Get out the tissues and weep- ABC remakes 'Brian's Song'

LOS ANGELES -- Get out the tissues and prepare to weep all over again.

"Brian's Song," a story about the friendship between black and white teammates on the Chicago Bears football team, is being retold 31 years after becoming the first TV movie that made it OK for men to cry.

The original won five Emmys. It starred Billy Dee Williams as Gale Sayers and James Caan as Brian Piccolo, who is diagnosed with a tumor near his heart.

"It really is extraordinary what an impact it had on so many people," said Sean Maher, who plays Piccolo. "Everyone that I mentioned it to could remember where they were, how hard they cried, who they were with, and how hard their sister cried."

Did Mekhi Phifer, who plays Sayers, and Maher cry when they watched the original before filming began?

"Well, you know, I cried internally," Phifer said, smiling.

"I was definitely moved," said Maher. "I don't know if I actually cried, though."

The remake of "Brian's Song" airs Dec. 2 on ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney" at 6 p.m. Ben Gazzara co-stars as Bears coach George Halas.

The script by John Gray is based on the beloved 1971 movie written by William Blinn. Both were drawn from Sayers' autobiography, "I Am Third."

Joy Piccolo O'Connell, who didn't participate in the original, was surprised to be approached for a new version after so many years.

"It's a good story, and I think the youth today need good stories," she said. "In Brian's death, so much has happened, so much money has been raised, and it affects all of us. If this story can be told today, things will continue to get better for everybody, and I'm glad to be a part of it."

Some might see the remake as further proof there are no original ideas in Hollywood, but co-executive producer Neil Meron disagrees.

"We felt we could add something new and something fresh for a new generation," said Meron.