To use an old cliche, when they passed out the brains, today's generation of network executives weren't around. They got theirs from recycling bins or dumpsters.
However, over the last couple of weeks, there's been a backlash over recent decisions to revive two older series, which, if we're lucky, will convince these dimbulbs to start thinking of, well, something fresh.
No sooner had CBS announced that they were optioning a revival of the former WB series, Charmed, than its stars, particularly Alyssa Milano, came forward and said now wasn't the time, since it had only been 7 years since the series ended. Since fantasy dramas are still in vogue, and witches in particular are back in style this season, one can understand the sudden need to bring back the Halliwell sisters, San Francisco's supernatural defenders.
Here's my solution. If CBS is really that desperate to bring Charmed back, why not try out a series of TV-movies with the original cast, rather than risk mass viewer apathy? Like, it worked for Perry Mason, back in the late 80's.
A wire service article appeared today that quoted Murder, She Wrote star Angela Lansbury as saying a reboot of her show, which NBC has picked up, would be a mistake. Lansbury cited the small town setting of Cabot Cove, Maine as part of the show's enduring charm. To move Murder into the big city, and transform its lead, mystery author and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, into an African-American hospital administrator, is asking for trouble, and NBC had just laid their urban-centric reboot of Ironside to rest when they'd announced the Murder project.
As we've discussed, a star-driven series, such as Murder or Ironside, just won't work in this day & age. Yet, the morons in charge of the network are accepting ideas from people who might've been fans of the original shows (and this is likely), but don't understand the minor flaws inherent in these projects. As noted, Universal has tried twice to change the ethnicity of lead characters in crime drama reboots (Ironside & Kojak), and to attempt it a 3rd time is just fool's folly. Personally, I'd like to invite these clueless nabobs to a little place at the corner of Know Your Role Boulevard & Jabroni Drive for a businessmen's luncheon and the verbal smackdown that's likely to follow. Apparently, none of these folks has ever read Santayana, but now would be a good time to start.
2 comments:
Trouble is these network types are too stoned to actually read the wise words of Santayana!
It's becoming more of a joke: "How many network execs does it take to figure out race/gender lifts of beloved classic shows will ultimately fail?"
Answer: None. They keep on hoping the next one will work!
I've already spoken out on these reboots but it bears repeating - Charmed should have gone the "Next Gen" route and feature a new series featuring the children of the Charmed ones (Hello, Chris & Wyatt!) getting into new magical mischief. I would settle for the TV movies however - you are right that Perry Mason did well using it to appeal to fans young and old.
I hate the idea of recasting Jessica Fletcher and changing the setting! Ms. Landsbury put it about as well as I would have.
Exactly. Unfortunately, Dame Angela's equally wise words will fall on deaf ears. Need I add that the network suits make me think of those monkeys. You know, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil? How about see, hear, & speak no logic?
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