10 TV Show Revivals That Couldn’t Match Their Original Runs
Replaying TV shows is a risk that only the most popular movies are willing to take. Although, sometimes no matter how popular the show is, it’s never quite the same as the original. There are many factors that contribute to the success of a TV series, and sometimes the right timing is the most important aspect. Shows set in the 80s are full of nostalgia, and reboots in the 2020s don’t fit. Trends have changed, society’s sense of humor has evolved and what used to work can no longer be recreated. However, that hasn’t stopped studios from bringing in once-loved TV series for another shoot. Sometimes reboots get on the air for years, but even the ones with multiple seasons aren’t as good as the previous one. For example, here are 10 TV show revivals that can’t live up to the original shows.
Fuller House
Full House became a major theme of the late ’80s and ’90s when it premiered, bringing the Olsen twins into the spotlight and making comedians Bob Saget and Dave Coulier household names . The film also gave John Stamos his first leading role since General Hospital and kicked off the careers of Jodi Sweetin and Candace Cameron Bure. In 2016, the family got back together, with the exception of the Olsen twins, who left the acting industry for the fashion world in the mid-2000s. Fuller House had a pretty successful Netflix with five seasons. Unfortunately, the show lacks the appeal of the original series, and followers are primarily looking for a nostalgic hit rather than a quality TV show. No wonder Fuller House has fewer seasons than the original series.
Heroes Reborn
In 2006, Heroes was created starring Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter and Zachary Quinto. The show follows people around the world who discover that they have superpowers. The series ran for four seasons before ending in 2010 and continuing as Heroes Reborn in 2015. The new series features a lesser-known cast and lasted only one season. Unfortunately, it was not able to achieve the success of the original series.
Gossip Girl
After the success of Josh Schwartz’s TV series The OC, the young presenter packed up, left Newport Beach and headed to the Big Apple, launching the equivalent of The OC, Gossip Girl on the Shore Winter. Arguably one of the most popular teen dramas on TV, Gossip Girl brought Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley into the spotlight. Its controversial ending has divided fans, but one thing they can agree on is that the reboot can’t compare to the original. The show returns in 2021 with a more diverse cast than it originally had, but it can’t quite live up to what Schwartz has created. The series ended after only two seasons.
How I Met Your Father
One of the most popular sitcoms of the mid-2000s was How I Met Your Mother. With Bob Saget narrating from the future, fans waited in anticipation to find out who the mother was and how Ted Mosby met her. It was exciting when How I Met Your Father is announced, starring Hilary Duff, beloved by Gen Z kids of millennials and up, Gen Z kids, for her role on Lizzie McGuire. Unfortunately, after two seasons, the show has not encapsulated what the original series has. Even some appearances by Robin Scherbatsky and Barney Stinson failed to improve the show.
The X-Files
X-Files is a fantastic sci-fi series that follows Agent Mulder’s quest to prove that his sister was abducted by aliens when she was 12 years old. The series originally aired from 1993 to 2001, but in 2016 another season premiered. This installment takes place 14 years after the previous one and continues the protagonists’ investigation into extraterrestrial life. The reboot ended in 2018, proving it couldn’t maintain the success of the original because the plot wasn’t as compelling.
90210
Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling are remembered for their work on the ’90s teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. The series defined the decade and spanned about 10 years, allowing the characters to mature from Teens to adults dealing with college, their own business, marriage and parenthood. The show returned in 2008 with a whole new cast, including Degrassi’s Shenae Grimes. It only aired for five years, half the length of the original series. Then, in 2019, the original cast returned with another even less popular reboot, which only aired one season. Fans aren’t as interested in the characters’ lives as they were when the movie premiered in 1990.
Will & Grace
Featuring celebrities like Cher, Britney Spears and Madonna, it’s understandable why Will & Grace is considered groundbreaking. However, it was very successful because it was the first primetime drama to feature a gay protagonist. TV shows that feature many openly gay protagonists have to thank Will & Grace for tearing down walls around what is acceptable on TV. Unfortunately, its reboot only lasted three seasons, while the original lasted eight. Like many other reboots, it couldn’t deliver the same appeal and comedic genius as the original.
Saved By The Bell
Kelly Kapowski is the first love of many young people in the late 80s and early 90s thanks to the success of Saving By The Bell. The show holds a special place in the hearts of those who watched it in its original version. Saving By The Bell: The College Years was a flop season, and although Saving By The Bell: The New Class ran for seven seasons, it was not well received. The new cast couldn’t win the hearts of viewers the way Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez did. The idea of a series reboot with the original cast sounds good, as catching up with popular characters later on growing up is always fun. Unfortunately, it was not done well. The series only lasted two seasons on Peacock before it was cancelled.
Girl Meets World
Today, teenagers and young adults support Conrad and Belly and Mike and Eleven, but in 1993 it was all about Topanga and Corey. The relationship between the two is at the heart of Boy Meets World, a show about growing up and all the hardships that come with it. There are many wise lessons from Mr. Sweeney, although Cory Matthews was not exactly a brilliant student. Girl Meets World was created in 2014, after Topanga and Cory’s daughter, Riley.
That 90s Show
So far, That 90s Show has had one season and was renewed for a second in February. Of course, with the recent WGA and SAG strikes, there’s no prediction on when it will return to Netflix. While it received praise for its coming out scene for the character Ozzie, it just doesn’t hold up as well as the original series. The 90s are no 70s, and the 2020s are no 90s, meaning recreating the show where Mila Kunis and her now husband Ashton Kutcher first met is near impossible. With the history of TV show revivals, That 70s Show was better left alone.