They ranged anywhere from a Columbo mystery to a Meredith Baxter-Birney show, but we believe they hit the pinnacle of success with the epic Marc Singer led sci-fi mini-series, “V.”

Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy Jeans?

This epic battle of Nazi-inspired aliens baddies vs a rag-tag team of rebels was capped by great moments like eating live hamsters, faces pealing off to reveal alien skin, and green alien-human hybrid babies.

Essentially, it was simply the most beautiful thing we had ever seen. Here are the opening credits in all their keyboard glory! And Yes, that is Freddy Krueger in the cast.

The equally diverse cast of V (2009)

That’s why we were skeptical when we heard that the ABC Network was revamping “V.”  Usually things like this turn out bad but with the recent success of Sci-Fi’s SyFy’s “Battlestar Galactica” we held out hope for a nice re-imagining.

In all honesty, we expect a lot from this version of “V” since they can now afford special effects.  That’s pretty much the requirement of us right now. They do of course loose points for not bringing back Marc Singer but we’ll live.

ABC will air four episodes of “V” in November 2009, and the series will resume in March 2010 after the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The only real downside is a lack of a strong cast for “V.” That and not having Marc Singer back. OK. We said we were fine with it before but now we’re getting sad….

ABC, obviously influenced by the great “Lost” series, chose Elizabeth Mitchell from that show and Scott Wolf, the other dude from “Party of Five,” the show that gave us “Lost” ring leader Matthew Fox. Joel Gretsch also stars and should be familiar with the writers and producers of “V” since they are the same people from his other TV show, “4400″

Looking back now on “Lost” when it began they didn’t have much of a cast, either. It as just ‘that’ dude from “Party of Five” and a hobbit.

My, how things change.

Thanks for bearing with us on this long 80′s reflection. Your reward is the first 8 minutes of ABC’s “V.” Hope you enjoy.