My reaction to the news that NBC was considering a Murder, She Wrote remake, starring Octavia Spencer? I almost spit out my coffee (obviously because I tried to yell out "Why????" as I was drinking.)
I think it's great that an increasing number of successful actors are taking TV seriously. I love that an Academy Award winner wants to be on a TV show. But why Murder, She Wrote? That show will forever be associated with Angela Lansbury. Why not just take Spencer and put her in a show about murder mysteries and give it a different name?
I don't get TV reboots. I'll forgive Dallas simply because members of the original cast were in its second coming. I even watched the first few episodes of 90210, but only to catch Doherty, Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth. Once they were off the show, I stopped tuning in. Ironside? Its early cancellation speaks for itself. The list goes on: Kojak, Melrose Place, Bionic Woman, Knight Rider...
(Fine, I'll admit that I watched the first season of the revamped Hawaii Five-0, but that's only because Alex O'Loughlin is drop dead gorgeous and it's awesome watching Scott Caan's hair flop when he runs. But we can all admit the show isn't exactly quality television.)
And I'm not even talking about movies turning into TV shows (10 Things, Eastwick) or TV shows turning into movies (Star Trek), as those have their own sets of pros and cons. To me, TV shows turning into TV shows are just never a good idea.
Right after news broke about Murder, She Wrote, we learned that CBS gave a script deal for a new version of Charmed, the show about witch sisters starring Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan. Charmed only ended seven years ago and it's already being brought back!?
It's so rare that a show is successful. But just because one show was a hit doesn't mean that taking the basic premise and title is enough to make it a winner again. New writers, new actors, new marketers can all turn a previously successful show into a giant miss. So instead of "rebooting" a TV show, coming off as copycats and potentially ruining its former good name, why not just take your chances at trying to be original with a brand new show?
What do you think of TV reboots?
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