Mrs.Higgins,Mrs. Higgins wrote:OK, add me to the "This is gonna suck" column.
I can't think of a single remake/sequel that Hollywood HASN'T screwed up...with the exception of Star Trek:TNG. I've never seen the new Battestar Galactica, but I'll give you that one too because I've HEARD it was good from people who watched.
The New Love Boat, the multiple Odd Couple do-overs, The Bionic Woman, Ironside, Dallas...oh, and that gem, The New Adam 12...remember that? Yes, the creativity in Hollywood is virtually non-existent. I'll give MacGuyver one season at best.
Magnum PI had a winning formula, great cast, great chemistry and NEVER "jumped the shark". It can't be duplicated, spun-off, or revisited.
I would note that the odds of any series at this stage of development actually making it on the air aren't the best. So please fellow Magnum fans don't get your hopes too high that it happens.
I agree with Mrs. Higgins in regards to the quality of Hollywood remakes except for the 1981 Maverick update "Bret Maverick" with original star James Garner which was superior to the original 1950's series but only lasted 17 episodes.
The only other truly successful re-imaging of a tv series that I know of, while staying true to the original and actually bettering it was Southern Star Entertainment's "Rescue Special Ops".
It was a unofficial updating of the same studio's Gary Sweet starring "Police Rescue", which ended in 1994. 15 years later and a older Sweet is reduced to a part time role as a now retired legend and father of two of the new cast members.
This Sydney set series looks expensively produced, a rocking theme song, the action top notch, the photography and writing good too and it sports a very attractive cast. It is on YouTube for free, though the 1st two episodes audio sync is sightly off.
An interesting aside regarding the old saw that everyone has a double walking around.
Actress Gigi Edgley, who portrays paramedic Lara Knight, looks so much like actress Traylor Howard of Monk fame they could be clones.
For my two cents, you could set the new Magnum in sun drenched Sydney with it's beautiful harbor and beaches. Give Lilly a job at the local affiliate of the now global PI firm Luther Gillis and Associates.
Lilly's boss could be yet another Higgins half brother so you can retain the Higgins vibe and humor. John Cleese would be perfect.
Putting a seppo(American) in New South Wales opens up comedic possibilities too as well as situations we haven't seen a 1000 times over on our American shows. Instead of Hotel street you'd have Kings Cross. Never mind the crocs making off with the odd tourist for lunch, the staggering amount of flora and fauna in Australia that can kill you also leads to story possibilities.