I think I’ve told you that I cried when the Facts of Life girls graduated from high school. My mom asked me why I was so upset and I tearfully lamented, "Because it will never be the same again."

That was the day I realized that perhaps, just perhaps, I took TV more seriously than the other children. And now that NBC is bringing back Knight Rider this Sunday at 9 p.m., I’ve been thinking that this is a perfect time to have a new version of Facts of Life.

And I’ve taken the liberty of casting it - Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) as Blair, Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) as Jo, Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) as Natalie and Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) as Tootie. And to keep it fun, I’d have Mindy Cohn playing Mrs. Edna Ann Garrett. In the later seasons, Chris Pratt would play handyman George Burnett.

What show would you like to see a new version of? And who would you cast in it? Talk about it below.

By the way, NBC did not send me a review copy of the Knight Rider movie, which is a sequel to the original series. So we’ll have to talk about it on Monday after we’ve all seen this new version of Knight Rider.

American Idol Hollywood Week

I totally understand why they changed the way the judges picked the final 24. Last year’s bunch featured some less-than-talented folks who crumbled when faced with performing by themselves. Group singing isn’t part of the American Idol competition nor is behind the scenes drama or how the contestants get along. It totally makes sense to actually make the contestants perform by themselves and to have a better opportunity to assess their true talents.

But I still missed the group singing and didn't care for this abbreviated version of Hollywood week. How about you?

Quotes of the Week

"I'm just saying it's crazy. Even for us. 'Dingo ate my baby' crazy." Dean on Supernatural. Thanks to Sandy for the quote.

"Oh, awesome. The ship sent us another Sawyer." Hurley after Miles calls him Tubby on Lost. Thanks to Michelle for the quote.

Exchanges of the Week

"What happened to you face?" Julie to her father on Friday Night Lights.

"I was defending your mama's honor." His response.

"With your face?" Julie to her father. Thanks to Bob for the exchange.

"Field trip." Sarah to Cameron and John on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

"I call shotgun." John to Cameron and Sarah.

"I call 9 millimeter." Cameron to Johan and Sarah. Thanks to Barry for the exchange

Thanks all for today. I’m back next week with thoughts on October Road, Lost, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, familiar faces, quotes of the week and more. Seen a familiar face? Have a question? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.

Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®

Comments

First Post!

Tyson | Feb 15, 2008 11:49:46 AM | #

---

"Also another quote was between Jack and Kate last night. regarding her never being able to go and then she goes 20 min anyway.

Tyson | Feb 15, 2008 11:53:18 AM | #

---

Hurley always has the best quotes in Lost. Another good one from the show was when he was walking behind Sayid and he said: "I'm keeping my distance, I've seen you snapthat guy's neck with your break dancing leg move."

Patrick | Feb 15, 2008 12:08:19 PM | #

---

I would definitely watch that version of Facts of Life. That was my favorite favorite favorite show when I was like four or five; I'd love to see it new again.

Kim | Feb 15, 2008 12:09:25 PM | #

---

I absolutely LOVE the casting/recasting game, Amy! Great column! I have to think a bit more to post something good, but one recast that I have, for some strange reason or another, remained attached to ever since they mentioned doing a movie, is Kyle Chandler (FNL and Early Edition) as Major Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie. I don't know what he's like in FNL (yes, slap my write with a ruler now, Amy, but I can't watch EVERYTHING), but his comical facial expressions in Early Edition are what convince me he's right for the part. Jeannie may take a little longer for me to think of. But I will think more this weekend on what shows I'd really like to see redone and post again!

Adnrea C | Feb 15, 2008 12:12:37 PM | #

---

(excuse me, slap my "wrist", darn my fast typing...)

Andrea C | Feb 15, 2008 12:13:42 PM | #

---

How about the Chinese Acupuncture guy from Eli Stone, "Moses didn't have google, you know."

Ritchie | Feb 15, 2008 12:22:46 PM | #

---

Show I'd like to see a new version off:

Firefly, same Cast.

sac | Feb 15, 2008 12:34:45 PM | #

---

I would love to remake some classic TV shows. Although, instead of Blake Lively as Blair, maybe Leighton Meester would be better (since she already plays the snobby heiress "Blair" on Gossip Girl). I like Chris Pratt as George, and maybe Adam Brody can play one of the girls' boyfriends! Another suggestion for Kyle Chandler might be Mike in a remake of The Brady Bunch, since he works so well with young actors (like on Friday Night Lights).

If they ever do a remake of I Dream of Jeannie, I would like to see Adam Baldwin (from Firefly and Chuck) play the part of Major Nelson. He fits the military type perfectly, looks really good in uniform (remember him in Independence Day?), and can do comedy as well. I'm not sure who should play Jeannie, but we know that Yvonne Strahovski looks good in a bikini AND she is a great actress.

By the way, I think the reason why NBC didn't send out any advance copies of The Knight Rider movie is because they had to replace Will Arnett's voice (as KITT) with Val Kilmer's. Maybe the producers didn't have enough time to send out copies to TV critics after re-dubbing the entire role. I read that Arnett was pulled from this movie because he already had a contract doing the voice-overs for GMC, which is a direct competitor of Ford (KITT is now a Mustang), who is the sponsor for Knight Rider. Anyways, I'm still looking forward to the movie, but I will miss Arnett.

Sandi | Feb 15, 2008 12:40:20 PM | #

---

I have to chime in on re-casting, because this came to me earlier this year while watching two specific shows:

Gossip Girl and Chuck. Both produced (or created?) by Josh Shwartz, of OC fame.

I love both these shows, but Adam Brody could replace Dan or Chuck and each show would better than it currently is.

Dwight | Feb 15, 2008 12:54:41 PM | #

---

Amy, It's as if we had the same childhood sometimes. I bawled at the FOL graduation, and gave the same response to my mother when asked.

But Sophia Bush as Jo? I'm thinking Ellen Page would be a better fit for the character. I love the idea of Mindy Cohn as Ms. Garrett--that was inspired.

Jen | Feb 15, 2008 12:57:08 PM | #

---

One more thing. Have you heard any more about the rumor that ABC wants to bring back Cupid with a new cast?

Jen | Feb 15, 2008 12:59:56 PM | #

---

how about Nathan Fillion and Jennifer Garner as Scarecrow and Mrs. King?

I know, it would be hard to imagine Garner as a bumbling spy-in-the-making after Alias, but she does remind me a bit of Kate Jackson. If anyone has any other ideas for Amanda (Mrs. King), great, I'd love to hear. But for some reason I'm stuck on Nathan Fillion as Scarecrow - yummy!

Andrea C | Feb 15, 2008 1:16:13 PM | #

---

Right now I can't think of who I'd cast in any of the other roles, but I can SO easily see Jenna Elfman as Lorelai Gilmore in "Gilmore Girls" - I have thought for a long time how much they remind me of each other and she could surely keep up with her end of the fast-paced, witty banter. Oh, Oh, Oh - and Judith Light as Emily! But then we would have to lose her on "Ugly Betty" which would definitely suck!

Ginni | Feb 15, 2008 1:37:14 PM | #

---

Bring back the @#$%-ing A-Team! I heard rumors of an A-Team movie, but for a new TV show, I'd probably cast Nathan Fillion or Jason Dohring as Face, the geeky tech guy from Bionic Woman as Murdoch, and maybe Kevin McKidd from Journeyman as Hannibal (he'd have to die his hair gray, but it could work). The only one I dunno about is BA Barracus; there's only one Mr. T, and everyone else would be a pale imitation.

Oh, and let's have a new version of Alf, as CGI instead of a puppet.

Sean | Feb 15, 2008 2:16:15 PM | #

---

No no no. Sophia Bush as Jo, no. That would skank the role up, (sorry I like Sophia but lets be real here) I'd say Ellen Muth (Dead Like me) would make an awesome Jo.

Francesca | Feb 15, 2008 2:16:18 PM | #

---

No disrespect guys, but please, NO MORE REMAKES! I would hope writers, producers and networks wold be inspired to truly CREATE in the vein of Mad Men, Weeds, etc. Instead, we're left with bad remakes like Bionic Woman or pathetic rip-offs like Lipstick Jungle or Cashmere Mafia. And don't get me started on NBC and their slate of "original" programming.

Dex | Feb 15, 2008 2:25:36 PM | #

---

After watching Lost last night, I just wanna ask, do we realize now that in both Lost and Grey's Anatomy, there is/was a Dr. Shepherd and a Dr. Burke. I absolutely love this "coincidence" since these are 2 of my favorite shows.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with Amy's article today but I don't know where else I can share this.

Ritchie | Feb 15, 2008 2:32:34 PM | #

---

Ginni, Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham acted together on a short-lived show called Townies in the 90s.

Jen | Feb 15, 2008 2:40:44 PM | #

---

No Remakes!!!

The shows we loved were good BECAUSE of who was in them.

I mean - who would YOU cast in Magnum PI or Cagney and Lacey?

I shudder to think. :)

I'd have been happy if they'd just pulled out some really old reruns during the strike -Cagney and Lacey, American Dreams - ANYTHING but what we've had to watch.

American Dreams has never been syndicated - there were SOME reruns on originally, but never the entire show.

Maybe Hallmark Channel could do that instead of, you know, showing Little House on the Prairie four times a day year after year after year.

Sorry guys - I have a small cable system and don't have much access to anything but the basics and I'm REALLY tired of everything I've watched for about the last year.

Jan | Feb 15, 2008 4:00:34 PM | #

---

TV Gal what is this nonsense with Sarah Conner being on the bubble? Ratings not good enough for Fox? Could we start a campaign to make sure they don't cancel the show of another Firefly alumna?

chris | Feb 15, 2008 4:17:24 PM | #

---

I agree with those who have said no more remakes! Hollywood is having enough trouble as it is being original, remakes are just never the same.

ken | Feb 16, 2008 3:47:04 AM | #

---

wow, some of you need to cut back on your caffiene intake...it's just a game where you cast old shows with new faces...no one is REALLY going to do these remakes. I can definetly see Steve Carrel as Maxwell Smart with Courtney Cox as Agent 99.

Mark | Feb 16, 2008 2:13:07 PM | #

---

For the A-Team remake, I'd like to see Michael Vartan in the Dirk Benedict role.

Janet | Feb 16, 2008 3:00:43 PM | #

---

Replace Courtney Cox with Anne Hathaway, and wait til June 20, and you CAN see Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart.

Either Carell is completely typecast, or too much of a dead ringer for Don Adams.

Bob | Feb 16, 2008 7:53:21 PM | #

---

Funny, I wanted to recast A-Team, too, must be a lot of demand for this show! Here is the recasting my husband and I came up with:

A-Team
George Clooney as Hannibal
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) as B.A.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar ("Zack Morris" from Saved by the Bell) as Face Man
Steven Weber ("Brian" from Wings or, more recently, Brothers and Sisters) as Murdock.

Here's other recasts I thought about:

Three's Company
Jim Carey as Jack Tripper
Jenny McCarthy as Chrissy
Teri Hatcher as Janet

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Nathan Fillion as Scarecrow
Jennifer Garner as Amanda King

Andrea | Feb 17, 2008 6:58:28 AM | #

---

Wow...so I hit the nail on the head on Get Smart! How about Bonanza with Zach Braff as Little Joe, Kevin James as Hoss, Norm MacDonald as Adam, and John O' Hurley (Mr. peterman from Seinfeld) as Pa Cartwright. THAT would be fun to watch!

Mark | Feb 17, 2008 10:46:39 AM | #

---

ANDREA: I like the idea of a Three's Company remake, although no one could ever replace John Ritter. :-(
I would cast younger actors for the three main characters, since the target demo would probably be 18-34 year olds. I would like to see the funny Zachary Levi (from Chuck) as Jack, the lovely Rachel Bilson as Janet, and how about the statuesque Adrianne Palicki (Tyra from Friday Night Lights) as Chrissy? There would be eye candy for everyone, and they are all good actors!

I love Nathan Fillion, so I would love to see him in any role, besides the one in Desperate Housewives (since I stopped watching it two years ago). After watching the Knight Rider movie on Sunday, I would rather see Fillion as Mike Traceur and maybe Morena Baccarin (Inara on Firefly) as Sarah, his ex-girlfriend. ;-)

Sandi | Feb 18, 2008 8:02:39 AM | #

---

Sandi: As a Browncoat myself, I would love to see Nathan Fillion and Morena Baccarin in anything, too! Fillion would have been good in the Knight Rider remake, I think! Of course, I considered him for FaceMan in the A-Team, too, but I guess I can't cast him in EVERYTHING! I, too, thought my casting ideas for Three's Company were a little older, and, to be honest, I'm not even a huge Jim Carey fan, but I think he and Teri Hatcher as Janet could definitely pull off the the physical comedy part. To be honest, Janet was the hardest to cast for me because I think of her as mousy yet attractive at the same time, which is hard to achieve for many actresses, but I think Teri Hatcher could do it and the physical comedy, that's why I went with her! But Zachary Levi as Jack is a great pick, too! We'd definitely have to go with a younger cast after that, but I'm still trying to come up with a Mr. Roper and a Mr. Farley - those are hard!

Oh, wait, I just had an idea for a younger Janet - if she'd go brunette, MAYBE Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars).

Amy: I loved this column! I'm so upset that more people didn't post their recasting ideas, especially with the remake of Knight Rider this weekend - maybe more will be by today! Keep up the great work!

Andrea | Feb 18, 2008 9:36:24 AM | #

---

ANDREA C: Brilliant!! I absolutely love your recasting of Scarecrow & Mrs. King. Nice work!

Brenda | Feb 18, 2008 11:16:28 AM | #

---

Oh and please do NOT stick Nathan Fillion in Knight Rider. I only watched because I would listen to Val Kilmer read the phone book (and I loved the original) but it was atrocious. Nathan deserves WAY better!!!!!!

Brenda | Feb 18, 2008 11:19:29 AM | #

---

Great column, Amy! You are very clever.

Frances | Feb 18, 2008 11:51:12 PM | #

---

Just wanted to say I disagree completely about your comments on Hollywood week of American Idol. First off, the group sings and accompanying drama are ENTERTAINING which is really the purpose of the show. Making a star is just gravy and really, it only happens about every other season. Also, I think these folks should be able to prove that they can sing while somebody else is doing something different right behind them. If/when they perform professionally, they won't get to just wing it a cappella.

Bea | Feb 19, 2008 7:39:57 AM | #

---

If hollywood wasnt so white washed i see a latino version of different strokes or Chico and the Man Now thats old school that kid was a great actor shame he died. personaly i love bob newhart but multi camera shows cost tomuch for hollywood suits why they killed almost all of them.

eating grill cheese | Feb 19, 2008 8:20:11 AM | #

---

Ok, sorry but Sophia Bush is WAY too girly and pretty to play Jo. Jo needs to be tougher.

Potch | Feb 19, 2008 9:43:36 AM | #

---

An open letter to all persons associated with tv and movies:

Please stop making remakes! Create some truly good, imaginative, original stuff, or bring back the stuff that was truly good and you axed before.

Would I like to see some shows redone with a 21st century twist? Sure, maybe a few. I do like the idea of the A-Team redone. However, if the show is going to be written and produced by all the same dreary, deadheads that keep giving us the tired old crap we've been watching, then they can leave it in the vault.

The writers went on strike and, apart from a few good original shows, I was left wondering what they were really doing anyway. I can picture groups of writers in large rooms full of filing cabinet filled with scripts from the 70s and 80 pulling a script from a drawer, perusing it for a few seconds and shouting, "Oh this one's good! Let's use it for next week's episode!"

And also, please stop canceling the good, original shows. Dead Like Me was a marvel of imagination. I loved Firefly, too. Honestly, I'm truly surprised Lost was never cancelled. I also would have figured they would have canceled Weeds, and other "controversial" shows like it.

I will conclude by asking politely that, if the people in TV don't want the ratings to continue to decline, they should really look at the process by which they approve what shows get made. Listen to the fans. Remember, it is your relational customer, and not your transistional one, that determines your business. Listen to what people have to say about the show, not just how many watch a show in the first six episodes. It takes time for people to form relationships with new things. it also takes time for people to tell all their friends and family about what great shows they have seen. Had it not been for phone conversations with my mom, I never would have watched an episode of House or Boston Legal. And I didn't start watching them until later in their runs.

Thank you for your time.

Bring back Firefly.
Bring back Firefly.
Bring back Firefly.

AdSlinger | Feb 19, 2008 9:44:48 AM | #

---

Now someone like Pink would be a good Jo.

Potch | Feb 19, 2008 9:46:28 AM | #

---

Actually, it's not the tv consumers that determine what makes it, it's the advertisers. If advertisers don't like the ratings or the demographics of the ratings for a show, they pull, thus dangerously imperiling a show. Don't let the networks fool you. They don't care about quality, they only care about the advertising dollars a show can bring (which pays for the show production and profit), and the advertisers are the ones that care about ratings. Relational, transitional, they don't care. They want consistency and bang for their buck, hence the Super Bowl commercial prices. Other than the series finale of MASH, nothing else has beat the Super Bowl ratings-wise.

Andrea C | Feb 19, 2008 10:35:38 AM | #

---

That was the point: They need to listen to viewers, not companies.

AdSlinger | Feb 19, 2008 12:32:18 PM | #

---

Rags to Riches though I'm not sure about the casting. I loved it as a kid and it could be fun as an adult, musical element and all

Goldie | Feb 20, 2008 12:49:45 AM | #

---

"Man from Atlantis" starring Patrick Duffy and Belinda Montgomery was one of my favorite science-fiction TV series, although it was short lived. It ran for only 17 episodes on NBC during the 1977 - 1978 season. Matt Dallas (Kyle XY) would be my first choice for the lead role.

Carole | Feb 21, 2008 9:09:30 PM | #

---

How about a remake series of Gilligan's Island?

* Gilligan - Keanu Reeves
* Skipper - Brian Dennehy
* The Professor - Michael T. Weiss (from The Pretender)
* Mr. Howell - Michael Douglas
* Mrs. Howell - Demi Moore or Sigourney Weaver
* Ginger - Jessica Alba
* MaryAnn - Not sure, so many options!

Scanner | Feb 28, 2008 12:10:51 PM | #

---

The best, most obvious choice for recasting IMO:

Ben Browder as Col. Steve Austin in a remake of The Six Million Dollar Man (or a new version of Steve Austin added to the Bionic Woman TV series).

Browder actually played Lee Majors in a TV movie a few years ago on the making of Charlie's Angels (with BSG's Tricia Helfer as Majors' wife, Farrah Fawcett) and he got to recreate a famous scene from one of the Bigfoot episodes and he was perfect in the part. Also, Browder has the same understated style as Majors did. Casting Browder as Steve Austin would be as perfect as casting Steve Carrell in Get Smart.

Alex | Mar 6, 2008 9:11:03 PM | #

---

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:	optional
URL:	optional
Comments: