Posted on 08/03/2018 2:57:32 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Sony Pictures Television, which owns distribution rights to the sitcom, is in early talks to reboot the Diff'rent Strokes spinoff that originally aired on NBC for nine seasons and more than 200 episodes. A network is not yet attached and a search for a writer is underway.
Sources say Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessica Biel are in early talks to exec the reboot via their respective Appian Way and Ocean Films production companies. Sony TV declined comment.
The series, which starred Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mandy Cohn and Nancy McKeon, is one of the longest-running comedies of the '80s and revolved around a housemother and her students at the all-female Eastland School in New York. The multicamera comedy was created by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon.
The Facts of Life re-do arrives as reboots continue to be in high demand as broadcast, cable and streaming services alike look for proven brands in a bid to cut through a cluttered landscape expected to top 520 in 2018 alone. Key to the reboots and revivals is having the original producers involved, which Facts of Life has with Sony TV. Reboots are not just easier — and inexpensive — to market given their built-in brand awareness but in many cases, they also help the studio further monetize library content. (Will and Grace producers Universal TV, for example, were able to sell the comedy's entire library as part of its reboot deal with Hulu.)
The Facts of Life arrives days after news broke that Warner Bros. TV is looking to revive ALF, though a network is not yet attached. Both ALF and Facts of Life are multicamera comedies and arrive at the genre is seeing a resurgence following the breakout success of ABC's Roseanne. Broadcasters have increased the number of multicams this season as the format is faster and cheaper to produce.
It doesn’t seem to be helping.
Just a few suggestions for the clever, original thinkers in Hollow-wood.
“Reboots are all they have in an effort to retain aging audiences that grew up with the originals. Young people are watching YouTube. They don’t watch any network TV and little if any cable programming. The old dinosaurs are going extinct.”
the real problem has nothing to do with an aging audience ... the real problem is that network television is completely bereft of talent, is intellectually bankrupt, and consists of nothing but complete garbage now. The talent has all fled to other venues like AMC, A&E, Syfi, Netflix, and Amazon ... there have been some incredibility great original shows on those channels, shows like “Marvelous Mrs. Maisal”, “The Expanse”, “Preacher”, “Hap and Leonard”, “Bosch”, “Better Call Saul”, and “Man In The High Castle” ... every one of those shows is heads and tails above anything being shown even in the theaters today ... just because network television is dead doesn’t mean all television is dead.
They could have Lieberman play the Alf guy.
And Room 223 is the gay straight alliance meet room
Please.Stop.The.Reboots.
Sheesh what’s next? Small Wonder? Saved by the Bell: the Retirement Years? Dinosaurs?
Welcome Back Again Kotter - Kotter teaches class at the retirement home of the Sweathogs
The 60 Million Dollar Man - inflation and all, but now with Siri built-in
Uber - Taxi but without the medallions
The Really Odd Couple - Zer and Ze share an apartment
LOL, I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried some of these.
Hate most reboots, though Youtube’s new series Cobra Kai (Karate Kid followup) was very well done. Not sure movie spinoffs classify as a reboot but watched it with a friend who has sub and found it enjoyable.
yep that was the episode :)
Which role will Rosie O’donnel be playing?
Natalie, or Geri?
I am going to call it now. A gay couple that adopts illegal aliens that were separated at the border and learn to grow up in a family environment in San Francisco with other members of the family that wish they had other members. No imagination no originality nothing.
That sounds about right.
She spoke at a church I was attending. Nice person and down to earth. She lived in an apartment with her mother when the show was being made. Very much a Christian.
The Magnum PI reboot features a Mexican as Magnum, leaf-blower substitites for Colt .45
Okay, I made up that last bit...
You take the good, you take the bad ...
Hey, Dinosaurs was pretty dam funny. Still holds up. I’m waiting for a Webster reboot staring Jim Acosta.
#30 This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message. I’ll get back to you. [Beep]
Angel: “Hey Jim, thinking about a reboot starring me!”
Jim picks up and says “No way!”
Probably the only way Jim would pick up the phone to respond.
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