10 Things I Hate About You: New and Old

So the new ABC Family TV series 10 Things I Hate About You starts on Tuesday. I’m skeptical of this show.

The commercials seem to claim that this is the “best new show of the summer,” but let’s be real here: I was someone who saw the original in the theaters. Loved the original. Still do. In fact, I’m watching it today on the CW.

It surprised me that it was being aired on the CW and not ABC Family itself. What better way could you advertise your new series–the spinoff of the movie–except by showing the movie itself?

Unless…

Unless, of course, the series is not nearly as good as the movie, and you’d realize it watching them back to back. And personally, I think that’s going to be the case.

I’ve noted before that they should have just made an original high school TV series about two opposite sisters. I mean, the movie was based on Taming of the Shrew (that’s Shakespeare, people) and had such clever jokes in it. Humor that easily moved along a two-hour movie, but could it really be a series without the freshness getting old?

And look who’s shoes your standing in! I mean, Julia Styles? Joseph Gordon Levitt? And, of course, Heath Ledger. I’m sure the new Patrick Verona is thrilled to have the role, but that’s really hard to live up to. Add in the fact that they’ve really narrowed down the characters to make them one-dimensional for the series, and you’ve got one unhappy fan sitting here.

Personally, I’m all about the movie. And I’m very hesitant about the series. I will probably still check it out. For two reasons: 1) to see if I’m right and 2) to have something to write about later in the week. And who knows, maybe it is the best new series of the summer.

Let’s just hope it’s nothing like Secret Life. Please, please, let it be nothing like Secret Life.