Debbie Schlussel: Bad Re-Make Alert: NYTimes Says Rick Springfield on TV is News
On this site, we've commented on the rising number of re-makes, sequels, repeats, re-dos . . . . You get it. They're almost all BAD. And the death of original ideas always signals the death of a great, free society.
The latest re-make/sequel is no exception: '80s pop singer Rick Springfield's return to the ABC Soap Opera, "General Hospital," only now his character is a messed-up alcoholic. Incredibly, The New York Times thinks THIS is major news. Huh?
What it really is, is a has-been pop singer (then a hot age 32, now a sagging, sunken-eyed age 56) returning to a has-been show on a has-been medium--all three of which are desperate to bring back yesterday.
Yes, I was one of those teen-age girls all gaga over Springfield. Went to his concerts, bought his posters. (In 1998, I interviewed him for an article I wrote on him in The Detroit News, and he's a pretty nice guy in person.) But gaga no more.
His fans from yesterday are working during the soap opera day, today. Or online, listening to an I-Pod, or watching cable. Soap opera and network TV watching has dwindled, thankfully. Plus, they're bringing back a character that was a heroic neurosurgeon as a washed-up alcoholic. That's not entertaining. It's just sad.
Sometimes, yesterday was meant to stay there. Some things just shouldn't be repeated.
Like we said, the death of new ideas and creativity is always a sign of the death of capitalism and freedom.
Rick Springfield Trivia: His hit, "I've Done Everything for You," was actually written by former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar.
Posted by Debbie on December 1, 2005 11:55 AM to Debbie Schlussel