SNEAK PREVIEW: This idea originated during the most recent TV writers’ strike, but was shelved when the strike ended earlier than some had predicted. Only now, with a potential strike on the agency side of the business, the concept is being revived, with contracts signed hastily before any strike may be called. The idea is to take existing, already written scripts from classic TV episodes, and have them enacted by today’s performers in doubleheader specials: first the originals, then the remakes. The sneak preview pilot episode filmed for Rerun Theatre, to demonstrate its potential, is the I Love Lucy episode “Lucy Does a TV Commercial,” the hilarious one in which she hawks an alcohol-laden tonic called Vitameatavegamin. After seeing that 1950s original, starring Lucille Ball, we see the brand-new 2019 version, starring Gillian Anderson (pictured) as Lucy. Also planned, if the strike occurs and this series continues, are Paul Giamatti in Peter Falk’s classic role of Columbo, and old pals Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon teaming to co-host and recreate an episode of the 1960s variety show classic, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, as Tom and Dick Smothers, respectively. And it’s worth noting, by the way, that April 3-4, in a very few days, marks the golden anniversary of the firing of the Smothers Brothers by CBS. All of today’s topical comedy programs owe them quite a debt, even 50 years on.