The past is becoming new again – from last year's Frasier revival to Gladiators and the Sex and the City spin-off, Television often looks to the past to find new or old hits.
The best TV reboots have led to successes like A League of Their Own, Karate Kid sequel Kobra Kai, and season three of Star Trek: Picard.
But sometimes we get failures 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 reportedly making a comeback too.
But what’s next? It makes sense to look at the eighties – tapping into the nostalgia of grown-up viewers while trying to attract a new audience too.
A good idea in theory… but did anyone really want more *checks notes* Baywatch?
Baywatch
The 2017 movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron may have failed, but the once-popular franchise isn't finished yet.
Baywatch is set to return to screens, as reported. It's been over 25 years since its last episode aired. The show followed a group of lifeguards on a Los Angeles beach, and was on air from 1989 to 1999.
Rights holders Freemantle seemed to confirm the reboot last week, by sharing an article on X indicating the new version will air on Fox. It was written by Lara Olsen and involves the original show’s producers. It's unclear whether breakout stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson will also make a return.
Given the name recognition and its importance in television history, more Baywatch was perhaps inevitable… but is it really worth the Hassel?
Shōgun
The Japanese adventure Shōgun was rebooted last month. It aired for one season in 1980 and followed an English navigator stranded 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 mentioned, and now it’s nearly official – with The Sun recently reporting that the BBC are finalising a deal with an as 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
The American legal drama aired for nine seasons from 1986 to 1995, and featured Andy Griffith as defense attorney Ben Matlock.
However, what TV fans may remember more is The Simpsons joke which revealed Grampa's fascination with the show.
The show's revival was announced in 2023, and has not yet been broadcast. Kathy Bates will portray lawyer Madeline 'Matty' Matlock, utilizing her intelligence and charisma in the courtroom. She will be accompanied by Beau Bridges as managing partner Senior.
Receiving a full series order after the pilot, the new Matlock has gained enough popularity with executives and is expected to be on air sometime between 2024-2025.
Express it like Grampa Simpson would: 'Maaaaatlock!'
Married With Children
A reimagining of the US sitcom classic was revealed in 2022, with original stars Ed O’Neill (more recently recognized as Jay Pritchett in Modern Family), Katey Sagal (Leela in Futurama), Christina Applegate and David Faustino set to star.
The original version of the show followed O’Neill as a long-suffering father and shoe salesman Al Bundy, depicting his frustration with his lazy wife Peggy and his teenage children.
The reboot, however, will take the Bundys into the realm of animation – scripted by Family Guy's executive producer Alex Carter, who also serves as the showrunner.
Whether there is space for another dysfunctional animated family on the scene remains to be seen, as things have been quiet lately. Nonetheless, Dead To Me star Christina revealed that she is still eager as recently as May last year – so the Bundys might return.
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