Television viewers should prepare themselves for a blast from the past.Programs from the past have recently been popping up across television, from decades-old shows such as “Bionic Woman” and “Knight Rider,” to more modern hits like “90210.”And the CW is rumored to remake the ’90s soap opera “Melrose Place” for its 2009 season.Joni Butcher, communication studies professor who specializes in the study of television, said television stations are remaking shows because they have been unable to come up with fresh concepts.”I think networks are revamping old shows because they have run out of original ideas,” she said. “This is such a fast-paced, technology-based, money-driven generation. We are looking for quick and cheap ideas  — nothing that takes a great deal of time, thought or creative energy to produce. “Emily Erickson, mass communication professor, said television program creators are hoping the new shows will become just as popular, if not more popular, than the originals.”What the creators are really doing is capitalizing on a recognizable brand,” she said. “And this is probably a strategy that fuels our entertainment business more than any other today.”But television networks aren’t the only ones who have caught on to this trend, Erickson said. The entertainment industry has been doing this for years.”Reviving old successful formulas happens all the time in Hollywood – in movies, television and music,” she said. “But it’s more common for old movies to be re-made, just because it’s a single storyline that you’re adapting. With TV, the genres are more closely tied to their eras, and all the plotlines and characters would have to be changed so much that there wouldn’t be much point in ‘re-creating’ as much as being ‘inspired by’ the original.” Mike Applin, communication studies professor, said television programs and films from the past are trendy right now, and networks and production companies are playing off this.”Retro is in,” he said. “Just think about all of the major motion pictures that have been made of old TV shows: ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ ‘Beverly Hillbillies,’ ‘Mod Squad,’ ‘Addams Family,’ ‘Flintstones,’ ‘I Spy,’ etc.”Applin said networks may be trying to win back older audiences who once watched these programs when they were growing up.”Viewers derive great comfort watching these shows,” he said. “It may remind them of the carefree days of their youth. We live in a very complex world and are faced with so many challenging problems like war, financial problems, poverty, etc. These old TV shows provide a temporary escape from the realities of life.”And even if networks are interested in bringing back viewers of the original version, they may not succeed, Butcher said.Butcher said the original audience of programs, such as 90210, will not be able to relate to the new versions because of the differences between the generations, especially because of the blatant sexuality that current programs thrive on.”I never missed an episode of the original ‘90210′ when it was on the air, but I have not watched an episode of the new ‘90210,'” she said.  “I did, however, read an article about it in Entertainment Weekly. The original was steamy enough for its time, but I really don’t want to tune in to see the new and improved ‘Brenda’ and ‘Kelley’ giving blow jobs to their male classmates. Yes, this may indeed be representative of the new generation, but then, let’s create a new show focused on the new generation. Don’t play around with the classics.” And Butcher said networks are probably not even interested in appealing to audiences from past generations.”The networks may be working the nostalgia angle to attract older viewers,” she said. “But I doubt it. This is not the age group to which they wish to cater.  I am old enough to remember watching these original shows and I know, for myself, I have absolutely no desire to watch the remakes.”Erickson said modernizing well-received programs from the past may boost ratings and bring in more viewers.”The best recent example of a great revived TV show is ‘Battlestar Galactica,'” Erickson said.  “It was a pretty awful show that I loved as a kid. But when the Sci-Fi channel revived ‘Battlestar,’ it only kept the most basic themes from the original show.”But Butcher says this strategy is working.”These remakes have not been the big ratings boosters they were intended to be,” she said.And many of the recreations will not be as popular as the originals, she said.The ‘80s crime drama “Knight Rider,” which premiered Sept. 24 on NBC, has not been well-received. And “90210” is far from becoming a trademark of the ‘90s like its predecessor.According to TV.com, “90210’s” pilot episode raked in 4.91 million viewers, while the latest episode only brought in 3.02 million viewers. And many other episodes had only 1-2 million viewers.”They [networks] usually change the original just enough to make you cringe,” Butcher said. “‘The Bionic Woman,’ need I say more?  Please, let the fond memories rest in peace. It’s like going back to your high school and trying to be a teenager again. It just doesn’t work.”- – – -Contact Drew Belle Zerby at [email protected]