Question of the day
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* HBO will be filming a new TV series in Chicago this coming spring…
Chicago natives and stage/film actors Phil Donlon and Joe Sikora are currently developing “Lords of the Levee,” a series based on the book “Bosses in Lusty Chicago” written by Herman Kogan, father of the Chicago Tribune’s Rick Kogan. Nick Pileggi (“Goodfellas,” “Casino”) is writing the show with creators Donlon and Sikora (whom you can also check out on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”). The production company is Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Enterprises. Hoping to shoot in Chicago in mid-2011 it’s in, very early stages,
[h/t: Chicagoist]
* The Question: If a movie or series were made about current Illinois politics, which actors would play our major figures?
- Dave Dahl - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:02 pm:
Zach Galifinakis as Rich Miller.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:03 pm:
Gov Quinn- Wilford Brimley OR Jason Alexander
- Publius - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:04 pm:
Blago as Blagojevich-he’s the only one
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:05 pm:
Try coming up with more than one, please.
- Publius - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:05 pm:
Adding: Jason Alexander is the perfect Quinn.
- Dave Dahl - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:07 pm:
OK. Paul Giamatti as me.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:12 pm:
Gov Quinn- Jason Alexander
Mike Madigan- Woody Allen (wearing contacts)
Barbara Flynn Currie- Joan Cusak
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:16 pm:
I know he passed away, but Rodney Dangerfield as Quinn was first that came to mind. No respect, no respect……Take this state…Please!
Hey, I’m here all week.
- Jeter - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:17 pm:
Speaker Madigan-Harvey Keitel
Gov Quinn- Jason Alexander
Senate Pres Cullerton-Tom Hanks
Tom Cross-No need to be in movie. Would have a non-speaking role only.
- RFK fan - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:19 pm:
Mike Madigan = the guy who played the
Cigarette Smoking Man on the X-Files
- just sayin' - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:21 pm:
That scary guy who played Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men” as Mike Madigan.
Dakota Fanning as Tom Cross.
- How Ironic - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:21 pm:
@ Jeter Good call on Tom Hanks. Perfect for the part.
- LakeviewJ - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:27 pm:
Pat Quinn: Jason Alexander
Sheila Simon: Julia Roberts
Lisa Madigan: Vera Farminga
Jesse White: John Amos
Judy Baar Topinka: Jamie Lee Curtis
Dan Rutherford: Billy Gardell
featuring
Richard Daley: Brian Dennehy
- centrist - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:33 pm:
Quinn–Kurt Fuller
Lisa Madigan–Kyra Sedgwick
Rahm–Joe Pesci
- The truth - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:37 pm:
If you haven’t read the book… it’s great. Hinky Dink and Bathhouse John come to life in the book’s pages.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:38 pm:
Quinn: Larry David
Simon: Hillary Duff
M. Madigan: Conan O’Brien
Cullerton: Steve Buscemi
White: Samuel L. Jackson
L. Madigan: Jennifer Connelly
Topinka: Angela Lansbury
Rutherford: Will Ferrell
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:38 pm:
I think it would best be served as an all muppet cast (think Avenue Q)
- centrist - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:41 pm:
Anonymous, you’re right, Larry David is the perfect Quinn. I just fired Kurt Fuller.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:44 pm:
Oh, and Dan Kotowski: Woody Harrelson (you know I’m right0)
- Cuban Pilot - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:45 pm:
Aaron Shock - played by Shia Labouf
Pat Quinn - played by Lane Smith (but only because gary spence has died) (although, if richard dryfuss can play chenney, why can’t he also get the makeup necessary to play the governor - i think dryfuss could get the quinn mannerism down pretty good. However, I will stick with lane smith because I might need dryfuss to play Gov. Edgar)
Dan Rutherford - played by Stephen Baldwin
Adam Brown - played by Harry Potter
John Shimkus - played by Will Ferell
Mike Madigan - Played by Robert Duvall (doesn’t look like him, but would have the same intensity, seriousness)
Roland Burris - played by tim meadows.
- wndycty - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:48 pm:
Pat Quinn: Jeffrey Tambor
Shelia Simon: Janine Turner
Lisa Madigan: Laura Flynn Boyle
Michael Madigan: Martin Sheen
Mark Kirk: Kevin Spacey
Rickey Hendon: Don Cheadle
Aaron Shock: Neil Patrick Harris
Rod Blagojevich: Treat Williams
Carol Mosely Braun: Diane Carroll
- NW Illinois - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:54 pm:
Mike Madigan - John Getz, Moline native who just played in the movie “Social Network”. Clint Eastwood back up.
Gov Quinn - Gene Hackman
- Cuban Pilot - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 1:56 pm:
sorry, also forgot to use my Illinois native actors.
Gary Forby - played by John Malcovich (Benton connection as well)
Bill Black - Played by Dick Van Dyke
Raymond Poe - played by Jerry Van Dyke
Christine Radagno - played by Keely Sanchez
Lisa Madigan - Played by a wig-wearing Joan Allen
John Cullerton - played by Harold Ramis
Richard Daley - played by Gene Hackman
Bill Brady - played by John C. Reiley
and,
Tom Cross - played by Bill Murray (because both would rather play golf than work)
- ANON - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:05 pm:
Quinn: John Goodman
M. Madigan: John Turtorro
Cullerton: Steve Buscemi
L. Madigan: Julian Moore
Hynes: Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Rich Miller: Jeff Bridges
- ANON - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:13 pm:
Forgot one:
Blagojevich: Tara Reid
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:15 pm:
If Blago himself appears in this movie, he should have a cameo role as someone else (think Chuck Yeager as a bartender in “The Right Stuff”). Maybe as a talk show host, Elvis impersonator, or pizza delivery guy?
- Honest Abe - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:19 pm:
If a film is ever made about Bathhouse John Coughlin and Michael “Hinky Dink” Kenna, Michael J. Madigan would be a natural for Kenna since the late Alderman Tom Cullerton is no longer available.
- LouisXIV - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:20 pm:
Justin Bieber for Blago he’s got the hair and Blago quite often acted like he was a teenager.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
Jesse White: Danny Glover
- Upstate - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:23 pm:
Warwick Davis (credits in six Leprechaun movies) as Mike Madigan.
- Honest Abe - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:28 pm:
The Sham Wow infommercial pest as Congressman-elect Joe Walsh.
- Honest Abe - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:29 pm:
Janeane Garofalo as Lisa Madigan.
- McNulty - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:40 pm:
Related question I’ve thought about for a while: Which Illinois politician is most similar to Senator Clay Davis on The Wire?
Ricky Hendon?
- Worth It - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 2:45 pm:
ANON, Nice job with the Lebowski cast.
Cuban, Lane Smith is dead and I guess it says something if your two top choices for Quinn are dead.
Lakeview J, having never heard of Billy Gardell, and having since googled his name, I must say its dead on.
- unclesam - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 3:37 pm:
Quinn: Nathan Lane
Madigan: Christopher Walken
Cullerton: Tom Hanks
Cross: Matthew Broderick
Radogno: Sigorney Weaver
L. Madigan: Julia Louis-Dryfess
Jesse White: Danny Glover
Rutherford: Will Ferrell
Topinka: Kathy Bates
Mayor Daley: Joe Pesci
Rahm Emmanuel: Robert Downey Jr.
Toni Preckwinkle: Felicia Rashad
Todd Stroger: Jaleel White (no other choice)
B Obama: Will Smith
M Obama: Robin Givens
Rod Blagojevich: Ray Liotta
Patti Blagojevich: Talia Shire (Adrienne from Rocky movies)
Rich Miller: Zach Galifinakis
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 3:38 pm:
Downey a good choice for Emanuel. After seeing Tropic Thunder, he also could be Jesse White.
- Joe from Joliet - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 3:57 pm:
Quinn - Chauncey Gardner
M Madigan - Pee Wee Herman (squint, you’ll see)
L Madigan - Jodie Foster
Cullerton - Malcolm McDowell
Blags Blago (at a parade) - Ricochet Rabbi
Kirk - Jim Carrey
Durbin - Wimpy (from Popeye cartoons)
Topinka - Frances McDormand
Franks - John Goodman
Hendon - Cletus Klump
Me - Leonardo DiCaprio
- Excessively Rabid - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:06 pm:
Lot of food for thought here. I can only add that Johnny Depp would be best for Blago. Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman would be wasted playing Hynes - maybe he should be R. Daley.
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:27 pm:
Brian Doyle-Murray should be Daley.
Jaleel White for Todd Stroger is, as unclesam said, perfect.
Steve Carell could capture the soul of Rod Blagojevich as well as anyone.
Chris Cooper for Mike Madigan.
Michael Imperioli for David Hoffman.
Chris Tucker for Rickey Hendon.
Gary Oldman for Rahm Emanuel.
LakeviewJ’s suggestion of John Amos for Jesse White is great.
Fred Arminsen for Tom Dart.
Diane Keaton for Barbara Flynn Currie.
Kurt Fuller should be Dillard.
Vince Vaughn for Scott Lee Cohen.
- Farmer Ted - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:38 pm:
Tina Turner as Mary Flowers
Moby as Greg Harris
Steve Buscemi as John Cullerton
Potted Plant as Chris Lauzen
Rowan Atkinson as Pat Quinn
C. Montgomery Burns as Mike Madigan
The Chicago Cubs as Tom Cross
- kappakid - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:47 pm:
Zach Galifinakis: Larry Suffredin
Pauly D from Jersey Shore: John Fritchey
Jeffrey Tambor: Pat Quinn
Robert DeNiro: Rich Daley
Danny DeVito: John Daley
Jessica Rabbit: Bridget Gainer
The Situation: Alexi Giannoulias
Martin Short: Mark Kirk
John Travlota: G-Rod
Morgan Freeman: Toni Preckwinkle
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:51 pm:
Definitely Jennifer Connelly for Lisa Madigan
Jack Nicholson for Rich Daley
Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Rutherford
Ralph Fiennes (with an American accent) for Peter Roskamn
Gary Oldman is probably the one person “diverse” enough to play Kirk (after several movies, didn’t even know what Oldman looked like in real life until I googled him)
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:53 pm:
And, Robert Redford for Cross? Maybe.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 4:58 pm:
Nicholas Cage as Giannoulias
- The Ghost of Shadrack Bond - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 6:06 pm:
Mayor Daley - John C. Reilly
Gov. Quinn - Michael Chiklis (sp.) or Ed O’Neill (from Modern Family)
Sen. Christine Radogno - Kristen Wiig (from SNL)
Patty Blagojevich - Tina Fey
John Cullerton - Brad Whitfield (from The West Wing)
Roland Burris - Eddie Murphy
Dick Durbin - Michael J. Fox
Michael Madigan - Steve Carrell
Lisa Madigan - Rachel Dratch (formerly on SNL)
- The Ghost of Shadrack Bond - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 6:09 pm:
It just hit me. Clint Eastwood as Michael Madigan
- anon - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 7:06 pm:
James Arness: Governor Pat Quinn
Peter Falk: Pres. Cullerton
Gliian Anderson: Sheila Simon
Eddie Murphy: Senator Hendon
Robert DuVall: Speaker Mike Madigan
Bette Midler: Judy Baar Topinka
Jodie Foster: Lisa Madigan
Ron Howard: Tom Cross
Glenn Close: C. Radagno
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 8:24 pm:
Good calls on Bette Midler and Glenn Close, Anon!
- JustMe - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 8:46 pm:
Pat Quinn — Bert Lahr
Mike Madigan — Jack Haley
Blago — Ray Bolger
Sheila Simon — Billie Burke
Lisa Madigan — Judy Garland
Rich Miller — Frank Morgan
- Newsclown - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 8:55 pm:
Robert Patrick (”Terminator II”, “The Unit” as Mr. Speaker.
Wallace Shawn (after dieting) as Sen. Prez Cullerton
Jodie Foster as the A.G. Madigan
Mike Rappaport As Tom Cross
Joe Mantegna or the late Peter Jurasic (”Londo” from “Babylon 5″) as Lou Lang
Judy Tenuta or Amy Sedaris As Judy B Topinka
Kathy Griffin As Sheila Simon
Danny Divito or Dennis Franz As Governor Quinn
John Cusack as Comptroller Rutherford
Steve Martin as Dick Durbin
Roland Burris or Danny Glover as Jesse White
James Gandolfini typecast as Old Mayor Daley
Jane Curtin as Radogno
Tracy Morgan as Ricky Hendon
Joe Lovitz as Mark Kirk.
- ericd1112 - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 9:18 pm:
Some excellent ones, especially unclesam. I think Tambor for Quinn has legs. How about:
Mary Louise Parker as Lisa Madigan
Kevin Spacey as Michael Madigan
Ray Liotta as RMDaley
- whatever - Tuesday, Dec 21, 10 @ 9:27 pm:
Carlton from Fresh Prince and Jesse Jr.?
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Dec 22, 10 @ 9:46 am:
“Gov. Quinn - Michael Chiklis (sp.) or Ed O’Neill (from Modern Family)”
You forgot to mention O’Neill’s most famous role: Al Bundy in “Married… with Children.” The Bundys were from Chicago to boot!