and the messages explored within are good; things our culture needs. It's too bad the last three films were wounded, but the idea of Jedi is still here.

    My current favorite find were a series of books by Scholasitc; the Jedi Apprentice series. --The edges are rounded down for young readers, but the books are otherwise very insightfully written.


    -FL

  76. Tripping The Rift by PhYrE2k2 · · Score: 1

    Sounds like a less funny version of Tripping The Rift.

    -M

    --

    when you see the word 'Linux', drink!
  77. Another brilliant move for G4 TV! by elrous0 · · Score: 1
    Man, the guys that run G4 must be some kind of jeniuses! Doing a cartoon adaptation of a twenty-year-old mediocre movie by a director who was past his prime THEN? ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!

    Maybe they can do a miniseries adaptation of "The Goonies" while they're at it. Or how about a cartoon based on the movie "Trancers"? Does anyone else want a musical version of "Band of the Hand"? No idea can possibly be too stupid for G4!

    -Eric

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.