Introduction
Everyone has their favorite TV show that they cannot get enough of. With box sets coming out of our ears, the rise of streaming services, and conversation on social media, it’s hard to get away from the world of television.
But what happens if your beloved show from yesteryear returns after a hiatus, and it’s not exactly how you remember? Do you jump for joy, or sink back onto your couch reevaluating your life choices? Welcome to the world of television reboots and remakes.
The reboot phenomenon is one driven by many factors, and in today’s article, we’ll explore why we’ve seen more of them in recent years. Which shows have come back with a bang, which shows have flopped, and how have audiences reacted to them? Keep reading to find out!
Reboot vs. Remake
Before we continue, let’s address the difference between reboots and remakes. Both are jam-packed with nostalgia, making us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but they are unique in their own ways.
Remakes are faithful to the original characters and premise of a show, with the aim of bringing it up to date for a new audience, as well as reengaging the old one. Think 2016-2018 X-Files, where after a 15-year hiatus, the show was brought back to continue where it left off with the character and plot arcs.
On the flip side, reboots are a reimagining of the original material, bringing back a similar premise, and a smattering of new characters among the established ones. Reboots usually require a production team to obtain the rights to the intellectual property to adapt it for a modern audience. Bionic Woman (2007) was a reboot of the original 1976 show, with the titular character Jaime Sommers replacing the original bionic woman Sarah Corvus.
Just what has caused the resurgence of the remake and reboot, and why isn’t it stopping any time soon? Let’s take a deep dive…
The Rise of TV Remakes and Reboots
Reboots and remakes are not new. The trend of such shows has evolved over time.
One of the earliest TV remakes was Dragnet. After a run on the radio in the late 1940s, it first aired from 1955-1959 for 276 episodes plus a feature film in 1954. A second feature film precluded the remake in 1967. Since then, a comedy-film version starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks has been released (1987). A full reboot with new characters was commissioned in 1989 titled The New Dragnet, with the latest L.A. Dragnet airing in 2003.
Another notable mention is Star Trek, which first blasted onto our screens in 1965 and gained itself such a cult following a long time after its 1969 cancellation. So much so, it was rebooted in 1987 and Star Trek: The Next Generation came to be, paving the way for many more reboots up to the latest: Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard.
Throughout every series, Star Trek has given us both adventures and morality tales that never fail to be ground-breaking. Series have been aired on mainstream television, as well as Amazon Prime and Paramount Plus.
The Influence of Streaming Services
With the latest Star Trek installments beaming onto streaming platforms, it begs the question of how these platforms have contributed to the surge in reboots.
With network television only available in the show’s native countries, streaming services have allowed them to reach a whole new audience. Millions of subscribers worldwide are now tuning into shows they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to.
With more and more channels and ways to consume content, it’s a competitive world out there for executives and producers fighting to get their work seen. While streaming services are in competition with each other, if a show can be broadcast by the big players like Netflix and Disney+, it opens out a whole new viewership. According to IndieWire, streaming broke another Nielsen record in July of 2024.
With new audiences available, the possibilities of the success of reboots and remakes are endless.
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The Reliability of a Fanbase
When writers, producers and directors pitch any pilot, they’re immediately taking a risk. Introducing new, untested concepts and characters to an audience is a challenge. We’ve already established that there’s a whole lot more competition in the TV world than ever, so it’s become more difficult to launch a brand-new show.
The beauty of reboots is the founded fan base that already exists and knows the tone and basic premise of a show. For such fan bases, a reboot of a show they love is pure nostalgia and a place where they can tap into old memories. They feel comforted with a familiar show, but are also interested in seeing the fresh take a reboot gives them, and see how much their perspective has changed since they last tuned in. Especially if they were a child or teen when they first saw the show.
This is particularly true for Doctor Who, which is still airing today after its huge reboot in 2005, when I was first introduced to the series. But for my dad, who had watched the show since the early 1970s, it was an opportunity to return to his childhood. It was a unique experience watching it together when I was a child, and we both had completely different reactions to it. Reboots have the knack of attracting both older and more familiar audiences, as well as brand new viewers.
From whatever generation you’re from, reboots provide a source of comfort and familiarity, things that were welcomed even more in the light of the recent COVID pandemic.
This is bolstered by the growing momentum of social media influence, with users spreading the word, sparking debate, and sharing their experiences of existing concepts and shows.
Money Talks
Of course, the TV industry is first, and foremost, a business. Reboots are a secure investment for networks and studios, with their built-in audiences and proven IPs. Once a show has already been successful, it means its reboots are less risk in terms of investment.
Alongside this, franchises like Star Trek, as well as Hawaii Five-O, have more opportunity for merchandise, syndication and streaming rights than a stand-alone show. More opportunity = more income.
Successes and Failures
Successes
NCIS | Spin-off of JAG
While technically a spin-off, this is a great example of where things can go very right!
A military police procedural, NCIS has been running since 2003, and is still going strong. It took some time to gain momentum, but has become even more popular than its predecessor, JAG, where the show’s concept and characters were initially introduced.
By season 10, the show was voted “America’s favorite television show” and has since surpassed the record for longest-running scripted primetime TV series, overtaking Gunsmoke. It has even earned its own spin-offs set in the US: NCIS: LA, NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: New Orleans, as well as overseas with NCIS: Sydney. The most recent announcements include a prequel exploring the younger days of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Tony and Ziva, following on the lives of special agents DiNozzo and David. Not bad going for a show that started off as a spin-off itself!
With ever-developing characters and hard-hitting story lines, NCIS has earned the respect of the audience and its cast, many of whom have stayed long term. The show remains popular because it allows character development to lead the way, rather than relying on the tech and mysteries of the episodes.
Yes, the characters started off stereotypical, but over its 21-year run, these characters have grown into something more through the relationships they foster within one another. They’re running the show.
Some shows don’t make it past the pilot. Let’s talk about why.
Cobra Kai | Remake of The Karate Kid
First released in 2018 on YouTube, Cobra Kai is a TV series sequel to the original The Karate Kid movies. We follow Johnny Lawrence thirty-four years after his defeat at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, whose life is utter chaos.
It’s not until he defends his teenage neighbor from a group of bullies that he’s inspired to re-open the Cobra Kai dojo. Through teaching others, Johnny’s spark is re-ignited, as well as his rivalry with Danny LeRusso, the man who defeated him all those years ago.
While the show has its absurdities, it has proven extremely popular with viewers. It reintroduces the original characters from the movies, but delves a lot deeper into how they came to be who they are. Audiences fell in love with those characters back in the 1980s, so the nostalgia plus gaining access to information they’d never had before proves to be a successful formula.
To balance out the nostalgia, Cobra Kai brings the original movies right up to date, with awareness around audience sensitivities which are addressed throughout the show. It attracts audiences both old and new.
Reboots: Ranked. Cobra Kai tops the list by RottenTomatoe.com of best reboots!
Failures
Charlie’s Angels | Reboot of Charlie’s Angels
Following in the footsteps of the 2000s movie franchise starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Lieu and Cameron Diaz, let alone the original 70s series, was going to be no mean feat for Charlie’s Angels when it returned to television in 2011.
Once again, we were introduced to three leading ladies, combining great detective work with glamor. Yet, unlike the installments that came before, the 2011 reboot didn’t resonate with audiences and was canceled after just four episodes.
The show aired at a time when beauty standards, that had been the norm for many years, were starting to be challenged, and it wasn’t clear where Charlie’s Angels fit. The previous movies had already been criticized for objectifying women, so it seemed this reboot wasn’t doing much to restore the faith of the audience in this regard.
In terms of character, the three new leads didn’t seem to have the same spark or dynamics between them as the previous trios, which made them less appealing to audiences.
Of course, then came the 2019 film of the same name starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska, which received mixed reviews, but we’ll save that one for another day.
MacGyver | Remake of MacGyver
Another example of changed attitudes within society, MacGyver’s 2016 remake saw a younger iteration of the titular character. While it maintained MacGyver’s ingenuity and technological skill, it didn’t bring much else to the table.
Back in the original 80s series, the idea of macho masculinity was attractive, but jumping ahead to 2016, it came across as more of a parody, and it was difficult to take it seriously. Viewers complained it didn’t replicate the original show in any way, especially as it was reviving well-known characters.
Despite its rocky start, MacGyver did run for five seasons, with critics and viewers slowly warming to the characters, the developing relationships between them saving the show.
The Psychology of Nostalgia: Why We Reminisce About the Past
Conclusion
The resurgence of TV reboots, remakes, and spin-offs speaks to both nostalgia and the evolving demands of modern audiences. While reboots offer comfort through familiarity, they also present opportunities for fresh takes on beloved stories.
Streaming platforms have played a significant role in this trend, providing global access and expanding fan bases. However, not every reboot strikes the right chord—success hinges on the delicate balance between honoring the original and adapting to contemporary tastes.
As long as there’s a hunger for nostalgia and profitable IPs, the reboot phenomenon is unlikely to slow down anytime soon.
Which reboots deserve the hype, and which ones should be locked away for good? Make sure to jump on over to our social media pages and share your opinions!
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