What’s old is new again – from last year’s Frasier revival to Gladiators and the Sex and the City spin-off, TV frequently mines audience nostalgia in search of the next big thing… or old thing.
At its best, television reboots have led to such successes as A League of Their Own, Karate Kid sequel Kobra Kai, and season three of Star Trek: Picard.
But at its worst, we’ve had flops like the X-Files revival, Bel Air… and the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard.
With Disney+ recently revealing a trailer for their reboot of the X-Men: The Animated Series, the trend shows no sign of slowing down either. King of the Hill, Fawlty Towers and Ally McBeal? They’re all supposedly on the way back too.
But what’s next? Where better to look for inspiration than the eighties – hooking into the nostalgia of an all-grown up audience while hoping to attract a fresh viewership too.
A good idea in principle… but was anyone really asking for more *checks notes* Baywatch?
Baywatch
The 2017 movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron may have flopped, but the once-popular franchise isn’t dead in the water yet.
According to reports, Baywatch is set to make a return to screens – over 25 years after its final episode aired. The show followed a group of Lifeguards on a Los Angeles beach, and ran between 1989 and 1999.
Rights holders Freemantle appeared to confirm the reboot last week, sharing an article on X which implied the new version will air on Fox. Written by Lara Olsen and with the original show’s producers, it remains to be seen whether breakout stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson will also return.
Given the name recognition and its importance in television history, more Baywatch was perhaps inevitable… but is it really worth the Hassel?
Shōgun
Last month saw the reboot of Japanese adventure Shōgun. Airing for one season in 1980, the cult TV show followed an English navigator adrift in feudal Japan.
Picked up by US broadcaster FX, this year’s reboot is described more as a re-imagining than a remake – also based on the 1975 novel of the same name.
Three episodes into its ten-episode run, the already critically acclaimed series will air until April 2024, and follows Cosmo Jarvis as John Blackthorne, with Hiroyuki Sanada starring as the shrewd Lord Yoshii Toranaga.
Bergerac
Actor John Nettles rose to fame playing TV detective Jim Bergerac between 1981 and 1991. A recovering alcoholic and a maverick within the police force, Bergerac spent his time in rural Jersey battling both his own demons and the ne’er-do-wells who would do his community harm.
A reboot of the popular crime drama has long been mooted, and now it’s almost official – with The Sun recently reporting that the BBC are finalising a deal with an as an yet unnamed streaming service.
Don’t expect 80-year-old Nettles to return as Bergerac, though. While a cameo isn’t out of the question, with David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Happy Valley’s James Norton all reportedly in contention to star.
Matlock
Not to be confused with the small English town, the American legal drama ran for nine seasons between 1986 – 1995, and starred Andy Griffith as criminal defense lawyer Ben Matlock.
What TV fans are more likely to remember, however, is The Simpsons gag which revealed Grampa’s obsession with the show.
The show’s reboot was announced in 2023, and is yet to air. Kathy Bates will play lawyer Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock, using her wit and charm to rule the courtroom. She will be joined by Beau Bridges as managing partner Senior.
Popular enough with bosses to receive a full series order following its pilot, the new Matlock is expected to air at some point between 2024-2025.
Say it with Grampa Simpson now: ‘Maaaaatlock!’
Married With Children
A remake of the US sitcom institution was announced in 2022, with original stars Ed O’Neill (more recently known as Jay Pritchett in Modern Family), Katey Sagal (Leela in Futurama), Christina Applegate and David Faustino set to star.
The show’s original iteration followed O’Neill as long-suffering dad and shoe salesman Al Bundy, documenting his frustration with lazy wife Peggy and his teenage children.
In a huge twist on the formula though, this reboot would take the Bundys into the world of animation – written by Family Guy executive producer Alex Carter, who serves as showrunner.
Whether there’s room for another dysfunctional animated family on the block remains to be seen – with things having gone quiet lately. However, Dead To Me star Christina announced that she’s still game as recently as May last year – so the Bundys could yet ride again.
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