Booting the Reboots

By Jenise Jackson
Blog Content Contributor

Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing, at least until you feel like you’re drowning in it. With this irksome trend of TV networks wanting to ride the popularity wave that comes with rebooting or reviving certain television series, I have to say it’s hard for me to stay afloat. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of seeing some of these shows have a modern feel is sort of intriguing. It’s just the end results that have me less than impressed. I hate to be a party pooper (not really), but it’s hard for me to be a fan.I’m just saying, YouTube is literally filled with plenty of web series that could most likely flourish if put on the TV platform. There’s new stories to be told people, they just need a chance.

It’s 2018 and you would think that networks would be more interested in developing fresh material. As recent years have proven, the world is filled with plenty of creatives who are practically begging to see their new concepts be admired by large audiences, especially through the small screen. But unfortunately, originality is kind of losing out to familiarity. TV networks are desperately trying to find ways to keep viewers tuned in since streaming services have rapidly taken over in terms of home entertainment. So how do these TV networks try to reel people in again? Simply by bringing back the shows that kept audiences entertained in the past.

Knowing this almost makes me want to sympathize with the idea of revivals and reboots. In a way, they are like a last resort to saving the essence of television along with its ratings. The problem for me is that the TV networks don’t always get the reboots and revivals done right. I mean you’re already taking a risk by touching certain series as some could be deemed classics in the eyes of their beholders. But you’re really messing up when you do such a terrible job at bringing these series back to life that it waters down the legacy created by the hardworking cast and crew of the original. That just doesn’t seem fair to me.

With there being recent talks of possible reboots and revivals of some of my childhood favorites like “Sister, Sister”, “Martin” and “Charmed”, I have to say I’m definitely on the fence. While I don’t want to see the legacy of these shows be tainted, I also know there is some hope for positive redemption. I say this because I think Netflix did a pretty decent job with their “Full House” sequel/revival “Fuller House” and I’m also a loyal viewer of the CBS reboot of “MacGyver”. Yes, these shows have a much more modern feel but you still get a taste of what you loved about the original. And that’s really what allows these shows to be effective. If TV networks could do this with all their reboots and revivals and match them with the right acting and writing, I probably wouldn’t be so critical after all.

I know there are some people who are ecstatic about this year’s lineup in terms of upcoming reboots and revivals. Maybe I’m underestimating TV networks, but we shall see how these series turn out once they premiere. Whether they are good or not, I’ll continue to root for fresh material because I know there are still ideas out there that could change the state of television. And you can best believe a reboot of American Idol with Katy Perry as a judge (honestly, who made that decision?) is not one of them.

Featured image by Jenise Jackson.