Posted on 01/10/2008 10:46:44 AM PST by qam1
The days of neon leg warmers and hair scrunchies may be long gone, but the hit television shows from the 1980's may not be, as some of the top programs from the era continue to show up on this generation's plasma TVs. So far, NBC has been the only network to re-launch cult classics, first with "Bionic Woman" (the new version dropped the originals 'The' from the title) and then followed suit with "American Gladiators." The network is planning to air a new version of "Knight Rider" later this year, too.
With the writers strike still on and the networks having difficulty producing new -- and popular -- programming, TV insiders told ABCNEWS.com that re-inventing the cult classics, and appealing to viewers' sense of nostalgia, may be just what the industry needs.
"Broadcast network television is having the hardest time right now launching new TV," said Ben Grossman, the Los Angeles bureau chief for industry publication "Broadcasting & Cable." "It might be smart to launch something with a built-in audience." "If you can get people who know [the show] and remember it fondly and can get new people to watch, you've got a hit," added Grossman.
"Bionic Woman's" ratings weren't that impressive, and while "American Gladiators" were significantly better -- it was the highest-rated launch of any show this season so far -- it's still too early to predict its success, said Grossman.
No, it's not David Hasselhoff and the killer Trans-Am. Actor Justin Bruening and his customized Mustang update "Knight Rider" for its 2008 TV comeback.
"If you're re-making 'Bionic Woman' or 'American Gladiators' you know that at least a certain percentage of people are going to show up and watch out of curiosity and nostalgia," James Hibberd, a senior editor at "TVWeek," told ABCNEWS.com.
"This is why reality concepts from overseas are so popular, because you have at least some idea that they work," noted Hibberd. "If you're starting something from scratch you have to market the idea in a way that introduces the concept and so then you're rolling the dice because you have no template for success."
Several critics told ABCNEWS.com that NBC's decision to re-do the classics is at least partially due to the fact that Ben Silverman, co-chair of NBC Entertainment, is a Generation X-er himself, and may very well share in the nostalgia many have for the television programs they grew up watching.
But not everyone is convinced that shows that flourished more than two decades ago will continue to do so today, and some say that recycling the old content is ignoring the kind of creativity the industry desperately needs. "It's a lot easier to go with something that you know than to do something innovative," said Tom Lewis, the TV editor for the blog LAist.com. "There is a bit of a cop out [to re-doing old programs]."
Unlike the remakes of shows like Batman, Lewis told ABCNEWS.com that he thought the fault in the recent cult classic revival is that they are essentially the same shows transported into a later time period.
TV classics like "Bionic Woman" are being re-made in the hopes of attracting nostalgic fans and newcomers.
"Instead of embracing change and innovation the networks and their producers are holding onto drama [and] comedy show concepts and formats that made them big players 40 to 50 years ago," said Lewis.
Can the 'Oldies' Become the 'Goodies,' Again? Whether re-doing programming from previous decades will become a larger trend will depend largely on how successfully the first attempts are, according to TV insiders. If shows such as "American Gladiators" continue to pull in good ratings, other networks will be eager to jump on the bandwagon of a new business strategy -- much like what happened during the reality TV craze. "If somebody does find a little bit of success then everyone in television will run to copy what works. Look at "American Idol" and its rip offs," said "Broadcasting & Cable's" Grossman.
But nostalgia may not be enough to keep these shows afloat for more than a few weeks, according to Ray Richmond, TV critic and entertainment columnist for "The Hollywood Reporter."
"Nostalgia is a very powerful thing," said Richmond. "Everyone things everything was cooler 'way back when.'"
"And sometimes [shows or films] will come back and they'll be great, but often times they're paled imitations and it's better to leave the past," Richmond added. "You can't always duplicate success."
The A Team.....
Our top commandos from the Vietnam war......
Every week they fired thousands of rounds from automatic weapons.......
and NEVER SHOT ANYONE!!!!!!!
No wonder we lost Vietnam /sarc
I’m waiting for “Saved By The Bell” and “CHIPS”.
Her sister Zooey is pretty cute too.
Well, you take the good...you take the bad...you take them both, and there you have...80s TV shows. ;-)
The Mets made more headlines than the Yanks, Reagan won blue states, you could still get good pizza on every corner, you could get away with wearing a Fila track suit without irony, Metallica and the Cure were “underground” artists, Penthouse was not a urological journal, and you didn’t walk past Avenue A after dark. Dose were da days!
I remember Zooey Deschanel from the movie “Elf” with Will Ferrell.
She sang a couple songs on that one. Her voice was incredible. I can’t believe no one has gotten her to record.
I would KILL for a good pizza right about now. This ‘eating healthy’ and ‘weight loss’ BS is for the birds.
CHIPs would have to be remade a la Brokeback Mountain.
“I must admit the new Bionic Woman is pretty hot.”
_______________________________________________________________________
They’ll never re-create the character. Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime Sommers was the perfect everywoman (grade-schoolteacher) plunged into extraordinary circumstances, saving the world every week, but who only wanted to live an ordinary life. She could do glamorous when the mission called for it but was much more comfortable in jeans and t-shirt.
However, the Bionic Woman wasn't 80s tv...it was 70s tv. Since I loved it so much as a kid, I gave the new one a chance. I really wanted to like it, but just couldn't get into it.
However, the Bionic Woman wasn't 80s tv...it was 70s tv. Since I loved it so much as a kid, I gave the new one a chance. I really wanted to like it, but just couldn't get into it.
Agreed. If that’s really her singing, then she has a lovely voice. A nice contrast to all the warbeling divas these days...
Fletcher J
I think that will be the episode after where she stops a group of terrorist from blowing up some school full of children. The terrorist being from a White Supremacist Christian group of course.
I got pretty excited about seeing this make a come back. But it quickly got all sappy and the story seems to be about her personal struggle with her abilities, her sister and her love life.
I like it when the story is a new adventure every week and she has to go out and use her abilities to save the world.
Same goes for Heroes and Medium.
As long as they leave “The Fall Guy” alone.
Wow, sick minds must think alike. I was thinking A-Team while reading the article and wondering who would play BA and if, for a bunch of SF guys someone might actually manage to shoot a bad guy
I checked the movie credits. That’s really her singing.
and NEVER SHOT ANYONE!!!!!!!
That always bothered me. I guess they thought the show was less violent since nobody was actually dying. It was a pretty PC show really. Think about the cast. A black guy, an old guy, a crazy guy, a woman and a good looking guy.
Still, it was good Vs evil and the good guys always won. AND if you missed a show, oh well. It was a new story next week.
You too, huh? Thus far today, I have consumed 1,119 calories and 41g of fat. I do have about 25g of fiber in me though, so tomorrow morning's pre-workout constitutional should be easy.
I'm fricking starving!
What is the lowest calorie alcoholic beverage I can drink and what is the serving size? :o)
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