I think the show's been airing on DejaView In Canada, although I don't get the channel so I haven't been watching for it.
The second movie was made specifically as a TV pilot. The show was lightened up because the network felt the first movie to be too dark in tone.
I recall staying up to watch it and got into watching Love Boat simply because it came on before Fantasy Island. In fact I consider that combo about the best night of television and use to look forward to watching it each week. There was even at least one cross-over episode done where the story started with Love Boat and ended with Fantasy Island.
It's still one of my favorite shows, although it did fall apart in the later seasons. When they had Rourke talking with an angel they went too far. Although it's arguable that the Jump The Shark moment for it was when they got rid of Tattoo. I thought the remake just didn't get it; they weren't subtle enough with the fantasy element. It's the not knowing how Rourke is doing things that makes the story interesting.
I've been doing something of a parody of Fantasy Island on my Blue Hot Gossip podcast (starting about episode 5), in particular the 13 Days of Halloween specials. (http://bluehotgossip.blogspot.com) Now that's a podcast that takes a lot of work to put together, hence the slow release of episodes.
