Game Over? Not by a Long Shot!

Not too long ago, when "The Sapranos" ceased production for about a year due to the loss of their shooting locale and the lengthy and more lucrative contract negotiations on behalf of James Gandolfini, it certainly didn't make one bit of difference what HBO said about the show's intended return; the word both on the street and in print was that it was over. Only the truest of believers could say, "I knew all along it would be back!", when, to the amazement of many, the show finally returned for one more season. Upon the broadcast of the season premiere, which broke all records for the simultaneous viewing of any cable TV show, the collective response from the critics as well as the public went something like, "We waited all year for THAT?!" But the fans stuck with it and the show found its stride once again. Any of this sound familiar to you?

Cut to this week: Now, amidst all the settling down of grievous feelings and the acceptance that the hit series is finally, in fact, over, comes word that production plans are now underway for the filming of a Sapranos feature film to be shot on location in New York City and parts of New Jersey. This is still "officially" a rumour and HBO refuses both to comment on it and to answer any questions about it but I think we all know what's coming, don't we?

Well, this reminds me of our situation a year ago. Our series went into an unintentional hiatus due to the many, many commitments of our production team to a truckload of video productions for not only College Humor but for Dutch West TV as well. This may have been, up to that point, the most prolific output of material ever seen from Sam Reich and Vince Peone. In 2007 Sam was responsible for some 70 videos for College Humor. This year he's expected to yield a crop of some 200 videos! Then there's still Dutch West!

What I'm getting at is that, during that time off for SF:TLY, we all kept reading again and again our epitaphs from around the world and even many explanations with regard to why our series was never coming back, chief among them that Capcom did indeed sue us and the other being that CH had simply lost interest in its continuation. These last rites went unrelenting right up until we began posting our new '07-'08 season. College Humor made the announcement then that this season would be our last but there's still a whole lot more that CH didn't say.

Here's what's in the works right now, folks:

College Humor is currently in talks with a few companies about SF:TLY making the transition to either a full fledged TV series or a feature film. Thankfully, we've met all the criteria for that metamorphosis but one; it still needs to be seen, probably some four to six months after our final episode, how much the fans are still clamoring for more. If the public demand persists, then our older although apparently not much wiser World Warriors will get a new and bigger lease on life. Just the unanswered questions alone should be enough to bring us back:

How is M. Bison alive again?

What happened between Ken and Eliza to make way for a romance between Ken and Chun Li?

If Bison could bring himself back to life, could he do the same for Sagat? Would he even want to?

Now that Vega has redeemed himself, will E. Honda come around and see that he, too, had been corrupted by the lure of wealth?

In fact, can Edmund simply keep the money and invest it in cheeseburgers once again?

Now that he's used it to save the life of the man he loves the most, will Zangief's Wardrobe Malfunction become a new Special Move?

Worse yet, will he combine it with his Spinning Piledriver?!

OR FLYING POWER BOMB?!

As of this writing the first of a series of video comedy spots called, "Life with Zangief" has been written and is set to shoot this year. These shorts are intended for inclusion in the proposed "Mike Fass Show", one of several new TV show pilots I've been drafted into developing. The spots will be seen around the web well in advance of the show, of course, and the first one is entitled, "Dragon Punch & Judy", which will feature Zangief in a tuxedo (an industrial strength tux, of course, without, thankfully, breakaway trousers).

Now, in the unlikely event that all avenues for the return of "Later Years" get shut down, there is still one more option.

Jose Lara, TJ Glenn and I will have at the ready a pilot episode for a spinoff sitcom based on Sam Reich's concept and series and pitched to the same production company for whom I'm writing new shows now. About four of the Street Fighter characters in a regular series with frequent guest appearances from their various other SF buddies. If this option becomes necessary, then we will consult with Sam Reich, College Humor and Capcom to work out agreements and make all of this possible.

Right now, however, we are in talks with a worldwide booking agency that specializes in celebrity public appearances to get as many of the SF:TLY original cast as possible to appear in person at many movie openings, shopping malls, comic book and science fiction conventions, video game expos, superhero conventions and any other events that are celebrating Street Fighter's 20th Anniversary around the world. This is why, when many of you see me cruising through the streets of New York City or cities in New Jersey on my bike, I still have Zangief's regulation Mohawk.

As we wrapped the final day of shooting this wonderful series on October 27th, 2007, a few of us were unemotional about it and simply looked forward to working with us in various other assignments in the future, a few others were very saddened to say good-bye to the series and to us and still a few more of us knew at that very moment that this wouldn't be the end and that soon we'll all be back together on the set for more action, comedy and adventure. After all, if "Street Fighter: the Later Years" has proven anything, it's that you can't keep a good Street Fighter down.

NOW FOR THE "THANK YOU"S:

I personally want to thank Sam Reich for the honor, privelege and distinction of being cast as Zangief, especially when you consider how short I fall of his former height and weight class, LOL! Hey, at least we know he's off the steroids now. Hopefully my uncanny facial resemblance to the character as well as his falling neatly to within my age range to play him helped make up for the discrepency. I've played more characters over the decades than I can even recount and, I've gotta tell ya, I can't think of another character who's more fun to play than the Red Cyclone. Sam, you are a beautiful man and one of the most multi-talented men I've ever seen in show business (and I've been doing this since before you were even born)! You and Vince Peone, a man I predict will rack up more awards for cinematography than for which he'll have room, are the kind of magical combination of talents that fall nothing short of alchemous (please tell me that's a real word). Your energy, enthusiasm and sheer love for your work are contageous and have brought all of the rest of us in on your wavelength. You have created one of the most enjoyable experiences for all of us! I love you, Sam!

Thanks to our wonderful producers, Jordan Hall and Jen Dunlap, who made all of us feel like family and remained so positive and unshakeable even in the face of unexpected problems and delays. I've been on sets where production teams have encountered less and not handled it nearly as well. You made us all feel loved, cared for and just like family. Actually, you kids are really fun people!

More love to the rest of our production team:

David Fishel, at first it was hard for me to part with Sam's rhythmically "comic" editorial style when you took over but, as this final episode now really demonstrates to me, you employ an enrirely different yet just as brilliant rhythm to your edits. Your cuts and action placements are so perfectly segued to the musical score that I can appreciate your work in a whole new way. As a man who used to do sound effects, audio editing and music editing for television, I recognize a fellow music editor when I see one, except that you place the visuals themselves at exactly the points where they will most dramatically be underscored by the pace of the music. I'm surprised I didn't pick up on that right away. Great work, David, and you have indeed won me over.

Our killer head writer, Dan Gurewitch, who could write a book all about Street Fighter if he so chose. The fans really appreciate your in-jokes and your scripts always make me laugh out loud! Great work, bro!

More love to our amazing production crew, PAs Eva Wong and Steve Cozzarelli, Soundmen Kurt Seery (another guy who never cracks under stress) and Peter Gallo, with whom I recently had the pleasure of working again in the film, "Floating People", Gaffers John Moustakas, Corey Montana and so many more whose names, forgive me, have slipped my mind after so much time. Our classy and inventive Composer, Dimitris Plagiannis, who created our exciting score and, of course, the guys ar Ghostlight Digital for their phenomenal special effects.

Of course, huge kudos to all our co-stars and supporting players. I will post a separate tribute to all of you soon.

All of us will be involved in many other projects throughout the year, of course, but your Street Fighters are staying right here with you.

Biggest thanks of all are to the fans of "Street Fighter: TLY" who happen to be among the nicest people I've gotten to know. This has been and will soon continue to be an adventure that we've all had fun experiencing together. You're the reason it's all happened and the reason why it succeeded in such a big way! Huge Zangief sized furry Russian bear hugs to all of you and let's all stay together here in this forum because, in the months to come, there will be many more developments and updates.

One of the nicest things people keep saying to me on the street is, "Thanks for bringing back my childhood heroes!", or, "I feel like a good part of my childhood is back again"! That's a wonderful thing to hear because I know how precious my nostalgia is to me and, although I'm not an X-er like Street Fighter fans tend to be, I so appreciate how sacred our childhood memories are that I want to know for sure that we're bringing them to life again in a way that not only feels comfortable and familiar to you, but brings all the fun of that time roaring right back into your life today.

I can't thank you enough for having embraced our portrayal of your youth experience as brought up to date in the new millennium. We will do all that we can to see that your Street Fighter heroes remain your constant companions once again.

Much love!