"90210" is coming back this fall.  Same for "Knight Rider."  CBS is in development of a new version of "Streets of San Francisco."  Now there are reports that CBS is also looking to update the classic "Hawaii Five-O."

Hoping to keep viewers watching TV, the networks are banking on name recognition.  And that means dipping back into the archives for shows that have sentimental ties with the public. 

"Hawaii Five-O" was on the air from 1968-1980.  The new show would be from Ed Bernero, the executive producer of "Criminal Minds." 

And over on ABC, they are working on a TV version of "The Witches of Eastwick."  That's based on the 1987 movie starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Why does this happen?  Really, why does this happen?  Now I enjoyed "Beverly Hills 90210" and the original "Knight Rider" a lot in my younger days, but it's not the same.  If you have ever seen "Knight Rider 2000" when they made KITT a Dodge Sthelth or something, or the HORRIBLE "Team Knight Rider" show, you will understand. 

And history has proven that it usually doesn't work.  The road is paved with redone shows that didn't make it.  Even classic shows like "Dragnet" and "The Twilight Zone" haven't been able to catch an audience when remade.

Success is a long shot and when it happens, such as "Battlestar Galactica," the show is similar in name only.  It has to be totally redone and the previous show has to be, to borrow a work from Roger Clemens, misremembered.

I think the networks need to keep trying original ideas and give them a chance by not pulling them from the air too quick.  A show like "Seinfeld" took a couple of years to build an audience; it became the biggest show on TV at the time and one of the highest rated syndicated shows to this day.  And giving shows a chance in the summer is a great idea.  I mean, have you watched "Flashpoint" or "Swingtown?"  Two great shows (depending on your tastes) that have found a core of people who love them. 

Anything to get rid of these reality shows.