Watch out, J.R.: 'Dallas' is officially back.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that TNT and producer Warner Horizon are working on a remake of the '80s staple, with 'Cane''s Cynthia Cidre on tap to write it.

Cidre created and served as executive producer on 'Cane,' the story of a Cuban-American family and its successful Florida-based rum and sugar cane business. The Sept. 2007 series premiere was huge for CBS, bringing in 11 million viewers; however, the show got lost in the shuffle during the 2007-08 WGA strike and, after going on hiatus to accommodate mid-season replacements, died in May 2008.

Recently, we were inspired by 'Parks and Recreation' to write a feature listing TV shows that overcame a rocky launch. Sadly, the reverse seems more common: shows that start strong but finish weak.

Our latest inspiration is the ongoing death spiral of 'Heroes.' (This week: Mohinder does something stupid! People's powers go awry at inopportune moments! Adrian Pasdar, pictured, looks like he'd rather be anywhere else!) Here's a once-inspired show that seems to be going down in flames after having run out of ideas.

Other times, shows peter out because of casting changes, bad writing or bizarre creative decisions. In each case, however, the audience feels betrayed and often deserts the show, leading to ratings death and what-went-wrong autopsies. Here's what went wrong on nine other good shows gone bad.

Ever since 'Gilmore Girls' creator Amy Sherman-Palladino recently disclosed to Entertainment Weekly that she isn't ruling out a movie adaptation of the coming-of-age mother-daughter dramedy, we've been thinking of the other television shows rumored to become movies in the not-so-distant future.

Mostly, we've been thinking about how much we will hate them.

Behold, the seven worst (maybe) upcoming TV to film adaptations and why they are bad ideas.

This week's 'V' debut episode on ABC has some dazzling moments, including a few that may shock and surprise even viewers with vivid memories of the original 1983 miniseries. But does it belong on the list of all-time great TV series premiere episodes? Compare and contrast with the list below, featuring 10 of our favorite TV pilot episodes of all time.



10. 'The O.C.'
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch," says snobby jock Luke (Chris Carmack) to poor newcomer Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie). "This is how it's done in Orange County." For that exchange alone, this episode belongs in the pilot Hall of Fame.

Before Dallas and Dynasty and Falcon Crest and Knots Landings captured the imaginations of American viewers, there was a British soap import that was even more compelling.

From 1971-75, PBS aired the British upper crust soap Upstairs Downstairs. And now Upstairs Downstairs is going to be remade. It'll be filmed and shown in England first before coming to America in 2011.

What made Upstairs Downstairs classic television – it won Emmys, BAFTAs and Golden Globes – was the way it depicted of the British class system. Upstairs you had the rich, privileged Bellamy family. Downstairs there were the servants who worked for them. The lives of all these characters intertwined in a well-written, brilliantly acted drama series.

It worked for Star Trek, right? The CW has gone to the next generation well with both 90210 and Melrose Place the past couple of years, to less than stellar results. So would it even be a good idea for TNT to pick up a sequel series to the '80s classic Dallas?

The premise of the relaunch would be for the show to focus on the next generation of Ewings, featuring J.R. and Sue Ellen's son John Ross and Christopher, the adopted son of Bobby and Pam, as the new leads. The producers have already been in touch with original actors Larry Hagman, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy to discuss their possible involvement.

While there's no guarantee of a series, it does look like a pilot at least will be filmed. They'd have to be careful to make sure it appeals to people who've never seen Dallas, because that's getting to be a long time ago now. But there's always room on television for a well written family soap opera. Me, I'm still holding out for a next generation iteration of Soap.

For years now, rumors have floated about a film adaptation of the hit '80s series 'Dallas.' But with nothing concrete taking shape lately, we could be in for a reboot on the small screen instead. According to the New York Times, TNT has ordered a 'Dallas' pilot that the network is making a high priority.

The show would follow in the footsteps of the CW's '90210' and 'Melrose Place' remakes, where new characters are introduced in a next wave style of storytelling. In this updated version of 'Dallas,' we would follow John Ross Ewing, the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen.

Of all the names bandied about as replacement judges and guest judges on American Idol, I can honestly tell you that today's name made me smile. How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris is filling in as a guest judge on American Idol as they conduct auditions in Dallas, Texas.

Neil is not only one of the funniest talents around, but he is a legitimate singer who has appeared on Broadway, hosted the Tony Awards (and the upcoming Emmys, too) and knows what it takes to sing professionally. And let's not forget Dr. Horrible.

I love Battlestar Galactica, Dallas and cheesy opening credit sequences where the cast stops and poses for the camera. That's why my favorite thing on the Internet this morning is this Battlestar Galactica/Dallas mashup video I found over at Galactica Sitrep.



The funny thing is, this video really reveals BSG's '70s roots. The shot with the retro-looking (but modern) BSG logo popping up over the Dallas theme seems oddly appropriate. Kudos to the videomaker for including action shots featuring multiple Cylon Centurion models. The old school toasters mesh very well with the music. So does Lee Adama's season four Lorenzo Lamas hairdo, dontcha think?

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

I'd like to apologize to the makers of My Own Worst Enemy. I enjoyed the show to a certain extent, but I have no intention of buying the complete series set (complete series meaning one season). It's one of those shows that I kinda enjoyed each week, yet at the same time I'm not going to miss it, and I can't imagine grabbing the DVDs off of my shelf and watching the episodes again.

There's actually nothing I want to buy this week, so my wallet/bank account will be happy.

• Battlestar Galactica - Caprica
• Dallas - Season 11
• Freakazoid - Season 2
• iCarly - Season 1, Vol. 2

It may have been the Me Decade.

But in TV land, the sisters were doin' it for themselves and finally getting respect as cops, war nurses and working moms; iconic shows like 'Hill Street Blues,' 'St. Elsewhere' and 'L.A. Law' would forever change (for the better) cop, medical and legal dramas; and no idea was too high concept to fill a primetime spot (time-travelling physicist? check; housewife-turned-CIA op? check; New York City beauty in love with a subterranean monster? check).

The bottom line: They all add up to 10 years of fine channel surfing -- and our awesome list of the 40 best series of the 1980s.

It's not easy winnowing more than 50 years of small-screen gems into a list of 50.

But AOL TV's picks of the top TV dramas include the most brilliant doctors and lawyers, the angst-iest teens, sci-fi series that transcend their genre molds, family dramas that both warm and break your heart, terrorist- and mobster-fighting heroes ... and a show that combined the best of family and gangster drama into one unforgettable series.

Click through to see all 50 of the best TV dramas of all time.

There is no better way to get inside a character's head (without resorting to charging up some power cutting tools and laying down some newspaper) than writing in a dream sequence.

Some of them, however, try to explain too much or cover too much ground and end up becoming the kind of dreams that keeps our Paxil dosage high and GlaxoSmithKline's stock price higher.

These are those mindfreaks.

Love is a man and a woman ... and often on our favorite prime-time shows, another man or woman thrown in to add some drama, passion and intrigue to the mix.

From one of the first night-time soaps ('Peyton Place') to one of the most popular sitcoms of all time ('Friends'), TV series have kept us watching by keeping true love from running its course -- in the most entertaining (and treacherous!) ways.

We count down the 20 hottest love triangles in TV history.

Are you available Saturday, November 8th? Will you be in Parker, Texas? If the answer to these questions is yes, then maybe you'll head out to Southfork Ranch for a reunion with cast members of the classic CBS mega-hit Dallas. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the primetime soap, several actors from the show -- those still around -- will gather for a huge celebration. J.R. -- Larry Hagman -- will be the unofficial host, with Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy) also confirmed. No, this is not a dream. It's a real anniversary get together!

And what's really terrific about this event, if you ask me, is that it's not a private party. You can buy a ticket and take part. Tickets go on sale August 22 and will cost between $100 and $1,000. And for that money there will be a chance to ask questions of the stars, enjoy a concert of country music, tour Southfork and watch a fireworks display. Presumably that will not be a re-enactment of "Who shot J.R.?"