AT 40 -- The Movie?

[pandy]

If Hollywood ever made a movie based on Rob Durkee's book "American Top 40 Countdown of the Century" What would be your suggestions on the topics involved in the movie? The highs and lows about making of the show each week. Who would act as Casey, Shadoe, Don Bustany and Tom Rounds? Also the key dates on the show.

Here are some suggestions by me.

THE LONG TAPING SESSION OF THE VERY FIRST SHOW
DICK CLARK'S IDEA OF VOICE TRACKING
THE SWITCH FROM MONO TO STEREO
THE CHRISTMAS SHOW (either 71 or 73)
THE LOCATION OF DISAPPEARING ACTS (especially Joan Weber)
THE SWITCH FROM THREE TO FOUR HOUR SHOW
THE TAKEOVER OF ABC
SHADOES FIRST SHOW (with the theater of the mind intro)
SHADOES CHRISTMAS LDD THAT A SONG WAS NEVER PLAYED.

and we must not forget "A LITTLE DOG NAMED SNUGGLES"

There are many more left out, but we do not want it to be long as "Avatar" :}

[at40petebattistini]

A "Hollywood" version might be more universally accepted because you're likely to see exaggeration and fiction to make it more audience friendly. However, if something like this would ever be developed, I'm certain most AT40 fans would prefer a documentary-style production.

As far as suggestions, I'd like to think the re-tracked John Lennon (from December 13, 1980) show would be considered. Another thought -- ironically, both Casey and Shadoe pursued and enjoyed limited success as TV actors.

[snarfdude]

True, Casey had recurring roles at in season's 1 and 2 of quincy (available on DVD) and played a villain haunting a movie studio lot (the universal lot) on a two parter episode on the 2nd season of the hardy boys/nancy drew TV series. I'm sure IMDB would tell you more, but those are two I can think of off the top of my head.

Documentary style would certainly be more marketting friendly, and it doesn't even have to be a major motion picture. What maybe more practical is a 2 hour doc style TV movie. One was done a couple years ago on the Big 8, CKLW and was incredibly well done. Given AT40's history, I think it deserves that at least. This maybe the time to strike as AT40 reruns on satelite radio have been on for a few years, generating new interest.

I'm more for the actual production side of the show, equipments specfics and their production processes, which was touched on in the book, but didn't really go into detail.

[mkarns]

Other TV series Casey has appeared in include "Hawaii Five-O", "Ironside", "Charlie's Angels", "Fantasy Island", "My Two Dads", "Saved By the Bell", and "Homeboys In Outer Space" (as "Spacy Kasem"). And he's of course lent his voice to much else, most notably the various iterations of "Scooby Doo". This doesn't count his appearances on talk shows and much else; if you look on You Tube there's currently a clip of him on David Letterman from about 1993 counting down the "Top Ten Numbers From 10 to 1".

Some other things that should be included in an AT40 movie include Casey's move to Westwood One and "Casey's Top 40"; problems with ABC/Watermark in the early 1990s; the show's subsequent cancellation and Casey's revival of it; moving the show to CD and eventually computerizing it or whatever they do now; various format tinkerings; and Casey's eventual retirement and Ryan Seacrest's accession (he'd probably play himself.)

[BrettVW]

I'd love to see a true documentary with the likes of AT40/AT20/CT40 staffers detailing the history of the shows, perhaps a movie version of Rob's book. I highly doubt Casey would be willing or able to appear, but I'd love to see interviews with the likes of Matt Wilson, Merrill Schindler, Rob Durkee, Lorre Crimme, and any willing staffers to particpate both past and present. If Ryan and/or Shadoe would be willing to participate, all the better! And perhaps even get Mike Kasem involved somehow. I'd love to see a story from the first show all the way to Casey's last AC shows last summer.

[mrjukebox]

"The AT40 Movie" would be good as a documentary-The person who makes the documentary would need to interview Casey Kasem & Don Bustany-After all,they're the individuals who launched "AT40" forty years ago this summer.

[at40petebattistini]

On what would've been Casey's 89th birthday today, there is some talk by reputable TV producers about finally developing a documentary about the positive side of Casey Kasem's life, and the impact he made as an entertainer and personality. Let's hope this idea becomes reality.

[dth1971]

Ryan Reynolds would make a good Casey Kasem portrayer for a Casey/AT40 biopic.

[djjoe1960]

I wonder is there a good documentary of Casey's life? I have viewed several news bits and random videos featuring him but no dedicated documentary.

[dth1971]

May 5, 2021 6:42:34 GMT -5 djjoe1960 said:

I wonder is there a good documentary of Casey's life? I have viewed several news bits and random videos featuring him but no dedicated documentary.

Too bad A&E never did in their Biography series a Biography of Casey Kasem.