This could be remade today, IF...

I remember 1992's "Stay Tuned" pretty well. I was managing a small cinemaplex when it came out, and as a result, was able to see it several times, both on my own time, and in the context of my day to day duties at the theater. It wasn't a great hit, and more then one person wound up walking out of it during it's theatrical run. Personally, i'm of two minds on this film:

1. What Works: The parodies and satires of TV programs in "Stay Tuned" is pretty much dead on and very funny. ("My Three Sons Of Bitches," "Three Men And Rosemary's Baby," and so on.) If ever there was one target that will always be ripe for satire, it's television and the countless mindless and sometimes brain dead programming that makes up any given broadcast day. The makers of "Stay Tuned" correctly realized this, and pulled no punches in skewering everything and anything.

BUT...

2. What Doesn't Work: It's a pity that all the witty and snarky shots at the TV medium are only a backdrop for a rather silly and not very entertaining larger story; that being John Ritter and Pam Dawber getting sucked into a TV literally from Hell. Much time and energy is wasted on fleshing out their characters; Ritter as the TV addict, Dawber as the wife yanked into the alternate dimension with him. Add to that the fact that the couples' children in the film are annoying, aggravating, and serve no purpose.

Now, as for a possible remake. It would be great, provided they play up what worked, and downplay what didn't. The entire "TV from Satan" storyline would be ok if it were just used as a "wraparound." Ritter gets the TV from the evil salesman, begins to watch it, and off we go with satire for the next 90 minutes or so. Leave out the story arc of chasing through TV world, facing off against Satan (or his agent, if that's what he was supposed to be), and just focus on lambasting the crap we have to endure on TV. That's what the audience is there to see anyway. At the end, Ritter sees how lousy this type of TV is, and tells the devil to stick it. That's how this concept could work.

Films skewering the banality of TV have been done before. Films such as "Kentucky Fried Movie," which was an early film from director John Landis, "The Groove Tube," featuring many comedy stars in their early days such as Chevy Chase, among others, and "Amazon Women On The Moon," another star filled scattershot look at TV, All had the same basic idea: You are watching TV, and bear witness to an ongoing series of satirical jabs at TV programs, newscasts, and commercials. No heavily involved backstories in any of them, because they're not needed. Just one zinger after another, and if there's a segment you don't care for, it's ok, because there's going to be a totally different one in five or ten minutes.

This is how "Stay Tuned - The Remake" could be successful. Heaven knows there's plenty of targets to go after in this day and age: Reality shows, non stop cable news with belligerent and argumentative blowhard anchors and commentators, "talent" shows like "American Idol" and the like, and so much more.

If you notice, Hollywood has cranked out quite a number of parody films lampooning different movie genres, "Scary Movie" "Not Another Teen Movie," etc.

So it seems a natural fit for the satirical screenwriters in Hollywierd to blast TV and all that it brings to the table.

As for casting, well, obviously John Ritter's out, (rest in peace, John), and i don't know if Pam Dawber would be interested. But it's better if they go with unknowns, or at the very least, lower tier actors from either TV or films. The star of the film should be the satire itself. Casting a big name would only distract from that, unless the big name star is used only in the context of a show or commercial parody. Anyone for Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan in a commercial parody? Think of the possibilities!

Anyway, that's my take on "Stay Tuned,". I'd love to see it get remade, because TV is asking for a comedic asskicking, and it's about due for one these days.

What do you guys think?