THE LITTLE CHILL

Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat and Farina are coming back in a new, contemporized “Our Gang” sitcom for cable. (So’s Pete the Pup--remember his black eye?--but he’ll be called Walter.)

Richmel Productions will produce the ‘80s version of the classic comedies from the ‘20s and ‘30s this summer. According to Richmel owner Richard Melcombe, also a veep at Ted Turner’s WTBS, there’s hope that the Superstation will be able to air the 30-minute shows sometime in 1988.

“Pending a directors strike, we’ll probably be able to produce one show now and resume production again in September,” Melcombe told us.

He’s searching for seven “Little Rascals,” but rather than recruit them from playgrounds and schools (as did “Our Gang” creator Hal Roach for many of the originals), Melcombe’s looking for pros.

“We’re trying to capture the innocence and charm of the originals but contemporize it toward today,” Melcombe said. “They will be kids being kids, not kids saying adult lines. It won’t be your typical sitcom.”

The rights to “Our Gang” were acquired when Turner bought the MGM library. WTBS occasionally reruns the originals.