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Cool and Collected

Collecting pop culture toys, comics, and collectibles collections

September 26, 2012 By 9 Comments

Young Clark W. Griswold

This week’s challenge from the League was to imagine an entertainment icon in his or her younger years, much like we got with Young Indiana Jones, and Young Frankenstein. This is nowhere near as easy as it sounds, since many of the best ideas have already been developed. Originally, I thought I’d go with an action movie like Young Conan, but Reis O’Brien beat me to it, and Young Lara Croft was also taken, so I veered off into the comedy world and think I may have struck gold with…

clark griswold

Young Clark

Here we have Clark W. Griswold in his formative years, let’s say 12 years old, just on the cusp of puberty and discovering the fairer sex. This would be a fine line to walk, because in the wrong hands, this concept could be fairly raunchy, but if done right, I think it has loads of potential–think Ralphie in a Christmas Story, just a few years older and you’ll see where I’m headed.

Young Clark would have his clutzy mannerisms and be over ambitious in all his endeavors. He’s a walking train wreck who somehow always happens to succeed in the end. The movie would include a bully who Clark would have to nimbly outwit in order to win the graces of his sweetheart, Ellen. There would be standard pre-teen adventures such as stealing a car and driving for the first time, treehouse warfare, introduction to taboo subjects–you get the idea–and all the while Clark would fumble his way through, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

Throughout the film, there would be subtle nods to the Vacation movies–Young Clark would be wearing a faded Wally World T-shirt, and he would have a postcard of Big Ben tacked up on his bedroom wall. We would see the origins of Clark’s fascination with exterior illumination, and giant balls of string, and I wouldn’t even mind being introduced to that weird kid, Eddie, who lives over in the trailer park with his giant dog, Snot.

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Comments

  1. shezcrafti says

    September 26, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    This sounds amazing. You could even maintain the Vacation theme by placing Clark & friends at summer camp, spring break, going on a road trip, etc. I can also imagine Clark’s father loading up on the Jack Daniels and his mother babying him, both contributing to some pretty hilarious scenarios and setting Clark up for major embarrassments. Meanwhile Ellen’s dad would probably delight at any opportunity to intimidate Clark and her mom would encourage her to do better. This show would definitely work and I’d watch it!

    Reply
    • Brian says

      September 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      Come on Hollywood, this show writes itself! 😉

      Reply
  2. Reis O'Brien says

    September 26, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    I would watch the hell out of this! But here’s the hard question: who would play him?

    Reply
    • Brian says

      September 26, 2012 at 4:17 pm

      I have no idea. I’m not up on my child actors, but casting the perfect kid would be the key. I’m sure there’s a gangly, overly-confident, awkward young man somewhere out there that would be perfect for the role. 😉

      Reply
  3. BubbaShelby says

    September 26, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    This would be hilarious!

    Reply
  4. Dan says

    September 27, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    Clark is super awesome. Sign me up to watch this show. Christmas Vaction gotta watch it every year.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The League XXXII: Young Guns. « Team Hellions says:
    October 1, 2012 at 12:44 am

    […] https://www.coolandcollected.com/young-clark-w-griswold/ […]

    Reply
  2. The League has spoken: Young Guns — Cool and Collected - collecting pop culture memories and memorabilia says:
    October 1, 2012 at 9:10 am

    […] Young Clark W. Griswold […]

    Reply
  3. Young Jack Bauer [The League] | Cold Slither Podcast says:
    October 1, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    […] Brian of Cool and Collected takes an early vacation with Young Clark Griswold […]

    Reply

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