I agree. Peter Gunn is about a culture of a time and a place that has vanished from the face of the earth. L.A. is still there, but it's a different city. Those smoky bars are gone. Beatnicks are gone. Downtowns have been replaced by malls, and street culture, such as it can be called, has changed. Even the word streetwise is somewhat anachronistic these days. Color would ruin it anyway. Remaking Peter Gunn is a bad idea. I find it a sad commentary on contemporary life and, especially, the arts, specifically film and television, that there's little that's new that's also original, really capture's our time in wonderful, entertaining, smart and stylish ways. Peter Gunn was but one of many shows that did that for its era.
Yes, after thinking about it some more, and referencing all the contributing factors you've listed, this show is probably one of the worst choices ever to try and remake.
As a matter of fact it was remade!I remember ABC doing a pilot movie starring Peter Strauss! As I remember, this had to be circa '78-80.It probably was a mid-summer replacement.
No REMAKEs. Was a Great Show... really great and Theme Song is Incredible. Remake My Mother the Car or It's about Time... don't remake shows that are already great. My Mother the Car? WOW, can't believe I even wasted space on that. ................... If you are looking for wisdom here, you are going to be disappointed.
I started watching this show a few years ago on MeTV’s Sunday Night Noir program block. I’m also a big Mad Men fan and thought Jon Hamm would do a good job in the role. I would want it to be a period piece still based in the 50s and 60s and still shot in the noir style. It could make a nice film with a moderate budget focused on a niche audience.
This is an “idea” about as good as drinking bleach.
OP: people knew about the relationship between power and responsibility before Stan Leibowitz‘s great-great-great-great great great grandfather was even sperm. Disabuse yourself of the idea that Stan was a creative thinker.