'Cupid' remake: Love at second sight?

Writer Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) is banking on the idea that love is better the second time around. Production ­begins July 14 on the pilot for Cupid, a remake of his 1998 dramedy that starred ­Jeremy Piven as the heaven-sent — or was he just crazy? — love broker who had to unite 100 earthbound couples in order to return to Mount Olympus. There’s never been a successful reboot of a failed live-action TV show (the last notable attempt was the 2000 return of CBS’ sitcom Grapevine, starring CSI’s George Eads, eight years after it first appeared). But Thomas thinks the update for ABC, if ordered to series, could mesh well with the network’s female-oriented shows such as Grey’s Anatomy. “Someone has to crack this nut of putting an anthologized romantic comedy on TV,” says Thomas. “What I’m hoping for is the thinking man’s Love Boat.”

This time around, Bobby Cannavale (pictured, who won an Emmy for his role as Will’s cop boyfriend on Will & Grace) will replace Piven as the bow-and-arrow-toting Trevor (a.k.a. Cupid), while Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) will take over for Paula Marshall as his doubting, court-appointed psychiatrist. The action will move from Chicago — where the original was shot — to New York, and Thomas is hoping that he can persuade Cupid’s previous leads to ­appear as guest stars: “I’d love Jeremy and Paula to be a couple for a sweeps month.” Sadly, all this matchmaking has prevented Thomas from contributing to this season’s most talked-about reboot: the updated 90210 on The CW. (The network developed the idea and recruited Thomas to pen the script.) “I’m pulling hard for it so I can get a weekly check,” he cracks. “I hope it kicks ass for the next five years!”