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TwitterTV Redo: Zap2it updates 'Forever Knight,' 'Daria'
The premiere of ABC's "V" -- and TV's mostly woeful track record for updating beloved TV series -- has us taking a closer look this week at "classic" TV series that just might be able to make a comeback, if done correctly.Monday, we took a look at "Greatest American Hero," "WKRP in Cincinnati" and "Small Wonder." Tuesday, it was "Hart to Hart" and "Vega$'" turn. Next up ...
"Forever Knight" (1989)
Original: An 800-year-old vampire, Nick Knight, seeks absolution and to regain his mortality while working as a cop in modern-day Toronto.
Reboot: "Moonlight" and "New Amsterdam" didn't work out but by taking the best elements of both, combining them with a property with a cult audience and casting hot leads it could catch on. We hear vampires are kind of popular these days. The updated version takes place in San Francisco.
Recast: Ben McKenzie ("Southland") as Nick Knight. Emilie de Ravin ("Lost") as the obligatory love interest.
"Daria" (1997)Original: Animated series about Daria, a slightly nerdy, too smart for her own good high school student and her slightly goth-y best friend Jane. As she navigates the high school milieu with more sarcasm than the usual TV teens, Daria uses her sharp tongue to verbally lay waste to everyone from the popular kids to her clueless parents.
Reboot: This half-hour live action comedy brings Daria's caustic wit into the real (TV) world. Her vitriol is, of course, a defense mechanism as she struggles with a secret desire to fit in while trying to maintain her identity. It's "Juno" without the awkward pregnancy thing.
Recast: Fresh faces/relative unknowns would help bring the cartoons to life and give teens new people to obsess about. Oh, and Jane and Trent, who were Asian in the original, are now Hispanic. Why? Why not.
Come back Thursday for our "Magnum P.I." and "The Famous Teddy Z" updates.
-- More of Eric Almendral's media musings can be found at ericonmedia
Related:
TV Redo: 'Greatest American Hero,' 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Small Wonder'
TV Redo: 'Hart to Hart' and 'Vega$'
TV Redo: 'Magum P.I.,' and 'The Famous Teddy Z'
TV Redo: 'Bosom Buddies,' 'Manimal,' 'Misfits of Science'
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I would rather see SouthLand succeed on TNT, making Ben McKenzie unavailalbe for yet another vampire show.
Enough already with these lame reboot ideas!! :(
Nadine, if you're not enjoying these posts don't read them.
A live-action Daria could work. Her voice was so distinctive though it would be hard to see someone else play her without that deadpan tone and I'm not sure how that would sound coming out of a "real" person.
I agree with Nadine. How long are these going to draw out for at the expense of the usual news we all come here for.
Well since they all say at the top that the feature is for "this week," I'd say it's going to end on Friday. It's a website. It's not like they have a limited amount of space. It's something extra, not instead of. Not to mention it's free so who cares?
Jane and Trent were Asian? I watched the show religiously. How did I not know that?
Also, no matter how tongue in cheek this suggestion may be, I may be strongly in favor of a live action reboot if it means the possibility of the original series coming out on DVD.
Worst remades ideas ever. You should be a Hollywood Producer destroying my childhood with remake ideas like these. Maybe you should do the next Indiana Jones or GI Jones with your remake talent.
Besides bad casting for Forever Knight. What about Natalie, Lacroix, Jeanette and Stanky? Not only didn't you cast them but never said how they would be remade. All you are give is another bad vampire/immortal show but calling it Forever Knight hoping to sucker the fans. And why in San Fransisco, it takes place in Canada at least move it to Vancouver where ever other show is films today.
As for Daria, why the hell make it live action. The show works because it's timeless as a Cartoon. Leave the Lanes Asian. I thought they were mix Asian and white. But not enough Asians on tv.
You need to justify your changes and in this posting you just created your own shows and called them classic TV shows just for the name recognition.
this is even stoopeder than i am and im prety stoopid
Considering V had a solid start last night, I'd say remakes can be redone. None of your suggestions are any worse than what's been tried before and some of your casting is spot-on. Will note that in both Battlestar and V they changed the lead male into a female. Maybe that's the key.
Any news on who will be cast in Daria? If they cast it well it could turn out okay.