Never forget that there was a time way back in 1978 when John Belushi had the number one film (“Animal House“) the number one TV show (“Saturday Night Live“) and the number one album (the Blues Brothers‘ debut LP “Briefcase Full of Blues“) all at the same time in the US.
That point isn’t hugely relevant to this story, other than the fact that it’s about the Blues Brothers. But it’s still a neat fact.
But I digress.
Because the year is 2016 and Dan Aykroyd simply refuses to not, there’s apparent plans in the works to breathe new life into the highly beloved and influential Blues Brothers franchise once again.
Aykroyd and Belushi’s widow Judy have developed the concept for a primetime animated TV version of the iconic characters that they plan on pitching to networks within the next month.
The pair have teamed up with Bento Box Entertainment (the animation studio behind Bob’s Burgers) who will handle the conception and drawing of the cartoon versions of Jake and Elwood Blues.
OG SNL writer Anne Beatts also had a hand in creating the series, alongside Aykroyd and Belushi.
The series will see Jake & Elwood placed in a modern, current-day setting as approximate versions of the original characters, and will see the pair “utilising all new technology to make and promote their own records, seek out and record new artists and avoid law enforcement — and all while fighting for truth, justice and a better breakfast sandwich.“
It should be noted that this is, believe it or not, the third attempt by Aykroyd and Belushi to launch an animated version of the mightily beloved 1980 comedy classic. The pair had a deal with UPN that would have seen an animated show premiere back in 1998, but the show ultimately fell through. A second attempt at getting the project off the ground was subsequently made in 2011.
The pair have made numerous attempts to relaunch and squeeze every penny out of the Blues Brothers name that they can, which includes the 2015 launch of Blues Brothers Records.
The idea of a Bob’s Burgers–lookin’ Jake and Elwood character model is kinda interesting and cool, in a Tumblr reblog kinda way. But a full series based on it? Hooo boy. The jury is out on that one.
‘Course the less said about Blues Brothers 2000 the better. But that’s just a good rule of thumb in general.
Source: Rolling Stone.
