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TWoP 10: Recent Shows That Should Be Rebooted

by Angel Cohn June 3, 2011 6:00 AM
TWoP 10: Recent Shows That Should Be Rebooted

DC Comics recently announced that they were going to restart their legendary titles with new issue No. 1's, in addition to giving legendary characters a more contemporary look and streamlined histories in order to appeal to potential readers who've been intimidated by decades of convoluted continuity. The news has caused a justifiably huge stir in the comic book blogosphere (as has the parallel announcement of day-and-date digital downloads), but for us, the most interesting question was: could this work for television shows? Here are the current (or recently concluded) series that we think are most in need of a DC-style reboot:

10. Glee
Continuity has clearly not been a huge priority for the show, so it wouldn't be too hard to scale it back to focus on a teen girl who loved musical theater (enough to know that Cats left Broadway years ago) but was stuck in a small Midwestern town that didn't appreciate her. Sue Sylvester could have a fresh crop of other kids to berate, while original songs would be verboten.

9. Jersey Shore
Deena fell off a bridge, Snooki hit a cop.... we know everything that's going to happen in Italy months before it actually airs thanks to the paparazzi. There's almost no point to even tune in anymore. Time to restart with a brand-new gang of gorilla juiceheads and guidettes who can shock, disgust and entertain us anew.

8. Smallville
Rewatching the pilot shortly before the series signed off made us nostalgic for the farm boy who was coming to terms with the idea that he could run really, really fast. We'd gladly revisit that era (albeit with better actors) as long as we never saw costumed characters running around Metropolis.

7. The Event
It's hard to remember now, but this much derided show's pilot was actually promising; it was the subsequent plot-less episodes that ruined the concept. So start all over, with a peppy young thing playing Sophia, more of a focus on Sean discovering the aliens and, you know, maybe an event or two.

6. Chuck
A nerdy video gamer lusting after a girl who is way out of his league, who then gets a superpower computer implanted in his brain? That's our idea of a perfect superhero show. Too bad the nerd had to become an excellent spy and hook up with his crush, killing both the suspense and the romantic tension. Be kind, rewind.

5. Survivor
We're dreading another season of Redemption Island, especially because of the unnecessary inclusion of veteran players to railroad the newbies. If only the show could go back to featuring players who actually attempted to outwit, outplay and outlast - without the benefit of past experience or immunity idols.

4. Grey's Anatomy
Trying to remember who has slept with whom at this point requires both a spreadsheet and a Venn diagram (an abacus doesn't hurt, either). Perhaps if/when Mer and McDreamy leave, Shonda Rhimes could use their departures as an excuse to bring in a whole new cast of semi-professional docs.

3. House
Once must-see TV, now utterly preposterous, completely frustrating and totally ridiculous, this is another medical drama in dire need of turning back the clock to a time when House wasn't attempting murder and helped patients we occasionally cared about. Something tells us Cuddy might need to be recast, though...

2. How I Met Your Mother
We were charmed and intrigued back when we still had hope that the show would actually introduce us to the titular mother at some point - before all of the near misses and fake-out weddings. Can't Bob Saget reveal he's been lying to his kids all this time and start telling them the real story?

1. Supernatural
Forget the angels and being sent to hell a million times, and just get our delightful Winchester brothers back on the road fighting all manner of otherworldly nasties in small towns across America. Throw in a resurrection of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and this show could run until the apocalypse really arrives.

What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!

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