Wow! Could you possibly pick a more boring franchise to reboot?

I enjoyed the original series. Good cop drama with a twist. Shame it was cancelled but the tv movies moved it along.

Not earth shattering tv, just consistent and good to watch and more character than action orientated.

Like anything these days they have to make the idea their own and work it hard.

I'll give it a try at least

stop the YARM (yet another remake/reboot)
boycott this krap.we want new and fresh science fiction.i will boycott your products as i am fed up with un-originality and i am not paying to watch these kind of shows.

Er, I liked "Alien Nation." I also like "Battlestar," which really bore little resemblance to the original. I don't really care if it's a brand new concept or a reboot...I just want it to be interesting.

I love Alien Nation and am excited to see what they do with a sequel. It's not a remake, it's Alien Nation - The Next Generation. :)

Next up, a reboot of "Cleopatra 2525".

How about "Xena: Warrior Housewife."

If they are going to reboot a Rockne O'Bannon series, why can't it be "Farscape?" Better yet, bring back the original cast and crew and continue with the original series...!

(Oh, and Nyarlathotep, your language wasn't necessary...)

Instead of a reboot (altho the story aboves ounded more like a sequel to the original series) why don't they take some novels a turn those into a series:
i.e. Sector general, Night's Dawn Trilogy, the Serrano saga
More than enough choices there.

It doesn't matter what they make, as soon as people get interested in the story it will be canceled, ala Dresden Files, Ect.....

Why would anyone reboot "Farscape"? That would have to be the dumbest idea ever.

I barely ever watched the "Alien Nation" movie and series, but I'm still intrigued by the notion of a new series with this concept. I just hope they put some money into it, so it won't be as cheap as that "Flash Gordon" series a few years ago.

If you're going to rip off crappy 80s sci-fi and fantasy television, why not go for the good stuff like Automan, Manimal or Otherworld. (Look 'em up, kiddos. I'd be surprised if many remember those.)

I loved the TV series and would be happy to see a remake, if it were done well.
And if you get Joe Flanigan to play one of the leads, I'd be jazzed.

Remaking this series would be a very welcome addition to Syfy's newer image I think!

This remake / reboot kick is getting ridiculous.

Can nobody / anybody come up with something original?

Without breaking a sweat, we've now had remakes of V, Bionic Woman, KnightRider, BSG. We had extensions of Star Trek (though none at present on TV), StarGate and BSG (in the form of Caprica).

The occasional great series (ie: BSG) cannot provide the proof of constantly flogging this particular deceased equine. The failures have been too painful.

I can understand the business ethic (existing franchise and legals easily sorted, etc) but this has got to stop sometime....otherwise we end up remaking remakes.

Isn't it just a little bit scary that the best we can find to say about the idea of Alien Nation getting jumpstarted is 'could be interesting today'?

I thought SciFi / SyFy was supposed to be about imagination.

Based on this decision, there's none on view here...

Ok, everyone who's pissed about a reboot, were you also the people pissed about the Battlestar reboot? Because look how frakking amazing it turned out. That show was amazing, and if you try to deny it then you shouldn't be on this website anyway. I for one, am excited.

I loved the original version of Alien Nation, and I'll give the new version a try, but what's next, a new version of "Lost in Space"?

Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

The difference between the BSG remake, and this, is that the original BSG had a great premise, but was marred by crappy production values, low budgets, bad acting, and bad writing. Alien Nation was just boring from the start.

Plus when the BSG remake came along, there really wasn't anything like it on TV. A procedural cop drama with a scifi spin though? Yawn. Might as well just put the show on CBS.

I'll hold final judgment until I've seen the show, but this news is nothing short of sleep inducing.

The difference, Kaitlin, is that Alien Nation was a thoughtful, well-written and well-acted show ALREADY, where as the original Battlestar, as charming and in some ways visionary as it was, was more than a little schlocky. I like Minear's work (wish Drive had been given a fair shot), but I'm wondering what the point is. I'm not dismissing it out of hand, but for a network advertising itself (currently) as 'Imagine Greater," how does this fit in? Dresden Files worked FAR better (albeit not in an SF way) because it was actually something we hadn't seen before. An Alien Nation reboot/remake/re-whatever bespeaks more of the common bean-counter safe-investment thinking of today's studios that would more often choose to retread previously profitable ground than take a chance and commit to something new, different and potentially innovative. I'm not so much hacked about this as I am...disappointed.

How about a series based on Weber's Honor Harrington or Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy or Between Planets

Hardhat & others;
"Can nobody / anybody come up with something original?"

You have to remember that the average (AVERAGE!) executive for TV doesn't read. Many have to have the concepts throughly explained to them "over lunch". No doubt Virtuality was explained to many but it didn't click fr them until the words
" and the whole thing is a reality show...."

Ooh, "Sector General" as a Series. Cool!

Spend the money and do Lost in Space!

Why is SyFy interesting in remaking this when than can go get something like TSCC that already has a following? Or any of a number of other canceled before their time shows. If you want to pick something old up, get something current that has a fan base built in. Alien Nation may have a fan base of the 80's show, but that was 20+ years ago and people have changed since then. It may work, but picking up something like TSCC would has a guaranteed following.

Never watched the original but, if you cast Joe Flanigan as the male lead here, I'll definitely watch this.

SciFi is remaking 'Alien Nation' from Rockne O'Bannon (gods, YARM?), but cut off 'Farscape' (with it';s rabid fan following) from Rockne O'Bannon in it's prime.
If I made random and illogical decisions all day long I too could be a Television Executive.

If you cast Joe Flanigan in one of the leads i'll be watching for sure.

Count me out. I remember this series and it bored the hell out of me.

This is nothing more than SYFY being cheap. They won't pick up any of the cancelled shows, because they were all cancelled because they were expensive. Which is also why Atlantis is gone, even though MGM had a part in that.

The point is, if you want to reinvent a show, why not Sliders? Every episode is on Earth, so it's grounded. And it ends with them sliding out, so every episode is close ended.

And I don’t know why SYFY wants to have grounded shows. Two of your best series took place on a space ship. And the others went off world. To me this shows that you are trying to move further from what the original viewers want.

SYFY is like a son that keeps getting into trouble with bad decision making. You keep hoping he'll learn, but you always end up disappointed.

I want so bad to love this channel, but you won't let me.
"Why won't you let me love you" - Natalie Portman, Closer.

You have no shows that make me excited to blow off my friends and stay home on a Friday night any more. I have not watched your channel since the BSG finale and I fear that I no longer miss it. Why should people have to beg you to give us a show we want? That’s your frakin’ job. And all of you are terrible at it, wish I could get job where I can suck, and still keep it.

You should have a reality show, called, Who wants’ to be a SYFY executive. And you can have challenges with show development, and programming schedules. And the executive and the contestant will both pick up, or create a show and there can be a test screen of the pilots to a live studio audience and they will vote in. If your executive looses, he will get fired. Bet you’re too gutless to take this challenge.

While we are putting out books to make into TV series. I would love to see Dragonriders of Pern ;)

@Zaphod....I put a vote in for Otherworld! Can't get enough of the Taylor's work.

As for AlienNation, well, I will probably watch a few but I really don't want a remake of this series. I would rather have a remake of "Something Is Out There".....With Maryam d'Abo or maybe we could have a remake of "Mercy Point".

This sounds the perfect series for Joe Flanigan and Jason Momoa

I'm really disappointed that after successful SG1 and too-soon cancelled SG Atlantis and BSG, SciFi or SYFY would want to take on an older, not so terrific "Alien nation." Can't these guys come with something newer perhaps ORIGINAL?

Never saw the original, but oh yes indeed, would get a big thumbs up from me if Joe Flanigan was in it!

Of all the series getting reboots Star Trek, V,
Alien Nation Hollywood has left out one of the
more better series to reboot , Space:1999.
rkallao@aol.com

With all of these reboots and re-imaginings of old tv shows and movies; how about expanding onto other classics.
Here is a list of them that should go into consideration for both tv and movies: Forbidden Planet, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Land Of The Giants, Time Tunnel, Lost In Space, Planet Of The Apes, and many others that can go on for INFINTY.

@scifi-ED
i love the idea of "who wants to be a Syfy executive"! Brilliant on several levels.
@Syfy
Make it happen. That would be a great show. not only would you get cheap labor, you would have a show that would be interesting for your viewers, would show the challenges of putting a show on the air, AND have the possibility of getting some interesting series out of it. This is actually an idea with legs if you take it seriously.

BTW: has ANYONE gotten a comment topost the first time? I sure haven't.

As long as we're making suggestions for re-makes/re-boots, here's my deepest wish...that SciFi Channel lets Joe Straczynski re-do/finish Babylon 5 Crusade. I'm currently re-watching B5 and remembering my bitter disappointment when Crusade was axed.

I don't know what you people are talking about . . .

Alien Nation was AWESOME! It had a very original and interesting concept and the main characters of the show were very intriguing, to say the least.

From hooker aliens, to doctor aliens, to lawyer aliens, to police officer aliens, to teenage aliens going through alien puberty, the show's multiple array of alien persona kept me glued to my television screen.

And as an African-American, I was able to identify with all of the hatred and bigotry geared towards the "Newcomers" in the earlier movies and series.

With all of the morbid celebrity deaths in the news within the past week, this terrific news brought a joyous smile to my face.

Thank you, Sci Fi Channel! I can't wait to see the first episode!!!!

I'm hesitant to watch this new reboot. I'm beginning to think that the only things that tv and movie executives are willing to make are reboots and remakes of old tv shows and movies. It's a sad fact but people flock to the things that they know. Today's market calls for products that generate revenue with low risk. Unfortunately that also tends to involve limited creativity. New series just aren't economically viable for the entertainment industry. And that really is a sad thing. I think that the original idea for ALIEN NATION has some good themes (i.e. immigration) but the new movie DISTRICT 9 will really make it interesting.

I fear that ALIEN NATION will rehash DISTRICT 9 with attempts at character development and poorly thought out episodes. What we really need are shows like BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. And I don't mean remakes. I mean shows centered on real world issues and real characters without these cruddy "procedural dramas". What made BSG great was the fact that it was a story. From the miniseries to the fanale was one giant and fantastic journey for the characters and the viewers.

I think that if Alien Nation (and all future SYFY shows) followed this style of storytelling the television industry would be much better off. (Also, LOST does the same style of storytelling and it hasn't done too bad.)

This show sounds perfect for Joe Flanigan!

I'm not against remakes, but too much of something is not good.

How about a reboot of "Red Dwarf"?

Out of all the FOX series I watched growing up, Alien Nation is one of the few that I actually set the VCR to record if I was not home to actually watch it. Heh, I even had schedules written up stating that I would be on the TV that night and to not even think about watching anything else.

The one thing that stood out about the series, to me at least, is that they actually made an "alien" language and stuck to it. I remember buying the soundtrack for the series and it having blurbs in it about the language and what it all meant.

Of course, years later, I still have the same soundtrack, only now on CD so I can have it blaring at 7am before work.

And....

Was there not lots of rumours about an animated Dragonriders of Pern? At least before the project got scrapped.

yes, I agree with previous comments: heaps of excellent sci fi shows are cancelled.

Farscape was totally brilliant. A CLASSIC!

The original star trek got cancelled. Stargate atlantis was good. And.... I must mention; the Dresden Files (sci fantasy), it was totally AWESOME. Aliens must have stolen the brains of those that chose to cancel that show.

I might be confusing alien nation with V, which was an alien invasion who hid is human form. And it was good at the time, but did not age well. I would not bother bringing that one back.
Legend of the sword first series was excellent, no idea if more are coming.

Dresden files is one of the best original series out in some time. It makes medium look positively WIMPY, its original, gutsy, well written and sufficently different from a lot of the dross out there to carve its own nitch as a classic.

Yet the TV channels are as short sighted as they are with all cult classics, never changes does it.

Star trek canned. Farscape, one of the better sci fi shows around, original characters, some wonderful acting roles for women especially which is still somewhat lacking in sci fi shows when you think in this day and age we could do better. AND wonderful women actors. Xfiles was excellent, meaty, different and very very watchable from the start. It ran its course.

More shows of the calibre of Star Trek, X files, Farscape and Dresden files PLEASE!

Otherwise we are doomed to a meal of insipid uninspired rehashes.

spare us that!

This is what Eric Pierpoint posted on Facebook "Feels like someone's walking on my grave with Fox doing a new Alien Nation!" I say if they stay faithfull to the orignal and ask Eric and Gary back to help reboot im cool with it! What do you think?

What all of you internet nerds complaining about 'YARM' have failed to realize is new things are expensive and risky.

If you gamble on a new show that is good but might not be what the viewers want you doing just that, gambling, and as we all know its really really hard to come out ahead when you gamble.

TV has gotten REALLY expensive to make these days especially a show with the effects of a SG or BSG. So that's why most networks have so many reality TV shows, they aren't as expensive as real TV and thus if you get a hit you can make a hell of a lot more money. The next best thing to do, other then reality TV is to dig up old shows or concepts. Old things, that have recognition and nostalgia elements to them are less risky and have a chance for more rewards.

In essence, don't hate TV producers for these rehashes. Hate the idiots that decided not to watch the 'good' new and original TV shows or even hate yourselves for deciding to watch the rehashes rather then surfing to find something different you might enjoy.

Personally, I think with some spit polish on this old series and some good writing (AKA Tim Miner) Alien Nation could be a definite successful and insightful TV series once more.

While I like Tim Minear's work. I would cut off both pinky fingers to get Ron Moore on this project. Its obvious he like sci-fi drama and this would be right up his alley.

I WAS ACTUALLY A FAN OF THE ALIEN NATION 80'S SHOW. I THINK AN UPDATED TO THIS SERIES WOULD BE COOL, ESPECIALLY WITH BETTER EFFECTS AND A NEW CAST. I ACTUALLY CAN'T WAIT. I WOULD WATCH IT.

I would love to see this series brought back. Loved it. Please though-no 4 year cliff hangers!

The original series benefits from thoughtful, well-written scripts, 7 a committment to excellence by all involved (producers, writers, directors, & actors). If that same dedication is present in the new team, it should stand a reasonable chance of success. Hope so, anyway! Best always, Madelow.