8 Unforgettable '90s Shows That Deserve a Reboot
Let’s face it: The Hollywood reboot craze is here to stay. There's Frasier and Sex and the City and Perry Mason—the revivals are impossible to escape. And honestly, who would want to? Whether a reboot turns out to be good or bad, it's always an opportunity to indulge in some much-needed nostalgia. With that in mind, here are eight '90s shows that deserve a reboot. Which would you add to the list?
1. Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003)
Teen soap opera Dawson’s Creek introduced actors Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek to the world. From its classic theme song to the unnaturally verbose dialogue, The Creek endeared itself to an entire generation of Millennials—and we think they could do it again! Imagine a reboot featuring the children of the original characters: Joey and Pacey’s now-teenage child, Jen’s daughter from the finale and maybe Dawson’s kid who is visiting Capeside for the summer? Plus, a new series would be the perfect way for us to get a sneak peek into what our favorite O.G. characters are up to now (well, except for Jen who was killed off in the final episode in a much-despised storyline).
Related: Joshua Jackson Breaks Down Classic Dawson's Creek Clip
2. My So-Called Life (1994)
There were just 19 episodes of this beloved high-school drama, which introduced the world to Claire Danes, Jared Leto and the power of a guy leaning against a locker. Imagine a reboot where get to see what happened between Angela and Jordan? Two requests: The show should still be set in the '90s and it has to come from the mind of the original creator, Winnie Holzman.
3. Spin City (1996-2002)
All these years later, Bill Lawrence is still reigning high when it comes to comedy TV with the success of Apple+’s Ted Lasso. Why not revisit one of the series that helped him build his stellar reputation—Spin City? The original series starred Michael J. Fox as the deputy mayor of New York City, working under a kind but not always super savvy mayor played by Barry Bostwick. With the political climate nowadays being vastly different than it was in the ‘90s, a new series could be a chance to try to show a softer side to politicians as well as give a mouthpiece to the problems we the people have with our elected officials. Think Veep for the network sitcom crowd.
Though Fox has sadly announced his retirement from acting, other series stars like Connie Britton, Alan Ruck, Richard Kind, Michael Boatman, Jennifer Esposito, Alexander Chaplin and of course, Bostwick, could be worked into the series quite easily.
4. Friends (1994-2004)
Hear us out. We know everyone has been clamoring for a continuation of Friends pretty much since the show went off the air. And no, 2021’s Friends: The Reunion, while fun, doesn’t count. We are dying to know what happened to our favorite set of companions after they shut the door at Monica’s apartment in the finale. Joey gave us the exploits of actor Joey Tribbiani for two seasons, but we didn’t get to see what the others were up to in that time. Did Joey move back to New York? Did Monica and Chandler’s twins become best friends with Emma? And what ever happened to Ross’s son, Ben? Doesn't matter that the original cast would never do it—there’s still so much story left with this group! Or, fine, a reboot could even follow the children of the O.G. crew!
5. Seinfeld (1989-1998)
After the much-derided finale that saw the Seinfeld foursome in jail for a year, we’ve been incredibly curious as to the fate of Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer. Did they leave their time in the big house changed people? Were they able to return to their normal lives? With Instagram account @modernseinfeldig filled with perfect plot-lines for a Seinfeld reboot set in the here and now, there’s no good reason not to reboot the classic series (except maybe the cast’s obscenely large salaries).
Related: Hail to the Veep! Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Net Worth In 2023 From Seinfeld and More
6. Designing Women (1986-1993)
The original Designing Women was a sitcom set around four women who run an Atlanta design firm, plus their handyman, and the hijinks they get into. A show set around four female fashion designers is always timely, especially in the era of the girlboss—whether set in the same city or elsewhere. It could be connected to the original series or an entirely new set of ladies! Plus, who doesn’t want another TV opportunity for Jean Smart, one of the O.G. series’ stars? She would definitely be a welcome guest appearance.
7. Wishbone (1995-1998)
What Millennial doesn’t have fond memories of Wishbone? The series followed the real-life and imagined adventures of Wishbone the dog, who would fancy himself as the main protagonist in classic books and get into mischief in his daily life as well. A whole new generation of children would greatly benefit from the educational slant that Wishbone used to impart knowledge while entertaining kids of a certain generation. And Millennial parents will greatly enjoy getting to see a new pup take the mantle while still giving them the benefit of childhood nostalgia.
8. Sports Night (1998-2000)
A critical darling that never quite found its audience, Sports Night was created by acclaimed writer Aaron Sorkin. It followed the exploits of the sports anchors and behind-the-scenes workers on a nightly cable sports program. The sitcom had a strong cast, led by Felicity Huffman, Peter Krause and Josh Charles—to name a few. This formula is ripe for a reboot with a new cast, but still with potential for the O.G. characters to return as well. And considering the fact that the show was canceled much too soon, after only two seasons, there are a huge amount of storylines still left to be told on a reboot.
Next, Frasier Is In the Building! Everything to Know About the Frasier Reboot