Rebooting old shows...

[the G-man]

I think that remakes/reboots/retreads have become rather ridiculous (same goes for the movies). Doesn't anybody have any original ideas anymore? I can't say that I haven't enjoyed/appreciated some remakes but I'd like to see some more fresh, original ideas on tv

Remakes/reboots/retreads have been a fact of life in storytelling since time immemorial and going back to oral re-tellings around a campfire.

Even in the "golden age" of Hollywood, there were remakes (the classic Maltese Falcon and the Wizard of Oz were actually remakes of earlier films), sequels (the Thin Man series) and reboots (Hal Roach "rebooted" Our Gang as the kids got older).

We only notice it more now because the rise in cable channels and video recorders/players allow to re-experience certain films and TV shows over and over.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Julie Benz would guarantee two things: That it would be awesome and that it would get cancelled quickly.

Dexter seemed to have survived her jinxy presence just fine.

They should remake "Heil Honey I'm home".

That can be a show-within-a-show, inside Quentin Tarantino's Hogan's Heroes.

Guess what, Bryan Fuller's Munsters remake isn't as dead as we thought.

That big guy who played Everybody Loves Raymond's brother is a shoo-in for Hermann. For Lily...how about a brunette Kristin Bell?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Guess what, Bryan Fuller's Munsters remake isn't as dead as we thought.

That big guy who played Everybody Loves Raymond's brother is a shoo-in for Hermann. For Lily...how about a brunette Kristin Bell?

Isn't she like two feet tall? Not sure they could get them in the same shot.

 

[Admiral2]

Thoughts anyone? And any ideas on old series and how you think it could be effectively revamped for today?

Mission Impossible.

First step: Kill Tom Cruise and anyone else involved with the movies in their sleep.

Second step: Force whatever producers you choose for the remake to actually WATCH the original show.

Third Step: Hire Liev Schreiber to play Dan Briggs. Build the new show around him.

 

[stj]

The Adventures of Ellery Queen, with Wil Wheaton (or at least Big Bang Theory's "Wil Wheaton.")

And speaking of Tom Cruise, Perry Mason.

In both cases, harking to a character more like the originals in the book series.

 

[RandyS]

The Dukes of Hazzard.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Adventures of Ellery Queen, with Wil Wheaton (or at least Big Bang Theory's "Wil Wheaton.")

And speaking of Tom Cruise, Perry Mason.

In both cases, harking to a character more like the originals in the book series.

I saw an episode of "Leverage" recently that was set at a Murder Mystery party. Tim Hutton's character was dressed in a costume that resembled the one his father, Jim Hutton, wore on "Ellery Queen".

 

[Admiral Shran]

Thoughts anyone? And any ideas on old series and how you think it could be effectively revamped for today?

Mission Impossible.

First step: Kill Tom Cruise and anyone else involved with the movies in their sleep.

Second step: Force whatever producers you choose for the remake to actually WATCH the original show.

Third Step: Hire Liev Schreiber to play Dan Briggs. Build the new show around him.

All three of these steps are thoroughly excellent ideas and I am eager to support them!

The Dukes of Hazzard.

One of my all-time favorite shows.

But, if a reboot was done - again, MAKE THEM ACTUALLY WATCH THE ORIGINAL SHOW! Not like whoever made that god-awful movie.

Bo and Luke aren't simple, brainless, foul-mouthed rednecks. Daisy is smart, sexy, strong and opinionated, not a slut. Roscoe is a simple, bumbling, yet honorable and likeable buffoon, not a sinister asshole. Boss Hogg is completely incompetent and NOT played by Burt Reynolds.

 

[RandyS]

The Dukes of Hazzard.

One of my all-time favorite shows.

But, if a reboot was done - again, MAKE THEM ACTUALLY WATCH THE ORIGINAL SHOW! Not like whoever made that god-awful movie.

Bo and Luke aren't simple, brainless, foul-mouthed rednecks. Daisy is smart, sexy, strong and opinionated, not a slut. Roscoe is a simple, bumbling, yet honorable and likeable buffoon, not a sinister asshole. Boss Hogg is completely incompetent and NOT played by Burt Reynolds.

Did the movies quailify as reboots? I thought they were closer to remakes.

That said, I agree with all your points. I particuarly hated the way they portrayed Rosco. Of course James best was so good in that part, the nobody else could have done it justice.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Whether it was a reboot or a remake is immaterial, IMHO.

It was a great big middle-finger to fans of the show.

 

[the G-man]

I actually thought the "Dukes" movie was pretty entertaining and Jessica Simpson surprisingly good. She came off smarter in that movie than in real life. I also got a chuckle out of the (very natural) reaction to the big Confederate flag on their car when they drove to Atlanta. And Willie Nelson as Uncle Jesse (with his bootlegging not limited to whiskey these days [if you know what I mean])? Perfect.

That being said, Boss Hogg and Roscoe were horribly miscast.

Hogg is supposed to be fat. That's why he's named Boss Hogg. If they really wanted Burt Reynolds in the movie, he should have taken over as the narrator from the late Waylon Jennings (in fact, if I had my druthers, the final scene would have been the narrator saying "and who am I...just a good old boy with his own experience with smokeys...." and then a cut to Burt in a cowboy hat, sitting in a Trans Am, letting loose his redneck chuckle and then peeling off).

Finally, as others have noted, Roscoe's whole character was wrong from the get-go. While even recasting couldn't save the role as written, they should have really considered getting someone more likeable.

 

[RandyS]

Whether it was a reboot or a remake is immaterial, IMHO.

It was a great big middle-finger to fans of the show.

Any worse than Coy and Vance? The movies actually made me like them.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Coy and Vance were played by lousy actors, but at least they were likeable as characters.

 

[Admiral2]

And Willie Nelson as Uncle Jesse (with his bootlegging not limited to whiskey these days [if you know what I mean])? Perfect.

Gotta disagree. To me all Willie Nelson did as Uncle Jesse was act old and plastered and tell dirty jokes. Uncle Jesse from the TV show actually had a brain.

 

[Admiral Shran]

^ Exactly. Jesse was the moral compass on the show.

 

[RandyS]

Coy and Vance were played by lousy actors, but at least they were likeable as characters.

Interesting observation. I thought likeable characters didn't count anymore.

 

[Warp Coil]

Given the mixed results that Hollywood has received with their recent TV reboots, you'd think that network and studio execs would be a little more cautious about these projects. But then again, it's easier to recycle an old idea with brand recognition than to take the time to create something original. NBC hopefully has learned their lesson... Bionic Woman and Knight Rider both flopped. CBS has had decent success with Hawaii Five-O so I guess they're going to keep pushing ahead until they fail. Still, re-making Bewitched seems like a terrible idea. What's next? I Dream of Jeannie? CBS can pair them up together.

 

[Warped9]

But then again, it's easier to recycle an old idea with brand recognition than to take the time to create something original.

It isn't that hard doing something fresh, but it requires imagination and courage/confidence to try something different. Hollywood suits are distinctly lacking in both.

I don't doubt there are any number of folks with genuinely interesting and exciting ideas, but they likely get shut down and/or ignored becomes their ideas could be seen as too unfamiliar.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ I wonder if it isn't extremely hard to do anything original.

So much has been done/tried, even something they think is original will get lambasted for reminding someone of some other show or concept.

 

[ElBurro]

I would love a remake of Manimal. I don't think I was even born when it was first on, but through the magic of the interwebs, I started watching it around the time Simon MacCorkindale died last year and have fallen in love with it, mainly for it's kitsch value. But I think FX have come a long way since then and they could do a lot more with Jonathan's transformations now.

I would also be very very excited about a Quantum Leap reboot, but ONLY if it was done by the same people - Donald Bellisario, Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. Anything less than that and I will be throwing things at the TV!!!

Also, I was wonder what are other peoples feelings on the Flintstones reboot that they are plotting? IMO it's a bad idea. Not just because it's a classic but because, as much as I like Family Guy and American Dad, I don't like the idea of Seth MacFarlane in charge of it.

Thoughts?