Reboots, revamps, remakes and whatever they’d like to call it—the era of nostalgia has finally come upon us, and television networks are eager more than ever to get their hands on different materials that would give them more money on a material that’s still good for recycling.
My methodology for picking shows that are included in the list is their cult following (whether or not a certain show has been tagged as an icon by a lot of people,) and the formula.
When different TV tropes have been used in a television show, and the formula (or the plot clichés) still made it work, it’s hard not to classify it as a classic.
Classics make money.
Here are some of the shows which are likely to get rebooted and we have an abundant and a flexible list. Also, shows that have already been announced to have a revamp or have developing/developed spin-offs won’t be included in the slideshow.
See if your favorite show made the list. If it was, would you be happy or would you not be? Let us know in the comment section below!
Desperate Housewives
When Desperate Housewives first came out, it was a success. From the critics to its viewership, it didn’t suffer at all. That is why the name itself became a trademark. Also, not only was it an award-winning show, it was a cultural phenomenon. That’s what happens when you mix comedy and drama in a soap opera with added mystery, especially when it was a fresh attempt of a genre mix for a TV series. Producers won’t be able to look beyond those trophies and accolades the show received.
Firefly
For a series to have 14 episodes and still have a renowned name years later must mean it’s a recipe for a reboot. Sure, Firefly was canceled, and the viewers it had were too low for the ratings game, but no one can deny the brand it created. The show required a significant amount of money for productioin since it was a really grand idea for television. But because of the brand itself, reimagining the series isn’t a far cry from what could happen in reality.
LOST
LOST has a great following that producers would want to take advantage of again in the future. It has mystery and supernatural elements that mythology fans would want to get their hands on and devour. And, while it holds more mystery than answers most of the time, LOST also has characters that are archetypal and foils to one another that makes the dialogue and banter believable and well-represented. Example? Science versus faith. I mean, do I even need to elaborate on that?
Sex and the City
Four women with different personalities trying to make it in the big city. Feminism is an issue that is still widely talked about in the world right now, and Sex and the City remains an icon for feminism. An icon will always one of the first producers go to when reboots are discussed. Ask Superman and his endless reincarnation. No, I’m not trying to compare Superman to the four leads of Sex and the City, but Carrie Bradshaw and company being icons is hard to deny.
Dawson’s Creek
Dawson’s Creek was a success because it came out when the craze for teen-oriented shows and movies were around. It was a bit scandalous back in the ’90s because of its fresh but infamous plotlines that no one knew whether or not the world was prepared to see from a teen show. That said, it was the show’s hook. It, being tagged as racy, was what made it work. Sex sells; ask Carrie Bradshaw. And to have teenagers as faces of the show while having clichéd plotlines that were meant for adult roles? That was juicy, and that’s what would still make it work. The formula was greatly executed.
Chuck
Hi, Zachary Levi! I’m a fan of yours. And that is thanks to Chuck! Maybe I’m a little biased here, but I know I’m basing my list based on a methodology that includes TV clichéd tropes, fan following, and icon status. Chuck has a dedicated following and a formulaic show. A nerd who suddenly got superpowers and has a bombshell of a love interest? Come on, now. Who could argue with it not being a formula? But it’s a timeless formula, and it works. True, the show was on the verge of cancellation too many times, but the dedication of its fans made it stay on-air for quite a while.
Scandal
Scandal recently just ended, so why is it on my list? Well, because it’s scandalous. When you talk about reboots, you want to something that is going to be talked about, and Scandal’s brand is just that. The title itself wants to be talked about. Moreover, it’s a soap opera with a political twist. Being the ‘First Mistress’ is a great pull. Add to that being a brilliant lawyer who doesn’t actually practice anything but malpractice at times? That is juicy. Kerry Washington did an amazing job bringing Olivia Pope to life. The formula itself is astoundingly clichéd but done in a new manner. It is a huge possibility!
Revenge
Another soap opera! Revenge has a title that’s already a cliché in soap operas, and having a badass woman seeking vengeance to rich people? That’s a pitch I’d like to hear! The show itself had a lot of chatter when it started. It really got people talking, but the changes in the production team proved unworthy and unsuccessful which led to the show being canceled earlier than it should have been. It has a formula that would work without aging. Not in the near future maybe, but definitely a prospect in the future.
Ally McBeal
Can you believe that it has been more than two decades since Ally McBeal became part of our lives? When it premiered in 1997, the show was an instant hit, averaging around ten million viewership with its five-season run. Although it was criticized far too often, especially by feminist groups, the show remained so strong that Ally McBeal became not only a titular character but a brand. I can’t even imagine having anyone other than Calista Flockhart doing the role, so a continuation may be possible.
Freaks and Geeks
When a show is prematurely canceled and still manages to make an impact on people, it’s already considered a cult classic. That’s exactly the case with Freaks and Geeks. In spite of the fact that it had great critical reception, it didn’t live for long. That said, it’s hard not to see a continuation being done for the show, most especially since the talented cast of the show has grown to become A-listers.
Supernatural
Now, this is a touchy subject. Supernatural is still on-air, and I’m already talking about its reboot? How could I, right? But, hear me out. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki will always be the Winchester brothers. However, it is their dedication and their fans’ support that gives me the assurance that it won’t be passed over and through once networks decide to find a show worthy of a reboot. It has supernatural elements that are vast (don’t even argue on this) and a following that has been there since day one. I’m not saying this is up for reboot in the near future, but one day it will certainly be one of the choices.
Gossip Girl
A soap opera about rich teenagers being bullied by an anonymous person! It has the best formula. Gossip Girl had one of the stellar, most beautiful casts in the history of casting for a television series. The names Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf turned into pop icons and adjectives on their own right. It aired on The CW when the network was still in its infancy, but who could deny the fact that Gossip Girl was a success because of its formula? It even spawned remakes in different countries, and with evolving technology Gossip Girl is on the right track of being remade in the future.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is a cult classic. Lucy Lawless gave life to the timeless titular character, and the writers pushed the envelope on writing a sexually fluid heroine. It was a broadcast television show, and the date of its conception was from a different life. It almost felt like Xena and Gabrielle didn’t even stand a chance. The LGBT community was very much underrepresented at that time, and it would be nice to see that aspect of the show fully bloom. TV networks and online websites that produce their own content would be foolish not to think of it as a great show to reboot.
