As a longtime connoisseur of television shows, I must say, reboots can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they offer a nostalgic trip down memory lane and the chance to see favorite characters in a new light. On the other hand, they risk tarnishing the legacy of beloved classics and leaving us yearning for the original brilliance.
It appears that for each unnecessary remake of a cherished film, there’s an equal number of redundant revivals of popular TV series. Although some might offer refreshing updates on their predecessors, there are far more (even those that have been successful) that we believe were unnecessary considering our ongoing appreciation for the original content. We had an abundance of instances to consider when assembling this list of TV shows that didn’t require a reboot.
Knight Rider (1982-1986)
Although it had some corny scenes, Knight Rider stood out as one of the top ’80s sci-fi TV shows, showcasing David Hasselhoff’s outstanding portrayal of Michael Knight – a government agent who teams up with an indestructible car equipped with an intelligent AI named KITT (voiced by William Daniels). In 2008, NBC produced a revamped version, maintaining the original setting but introducing a new main character (Justin Bruening as Mick Traceur) and a new KITT (voiced by Val Kilmer), which fell short in charm, entertainment value, and intelligent storytelling – ultimately leading to its early termination.
Charmed (1998-2006)
As a passionate gamer, I’d say one of my all-time favorite TV shows starring Shannen Doherty was “Charmed.” It featured her alongside Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano as three magical sisters who found out they were descendants of witches. Later on, The WB transformed into The CW, yet surprisingly, they decided to reboot the series with Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock, and Sarah Jeffery in the leading roles. Despite some criticism for its flat characters and predictable storylines, it managed to run for four seasons.
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
Rod Serling’s iconic horror anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone, has been revived on several occasions. Yet, none of these reboots – such as the one in the late ’80s, the early 2000s version featuring Forest Whitaker, or Jordan Peele’s more recent adaptation – have garnered the same recognition as the original series, which was known for its haunting and intellectually stimulating narratives.
Full House (1987-1995)
As a gamer putting on my rose-tinted glasses, I’ve got to say that what really made “Full House” shine, even with its so-so critical reception, was a hearty serving of good old-fashioned wholesomeness, mixed in with run-of-the-mill family comedy shenanigans. The Netflix revival, “Fuller House,” kept the plot but swapped out the focus to our favorite trio – DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Kimmy (Andrea Barber) – and managed a respectable five-season run. Critics weren’t always kind, piling on for similar reasons, but they couldn’t deny the show’s reliance on nostalgia.
The Bionic Woman (1976-1978)
Despite David Eick’s involvement, NBC’s 2007 remake of “The Bionic Woman” failed to surpass its predecessor in quality, speed, or strength, particularly in the ratings. One would expect that the show’s termination after eight episodes might serve as a lesson for executives to reconsider reviving series that were offshoots of the sci-fi series “The Six Million Dollar Man,” which featured Lindsey Wagner.
Jersey Shore (2009-2012)
Initially, it appeared as though everyone was engrossed in discussions about the cast of Jersey Shore, although these conversations often revolved around their rowdy conduct and scandalous antics, which were more frequently met with derision and contempt. However, it seemed like the world moved on from this boisterous reality show, until MTV brought back the series in 2018 with Jersey Shore Family Vacation.
That ’70s Show (1998-2006)
In 2002, an attempt was made to create a spin-off series from “That ’70s Show,” titled “That ’80s Show.” This show had no significant connection to the original and as a result, it failed to sustain a longer run or garner better audience response. Conversely, Netflix’s “That ’90s Show” – featuring Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty’s (Debra Jo Rupp) house being occupied by a fresh group of teenagers, including their granddaughter – has managed to gather a reasonable fanbase, albeit not enough to continue beyond two seasons.
Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder about how the return of “Gossip Girl” could have been more satisfying. The anticlimactic series finale left many of us yearning for an explanation as to who the mysterious blogger was – spoiler alert: it was Dan Humphrey! Yet, the revival, titled “Gossip Girl,” which aired from 2021 to 2023, chose a different route. Instead of exploring that unresolved mystery, they introduced a fresh cast and opted to modernize the story by delving into teenagers’ intricate relationships with social media platforms.
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)
90210, airing on The CW, was created as a follow-up to Aaron Spelling’s prime-time soap opera and included some familiar faces from Beverly Hills, 90210 to honor its commitment. Yet, despite these callbacks, the series from 2008 to 2013 predominantly rehashed the storyline of the original, but with a fresh group of attractive young characters.
Roseanne (1988-1997)
Despite some viewers feeling let down by the ending of the original Roseanne, one might question if it’s wise to attempt a contemporary revival given that context. It’s also important to note that the 2018 reboot faced challenges when its lead actress, Roseanne Barr, was dismissed due to a contentious tweet, causing ABC to terminate her character and rename the show The Conners.
Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981)
Initially, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith headlined the popular television series “Charlie’s Angels” in the past. Then, in the early 2000s, two movie adaptations featuring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu brought success to the franchise on the big screen. However, a reboot of the show on ABC in 2011 with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor was met with widespread criticism and ran for only eight episodes.
That’s So Raven (2003-2007)
Following my successful stint on “The Cosby Show”, I embarked on my own sitcom journey, starring in “That’s So Raven” as a teen with the unique ability to glimpse the future. Yet, even the most farsighted among us didn’t foresee Disney Channel unveiling “Raven’s Home” in 2017 – a show that chronicles the life of grown-up Raven Baxter as a single parent. To everyone’s surprise, including my own, this spin-off found great success, proving that sometimes the unexpected can indeed become a reality.
MacGyver (1985-1992)
CBS plans to create numerous revivals of its well-loved crime dramas from the past, such as the iconic series “MacGyver”. This reboot, which ran for five seasons between 2016 and 2021, featured Lucas Till in the role of a younger Mac. However, many fans believe that the charm and excitement of the original, with Richard Dean Anderson portraying an incredibly resourceful secret agent, is still unmatched by this newer version.
Saved By The Bell (1989-1992)
As a devoted fan, I must admit that Peacock’s 2020 revival of the beloved sitcom “Saved By the Bell” was indeed unnecessary, but it managed to win over viewers during its brief run. However, while “The College Years” could have been improved, the real culprit that outstayed its welcome was “The New Class”, which replaced the entire cast except for Dennis Haskins as Mr. Belding and Dustin Diamond as Screech.
V (1984-1985)
In 2009, the storyline of the “V” franchise, which originally depicted an alien invasion spread across two miniseries and a season-long series on NBC, was given a fresh take for contemporary viewers on ABC. However, by this time, it was already widely known that the extraterrestrial beings had sinister motives, reducing the element of surprise or suspense in the rebooted version.
Beauty And The Beast (1987-1990)
In the late 1980s, Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s timeless French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, was transformed into a modern romantic drama on screen, with Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton in the lead roles. Perlman even won a Golden Globe for his portrayal. The CW’s 2012 adaptation featuring Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan ran for some time, but it didn’t quite match the enchantment of the original concept, and moreover, the male protagonist wasn’t made to seem particularly beastly.
Roswell (1999-2002)
According to Melinda Metz’s book series, the TV show “Roswell” on The WB features three young characters who are half-human, half-alien and have unique abilities. These characters reside in the town named Roswell, New Mexico, where it is said a UFO crashed. A modern adaptation of this tale, titled “Roswell, New Mexico,” ran for four seasons on The CW and was praised for its insights into immigration issues. However, it received criticism for being too similar to earlier versions.
Dallas (1978-1991)
At its height, not many shows were as widely watched as Dallas, known for one of the most memorable cliffhangers on television due to the public’s fascination with the enigma of who shot J.R. Ewing during the summer. However, TNT’s reboot, which ended after 40 episodes in 2014, didn’t quite garner the same level of popularity.
Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)
As a devoted admirer, I must share my thoughts on the five-season run of the Magnum P.I. reboot spearheaded by Jay Hernandez. Originally airing on CBS before its move to NBC, it was generally well-received but often criticized for being a somewhat diluted replica of the ’80s original, which starred the iconic Tom Selleck as the leading private investigator based in Hawaii.
Melrose Place (1992-1999)
The 2009 reboot of Melrose Place, which followed the dramatic lives of the eponymous L.A. apartment complex’s residents, only lasted 18 episodes. We imagine this might be because it premiered in such close proximity to another CW drama based on a hit ’90s show about young people with problems: the 90210 reboot.
Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1996)
Back in the 80s, I discovered a captivating educational computer game titled “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” It later morphed into a successful TV show and an animated series with Rita Moreno portraying the dashing thief herself. As much as I appreciate the creators of the Netflix reboot “Carmen Sandigo” and Gina Rodriguez, who does an excellent job in her role, it’s hard not to feel that the magic of this property might have started to fade by the time they brought it back.
24 (2001-2010)
The innovative, moment-by-moment storyline of the show “24” and Kiefer Sutherland’s captivating portrayal of Jack Bauer maintained tension for eight seasons until the risky counter-terrorism operative was revived in the 2014 miniseries, “24: Live Another Day“. However, just two years after this, Fox attempted to carry on the series as “24: Legacy“, with Corey Hawkins taking up a new role. Unfortunately, this spin-off ran for only “12 hours.
DuckTales (1987-1990)
It might be appealing to introduce Huey, Dewey, and Louie to contemporary audiences by reviving the animated series DuckTales, which broadcast on Disney XD from 2017 to 2021. Yet, we’re partial to their triplets’ original escapades with Uncle Scrooge, primarily due to its exceptional animation quality.
Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
If given the chance for a wish, we’d prefer that there were no reboots of the series Fantasy Island, which is based on a paradise vacation spot where dreams miraculously materialize. None of the reimaginings, such as the 1998 version with Malcolm McDowell or the sequel series on Fox with Roselyn Sánchez portraying Elena Roarke, or even the darker feature adaptation by Blumhouse could capture the charm and appeal of the original ABC series featuring Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize’s Tattoo.
Boy Meets World (1993-2000)
In simpler terms, we’d go so far as to say that “Girl Meets World,” which aired from 2014 to 2017, might just be Disney Channel’s finest offering in quite some time. However, upon closer inspection, it appears that the spin-off of “Boy Meets World” primarily rehashes many of the same lessons taught in the original Friday night sitcom.
Heroes (2006-2010)
Initially, NBC’s “Heroes” had a powerful debut and maintained a dedicated fanbase throughout most of its broadcast. However, as critics pointed out a progressive deterioration in its quality, the show started to lose momentum. The 2015 reboot, “Heroes: Reborn,” unfortunately didn’t manage to revive the series as it was met with poor reviews and ran for only one season.
The Odd Couple (1970-1975)
Drawing inspiration from the movie based on Neil Simon’s comedic play, “The Odd Couple,” Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson’s television adaptation featuring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall was quite successful. However, after telling numerous stories about mismatched roommates and friends, CBS’ remake starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, although it ran for three seasons, seemed somewhat uninspired.
Dynasty (1981-1989)
Among The CW’s series of prime-time soap opera reboots, the remake of Esther and Richard Alan Shapiro’s “Dynasty” stands out as the most successful. It ran for five seasons, with Elizabeth Gillies delivering a powerful performance as Fallon Carrington. However, the classic theme of wealthy families battling to maintain power didn’t quite sway critics.
The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)
2017 saw Netflix debuting a fresh version of “The Magic School Bus Rides Again,” which is a modern adaptation of the beloved, instructive animated series stemming from a book series. This series follows an elementary school class as they embark on unforgettable educational field trips. The casting of Kate McKinnon from Saturday Night Live (SNL) to voice the new Ms. Frizzle is undeniably clever, but she may herself concede that she’s no match for Lily Tomlin.
iCarly (2007-2012)
Given the substantial growth in online blogging since iCarly’s initial Nickelodeon run concluded, it’s no surprise that there was enthusiasm for reviving the series. However, we contend that Paramount+’s reboot, airing from 2021 to 2023, faced challenges due to its focus on Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) and Freddy’s (Nathan Kress) romantic relationship after years of “will they, won’t they,” as well as the absence of Jennette McCurdy as Sam and Noah Munck’s Gibby.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
Back in 2019, a brief movie remaking NBC’s popular sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” as a serious drama caught our attention. Surprisingly, we didn’t foresee Will Smith, the show’s star, playing a key role in developing a TV series adaptation of this concept, which has been titled “Bel-Air” on Peacock. However, it doesn’t seem to bring anything significantly innovative to the coming-of-age genre.
Frasier (1993-2004)
The TV show “Frasier,” broadcasted by NBC and featuring Kelsey Grammer reprising his character from “Cheers,” is a great illustration of how to execute a sitcom spin-off effectively. However, despite the positive reviews it received on Paramount+, many fans might concur that we didn’t necessarily need more than the 11 seasons portraying the life of the titular psychiatrist in Seattle, especially given the absence of David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves from the cast.
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2024-11-16 17:38