12 TV Reboots That Actually Worked
12 TV Reboots That Actually Worked
Not only are we experiencing a golden era of television with juicy miniseries and awesome fan-favorites, but we are also living during a gold rush of television reboots and revivals. The popular trend of TV reboots has allowed us to revisit some of the most beloved characters from shows like Full House and The Conners - and their returns have equaled ratings gold.
But rebooting our favorite television properties isn't always a surefire bet. The CBS attempt to bring back Murphy Brown in 2018 landed flat on its face and was immediately canned (and forgotten) after just 13 episodes. The Jay Hernadez-led Magnum P.I. revival stopped solving crimes after just two seasons. And, not to mention, the new family in Freeform's Party of Five reboot couldn't make it work, so the network canceled the series after just ten episodes.
However, these few failures haven't stopped networks from seeing what other stories they could bring back to life, as here are a slew of shows set to return to the small screen sometime in the near future. Everything from Fixer Upper and Frasier, to Bewitched, Punky Brewster, WonderThe Wonder Years, Years, and even The Jetsons is expected to make a comeback. But until the time comes to revisit those TV favorites, let's dive into the best TV reboots we've gotten so far.
1) Fuller House
Viewers got to revisit the Tanners for five seasons of family-friendly bliss on the Netflix revival of Full House. The original series ran from 1987-1995, and the reboot debuted 21 years after the fact, in 2016. This time, the show focused on a grown-up DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) as she raised her young family with the help of her sister, Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and best friend, Kimmy (Andrea Barber). Many of the show's other original stars, including Bob Saget, John Stamos, and Dave Coulier, made cameo appearances as well.
2) Hawaii Five-0
Out of all the reboots on the list, this one enjoyed the longest run. The CBS police procedural, set on the Big Island, ran for ten seasons from 2010-2020–coming just short of the original version, which ran for 12 seasons from 1968-1980. The successful revival even did a crossover episode with another reboot on the list, MacGyver.
3) The Conners
Sure, the re-branded Rosanne revival got off to a rocky start, but that hasn't stopped The Conners from dominating the ratings. The ABC sitcom, which is currently entering its third season, consistently lands near the top of the comedy ratings, so it's pretty safe to say that the Conner family, led by Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman, aren't going anywhere.
4) MacGyver
The crafty U.S. operative has hot-glued his way to reboot success. The revival of MacGyver, played here by Lucas Till, debuted in 2016 and has already been renewed through at least five seasons. The original action-adventure series aired from 1985 to 1992.
5) Twilight Zone
The bizarre and eerie world presented in The Twilight Zone has been revisited many times since its original 1959 debut. However, the most recent, which debuted in 2019, is hosted by the modern master of horror, Jordan Peele (Get Out and Us), and has earned an Emmy nomination for guest star Kumail Nanjiani. The show also holds a coveted "certified fresh" critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
6) Will and Grace
When the reboot of the popular NBC sitcom debuted in 2017, it was an immediate ratings smash. The revival held tight for three seasons until (once again) ending its run in May 2020. Even though it was a brief (and Emmy-nominated) revisit with Will, Grace, Jack, and Karen, sometimes it's better to go out on a high note.
7) One Day at a Time
The reboot of this family sitcom, which originally aired from 1975-1984, debuted as a Netflix original series in 2017, but the streaming giant pulled the plug after just three seasons. However, strong fan outcry over the show's premature cancellation led to the sitcom finding a new home in the form of PopTV. Season four debuted in March 2020, and it has recently enjoyed Critics' Choice and Primetime Emmy nominations.
8) Battlestar Galactica
Even though the original Battlestar Galactica, which debuted in 1978, was deemed a Star Wars rip-off, the reboot, which ran from 2003-2009, collected a passionate cult following. In 2019, the sci-fi drama was even named one of the best dramas since The Sopranos by The New York Times. The series is set for a second revival on the NBCU streamer, Peacock.
9) Queer Eye
The reboot of Queer Eye has blasted the new members of the FabFive into global superstardom. The uplifting and inspiring makeover series, which debuted on Netflix in 2018, has already pumped out five seasons, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The original version aired from 2003-2007 on Bravo.
10) American Idol
It doesn't even feel like American Idol even left, but the OG singing competition ended its run on Fox in 2016 after 15 seasons. ABC swooped in and revived the show after a two-year gap, with Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie serving as the new batch of judges. The reboot still scores solid ratings and is on its way to a season four (or season 19, depending on how you look at it).
11) The Comeback
The Lisa Kudrow comedy is perhaps one of the most underrated shows of the millennium. The HBO series, shot in a docu-style format, follows a veteran B-list sitcom actress, Valerie Cherish (Kudrow), as she navigates through Hollywood. The show aired for one season in 2005 and made a comeback for a second round in 2014. Season two of the cult-classic earned Kudrow a Primetime Emmy nomination for Best Lead Actress, and a Broadway revival is reportedly in the works.
12) BH90210
The meta revival of Beverly Hills, 90210 was a ratings smash when it debuted on Fox in the summer of 2019. However, the event series was only planned as a special one-season revival. But fear not, the OG cast is shopping the show around to other networks so we might be returning to BH (once again) sooner than we think.
So. Much. Nostalgia.