THE SAINT on TNT

If I have anything to say about it, and supposedly I do, the new SAINT TV project for TNT will retain the flavor of Charteris' original.
The Roger Moore series that began in 1962 used the "glob trotting celebrity" character found in Charteris later short stories, and due to the restrictive TV codes of the time, Charteris lamented that the Saint on TV bore as much similarity to his creation as Winnie the Pooh did to Captain Blood.
Times have changed -- restrictions have relaxed. Soooo...this version of The Saint will be the more dangerous and picaresque adventurer, having way too much fun as he takes on recalcitrant and contumacious oppressors while bedding the requisite bevy of beauties -- including the mercurial and romantic Ms Patricia Holm. As all Saint fans know, Simon Templar parks his shoes in numerous international locales, but Holm is where he hangs his hat -- or halo.
Bill Macdonald asked me to serve as "consultant" to the project, and has honestly taken my suggestions to heart (and page). The show should be really cool, faithful to the character, and won't have Charteris getting what he termed Graveyard Torque from spinning in his metaphoric grave. What I like best about the project, of course, is that I'm supposedly getting paid for my wit and wisdom. As with any TV or film project - or publishing for that matter -- I will be 100% convinced when the check clears the bank. As Bill has never deceived me in the past, I trust it will all come out in the wash, even if the spin cycle makes me crazy.

Comments

[Danny Barer]

The job is very cool. The paycheck is even cooler. And if you get a screen credit each week, even if it's scrunched down to the bottom of the screen so that TNT can promote the latest X-Files rerun, that's almost as good as gold (to switch metaphors).

[Randy Johnson]

I hope they do pay attention to your suggestions. I could never watch Val Kilmer's version after seeing the trailer, but I did enjoy your novel of the film as a novel. It wasn't the Saint I know and love though.

[Anea]

Randy, For the "Saint you know and love" check out my dads original saint novel - available for purchase on amazon (through resellers).
It is really good and I have read all the original saint books (can't be raised by Burl without it).

[Mike Hobart]

Well, it SOUNDS great, but as you say -- we shall see. I can't help remember the way Charteris' comments about the Saint movies supposedly led to the creation of The Falcon!

[Randy Johnson]

Anea, I would love to read your Father's Saint novel. I've seen the listing on Amazon. Unfortunately, it's a little pricey for me. Being disabled and on a fixed income, I have to be a bit selective on my book buying. One can always hope that a mass market paperback will be issued someday.

[David Zarkin]

I hve high hopes that your name will appear on the credits of the new Saint show although I will have to upgrade my cable to see it.

[Ian Dickerson]

Oh his name'll be in the credits. He's too shy to tell you he's been cast as Hoppy Uniatz...!

[burl barer]

Noooo...Hoppy will be played by Ian Dickerson, the only man who (a) looks like Hoppy, and (b) can drink like Hoppy.

I'll be the guy in the blond wig and 9" heels -- the new Hollywood Patricia Holm

[Mike Barer]

I think you should work Paris Hilton into a story.

[burl barer]

I would like to work Paris Hilton, but not into a story suitable for youngsters.

[www.saint.org]

I'm greatly looking forward to super Saint fans "Ian" and "Dan" in their Volvo stationwagon Saint Mobile as last seen in CAPTURE THE SAINT!

[Mike Barer]

If I visit Paris, I'll check out the Hilton just so I can say.. Oh never mind!

[Delmo Walters Jr.]

Looking forward to it. Do us Saint fans proud, Burl.

[jeff hudson]

I for one am looking forward to a new saint series. My daughter used
an old paper I wrote years ago showing how the saint
was used by Ian Fleming to
creat James Bond for a film
class at St Lawrence University last semester.
It is a long story but I
was nicked named The Saint back in Prep School by one of my teachers. I also have a small tattoo of the saint which I kind of regret....especially the hangover. Good luck on the project.