CBS Got the "Rush Hour" Series, So All Hope Is Lost

1998’s Rush Hour was an international sensation that spawned a franchise grossing a total of $845 million worldwide. Does that necessarily mean that it should become a TV show? Probably not.

This didn’t stop director Brett Ratner, producer Arthur Sarkissian, and Warner Bros. TV from doing it anyway. While it still sounds like a bad idea, if in the right hands and on the right network it at least stood a chance of being serviceable. Milquetoast CBS, however, is just about the last place a show like this should choose to go.

Again, however, it appears that the production team has made a startlingly poor choice.

Deadline is reporting that CBS has landed the show, and has given them the go-ahead to shoot an hour-long pilot episode of Rush Hour. They’ll be sticking with the tried-and-true plot formula from the first movie, using its mismatched cop team (which will not be Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker) to drive the action. Laugh tracks will almost undoubtedly be involved.

So who will be starring in the Chan and Tucker roles? You can bet that, since it’s CBS, it will be two very “safe” choices. Below are a few possibilities.

[via Deadline]

Pros: CBS already knows him, and he has experience playing a character who barely speaks English (on Lost).

Cons: He’s not Chinese, and he’s already on an active show. Also, to the world he'll always be Jin.

Pros: Martial arts experience (like Chan), name recognition.

Cons: Possible post-Expendables steroids investigation.

Pros: Name recognition, Academy Award nominee.

Cons: Not Chinese. Also, way too good an actor for this show.

Pros: CBS would love nothing more than to build a pilot around the family comedy icon.

Cons: This.

Pros: Seems the right level of inappropriate, already on a CBS show.

Cons: Smoove with no swearing is hardly any fun.

Pros: This part basically is Rod Tidwell, except a cop rather than a football player.

Cons: It almost makes too much sense.