Touch of nostalgia in show revivals: Reboots of popular series pitched at existing audiences

Revivals are a tried-and-true staple of entertainment. Often a show has been cancelled, or simply passed over for renewal, only for someone to turn around years later and take note of the still existing fanbase. What better guarantee of viewers and, by extension, revenue? That being said, not every reboot is a shameless cash-grab.

One of the most popular wellknown revived shows (so good they cancelled it twice) is animated comedy sci-fi Futurama. Originally starting in 1999, the show was eventually cancelled by Fox after four seasons. In 2008 it was brought back by Comedy Central for another six seasons, before airing what many believed (understandably) would be its final episode in 2013.

Ten years on, Fry, Leela, Bender, and the rest of the crew are back on our screens (on Disney+). Along with the cast, the show’s original creators have pulled out their pencil sharpeners. It would seem the years have done nothing to dampen the strength of the Futurama writing room.

Right off the bat, the latest series is off to a strong start with an episode that follows the Planet Express crew as they attempt to revive a TV series that has been off the air for 10 years…I’m getting a strange sense of déjà vu here. Even with the many references to their own cancellation, it feels like the show never stopped. If the first episode is anything to go by, I feel I can confidently say the show still has at least two more cancellations left in it (maybe even four).

Of course, not all revivals are made equal. After years of asking, fans of Arrested Development (Disney+) were quick to change their tune once Netflix developed the long-awaited fourth season – and the fifth season didn’t do too much to help the feeling of discontent.

Or take the latest iteration of The Twilight Zone (TVNZ+), another show which has seen its fair share of revivals. The original series, created and presented by Rod Serling, ran from 1959 to 1964. This latest take (2019/20) on the spooky anthology had plenty going for it. High production values, brilliant casts (with Kumail Nanjiani receiving an Emmy nomination for his part in the show’s first episode), and modern horror guru Jordan Peele an executive producer, as well as lending his voice to the narrator. Unfortunately, while it told several outstanding stories and was praised for capturing the essence of the original, this latest run only lasted for a total of 20 episodes over two seasons.

Often a revival gives a creative team a chance to explore new ground with familiar characters, an idea on display in the comedy series Reboot (Disney+). The series follows the cast of a much-loved earlier (fictional) sitcom called Step Right Up.

What they all thought would be a launching pad for their careers turned out simply to be an exception, and when Hannah (Rachel Bloom), daughter of the show’s original creator pitches a revival years later, they see an opportunity to step back into the limelight. However, things get difficult when Hannah’s vision for a dramatic take on the show clashes with the studio’s desire to cash in on nostalgia and cheap laughs. The series also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer and Johnny Knoxville. While this series unfortunately wasn’t itself revived for a second season, it’s still an enjoyable weekend binge.

Often a revival gives a creative team a chance to explore new ground with familiar characters

One franchise that gets semi-revived every decade or so is the Muppets, with the classic puppets often receiving a new coat of paint in an attempt to gain favour with the new generation. The relatively recent Disney+ original, Muppets Now, is a far cry from the Muppet show of old – The Muppet Show (Disney+). Gone is the framing device of a staged variety show, replaced instead with a simple sketch show, along with a healthy dose of internet trends and popular celebrities in the mix to attract new viewers.

My personal favourite revival of the Muppets came in 2015, with TV series The Muppets, not to be confused with the 2011 film, The Muppets. Taking inspiration from mockumentary shows such as The Office and Parks and Recreation, this iteration sees Kermit the Frog running a late-night talk show hosted by Miss Piggy, trying to juggle his responsibilities at the studio with his personal life, and making sure none of his fellow Muppets destroy anything too important.

Alas, our felt friends seem to have trouble keeping ground in the modern era, with both The Muppets and Muppets Now each only lasting a single season. If you’re keen, all Muppet shows and most Muppet films are streaming on Disney+.

Revivals are a contentious topic. “It was fine as is”, “always leave them wanting more”, “it’ll never be as good as the original” are the comments voiced by some. But as long as there is a real drive to be creative with a revival or a reboot, a desire to do something new with an established world or characters, they can be just as good as what came before, if not better. Now, if someone could just get Aaron Sorkin working on that West Wing revival I’ve been waiting so patiently for.

More viewing options are given in the panel.

Nat Dolan is an Auckland actor and movie enthusiast