What old TV show do you wish could come back?

Fucking cocksuckers need to bring back Deadwood.

Community.

 

Too soon?

 

Seriously tho, Party Down needs to come back. Now.

I second Community.

 

Veronica Mars should have never been cancelled. Anything Whedon. The Playboy Club. Tremors the Series, also comes to mind.

Rubicon! Bring it back and do it right dammit. So much potential squandered. 

Angel

Angel

Angel

Angel

Angel

 

Just a 12-13 episode half season after Season 5 could have been enough.

MOONLIGHTING

 

Those first two seasons (and a lot of the third) were pure fucking gold.  I'm not sure if you could create that kind of show again but man...

The Twilight Zome - but not the '80s version.  I'd like to see episodes like the ones in the late '50s/early '60s.

 

The X-Files - I'd trade in all the rip-offs for the originals.  Even the bad episodes seem good now. Well, some of them.

Rescue Me pretty much was a remake of The Job (which was great, mind), and it outstayed its welcome, so I can pass on that one.

 

The congregation says amen, brother.

 

If the worst comes to pass, I propose they cut costs on bringing them both back by having Party Down cater Greendale's graduation ceremony.  I don't give a damn if they have to retcon the school into being in LA.

 

Veronica Mars was great, and despite being heavily tied into the teenage aspect, the strength of the characters is such that I wouldn't mind at all checking in with them 5-10 years down the line. 

 

Did The Playboy Club already get canceled?  I feel like it debuted last week.

 

 

Hell no.  While I don't doubt Whedon could've come up with something I would've enjoyed, a perfect finale is a rare and wonderful thing.  I say leave that one right the hell alone.

 

 

If I were in charge of HBO for a day, I would bring back the entire cast of Carnivale and contract them to shoot another 3-4 seasons.   And to smooth out the decade of aging and cut down on the effects/costumes/sets budget, I'd rotoscope the whole thing.  Make it into a sort of psuedo-anime/live action comic.

 

The Wire..Season 6, just tell me some more stories about Baltimore damn it!

See, I think The Wire's narrative wrapped up well and conclusively, and further seasons would only lead to diminishing returns.

 

But what I would like is a Homicide reboot in full continuity with The Wire.  That way you sidestep the most direct comparisons and can do a smaller scale procedural centered around The Bunk.  Who the hell wouldn't watch that?

 

Holy shit, I was just about to write this. I'd like to see Pembleton as the new G & Bayliss as the grizzled veteran detective who helps to break in new, young detectives. The show was 10 years ahead of it's time & a reboot would fit right in on FX or HBO.

Do you mean bring back everyone involved with the show and continue the same storylines? Because I assume, in some cases, that would require some... magic?

 

If we're talking full-on reboot, though, I think the world is ready for a return visit to...

 

Wait, wait, no. I meant this.

 

 

I'm going to have to disagree with you about the very end of the end.

 

There was planned material and a theme for a Season 6 which would have gone ahead if it hadn't been cancelled, which I'm sure you already knew.

 

However, the cancellation (tragically avoidable I still think) probably made the finale better in many ways (what happened to Wesley wouldn't have otherwise , and how that all played out with him was really, really good, Fred was dead for good, Gunn was on his way out - all of this wouldn't have happened) than if it had just been the final episode of Season 5 intrinsically in itself.

 

Lorne and Lindsey got the perfect exits for their characters (I was getting a bit tired of what seemed like everyone being saved and redeemed in the end as in BTVS) and there was a feeling of unavoidable impending doom that just kept building as the episode went on. Their opponents in themselves aren't that physically powerful compared to previous ones but the fact that's now clear that it's the system itself that they can't ever beat which makes it so much more insidious and really adds to the funereal atmosphere of the episode.

 

Up to the very end where they meet in the alley is close to perfect. Just the bit where it goes just that bit further and a bunch of demons appear and charge, with the end being literally cut off in mid swing - well, I hate things being left in literal mid air like that. I guess for me, it was the difference between that and the ending of Blake's 7, not hugely different but just enough more certainty to mark an ending of sorts.

 

For example the end of BTVS, or the end of Lexx or a number of other shows, it's obvious that many of the characters will continue to exist and go on but it's an ending. In BTVS, it's Sunnydale being sucked into a hole in the ground. Everyone who survived that will go on doing other stuff but I felt that the end to an era is marked.

 

I guess I'm parsing a very fine distinction here but that's just my opinion.

 

Short version, the cancellation of Angel made the last 2 episodes/finale better than they would have been in themselves but for the overall show, I found the abrupt ending not quite as good as something just a bit more conclusive.

WKRP

 

I hope I don't have to add Community to this thread.

The only old Homicide characters I'd care to see back are Pembleton, Bayliss, Munch, & Melissa Leo's Howard. Munch is on SVU & Leo is on Treme. Everyone else is either dead, boring, or Ned Beatty.

Edited by Art Decade - 11/16/11 at 10:21pm

I'd love to see the BBC do a high-profile Doctor Who-like reboot of The Avengers starring Jude "fading career" Law & Eva Green or Gemma Arterton. Hire Grant Morrison as head writer & BOOM.

I also kind of think, no offense, but you're kinda being a brat if you want more from a show that lasted more than three seasons or so. Requesting more Angel and Buffy? You've had enough sir. Especially when the world is littered with promising shows that didn't live past a few weeks.

 

I think it was in 1999 where pretty much every show I watched that year was canceled, some quicker than others. Two I'd like to see rise from the dead:

 

"Wonderland" - Six episodes, and I believe only two aired. Created by Peter Berg, it was another medical show, yes. But it was about employees working at a halfway house, a very dangerous, understaffed one. I don't think ABC was cool with the pregnant doctor being stabbed in the belly with a syringe in episode one. First episode was paired against ER, of all things, and it did well against a repeat of that show. Next episode was MURDERED in the ratings. I was eager to see episode three (Jeremy Piven* guest stars as a former standup comedian with mental issues!) and then, YANK, off the schedule. The episodes that aired were intense, strong, adult television. Far too hard edged for ABC.

 

"The Beat" - Tom Fontana-created cop show, set amidst the backdrop of the NYPD. Probably the best show ever to air on UPN. It was a midseason replacement, and it played out the rest of the season before dying. Early work from Mark Ruffalo as one of two cops. The show was an hourlong drama, but it captured both the mundane, boring elements of cop work as well as the comedically surreal. And, hey, an appearance by Detective Munch!

 

*This whole resurrected old show thing certainly backfired with "Cupid" didn't it? The scripts were almost IDENTICAL, but Piven was goofy and funny, Bobby Cannavale was just... creepy.

Need. More. Cop Rock.

I agree but Jeff Goldblum should be the Doctor.

Quantum Leap would make for a great reboot.   Maybe add a serialized aspect to it?    Also, I think in the right hands an A-Team reboot would be fun especially if it took after the movie.

NBC did reboot Quantum Leap (kinda). It was called Journeyman & it was pretty great. They need to bring that one back.

That's what I'm talking about. My #1 pick right there.

 

I'd say Beavis & Butt-Head but...

 

I usually don't care for Adult Swim.  Robot Chicken is alright, but I remember they premiered a cartoon Korgoth of Barbaria.  It was fucking great.  I loved it.  I immediately saved it on my TiVo and it was never picked up.  That show would been awesome.  

 

How about The Lone Gunman?  I loved that spin-off.  I know they're dead, but so is the show. 

 

Also I don't know if anyone saw that 2 hour Fox movie/pilot that was never picked up Virtuality I believe.  It was in space.  I liked it and I usually hate network stuff.  That could've been an interesting show.

 

Yep, that Virtuality pilot was gold. It was a real shame that it didn't get picked up.
 

Mystery Science Theater 3000! I know it still (mildly) lives on as RiffTrax but nothing beats the bots and the Satellite of Love.

"Keen Eddie"; it was a joy to watch, had plenty of nice character interaction and it somehow managed to be funny as hell and pack some nice action now and then; Mark Valley, Sienna Miller and the whole cast were perfect in it...hell, the episode about the released mob enforcer hunting down the guys who stole his football tickets is hilarious.

 

As for animation, "Megas XLR" was too good to last; it managed to eb a perfect parody of anime and giant robots, and every single joke and homage worked so well (plus, it had Bruce Campbell as a MODOK lookalike!)

 

Ditto "The Critic", but with the voice of Duke Phillips gone, i dont want it back anymore.

 

 

Pushing Daisies. I would've have minded a third season.

Press your Luck - The best 80s game show ever!  No wammies, stop!

 

Ok, as far as actual tv shows are concerned.

 

Sandbaggers - I would love an updated version of this brillant british spy show.

 

E-Z streets - my favorite "canceled in its first year" shows.  Don't understand why ABC didn't try to give this show a chance.

 

Red Dwarf - just a few more months now (thought I really do think its probably comming back a decade too late)

 

 

Not an old show, but one more season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles would've been nice, just to see where they were going to take it.

Space Above and Beyond was pretty cool. Died too young in my opinion.

This.

 

Was really impressed the offhand way they killed off a major cast member. No warning. No sad music. Just BANG and he's dead. 

 

Quote:

Agreed. And what the hell happened to Kristen Cloke after S:AAB was canceled?
 

 

Even if Community doesn't get cancelled, this needs to happen, especially if you have Professor Cligoris encountering Roman in some fashion.

 

Not sure what to add here, although I'd like to second the Virtuality and Rubicon love.  Somebody mentioned Sandbaggers as well, and I honestly think Rubicon was pretty damn close to a modern take on that show.

She was on X-Files for a few I think.

She played a Cult Member who shared a past life reincarnation with Mulder. Cloke was in the first Final Destination as well.

To Catch A Predator

Brimstone

VR5. Twin Peaks. Max Headroom.

There was a show in the early 70's that was very cool called UFO. They could remake that and update it. SHADO was all kinds of awesome.

pure genius at work.... some network needs to give this man a job.

 

Friday the 13th the Series had potential I think. Robey was certainly hot enough and was a pretty dark character from what I remember. Like American Pickers only with the DEVIL!!

 

 

Edit: Oh wait Warehouse 13 is out there. Never mind.

Edited by EdBighead - 11/17/11 at 6:58am

I was pretty young when it aired, but I remember loving that Michael Madsen show Vengeance Unlimited. 

 

Space: Above and Beyond

 

Surprised no one has said FireFly, although UrchineSlice did say "anything Whedon" up above. 

 

Stargate: Universe ended on a hell of a cliffhanger, I thought the show was really hitting its stride towards the end.

 

 

Oh, and I would watch the hell out of some more LOST.  I wasn't a fan of that final season or the finale, but there hasn't been another show that captured my interest like that one since it went off.  The GF has just been introduced to my season DVD's and is on them like crack.  I rewatched most of season 1 and some of season 2 and 3 with her and it still stands up as some of the best TV I've ever watched.  I could watch the launching of the raft scene over and over again, such an amazing scene.  Dat Michael Giacchino score...

 

I would have liked to see The 4400 get a proper ending too.

Arrested Development
Yeah I know a TV mini series and a movie is coming, but I want the full cast in each episode!

Outsourced
Okay don't bash. I feel the show needs to reverse the equation. Make it about Indians coming to America and trying to raise families and face the American culture while trying to maintain their own.

The Tonight Show with Conan O Brien
F the chin. That last week with Conan was gold.

Community
I miss the Season 1 style

Quote:

Both Firefly and Freaks and Geeks are sort of obvious choices for this thread, but I'm not sure they'd work coming back.  I wouldn't want a continuation of Firefly without Wash or Book, and I have no idea how you'd continue Freaks without having it feel like one of those Brady Bunch reunion movies.

 

I'll back you up on Stargate: Universe, however.  Only Stargate show I ever watched, outside of the original SG-1 pilot.

Hell yes on BRIMSTONE. Dug the hell out of that show, especially John Glover's Lucifer. It got cancelled way too quickly to develop an audience.


Another one: PROFIT. That was a fun show with Adrian Pasdar that wasn't given a chance.

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.  Man that show was fun.

 

Life.  They did a good job of wrapping it up when they weren't sure if it was going to be cancelled or not, but I was really enjoying it.

 

Cupid.  I think they are/were going to try this again?  The first one with Piven was really fun.

Quote:

 

UFO was indeed very cool. I'd personally like to see it redone with the retrofuture vibe intact, which would preserve the tone of the original.

 

Maybe something similar to Danger 5:

 

http://www.sbs.com.au/danger5/

 

 

WISEGUY. Reboot. Crippled, bloated Ken Wahl as wheelchair-bound Uncle Vinny. Too bad JJ Abrams only liked nerdy shows growing up.

Bud Court.

 

 

Also, The Lost Room. A Sci-Fi limited series from a few years ago about a guy on the search for artifacts that were mundane objects that held extraordinary powers.

 

I used to enjoy Space 1999 back in the day. It's premise was extremely dumb but it was sci-fi and I was young and it had Martin Landau and Barbara Bain who I dug in Mission Impossible. I even had a couple of the Moonbase Alpha toys. Reboot it somehow. It doesn't have to be our moon I guess. It could be a big space station with a big gun that when it tried to destroy a planet it sent the death station off into the abyss. Something original y'know?

 

 

My pitch:  it's a reboot in vague continuity with the original but trumped by that of The Wire when there's a conflict.  A procedural set in The Wire's universe, essentially, with 2 carryover characters from each show.

 

Pembleton, as the district commander. Recurring role, similar to Barnfather's role in the original, but not as overtly antagonistic.

 

Bayliss, as the grizzled vet that no one really enjoys working with, aka the new Pembleton

 

The Bunk, as the respected elder statesman of the squad room, like Bolander in the original

 

Jay Landsman, exactly as he is in The Wire, which is sort of the position of Gee in Homicide (although he was a LT and Landsman is only a Sgt, but whatever)

 

Maybe have Ed Norris bumming around the edges as well, and have the occasional sojourn to Pearlman's courtroom, or have PD Daniels occasionally show up to make an interrogation especially difficult. 

 

 

If that's not enough to entice you, Gabe, S2's ongoing storyline might just do the trick.  It involves a rookie detective named Randall Wagstaff being assigned as Bunk's new partner.  The two clash because the kid came up hard and has more of a chip on his shoulder about it than Bunk thinks is appropriate for Po-leece.  Not helping things are Bunk's suspicions that the rookie is still a bit too plugged in to the corners and  "The Game", and a brief encounter in his teenage years where the detective tried to manipulate him (which Bunk doesn't even remember).  Eventually they have it out and the kid is reassigned to Bayliss, with whom he develops a grudging mentor relationship as they launch an ongoing, quasi-legal investigation of a flamboyant state senator whose shady dealings they believe to be tied to several street-level murders.

 

 

 

Come on, NBC, you know you have nothing to lose at this point, and these aren't movie stars we're talking about.  Just make it happen.