Remakes. Are they a good idea or not? Is it even possible to generalise? If a show was really popular 20 years ago, then don’t you risk alienating the original fans who’re never going to think it’s as good as it used to be? And even if your new version is as good, or better, isn’t there inevitably a “so what” factor? What about the new audience – are they up for a rehash of something their parents watched, or would they rather have something of their own to grow nostalgic about over the years? Something more original?

Let’s face it, it’s the originality thing that gets in the way. Remaking a hit show smacks of desperation, dearth of new ideas, and cowardice. Sticking with something tried and trusted rather than making something new and fresh. Which would you rather have: Bionic Woman (2008 version) or Heroes?

Maybe that’s an unfair comparison. After all, Heroes is so good not much stands comparison with it. But throughout last night’s opener of Bionic Woman I just couldn’t get interested. Much of the dialogue sounded like it had arrived here unchanged from the 80s. Like they’d remade the rest of the programme but left the lines as they were, and now they sound trite and worn and, well, 20 years old.

Some things have changed though. There’s a bad version of the bionic woman, who seems to be even more enhanced. In a number of areas. We thought she was dead but clearly it’s not that easy to kill someone once you’ve filled them with implants. There didn’t appear to be much holding the whole thing together though. How did she survive? Why is she bad? What is it all about?

If all you want from your midweek entertainment is a couple of attractive women running about very fast and kicking seven shades out of each other, then I suspect you’ll love Bionic Woman. I get the impression that’s all it’s going to be about, which may be a clue as to why it’s not been recommissioned. Me? I wish I’d watched The Poles Are Coming instead. “You could have recorded it,” you’ll say, but frankly there is so much good telly on at the moment I’d never have time to watch it. So it’s gone, in favour of something I thought might be good, but suspected all along would be a bit pants.

Two other factors conspired to spoil my viewing pleasure. Michelle Ryan’s fake American accent. What is it with American TV producers (and, I guess, their audiences) that they can’t stomach an actor who doesn’t sound exactly like they expect? We’ve already had Hugh Laurie in House faking it up (very well, it has to be said) and now they’ve got Ryan at it. Are the TV viewers over there really so insular that they’ll turn off anything that sounds vaguely…alien? Weird.

The second thing is I’ve come to the conclusion I can no longer watch ITV2 live. Those bloody trailers drive me absolutely freakin’ mad. Last week it was Bionic Woman and Supernatural, last night Gossipgirl and Rock Rivals. They reach saturation point after the second showing, and you’re force-fed them at EVERY ad break. Sorry, but from now on anything I watch on ITV2 will be recorded so I can wind through this dross.