Reboots are a tricky thing, fans will either be delighted with their favorite show's return or disappointed that new versions do not meet their expectations. It is safe to say that Hollywood is living through a sort of reboot revolution as many classic dramas and comedies from the 1990s and early 2000s are making comebacks.
Some come together thanks to the dedication of their showrunners and fans, others came together because studios think they can make lightning strike twice. In any case, the success of a reboot depends on the loyalty of old fans and the show's ability to bring in new ones. Some reboots are huge hits, while others become critically panned nightmares that infuriate fans. Here are some reboots that delighted fans and some that should have ended on the high note they did back in the day.
10 The Kids In The Hall
The Kids In The Hall is a beloved comedy troupe and their understated sketch comedy show was immensely popular for its dark, satirical humor. When news broke about the show's 2022 reboot on Amazon Prime, fans were ecstatic. Cast members include Dave Foley, who Pixar fans might remember from A Bugs Life, and Kevin McDonald who also did a voice in a Disney movie. McDonald was Pleaky in Lilo and Stich.
9 iCarly
Miranda Cosgrove's career slowed down a little bit after iCarly first ended back in 2012. So fans of the show were happy to see her and many of her castmates come back for the reboot now streaming on Paramount+. Although Carly is now an adult, fans of the old show get a hint of nostalgia and can enjoy both the old and new show with their children.
8 Mystery Science Theater 3000
Joel Hodgson successfully rebooted his 1990s movie riffing show Mystery Science Theater 3000, known as MST3k to fans, not once but twice. In 2016, he ran a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign that allowed him to relaunch his show with Jonah Ray Rodriguez as the new host, a job once filled by Hodgson himself. The show is a mix of sci-fi and comedy and features a human host who riffs on cheesy bad movies with his robot friends Crow, Tom Servo, and GPC because he is being held hostage by mad scientists. Fans of the show, AKA Msties, are so loyal to the show that after Netflix canceled the reboot, they made sure that Hodgson's 2021 Kickstarter campaign was another record-breaker. The newest season now streams on the MST3k app and now has two hosts, Jonah Rodriguez and Emily Marsh, who is the show's first female host.
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5 Saved By The Bell
Saved By The Bell is famously campy, and the ridiculous plots are part of the show's appeal. If a person can suspend their disbelief that a teen boy has the power to stop time and that kids find themselves running businesses or staging fake teacher strikes then they can enjoy this show. Fans appreciate seeing how the lives of the Bayside kids worked out on the Peacock streaming show, and now they get to watch Zach Morris and the gang bring up a new generation of kids. They also got to see how life worked out for the rebellious blonde kid after he graduated from Bayside. Spoiler alert, Zach Morris became Governor of California. Fans have given the new show a thumbs up.
4 The Mighty Ducks
For some 90s kids, The Mighty Ducks is a more important piece of cinema than Citizen Kane. The internet was ecstatic when news of a series reboot for Disney+ came about, but some fans were nervous when news broke that Emilio Estevez would be replaced with a different male lead. Fans are so loyal to the show that they do remain optimistic about its future.
3 Never Should Have Happened: Bel-Air
Okay, technically this classic comedy was not rebooted as a comedy, but that is sort of why fans think it should not have happened. Will Smith relaunched his famous sitcom as a serious drama, and both fans and critics are not impressed. While the original show had plenty of plot lines that would otherwise make a great drama, the fact that the source material is such an iconic comedy was something that fans just could not get over. Bel-Air is not a very popular show.
2 Never Should Have Happened: Roseanne
This reboot started strong but fell apart thanks to the offensive behavior of its star Roseanne Barr. Barr was fired for making racist comments and being excessively confrontational on the set with her castmates and with crew members. The show was then retooled as The Connors and Roseanne's character was written out of the show completely. Fans of Roseanne had to either accept her racist behavior or ignore it to continue enjoying the show.
1 Never Should Have Happened: Murphy Brown
The original Murphy Brown was an irreverent and witty comedy that was full of biting social commentary when it aired in the 1990s. However, its 2018 reboot was short-lived because while the show maintained its social commentary, its delivery was more suited for a 90s audience, not for zoomers and millennials who are the demographics shows need to survive in this era. The rebooted show only lasted one season.
