The Lazarus treatment.
Some shows deserve a second chance. Some shows never even got the chance to finish their first chance. Some shows should simply be revived in order to make the world a better place for those of us who prize our Netflix accounts more than our interpersonal relationships.
TV is in a good place right now – but you can’t underestimate the effect of a well-timed reboot. Netflix’s first foray into producing its own quality programming came with it’s re-imagination of BBC’s House of Cards.
Here are some shows we’d love to see brought back to life for our viewing pleasure.
Columbo
Columbo was the pinnacle of procedural detective programming, and it’s for that reason that some would approach a reboot with trepidation. Nevertheless, modern TV could use a captivating, charming detective with a bit of a personality. Columbo was as charismatic as they come, so with the right actor Columbo would take the 21st century by storm.
Who would we cast? Mark Ruffalo. A bit younger than Peter Falk would have been, but all that means is that he’ll be able to keep up the act for 10+ seasons.
Wacky Races
Wacky Races is so well-known by people of all ages that you might be surprised to learn that it only ever ran for 17 episodes. First things first, that’s not enough episodes for such a great concept. Second, how cool would a live-action incarnation of the Arkansas Chugabug be? It has to happen some day.
Who would we cast? Antonio Banderas as Dick Dastardly. Can’t you picture it?
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Besides being side-splittlingly funny, Will Smith’s early-90s comedy was often at the forefront of incisive commentary on the African-American experience in America. With the advent of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, race is as important an issue as ever in the states. It’s a movement could do with the return of the wit of The Fresh Prince.
Who would we cast? We think Jaden Smith is a little too out-there to reprise his father’s first big role, way too serious to be the new Will. We’d go with Tyler James Williams, the all-grown-up star of Chris Rock’s Everybody Hates Chris.
The West Wing
American politics has gotten well and truly out of hand. The rise of Donald Trump has politicos worldwide scratching their heads and his momentum hasn’t yet slowed. The world needs President Bartlet back on the screen so we can at least pretend that there’s a world with a president who can restore some sort of order on the world.
Who would we cast? We’d be happy for the brilliant Martin Sheen to cameo as a Supreme Court judge or a cabinet secretary, but we’d like to see Greg Kinnear do something like he did with his performance of Kennedy in ‘The Kennedys’, which won four Emmy Awards.
Dream Team
The world needs Dream Team. Football alone is simply not outrageous enough. We need players being shot by snipers as they lift the cup. We need bus crashes wiping out whole teams. The hare-brained antics of Harchester United could have gone on forever and it’s about damn time we made that happen.
Who would we cast? We reckon that Daniel Sturridge fancies an acting career and it’s not as if he’s playing any football at the moment. Get him in the cast and let him live out his Hollywood dreams.
Firefly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPRlHwwVIug
Firefly was unceremoniously taken off air after only 14 episodes in one of greatest broadcasting mistakes in TV history. Joss Whedon’s sci-fi series is rated 9.1/10 on iMDB despite being unfinished, a testament to just how bad a decision it was to cancel it. It would be a guaranteed success if it was brought back or rebooted.
Who would we cast? Same cast. We wouldn’t change a thing about that first season. We’d just make a million goram more.
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks isn’t the most well-known show, but it gave a start to many today’s stars such as James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segal. Made around 1999-2000, it was set in a 1980s high scool – meaning that there’s no danger of the show being dated.
Who would we cast? When it was first made, Freaks and Geeks hired a largely unknown cast of teenagers. For maximum authenticity, they should do the same again – with Judd Apatow (of Superbad fame) as reprising his role as executive producer.
Lost
Lost let us down, let’s be real here. After a very strong start, things started to get inexplicably weird on that little island. So inexplicably weird that the showrunners pretty much gave up on explaining them. JJ Abrams left the show midway through its six seasons – it would be great to see him remake it, and see how his vision would have played out from start to finish.
Who would we cast? Bryan Cranston bringing back his Breaking Bad baldness to play John Locke. Tell us that wouldn’t make for a damn good reboot.
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