If at first you don’t succeed, try again. And even if you do succeed, well, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
So it goes in Hollywood, which isn’t above doing something again, or doing it over.
This week, news broke that Nicolas Cage would star in an updated version of “Bad Lieutenant” — updated from 1992.
Harvey Keitel starred in the NC-17-rated original as a “depraved New York police officer,” Variety reports. It’s the latest redo in a town that’s famous for them (insert plastic surgery joke here). Let’s take a look.
Original: “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)
The prime-time soap opera taught usall that cheaters win quite frequently, actually.
Redo: Untitled “Beverly Hills” spinoff (2008)
The new show centers on a brother and sister who move to Beverly Hills from Kansas. Jennie Garth makes the jump from the original cast. Our money was on Ian “KEG” Ziering, but we can’t be right all the time.
Years between: 8
Original: “The Bionic Woman” (1976-1978)
Lindsay Wagner starred in the spinoff of “The Six Million Dollar Man” as Jamie Sommers, a woman with superhero-like abilities.
Redo: “Bionic Woman” (2007)
Michelle Ryan (below) sparked some buzz, but not even cool bionic parts and cool-for-TV special effects could save the remake from cancellation after its first and only season on NBC. Maybeif she’d been blond, like she was in the original?
Years between: 29
Original: “Prom Night” (1980)
Ah, prom and deranged lunatics — two mainstays of high school life. As a bonus, this horror flick — about a killer who stalks four students at their prom — starred scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween”).
Redo: “Prom Night” (2008)
Same premise, different actors, updated soundtrack, louder screaming. They just don’t make slasher flicks like they used to.
Years between: 28
Original: “Knight Rider” (1982-1986)
Everything from the wise-cracking car to the theme song made the show iconic. And did we mention the eternal struggle atop David Hasselhoff’s head between mullet and afro?
Redo: “Knight Rider” (2008)
The Hoff vs. Justin Bruening. It’s not a fair fight. Still, NBC gave the new “Knight Rider” the green light to air as a series after debuting it as a TV movie earlier this year.
Years between: 22
Original: Britney Spears’ marriage to Jason Alexander (2004)
The pop singer quickly annulled the quickie ceremony in Las Vegas, and her childhood friend from Louisiana quickly became a pop culture footnote.
Redo: Britney Spears’ marriage to Kevin Federline (2004)
This time, Spears opted for a more private ceremony in L.A. in front of a small group of family and friends. The marriage yielded two children and a messy divorce and ongoing custody battle.
Years between: Less than 1.
Original: “Hulk” (2003, left)
The Ang Lee-directed blockbuster suffered from backlash against its moody, serious themes and bad early buzz about its special effects. MARVEL ANGRY! MARVEL SMASH!
Redo: “The Incredible Hulk” (2008, below)
Marvel relaunches the franchise in June with Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. NORTON ANGRY WITH STUDIO CUT! MEDIA CREATE CONTROVERSY!
Years between: 5
