Reboots to the right of me, reboots to the left of me, into the Valley of the Reboots we go!
With the success of such reboots as “Hawaii Five-O,” “Lost in Space,” MacGyver” and “Will & Grace,” reboots seem to be the au courant thing on TV these days, with “Murphy Brown,” “Magnum, PI” and “Stargate” on the horizon this Fall.
“Murphy Brown” is retuning in the era of “fake news” and I, for one, can only imagine what the writers have cooked up for her. Creator Diane English discussed her show’s revival and the place current events have, from President Trump to the #MeToo movement in its 13-episode run. English acknowledged the allegations against CBS head Les Moonves, but the #MeToo episode will not allude to them “It’s written. It’s to bed. It’s about to be rehearsed. It’s not that we would be afraid to do it, it’s just that I think we have a better story to tell — a more interesting story that’s more personal to Murphy.”
The sci-fi series “Stargate SG-1” debuted in 1997 and ran for 10 seasons, ending in 2007. The show followed a secret military group that explored the universe, hopping around via Stargates and starred Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge. The reboot, called “Stargate Origins,” revolves around Catherine Langford (Ellie Gall), daughter to Professor Paul Langford (Connor Trinneer), who discovers the first Stargate and is on a mission to save the Earth from darkness.
Jay Hernandez is “Magnum, PI,” now a former Navy Seal turned investigator in Hawaii. Same car, same premise, no ‘stache. Then there’s “Charmed.” No comment; the drama surrounding this one is way too much. “The Connors” is anyone’s guess. Is Roseanne dead? In Rehab? In the White House with Valerie Jarrett?
Now TPTB are talking about everything from “Frasier” to “The Nanny” to (oh, please make it so…) “Alf.” Lock up your cats, Gordon Shumway is back! That furry little guy from the planet Melmac could be chasing your cat through the neighborhood real soon. Points if you know what Melmac really is.
Supposedly, Fran Drescher and her husband Peter Marc Jacobson have been in talks about bringing the show back. Renee Taylor, Fran’s annoying (but lovable) mother, Sylvia Fine told me, “I said to Fran, ‘Luckily, I’m free!’” Taylor, starring Off-Broadway in her new one-woman show, My Life on a Diet, will be free after Labor Day, unless the show is extended yet again.
When questioned, Kelsey Grammer, who played radio shrink Frasier Crane for 20 years, from “Cheers,” beginning in 1984, through “Frasier,” which ended it’s run in 2004, said that although, “we’re talking to some writers about it,” the reboot is “not a sure thing.” Maybe it could take up in Chicago, where Frasier went to be with his new love, Charlotte Connor. If only Laura Linney (one of my favorite actresses on film and stage) would reprise that role, I would be one happy TV Junkie.
Update on returning stars…
After years and years of wondering “when or if,” Jessica Lange will finally be returning to “American Horror Story” for its new iteration, “Apocalypse.” Sarah Paulson revealed that Lange will return as Constance Langdon from “Murder House” in an episode that Paulson will direct. “AHS: Apocalypse” combines the seasons of “Murder House” and “Coven.” YIKES!
The BEST reprisal of an iconic TV character is Sir Patrick Stewart returning as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a new series.
The 78-year-old actor announced that the still untitled show, which will be appear on CBS All Access, will continue the adventures of the Starship Enterprise captain 20 years after Star Trek: Nemesis, the last film the character appeared in.
“It is an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him,” Stewart said on Twitter. “I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected and pertinent story to life once more.”
The new show will be overseen by Alex Kurtzman, creator and executive producer of “Star Trek: Discovery” which is now in its second season. Stewart’s show would be the third “Star Trek” series on CBS All Access. Besides “Discovery,” an upcoming limited series called “Star Trek: Short Treks” is in the works, according to Variety.
This Trekker, for one, is thrilled!
Genie’s back and it’s about f*****g time…
Genie Francis is back and that’s all that matters to “General Hospital” fans. Those very same fans are the reason that Port Charles’ matriarch is back on the canvas. Not only is she coming back, but, as of Friday’s episode, so is Kevin’s evil twin, Ryan. Why do they always have an “evil” twin? Other than Marco Dane’s “good twin,” Dr. Mario Corelli (actually the brilliant Gerry Anthony as Marco pretending to be Mario), evil seems to be the go-to choice. The question is, did Laura marry Kevin or Ryan? Is it Kevin or Ryan in the padded room at Ferncliff? Did Laura marry Kevin and did Ryan take his place? I’ll keep you posted.
Until next time…
