The first design images for Mockingbird Lane, the remake of The Munsters, have been released, and it is definitely a whole new direction.

Bryan Fuller, the creator behind Pushing Daisies, is moving ahead with his modern day re-do of the camp classic, The Munsters.  The new series will film its pilot in June, and should it go to series it will be a darker series than the original with a modern take on what it would be like if monsters truly lived amongst us.

As you can see in the image above from Entertainment Weekly (click for a larger view), the characters are taking on a much different look than their 1960′s counterparts.

I’m intrigued by what I’m seeing, but I think this is another instance of, “why not just go with an original idea?” Why did they have use The Munsters? Why not just tale the idea of monsters in the real world, slap some original names on them, change their relationships a bit (Instead of having Eddie Izzard play grandpa, have him be “The father from the old country,” and give him a name that somehow relates to “Vlad?” See? Was that so hard to make it new?) and not worry about the old license?  If this series was maintaining The Munsters name as opposed to using their address, I could see it was you could write it off as capturing old fans, but instead most people won’t ever even realize what they are seeing.

I will say this artwork gives me a bit more interest in the new show, but I just can’t grasp why it had to be a remake.

[via Coming Soon]

The list of potential remakes … excuse me, “reimaginings” … coming to our TV screens in the fall is truly frightening.

It seems that the television networks have decided to abandon anything close to resembling an original idea as they prepare for the next TV season. Entertainment Weekly has compiled a list of the shows under consideration for next season and it reads like someone picked up a TV Guide from the 1960′s and thought, “Hey, all of these look awesome! Lets make them!”

The list is truly bewildering, but do keep in mind the projects vary from “in development” to “pilot order”, neither of which means they will ever make it to our television screens.  The only one that is guaranteed at this point is Seth McFarlane’s take on the classic The Flintstones, but that isn’t due to hit until fall 2013.  Because, yes, Seth McFarlane really needs a fourth animated series on Fox.

What gets me is what else is on there.  The Rifleman really needed a remake?  Yes, it was hugely popular in its day, but that was a time when westerns were very en vogue, and this is no longer the 1950′s, but yet CBS has a remake in development.  I guess that’s okay, though, since this is the same network looking to relaunch Bewitched, the 1960′s series about a witch that marries a mortal and all of the problems that come with that.

Of course, CBS looks smart in comparison to NBC that is obviously grabbing at straws.  Besides the heavily discussed The Munsters, it appears the peacock network is also looking at a new adaptation of Valley of the Dolls, the classic 60′s novel about pill popping suburban wives.  Because, as you know, NBC did so well with The Playboy Club, another period drama is the perfect fit for them.  They are also looking at potential series such as Hannibal - based on the character of Hannibal Lecter – and Romancing the Stone – based on the popular 1980′s movie.  Yep, that’s right, these all sound like winning ideas that someone found by watching their DVD collection one weekend.

After this season, which has failed to generate one huge hit show, this is where the networks thing they should be heading?  Please alow me to bang my head on my keyboard yet again.

Thanks to Jo for the tip.

Joining the growing ranks of rehashed TV shows being brought back is growing today with the announcement that NBC has ordered a pilot for The Munsters.

Originally airing from 1964 to 1966, which was at the same time as  The Addams Family, The Munsters has had a cult following ever since it went off the air.  Seeing as the television networks are trying to resurrect just about everything these days, Bryan Fuller – the creator of Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies – has sold a pilot for a new version of the series to NBC.  There’s no word yet if it will go to series, but it looks somewhat likely from the talent being put together.

Reportedly Fuller is looking to go darker with the series than the original sitcom and remove the camp aspects from it.  I’m not quite sure why it would still go by the same name at that point, but oh well.

Considering how other rehashes of old series has gone as of late, I imagine this will go just well, which is sad since I like Fuller.