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The best revivals of classic TV shows

included Robert Urich as the captain and the occasional visit from a member of the original Love Boat.

In the last couple of years, some shows from the past have been redone. I'm not sure I'd consider them classics, though. Beverly Hills 90210 is now just 90210, and Knight Rider kept the same title. It bombed, but 90210 is doing okay in the ratings.

Big Brother, the reality show, was pretty much a goner, having gotten just so-so ratings when a writer's strike a few years back made reality shows hot properties in Hollywood. All of a sudden, Big Brother returned and it's been with us ever since.



Several shows, some classic and some not, have been turned into theatrical films with varying success. In no special order, these include Lost in Space, Bewitched, and Family Affair. Others have had made-for-TV reunion movies done. These would include Ben Casey, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, Green Acres, Farscape, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Patty Duke Show. Some have had both theatrical and TV-movies, such as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Mod Squad, The Wild, Wild West, and Dragnet.

Some shows had TV movies made that were done as pilots for new shows. Those probably would have qualified as true revivals. One was The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and another was Bonanza. The U.N.C.L.E. reunion movie (The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair) was awesome, and I'll never understand why they didn't go with the updated show. Bonanza actually had two different made-for-TV movies done, but neither sold. Ultimately, a prequel was developed and aired on TV. It was called Ponderosa and starred Daniel Hugh Kelly as a young Ben Cartwright.

What about shows that have spawned other versions of itself, aka: the spin-off concept? Star Trek is the granddaddy of that premise. After it's five-year-mission ended in year three, there came Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise, which made the mistake of going just by Enterprise originally. Stargate SG-1 spawned Stargate Atlantis, and the upcoming Stargate Universe. Not only that, but Stargate SG-1 has already completed two movies and is about the film a third. It's first spin-off, Stargate Atlantis, is also preparing for a new movie. Then there's the short-lived Stargate cartoon as well.

I'm not sure Battlestar Galactica can be considered a revival. Its latest incarnation wasn't a popular one with the fans of the original series.


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The best revivals of classic TV shows

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