'American Gigolo' the TV series. Why not?

• Position: News

'A country without bordellos is like a house without bathrooms,'' said Marlene Dietrich -- always pragmatic under the glamour.

Speaking of the world's oldest profession, how unsurprising is it that Paramount TV and Jerry Bruckheimer are mulling over a small-screen series based on the 1980 feature film, "American Gigolo?'' I say unsurprising because -- what took them so long? This material is perfect for our time. There have already been "reality'' shows that focused on male and female escorts; why not film the life attractively with pretty people and steamy plotlines?

Paul Schrader, who directed Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton in the original, will be on board as an executive consultant. Maybe it'll be glossy fun. Nothing will ever have the impact of the movie, however. The way Gere looked -- those Armani suits. The way Hutton looked! The music by Giorgio Moroder. And one of the first male frontal nudes, courtesy of Mr. Gere. (Heavily shadowed, but there it was.)

Everybody was so shocked. It is to laugh nostalgically today.

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