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At the time, “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” was a Saturday morning kid’s show — it’s now getting a revival. “Full House” was a staple of ABC’s Friday night kid-friendly lineup. They are all back, sans the Olsen twins, with the other kid actors — now adults and parents. Disney hopped on this wagon over a year ago with “Girl Meets World,” a take on “Boy Meets World,” a popular teen sitcom that also aired on Friday ABC.

“Little House on the Prairie” is not, however, coming back to TV — it’s moving to the big screen.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 30: Actor Paul Reubens arrives at the premiere of HBO 'True Blood' season 5 premiere held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on May 30, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Actor Paul Reubens, who plays Pee Wee Herman.

With society disrupted in so many ways, no wonder they reach for the familiar. John Wayne — who died in 1979 and whose last film was made in 1976 — regularly makes annual lists of Top 10 favorite actors alongside the popular figures of the moment. Who is closer to John Wayne than Captain America? The villains in “Star Wars” – even the heroes like Han Solo — were morally conflicted, dangerous and not always about the right thing . But in the end, they were either a hero or villain. That was easily understood. If the past 30 years of Hollywood, before superhero summer and revivals accomplished anything, it was destroying the differences between the heroes and villains. If you want someone to believe in, you must go back.

But why would Harrison Ford, a noted curmudgeon who wanted Solo killed off 30 years ago, return to a role he refuses to talk about in interviews? He was paid nearly $40 million to do so, the only remaining actor from the original trilogy left on the A-list and who could call that shot.

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Actor Harrison Ford.

For the others, they are healthy financially, but are still working actors and they need a paycheck. Hamill is known for working the convention circuits and a top-notch animated voice actor. Fisher is a noted Hollywood script doctor, whose list of unlisted credits are amazing and include Lucas’s Star Wars prequels, but that doesn’t pay as well as Princess Leia.

Ironically, the person who seemed the most disgusted with this trend — and the new Star Wars — was George Lucas. He noted there was nothing new in the latest sequel, the plot was completely derivative of the first movie made in 1977. The producers didn’t insert in any imagination — not a new spaceship to be seen.

Lucas, who was said to be out of touch and without a creative drop left after his “disappointing” prequels, understands better than anyone. After listing those criticisms he quickly followed up, “the fans will love it.”