Canadian TV shows that do/don’t deserve a reboot

The great radio wit Fred Allen once said that “imitation is the sincerest form of television.”

If he were alive today, Allen might have another line: “they don’t make TV shows anymore, they re-make them.”

In the past few weeks, viewers have been told that several of their favourite TV shows from yesteryear are being re-booted back to life.

“The Odd Couple,” starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, is already back and is certain to be renewed for fall. In various stages of development are re-launched versions of “The X-Files,” “Full House,” “The Facts of Life,” “Coach,” “The Tick” and, although it’s looking iffy now that creator David Lynch has dropped out, “Twin Peaks.” “Heroes” is set to return as a 13-episode miniseries this fall on NBC. CBS is also reportedly thinking of boldly going forward with a “Star Trek” reboot.

The trend has even reached Canada, with CBC recently announcing it will bring back a series it cancelled in 2012: “Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays.”

Do remakes work? In recent years, an attempt by U.S. cable network TNT to re-launch “Dallas” ended after three seasons, when one of the original stars, Larry Hagman, passed away. A new version of “Ironside” in 2013 was simply lame. “24” hero Jack Bauer sat out two seasons then came back to “24: Live Another Day” last summer. Now the show is back on the shelf.

On the other hand, CBS’ reboot of “Hawaii Five-0” is in its fifth season. In an era when the TV landscape is shifting more towards pick and pay programming, studios and producers are betting more on familiar brands to hook audiences.

U.S. remakes aside, which shows should or should never come back in Canada? Here are some suggestions:

BRING BACK

“Front Page Challenge:” Viewers under 45 likely won’t know this panel show, which ran from 1957 to 1995. Veteran panellists Pierre Berton, Gordon Sinclair and Betty Kennedy were famously tasked with guessing the identity of newsmakers behind the headlines.

IT WOULD WORK NOW IF… the panellists were all “SCTV” alumni. Seeing Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Joe Flaherty and/or Catherine O’Hara probe headlines would be fun and invoke memories of “Half Wits” and other “SCTV” parodies.

“Quentin Durgens, M.P.:” One of CBC’s first hour-long dramas, this 1965-69 effort helped make a star out of Gordon Pinsent.

IT WOULD WORK NOW IF… it was a vehicle for Pinsent’s daughter, Leah. Turn her into a rookie Member of Parliament fighting to save public institutions like the CBC! Could be Canada’s “House of Cards.”

“Party Game:” In the ’70s, Hamilton superstation CHCH cranked out this daily, no-budget, afternoon charades series which featured Dinah Christie, Billy Van and Captain Jack Duffy as the home team.

IT WOULD WORK NOW IF… the home team were resident Canuck comedians such as Naomi Snieckus, Mark Little and Pat Thornton battling visiting teams made up of Canadians in Hollywood such as Seth Rogen, Dave Foley and Elisha Cuthbert.

NEVER BRING BACK

“Check It Out:” The supermarket-based CTV comedy, which starred Don Adams (“Get Smart!”), was about as welcome in Canada as the department store Target. Sorry about that, chief.

“Train 48:” Global’s attempt at a daily soap opera provided plenty of training for many in the TV business. Just don’t look for this train-based serial on any of their resumes.

“Katts and Dog:” Called “K-9 Cop” when this late ’80s/early ’90s drama ran in the U.S., which must have been some form of a Free Trade reprisal. A real pooch.