This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

"The Exorcist" has been a big-screen movie … repeatedly.

Five times, as a matter of fact: "The Exorcist" (1973), "The Exorcist II: The Heretic" (1977), "The Exorcist III" (1990), "Exorcist: The Beginning" and "Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist" (2004).

Plus all the rip-offs that trade on the title, like "Teen Exorcists," "Shark Exorcist," "The Disco Exorcist" and "Kung Fu Exorcist." Even last year's "Exoricism: Live!" TV special.

This fall, "The Exorcist" will turn heads on the small screen with a weekly series on Fox.

"Here's a great, scary show with cinematic qualities — a reason to stay home instead of go out to the movies," said Dana Walden, co-chairman/CEO of the Fox Television Group.

But she insisted that recycling "The Exorcist" is not because Fox has run out of ideas. Nor is it that Fox's other new fall drama, "Lethal Weapon" is a reboot of the four films released in 1987, 1989, 1992 and 1998.

It has something to do with the fact that Fox canceled "American Idol" and has a whole lot of hours to fill this coming season.

"Obviously, viewers are aware of those titles," Walden said. "If they're executed in an incredible way, you get a little bit of a leg up because they don't require the same marketing muscle as trying to introduce a brand-new concept."

Odds are you have a pretty good idea what "The Exorcist" is about; it's far less likely you know what the Fox comedy "Son of Zorn" entails.

And given that "Zorn" is a comedy about a cartoon barbarian living in the real world, it requires a good bit of explanation.

Fox is not alone this fall. What network programmers have discovered is that in a world that includes not just cable but online programming, it's tough to grab the public's attention — to gain "traction," in TV terms.

Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment, agreed it makes sense "in a cluttered world where there's hundreds of choices of things for people to do with their time. … You have awareness that already exists on those shows. It makes the launching and marketing of those shows easier."

NBC's crowded midseason slate includes two spinoffs, "The Blacklist: Redemption" and "Chicago Justice"; and "Taken," a prequel to the 2008, 2012 and 2014 films.

Elsewhere, The CW is adding "Frequency," based on the 2000 film, this fall. CBS has a reimagined version of "MacGyver," which ran on ABC from 1985-92.

"When you have [a title] like 'MacGyver,' you want to put it on the air," CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller said. "That title is a global phenomenon."

He took umbrage at the suggestion that recycling old shows is a sign that Hollywood's creative community lacks new ideas.

"I just don't think that's true," Geller said. "I don't think that [a familiar] title has anything to do with the quality of a show. I think it's great in marketing. It certainly can be very helpful.

"But, ultimately, it's about the quality of the show. … The show has to stand for itself."

A familiar title is no guarantee of success. Most of the reboots and spinoffs introduced during the 2015-16 season crashed and burned, running somewhere between eight and 18 episodes — a list that includes "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders," "Heroes Reborn," "Limitless," "Minority Report," "The Muppets," "Rush Hour" and Uncle Buck."

One spinoff — "Chicago Med" — was renewed for a second season by NBC. And the six-episode revival of "The X-Files" was successful enough that Fox will make more, although that won't happen until at least the 2017-18 season.

That relative lack of success hasn't dampened television's ardor for the familiar. The networks' midseason slates are replete with reboots and spinoffs:

• ABC has "Time After Time," based on the 1979 movie. And "Still Star-Crossed" is, believe it or not, a Shakespeare spinoff of sorts — it's about the Montagues and the Capulets after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

• CBS has "Training Day," based on the 2001 movie. And it's launching a new "Star Trek," which will air on its streaming service.

• NBC has the spinoffs "The Blacklist: Redemption" and "Chicago Justice"; "Emerald City," a re-imagining of "The Wizard of Oz"; and "Taken."

• Fox has a revival of "Prison Break" and "24: Legacy," a reboot of "24" (this time without Kiefer Sutherland).

• The CW has "Riverdale," a live-action update of the Archie comics.

• Netflix is reviving "Gilmore Girls" with four movies.

Television schedules are already filled with recycled/updated ideas, including "American Ninja Warrior," "Antiques Roadshow," "The Bachelorette," "Bachelor in Paradise," "Beauty and the Beast," "Be Cool, Scooby-Doo," "Better Call Saul," "Big Brother," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Chicago PD," "Chicago Med," "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," "Doctor Who," "The Flash," "Fuller House," "Girl Meets World," "Gotham," "Hawaii Five-0," "Law & Order: SVU," "MADtv," "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D," "Match Game," "NCIS," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "NCIS: New Orleans," "The Next Great Baker," "The Night Of," "The Odd Couple," "$100,000 Pyramid," "The Originals," "The Powerpuff Girls," "Shameless," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Teen Titans Go," "Top Gear," "Undercover Boss," "Veep," "Whose Line Is It Anyway" and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Just to name a few.

"If the right remake or spinoff comes along," Salke said, "there's no reason not to pick up those shows."

spierce@sltrib.com

Twitter @ScottDPierce

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