1.) Kid oriented (Ages 7 and up.): If it was ages 7 and up, then more merchandise would be accessible (Action figures, vehicles, etc.), because the target audience would be wider. It would be a half-hour long, and it could air on some eligible network that will probably be named in this thread later on (Maybe even the FOX Box. As long as they give it a chance, and donÂt kill it off first. :p ). Believe me, this may be the way to go.
2.) Teen/adult oriented (Ages 16 and up.): It would be for mature audiences, like the comic, itself. And the content of the comic would be included. If possible, the new cartoon series would be an hour long, like your average Sci-Fi series (A half-hour is good too. Anyway, thatÂs probably the length a network would want to go for.).
This is how it should be:
0.) No intervention via certain shareholders, no matter how famous they are (Murray, Reitman, Medjuck, and Gross, etc.)! Why, you ask? Sometime during the first or second season of RGB, Bill Murray called Michael C. Gross (The Producer.), and told him that he loved RGB, but he asked him why Peter didn't sound like him. So Michael C. Gross, being the genius that he was got Lorenzo Music (A.K.A. “Garfield”.) fired. Then he held auditions to find a voice that sounded more like Bill Murray's. And thus, they found Dave Coulier, A.K.A. “Joey Gladstone”, or as THE BONDO BANDIT called him, ÂThat dumb Full House GuyÂ. :p After that, Venkman became a stale, boring annoyance that no one liked anymore. Coulier's Venkman wasnÂt funny. He was irritating. As Fritz said, he sounded like a really bad Bill Murray impression. He wasnÂt very smart, either. He had 30 less I.Q. points than LorenzoÂs Venkman. He didnÂt sound a thing like Bill Murray. This is another reason why very few Ghostheads like Murray or Gross. :p And this is a good reason why we don't need any of them ruining things again. I don't care whether their shareholders or not. Let the fans decide what's best and what's not.
1.) Use the same art thatÂs being used in the comic (The character likenesses, jumpsuits, equipment, ECTO-1, Firehouse, etc.) for this cartoon. As said before, it could be in the style of the FOX BoxÂs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003). Get the same animation studios who does theirs to do this new GB cartoonÂs.
2.) DonÂt make the guys boring, incredibly dull all the time, or give them weak personalities. DonÂt make them lifeless zombies. Use The New Ghostbusters Timeline for characterization and to avoid errors in Core Continuity and confusion. Give us that classic Ghostbusters Dialogue, memorable lines, and VenkmanÂs hilarious one-liners and cracks.
3.) Bring back Dana Barrett and Walter Peck. DonÂt have Dana appear too often. Maybe she could slowly drift away from Peter, and eventually marry Andre Wallance (OscarÂs Father, A.K.A. ÂThe StiffÂ. But thatÂs only if the 88mph Studios and/or Sony wants the revival to move towards GB II.). Have Walter Peck (Who was fired from the EPA after the events of the first movie.) continue his vendetta against Venkman and the Ghostbusters. HeÂs a human (At least we think he is :p
), and the guys canÂt bust him. HeÂs their one true mortal enemy that they canÂt just simply eliminate, which makes him a big thorn in their sides. And make him menacing. DonÂt have Louis Tully appear too often, either. As someone else said earlier, maybe he just visits the Firehouse, so Egon and Ray can run tests on him, like a Guinea Pig (They wanted a sample of his Brain Tissue. :p ). And make him funny. Make him a source of comedy.4.) Lots of ghosts and monsters; a ÂFrighteners feel to it with a touch of Poltergeist, and H.P. Lovecraft influences, with some Ghostbusters style humor. Give us good plots, and lots of comedy. There should be more ghosts than monsters, but it would be cool to have monsters every now and then (Such as Demons, Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Gremlins, Goblins, Ghouls, Sea Monsters, etc.). If itÂs possible, get J. Michael Straczynski to come back as story editor, and/or at least as a writer. Also Michael Reaves and Richard Mueller would be cool writers to bring back. Have the storylines taking place in the Present Time, Manhattan, NY, 2003, or whatever year this Cartoon is released. Don't give us completely recycled story lines (Although a few popular RGB Episodes could be adapted.). Give us new stories, but remain true to the Core Continuity (Which IÂve already mentioned at the top.).
5.) They are Scientists gone into business, in their case, Professional Paranormal Investigators and Eliminators, not Superheroes. And remember, the three original Ghostbusters are Doctors (Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Raymond Stantz, Dr. Peter Venkman, etc.), with various degrees and doctorates. Their equipment isnÂt perfect. Sometimes it breaks or malfunctions (Not all the time, just sometimes.). TheyÂre a business! They donÂt work for free! Have them (Or just Venkman.) hassle customers for their pay every now and then.
6.) Slimer shouldnÂt be their pet, but donÂt make him a bad ghost. He should just be a mysterious ghost, not a bad one. HeÂs not out to hurt/haunt anyone; heÂs just a little mischievous. And donÂt have him appear often. A good solution for this whole ÂOnionhead Vs. Slimer debate could be not to give him a name. If heÂs not going to be their pet, then he wonÂt need one. Giving him a name would make him more like a pet, and 88mph Studios said he wouldnÂt be one. If he doesnÂt have a name, then heÂs still just Âthat anonymous ghost from the hotel who slimed VenkmanÂ. And thatÂs the way he should be.
7.) RGB elements: Face it, whether you like it or not, RGB always has been and always will be a very influential and important part of the Ghostbusters franchise. Not using parts of it would be biased and disappointing to the fans. Taking characters/episodes from RGB and modernizing them for the new comic/movie atmosphere would be GREAT! It would be cool to see how these situations would be in the comic. And believe me, it would come with the fans approval. Characters/ghosts/monsters we'd like to see:
Charlie Venkman (Peter's conman dad.), Dr. Alfred Bassingham (The phony T.V. Spiritualist/fraud who gave the guys trouble. He also teamed up with PeterÂs dad once.), Inspector Frump (The Police Lieutenant who always gave the guys trouble. Sort of like a Harvey Bullock rip-off. :p ), Cthulhu, the Headless Motorcyclist, Casey Jones, the Earps, the Boogieman, the Sandman, Samhaine, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future.
Episodes we might want to see:
No One Comes To Lupusville
Egon's Ghost
The Boogieman Cometh & The Bogeyman Is Back (Without the Jr. Ghostbusters. :p )
Mr. Sandman, Dream Me A Dream
When Halloween Was Forever & Halloween II 1/2 (Without the Jr. Ghostbusters. :p )
X-Mas Marks The Spot
8.) Let's review the original Voice Actors and a few new candidates:
A.) Frank Welker (Dr. Raymond Stantz and Slimer.). He may not have sounded like Dan Aykroyd very much, but there's absolutely no doubt to anyone that he's the most talented and best Voice Actor in Hollywood, ever. He can do nearly any voice. Not only could he provide Ray's Voice, but he also provided voices for background characters, guest characters, and Paranormal Entities.
B.) Maurice LaMarche (Dr. Egon Spengler). Now you canÂt tell me that he didnÂt sound nearly exactly like Harold Ramis. HeÂs perhaps the best sound-alike artist in the industry. He too, also provided voices for background characters, guest characters, and Paranormal Entities. HeÂs a must for this new Cartoon, so do whatever it takes to bring him back.
C.) Arsenio Hall (Winston Zeddemore). Winston Zeddemore was hilarious (Even more than Ernie Hudson.) alongside Dr. Peter Venkman (Lorenzo Music) when Arsenio voiced him. Unfortunately, his show became more and more popular, and he had to leave RGB. From then on, Winston was voiced by Some Guy whoÂs voice sounded like a slightly deeper version of ArsenioÂs. It would be a top choice to get Hall back, if possible.
D.) Lorenzo Music (Dr. Peter Venkman and Charlie Venkman.). He was best remembered for playing Garfield (How ironic is it that Bill Murray is going to play Garfield in the new Movie?). IMHO, He and Bill Murray will always remain the only true Dr. Peter VenkmanÂs. No one ever made Venkman as believable as they did. LorenzoÂs Venkman was hilarious. He made all those hilarious one-liners and cracks, and we all fell in love with him. Unfortunately, sometime during the first or second season of RGB, Bill Murray called Michael C. Gross (The Producer.), and told him that he loved RGB, but he asked him why Peter didn't sound like him. So Michael C. Gross, being the genius that he was got Lorenzo Music (A.K.A. “Garfield”.) fired. Then he held auditions to find a voice that sounded more like Bill Murray's. And thus, they found Dave Coulier, A.K.A. “Joey Gladstone”, or as THE BONDO BANDIT called him, ÂThat dumb Full House GuyÂ. :p After that, Venkman became a stale, boring annoyance that no one liked anymore. Coulier's Venkman wasnÂt funny. He was irritating. As Fritz said, he sounded like a really bad Bill Murray impression. He wasnÂt very smart, either. He had 30 less I.Q. points than LorenzoÂs Venkman. He didnÂt sound a thing like Bill Murray. Sadly, Lorenzo Music passed away two years ago. Please DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT give us Dave Coulier again! :p Two new possible choices for Dr. Peter Venkman would be Rino Romano and Rob Paulsen. They can deliver great comedic performances. And Rob Paulsen has already worked with Maurice LaMarche. So heÂs already got some ÂPeter and Egon experience. He even did an impression of Dave CoulierÂs Venkman in a brief RGB Parody on an episode of Casper (1996). But I think he should stay FAR, FAR, FAR away from Dave CoulierÂs Venkman. If one of them is chosen, then keep their personality closer to Bill MurrayÂs Venkman. And donÂt let them Âtry too hard to sound like MurrayÂ.
E.) Laura Summer (Janine Melnitz). She did a pretty good Annie Potts impression (Voice, attitude, and all.). Unfortunately, she also left when the Network called in the ÂChild Shrinks to please the angry Mothers of the RGB Fans, who thought it was too Âviolent and satanicÂ. They even thought JanineÂs pointed glasses that would scare kid, because Âkids are afraid of pointed objectsÂ. That was when the ÂNew Kid-Friendly Mother Figure Janine Melnitz was introduced (*Cough* Makeoveris Lotsabucks! *Cough*). From then on, she was played by Kathy Soucie. Her Janine sounded like a Cheerleader that inhaled waaaaaaay too much helium (ALL of the voices sheÂs ever done sound like that. The only difference in any of her voices is the deepness. Have you ever heard of Phil and Lil DeVille?). She didnÂt sound a thing like Annie Potts. Please DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, give us Kathy Soucie again! Fritz suggested either Pat Musick, Bridgette Hoffman, or Tress MacNeille. IÂm sure one of them could sound like a tough Secretary with a heavy Brooklyn accent if they tried. Tress MacNeille may even be able to pull off a good Dana Barrett, too.
F.) Rodger Bumpass (Louis Tully). Hey, he sounded like a pretty good Rick Moranis impression to me. They could've made him funnier, though. So if Louis is brought back, at least make him funnier.
9.) DonÂt use this cartoon just as an excuse to promote a toy line. That was one of the things where EGB went wrong. Remember that the main reason this cartoon exists, is to entertain the Viewers - Us, the Ghostheads. Speaking of a toy line, of course youÂve got to have one! But it needs to be a high-quality toy line. ItÂs obvious that Kenner (RGB) canÂt and wonÂt be doing it. They were bought out by the evil, cheap, primitive-style Hasboro. HasboroÂs toy-making technology is very outdated. They seem to make most of their action figures at a bad scale, as well. I know that their recent Star Wars lines are big improvements, but I still wouldnÂt trust them. So forget them. As for Trendmasters (EGB), their toys were too small, and they broke easily. Sure, it was nice to have an ECTO-1 that finally had lights and a siren, but what good was it if none of the pieces stayed on the roof? :p And come to think of it, I havenÂt heard too much about Trendmasters in a few years. So forget them, too. And come to think of it, someone said that McFarlane wouldnÂt touch a cartoon or comic with a ten-foot pole. Anyway, I also heard that McFarlane isnÂt going to do be making movie figures anymore (With the possible exception of Spawn.). For them, itÂs just sports figures from now on.
Personally, IÂd like to see Palisades do a new toy line. I donÂt know too much about toys anymore, but from what IÂve seen by them, I liked. Theirs are great. They definitely put high quality and detail into their figures. IÂm sure that they would not disappoint us.
Also, IÂd like for the average GB figures to be six inches tall (I think thatÂs the average height of action figures these days.). But remember, as JMS did, donÂt let the toy company have any input on the series. Instead, let the series have input on the toy line.10.) Also, take a look at SinisterÂs idea for an intro:
ABOVE NEW YORK CITY
Black clouds swirl together… lightning strikes.
EXT. MAYORÂS OFFICE WINDOW
Mayor Lenny walks up to the window cautiously, his face full of horror. He peers out of the windowÂ
LENNY: ÂSomebody get me the Ghostbusters!Â
Ray Parker, Jr.'s GB theme starts up with the original spooky intro.
CUT TO
INT. GB FIREHOUSE
Close up on Janine Melnitz, she is talking on the phone and suddenly slams it down, and slaps her hand down on the bell.
CUT TO
EXT. GB FIREHOUSE
The black Firehouse doors burst open and the ECTO-1 screeches past and drives around the corner. A man in a messy blue suit is walking down the street, briefcase in hand. As the ECTO drives past him, it splashes water from a puddle on him. The man throws his briefcase on the ground in anger and the camera zooms in on his face. It's Walter Peck, he sneers and spits.
CUT TO
INT. DANA BARRETTS APARTMENT
Dana is happily playing the Cello. She hears the ECTO-1Âs siren. Dropping her cello she runs over to the window and pokes her head out. Below she sees the ECTO-1 drive past. She smiles as the sight of it and the camera zooms in on her face.
CUT TO
EXT. SEDGEWICK HOTEL
The ECTO-1 drives past, a moment later a terrified crowd bursts out, followed by a small green ghost (Slimer.), it's face stuffed with hot dogs. The camera zooms in and it grins mischievously.
CUT TO
NEW YORK HARBOR
The area is under Police control. There are crowds behind police fencing. The camera pans in over the water, it is filled with ghosts and sea monsters.
CUT BACK TO
NEW YORK HARBOR
The ECTO-1 pulls up, the GBÂs jump out and begin putting on their equipment. At the back Louis Tully (In regular clothes.) jumps out, he tries to run over to the Ghostbusters, waving a tax return in his hands. Louis is pulled back by two Police Officers, he futily points to the Ghostbusters and inaudibly begs to be let go, but he is forced into the crowd.
The camera pans in on the back of the four Ghostbusters who are standing by the waterside looking out over it. The camera sweeps round to the front of them and stops in a picture perfect pose. The four GBÂs pull up their Particle Throwers and fire at the screen. There is an explosion and the screen goes black.
The no-ghost logo zooms into view…
Columbia Pictures' GHOSTBUSTERS
As for the ending credits, they could be like RGBÂs. The guys march/dance down the street in a parade while the GB theme plays.
And, just incase it needs to ever be brought up these are things that SHOULD NOT, I repeat, SHOULD NOT be in this new cartoon series (They stray waaaaaaay too far away from the seriousness of the movie.):
1.) Crime-Busting/Ghostbusters that are more like Superheroes than Scientists.
2.) Blue/Yellow/Brown cartoony-looking equipment.
3.) Any of the Kid-friendly nonsense from the final seasons of RGB.
4.) Anything from SlimerÂs own Cartoon.
6.) Professor Dweeb.
7.) Slimer with totally coherent speech/busting ghosts/following the guys on busts.
8.) The Junior Ghostbusters.
9.) Dave CoulierÂs Dr. Peter Venkman.
10.) Kathy SoucieÂs Janine Melnitz.
11.) Any intentional Politically-Correctness (Like the kind on EGB.).
12.) Cartoony-looking art style, like the kind on SlimerÂs cartoon or a lazy art style, where the ghost isnÂt in the No-Ghost Logo, like on EGB.
13.) No ECTO-2 (The gyrocopter.) and no ECTO-3 (The scooter.). They were too far-fetched. Especially considering that the guys probably wouldn't have all that much use for them, anyway.
So what do you guys think?
