The 2011 movie, “Bad Teacher,” seemed to be just that – bad. Cameron Diaz had a few lines that made me laugh but overall, the film was not nearly as funny as I thought it would be. Now, CBS is creating an adaptation of the film to bring it to television in a pilot.
“Bad Teacher” snagged “Fringe” actress Ari Graynor to play the nasty gold digging Meredith Davis. Davis, at least in the film, becomes a teacher to fulfill her need to marry a rich man after her boyfriend dumps her.
CBS talked Kristin Davis (“Sex and the City”) into taking the role of Meredith’s nemesis, Ginny. Ginny is a math teacher, choir director and faculty president and if the pilot keeps true to the film, a nice person.
The rest of the cast will include David Alan Grier, Ryan Hansen, Sara Rodier and Sara Gilbert.
Penning the pilot is Hilary Winston of “My Name is Earl,” and “Community.” With Winston writing the script, the pilot would stand a bit of a chance.
For those who haven’t seen the film, “Bad Teacher,” Diaz plays a grumpy, nasty woman with only one thing in mind – how to enjoy her life without working. She decides she needs a man to take care of the financial stuff and she’ll concentrate on things that are more important. You know, like shopping, partying, having fun. She quit her previous job as a teacher to marry the boyfriend who has dumped her and she finds herself back in the classroom now that he isn’t paying the bills.
Diaz falls asleep during class after far too many hours at the clubs partying and searching for her new hubby. She latches on to a teacher at school, when she finds his parents own a high-class watch company. The fight is on when another female teacher is also interested in this same man.
As a fan of Diaz’ comedy films, for the most part, I was shocked at the nastiness in her character. While parts were a little funny, nothing had me laughing as hard as her co-starring role with Christina Applegate in “The Sweetest Thing.” Christina Walters was an over the top nutcase, but the film was humorous. Not so in “Bad Teacher.”
Let’s hope the new series comes from the best of the best Winston has to offer and we get another pilot on television that will lead into something hilarious and worthwhile as a sitcom.
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