Great movies + TV shows shouldn't be remade

By now most of you have probably heard that CBS gave the go-ahead to Matthew Perry (of Friends fame) to do a re-boot of The Odd Couple. (It debuts in mid-February.)

Granted, The Odd Couple has been remade several times since premiering on Broadway in 1965 (starring Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison and Art Carney as Felix Ungar, and directed by Mike Nichols). The two most successful remakes, or versions, being the 1968 film starring Walter Matthau (again as Oscar) and Jack Lemmon as Felix (now Unger, with an "e"), and the beloved 1970s television series of the same name starring Jack Klugman as Oscar and Tony Randall as Felix.

Since then every attempt at remaking the TV show (or movie) has flopped. And this one will, too. Why? I'll give you three reasons:

1) How can you possibly improve upon the Jack Klugman and Tony Randall television classic? (That's a rhetorical question. You can't.)

2) Matthew Perry? Really? The guy who hasn't had a hit since Friends, whose presence almost guarantees the movie or TV show will flop? (Is it just me, or is every character Perry plays just some version of Chandler? And admit it, you never really liked Chandler, did you?) Which CBS executive thought it a great idea to give this guy the green light to develop, produce, and star in the re-boot of a beloved series (as Oscar Madison)?

3) Re-boots, re-makes, or sequels, especially of classic or great TV shows or movies are never as good as the original (with possibly one or two exceptions, none of them recent).

With all of the writers out there looking for work, some of them even good, talented writers, you would think that movie studios and television networks could come up with something original. But no.

They have to go ahead and remake The Odd Couple. And Jurassic Park. And Ghostbusters.

None of them, I guarantee you, will be nearly as good, or as clever, or as  funny, or as witty, as the original. Though I have no doubt that Jurassic World, starring Chris Pratt, will take in millions of dollars, at least the first couple of weeks, as will the all-female version of Ghostbusters, starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, which will basically be Bridesmaids II: Ghouls Gone Wild, with lots of crude and lewd humor.

Sigh.

Why, Hollywood? Why?

The coolest show on TV?

No, I am not referring to Sarah Palin's Alaska on TLC, the premiere of which this past Sunday broke TLC ratings records.

I am referring to the ingenious Phineas and Ferb over on the Disney Channel.

Go ahead and make fun of me, but I love Phineas and Ferb -- a show about imagination, ingenuity, and the importance of family and friends, which also happens to have the best soundtrack of any show (kid or adult, animated or live action) currently on TV.





And I know I am not the only parent who appreciates Phineas and Ferb's wit, positive message, and awesome music. (Seriously, I am this close to downloading "Alien Heart" and "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" onto my iPod.)

Heck, WIRED magazine, a magazine for ADULTS (albeit adult geeks), just published a feature article about Phineas and Ferb creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh.

So next time you find yourself complaining that there's nothing good on TV, check out Phineas and Ferb. (New episode airs this Friday at 9 p.m. ET!) And you, too, will find yourself saying "Curse you, Perry the Platypus!"