Olivia’s is back with a new edition of The Revamp!!! In honor of going back to school and it’s 20th Anniversary she has remade the Cult Comedy Classic; Superstar!
Before Tina Belcher was the spirit animal of many eccentric ambiverts, the world had the shining awkwardness of Saturday Night Live’s Mary Katherine Gallagher. Like many who dress up as Tina for Halloween, I too have taken to dressing up like everyone’s favorite nerdy Catholic schoolgirl who dreams of a spot in the spotlight; however, Tina is more recognizable by current pop culture fans.
Now, to remake the film as a continuation of the life of MKG would not end with high ratings. The original already has a 5.1 out of 10 on IMDb, The New York Times said “(Superstar is) a comedy with several good laughs but no convincing cohesion.”, and Basement Rejects stated “(Superstar) is by no means a good movie, but it can be entertaining if it hits you right”. In short; to take a plot that was hardly received well and continue it would be a shame to the box office.
So, in honor of getting back into the swing of things at school, here are some ideas for cast and crew who should they accept their roles will be dreading the first period bell like the rest of us.
ORIGINAL
Director:
Prior to Superstar (1999), director Bruce McCulloch’s filmography includes the cult classic comedy series The Kids in the Hall (1990-94), which could be considered a distant cousin of MKG and her band of classmates. Over time, McCulloch directorial skills, and his eye for comedy in the common place, continued to grow and hence memorable episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2016), and Schitt’s Creek (2018) boast his name in their credits.
Writer:
Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live (1995-2010), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), Kath and Kim (2008-09), and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)) is one of if not the original creator of MKG, and displayed MKG’s awkward glory to television audiences while on SNL. With the collaboration of screenwriter Steve Koren (Seinfeld (1996-98), A Night at the Roxbury (1998), Bruce Almighty (2003), and Saturday Night Live (1991-98 and 2019)), they were able to prepare MKG for her silver screen debut.
Cinematographer:
Walt Lloyd was at the helm of the cinematography for several well-known TV shows and films from the 1990’s and early 2000’s. From Empire Records in 1995, to a stint with the crew of CSI Miami (2002-03) and House (2004-05), his range shows diversity in genre and scale.
Cast:
Molly Shannon (SEE NOTES ABOVE)
Will Ferrell is no stranger to a few feature length films related to characters from SNL. When he completed his time on the show (1995-2018) he went onto a long list of comedy favorites of the 2000’s including Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), and Step Brothers (2008). Nevertheless, there will be those who came into their sexual awakening from his role of Sky and Jesus Christ in Superstar (myself excluded).
While most remember Elaine Hendrix for her roles in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), The Parent Trap (1998), others might recall her for her Superstar role of Evian (whose name does sound like a brand of bottled water) and her more recent roll on Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2015-16). While she often played the flawed and the fierce, this should not be a detriment to her character in real life.
Harland Williams has played the quirky, and delightful oddball, and the bronze medalist of the friend’s group in several noteworthy films and TV shows. I choose to remember him and MKG’s sweetheart, Slater, as well as a source of comedy gold in films such as Dumb and Dumber (1994), Sorority Boys (2002), and Sausage Party (2016).
Mark McKinney Another tie to the shows The Kids in the Hall (1988-1995) and Saturday Night Live (1985-1997), McKinney’s role as MKG’s Father Ritley could be one of his largest and best-known roles. He has also spent time behind the writer’s chair for a variety of TV shows and films, including a stint with SNL.
Glynis John’s last film performance was playing the irritable but vulnerable and equally talented, devote Grandma of MKG. While most remember her for her TV show Glynis (1963), and many more for her role in the award-winning Mary Poppins (1964), those who have seen her performance in Superstar find it holds a special place in their hearts.
REVAMP
The Crew
Director:
Adam McKay’s past directorial positions include several films with SNL cast members and themes, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) and Step Brothers (2008). If you add the acclaim of directing a film like The Big Short (2015), it could be enough of a boost to a revamp of Superstar, where the film going audience will have reason to laugh, enjoy, and talk about the film.
Writers:
One would like to bring back Molly Shannon to be the lead writer for a revamp of MKG, for the simple reason the character is one of her ‘children’ and would need the love and care of their mother. Additionally, Michelle Wolf (Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014-16), The Daily Show (2016-18), and Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady (2017) could and would be a vital co-writer simply due to her refreshing sense of the comedy scene, and comedy fans themselves.
Cinematographer:
Julio Macat is another talented crew member who has worked with several comedic plots and actors and knows how to draw out moments of both humor and heart. Whether it was the invasion of the McCallister’s house in Home Alone (1990), the profession of love towards the end of Wedding Crashers (2005), to the roller coaster of shenanigans between the fathers in Daddy’s Home (2015), he would fit right in on a revamp of Superstar.
CAST
Mary Katherine Gallagher:
While it could be a start towards Beanie Feldstein being typecast as the ‘Coming of Age Girl’, her contributions to films like Lady Bird (2017) show that she can shine and be as memorable as the lead. She offers an authenticity that causes audiences to laugh with and at her in grace. If she can take a break after American Crime Story (2020), she could pull out her old Catholic School Uniform and find herself a pink cardigan.
Sky Corrigan/Jesus:
Aaron Tveit has quite the stage experience to offer a farce of the ‘good looking senior who gets any part he wants’ that is Sky. While he might not have Ferrell’s build, was more stoic in Les Misérables (2012), and seemed looser in Grease Live! (2016), he is known to be a funny guy, and that and his fan base could cause more butts in theater seats.
Evian:
Kiernan Shipka continues to find her next iconic role since the end of Mad Men (2007-15) and the so-so Flowers in the Attic (2014). While she was bratty in Mad Men, she was a child. Now, since has had more exposure and ability to test her range, she could bring that stubbornness to a teenager version of Sally Draper.
Slater:
Ellar Coltrane grew before the audience’s eyes in the award-winning film Boyhood (2014) and has completed a few films since to keep adding to his actor’s toolbox of tricks and trades. While he is not synonymous with Harlan, he could give Slater a new look by being the outcast with a genuine personality. He too could be so much more than the guy with a birthmark that looks like shit.
Father Ritley:
While I did consider Steve Coogan (Hamlet 2 (2008), and Alan Partridge and Philomena (2013)) for the role of a head of Catholic School, the role would have to go to John Oliver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014 – Current) and The Lion King (2019). Oliver can not only hold a serious tone in a slapstick scenario, he can also be thoughtful which the role does require from time to time.
Grandma:
Much like Johns, Cloris Leachman is a legend of the stage and screen. Who else would be better to give a new MKG tips on how to wow and stun her audience? From her work in films such as The Last Picture Show (1971) and Young Frankenstein (1974), and TV American Gods (2017 – Current), she is a spit fire who could show them all a thing or two.