An intrersting article about series comebacks

[BLT]

Series Comebacks: Can Hunter Find More Success on NBC?
Friday April 11 5:26 PM ET


If you're a fan of Hunter, the 1984-91 crime drama on NBC, you may -- or may not -- find comfort in knowing the series is back for a second go around. Following the moderately rated reunion movie in November is another two-hour made-for tomorrow with its regularly scheduled Saturday 9 p.m. run beginning next week. Although you have to give credit to NBC for finally going the original scripted series route on Saturday, redoing a former success is more often than not a recipe for disaster. Remember The Bradys? Get Smart? Love Boat: The Next Wave?

Will the new Dragnet or Family Affair be back next season?

Unless you're wearing a grungy raincoat and your name is Columbo, coming back a second time (with or without the original cast) is not necessarily synonymous with more success. As a precursor to the return of Hunter, here's a look at other shows that tried to reinvent the original magic. Obviously, Hunter and "the brass cupcake" won't have it easy this time around. Since every series following Star Trek was set at a different time, we've excluded the science fiction classic from the mix.


Take a look at the original series followed by the remake and ask yourself, was the second time around anywhere near as good as the original?

ADAM 12 (NBC: 1968-75)
-Adam 12 (syndication: 1989-90)

THE BRADY BUNCH (ABC: 1969-74)
-The Brady Bunch Hour (ABC: 1977)
-The Brady Brides (NBC: 1981)
-The Bradys (CBS: 1990)

BURKE'S LAW (ABC: 1963-66)
-Burke's Law (CBS: 1994-95)

COLUMBO (NBC Sunday Night Mystery Movie: 1971-77)
-Columbo on The ABC Mystery Movie (1989-93)

DRAGNET (NBC: 1952-59)
-Dragnet (NBC: 1967-70)
-Dragnet (syndicated 1989-90)
-Dragnet (ABC: current)

FAMILY AFFAIR (CBS: 1966-71)
-Family Affair (WB: current and waiting for the axe to officially swing)

FANTASY ISLAND (ABC: 1978-84)
-Fantasy Island (ABC: 1998-99)

GET SMART (NBC: 1965-70)
-Get Smart (Fox: 1995)

GIDGET (ABC: 1965-66)
-The New Gidget (syndication: 1986-88)

KOJAK (CBS: 1973-78)
-Kojak on The ABC Mystery Movie (ABC: 1989-90)

LASSIE (CBS: 1954-71, syndication: 1971-74)
-The New Lassie (syndication: 1989-91)

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER (CBS: 1957-58, ABC: 1958-1963)
-The New Leave It To Beaver (cable: 1985-89)

THE LOVE BOAT (ABC: 1977-86)
-Love Boat: The Next Wave (UPN: 1998-99)

MICKEY SPILLANE'S MIKE HAMMER (syndicated: 1957-59)
-Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (CBS: 1984-87)
-Mike Hammer, Private Eye (syndicated: 1997-98)

THE MONKEES (NBC: 1966-68)
-The New Monkees (syndication: 1987)

THE MUNSTERS (CBS: 1964-66)
-The Munsters Today (syndication: 1988-91)

PERRY MASON (CBS: 1957-66)
-The New Perry Mason (CBS: 1973-74)

THE ODD COUPLE (ABC: 1970-75)
-The New Odd Couple (ABC: 1982-83)

THE SONNY AND CHER COMEDY HOUR (CBS: 1971-74)
-The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (CBS: 1976-77)

WHAT'S HAPPENING!! (ABC: 1976-79)
-What's Happening Now!! (syndication: 1985-88)

source: mediaweek.com

[Chocoholic]

The Fugitive and WKRP in Cincinatti also had remakes.

I don't like the idea of remakes. Why mes with something good and why can't they just come up with origional stuff?

[*PinkLady*]

Originally posted by Snoopy
I don't like the idea of remakes. Why mes with something good and why can't they just come up with origional stuff?

Yeah, tell me about it. Can't people realize that remade stuff rarely works out?

[dawsongirl]

The guy that wrote that forgot Route 66- the 1993 version. Horrible.

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by Snoopy


I don't like the idea of remakes. Why mes with something good and why can't they just come up with origional stuff?

Agreed. Same goes with remaking movies or coming up with sequels for movies that shouldn't have sequels. I know we're talking about tv shows, but I feel the same way about tv shows and movies being redone.

[Sitcomwriter]

I'm fine with them.

[Fran Fan]

They left out the Addams Family which has (had?) made a comeback, especially after the hit movie with Raul Julia. Not to mention it even spun-off a more contemporary cartoon series as well.

[ClassicComedyFan2]

I am all for series remakes as long as they don't stray TOO far from the series (For instance, I love the Brady Bunch movies and hate the new Dragnet series). If a series was once family-friendly, it should say that way!

And, I love the trek sequel-series (although Enterprise is starting to wear thin with its cruddy theme song and lack of continunity) and think that remakes can work, if done right.

[harper]

The whole cast was great.The way the worked together.The way each character was defined.F.Bonner and Richard Sanders,Jan Smithers,Loni Anderson,G.Jump.Tim Reid,H.Hesseman.G,Sandy
Gordon Jump.They al were great.