Bring 'Em Back!

Writing Prompt #1.) A list of 10 old TV shows you'd like to make a comeback; for Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writers Workshop
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The reality of nostalgically-remembered favourite TV shows can be rather disappointing when viewed in the cold light of modern technology, through grown-up eyes.  Shows you remember from your childhood as super-cool look lame and cheap with tacky effects a few years on. Like The Six Million Dollar Man. So cool at the time. So funny now.


Or The Brady Bunch. Couldn't get enough of it as a kid. Madly in love with Bobby Brady and named several kittens after him. Loved Cindy's improbable curls and Alice's kind good sense. But in the cold light of a new millenium The Brady Bunch are just plain silly. Who ever heard of a blended family so perfectly... blended? And as Mama Kat asked her Twitter followers, What did Mrs Brady do all day?


The Dukes of Hazzard is another favourite that doesn't hold up well. Bo Duke (who tween-me used to drool over) is a bit of a dumb-ass. And the story-lines? All that racing around on dirt tracks in noisy cars...? Totally unappealing and boooor-ing. I hope Dukes of Hazzard never make a comeback.

What about The Waltons? I used to love this show, but I doubt that any modern equivalent would ever be made so thoroughly wholesome. A modern remake of the Waltons would make John-Boy secretly gay and have him trying to hide it from Ma and Pa. Mary-Ellen wouldn't be content to stay home and help out. There would probably be a whole lot more squabbling and controversy, and a whole lot less "Moral of the Story-ing"... People seem to like a bit more grit in TV shows these days. The Waltons would never take off, we just couldn't relate to all that niceness.
I mean, if my kids spent all night calling out "Goodnight Scrag-boy, goodnight Fabby-Ellen..." I'd be shouting: "Oi you lot! Quit your yelling and go to sleep or there'll be trouble!"


So what shows would I actually want to see make a comeback?
I have to look closer to my century... to shows I still love to watch endless re-runs of...

Shows I would love to see back on TV with new episodes...

1. Gilmore Girls. I loved those fast-talking chicks from small-town USA, with their pop-tart breakfasts and witty remarks. I would love to follow Rory around the world on her journalistic career, see if Lorelei and Luke made any blue-eyed babies... if not a new season, couldn't you at least give us a Movie? Sex and the City did it. Why not Gilmore Girls?
2. Friends. I never get sick of the re-runs even though by now I know every episode by heart. "Joey" was a disappointment; spin-offs just don't cut it. A Ten Years On special could be a winner don't you think?
3. Everybody Loves Raymond. Mr G and I are currently recording re-runs of Ray and watching them together at the end of a busy day for some comic relief. We find ourselves laughing out loud as we see ourselves and our in-laws brought to life on screen. Its funny because its so often true. If Ray made a comeback me and Mr G would be ready with our DVR.

Shows that look lame now but a new Remake could make them super-cool....

1. Little House on the Prairie. The books are real gems that I treasured growing up. Sadly the TV show was sugar-sweet and nauseating; even when I was a kid I thought the show sucked compared to the books. What would be really cool would be an-up-to-date version sticking more closely to original story lines which were gritty true stories about pioneer life. I'd love to watch a show like that with my kids.
2. Buck Rogers and the TwentyFifth Century:  Buck Rogers just doesn't do it for me anymore, and I no longer envy Wilma's lycra body suits, but that whimsical theme music was what got me; every time the credits rolled I wanted more. Imagine a hunky Buck (Gerard Butler?) and a feisty Wilma... add better sets, gadgets, script, storylines... Bucky-boy could be cool again. As long as they keep that theme music.
3. Six Million Dollar Man. With all the cool effects we have available these days this could be a way-cool show. Kind of a cross between Prison Break and 24 (which I never watched) but with sexier leads and more girl-friendly storylines.. The trick would be casting the right Steve Austin. If Gerard Butler wasn't interested in being Buck Rogers (because, lets be honest, Buck is a really naff name) maybe being the Six Million Dollar Man might tempt him. We can rebuild him...
   {OK I admit I have a tiny little "thing" for Gerard Butler}
4. Charlies Angels: The movies sucked. The shows rocked. You wouldn't have to try very hard to make Charlies Angels a super-cool up-to-date TV show. I was fascinated by Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd as a kid, wanted to be them. A remade TV show with smart scripting (and better casting than the movie) could be rather fun. I would love to see a decent remake of Charlies Angels (but I'm not sure if a copy could ever be quite as cool as the original).

Old Shows that should be re-run forever 

1. Old Style Cartoons. Come on, you just can't get better than the original Looney Tunes and Mickey Mouse. Forget the lame-o Mickey Mouse Clubhouse version with all its syrupy illogical naffness. Forget all the other mediocre copies of the classics and wierd "modern" anime. Bring back the original Mickey Mouse and Looney Tunes we watched as kids. They were great and shouldn't be tampered with. Our kids should get to see what quality cartoons really are.
2. Get Smart. This one cannot be improved on. It was corny and stupid and poked fun at itself back then. Its still corny and stupid and funny now. The re-runs will do for me.
3. Gilmore Girls, Friends, Raymond... if I can't get new episodes I'll settle for endless re-runs. You won't hear any complaints from me. 

And the one I hope never ends...?

Greys Anatomy. I don't care how silly it gets. I just want it to keep on keeping on forever... but I hope they bring back Izzy... Alex needs her.

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What about you? Which TV shows would you like to see remade for TV now? What were your favourite shows or the ones you love to hate?

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