The current period of television — often referred to as “peak TV” — has been characterized as an abundance of widely popular, critically acclaimed shows. In this golden age of television, TV executives are also looking to the past for inspiration. Already in recent years shows such as “Will and Grace,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Twin Peaks” have been successfully revived and enjoyed by old and new audiences alike.
The name recognition and nostalgia associated with an existing television show may help ensure a fan base and increase viewership for its reincarnation. Producing a show with a preexisting, established fan base is an attractive prospect, and many television networks are currently developing shows based on old television shows — and fans are excited.
To determine the best TV shows getting rebooted, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on IMDb ratings and Wikipedia page views of the original shows.
Click here to see the full list of the 25 best TV shows getting rebooted.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
25. Magnum, P.I.
> Original run: (1980-1988)
> IMDb rating: 7.5/10
> Revival status: In development at ABC
Reboot of the original 1980s series will focus on Magnum’s daughter after she returns to Hawaii to run her father’s private investigation firm.
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24. Lost in Space
> Original run: (1965-1968)
> IMDb rating: 7.3/10
> Revival status: Premiering on Netflix in May 2018
The 10-episode series will be a modern take on the 1960s show that follows the adventures of the Robinson family as they struggle to survive in space.
23. Biography
> Original run: (1987-2013)
> IMDb rating: 7.9/10
> Revival status: In development at A&E
A&E’s famous documentary series will be returning to the channel this spring, covering the lives of well known icons such as Tupac Shakur and John Gotti.
22. Cash Cab
> Original run: (2005-2010)
> IMDb rating: 7.3/10
> Revival status: Premiering on Discovery Channel in 2017
Cash Cab — a gameshow in which unsuspecting taxi passengers win money for answering questions correctly — is set to return to the Discovery Channel this fall.
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21. Hey Arnold!
> Original run: (1994-2004)
> IMDb rating: 7.7/10
> Revival status: Premiering Nov. 23 on Nickelodeon
The series will return with a television movie, “Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie,” picking up with Arnold and his crew one year after the original show’s last episode.
20. Hart to Hart
> Original run: (1979-1984)
> IMDb rating: 6.7/10
> Revival status: In development at NBC
Rumors of a “Hart to Hart” reboot have been circulating since at least 2015. According to some reports, the updated version will follow a crime-fighting gay couple instead of the original’s wealthy amateur detectives Jonathan and Jennifer Hart.
19. Charmed
> Original run: (1998-2006)
> IMDb rating: 7.1/10
> Revival status: In development at The CW
While little is known about the return of “Charmed” — a show about three witch-sisters who live together — early talk of a prequel to the story was reportedly abandoned due to issues with the script. According to actress Alyssa Milano, all of the original cast of sisters are willing to return.
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18. The L Word
> Original run: (2004-2009)
> IMDb rating: 7.6/10
> Revival status: In development at Showtime
The reboot of Showtime’s lesbian drama will reportedly have a new cast but also feature many of the original actors.
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17. Muppet Babies
> Original run: (1984-1991)
> IMDb rating: 7.6/10
> Revival status: Premiering on Disney Junior in 2018
The children’s series is returning in an updated CGI-style. Each episode will feature Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang in two 11-minute stories.
16. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
> Original run: (2003-2007)
> IMDb rating: 5.7/10
> Revival status: Eight episodes ordered at Netflix
Reports suggest that the new “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” — the show in which a team of stylish gay men give straight men fashion makeovers — will take the series out of New York City and into “red states.”
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15. The Munsters
> Original run: (1964-1966)
> IMDb rating: 8.3/10
> Revival status: In development at NBC
Spearheaded by “Odd Mom Out” creator Jill Kargman and Seth Meyers, the updated version of the 1960s sitcom about a family of monsters will place the clan in modern Brooklyn, NY.
14. Strike Back
> Original run: (2010-2015)
> IMDb rating: 7.9/10
> Revival status: In production at Cinemax and Sky
In the new season of “Strike Back,” the Section is rebanded in order to track down a terrorist after he breaks out of prison. It will be the fifth season to air on Cinemax.
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13. Amazing Stories
> Original run: (1985-1987)
> IMDb rating: 7.5/10
> Revival status: In development at NBC
Originally developed by Steven Spielberg, the anthology-style series “Amazing Stories” is returning to television, this time helmed by writer and producer Bryan Fuller. Like the original, the reboot is set to have a rotating cast of talent, including Patton Oswalt and Kumail Nanjiani.
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12. Tales of the City
> Original run: (1993-1994)
> IMDb rating: 8.8/10
> Revival status: In development at Netflix
A 10-episode revival of the 1990s miniseries will continue to tell LGBT-themed stories in San Francisco, with several members of the original cast returning.
11. Young Justice
> Original run: (2010-2013)
> IMDb rating: 8.7/10
> Revival status: In production at Warner Bros. Animation
Three years after it was canceled by Cartoon Network, “Young Justice” will return for a third season, airing on an upcoming DC-branded streaming service.
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10. Bewitched
> Original run: (1964-1972)
> IMDb rating: 7.6/10
> Revival status: In development at NBC
A sequel series to the original 1960s show will focus on the granddaughters of the original protagonists.
9. Psych
> Original run: (2006-2014)
> IMDb rating: 8.4/10
> Revival status: Airing on USA Network in December 2017
A two-hour TV special will find the original cast of the USA comedy reuniting during the holidays when a mystery assailant attacks one of their own.
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8. Bug Juice
> Original run: (1998-2002)
> IMDb rating: 8.1/10
> Revival status: In production at Disney Channel
A modern day reboot of the 1990s series will follow a group of young campers at Camp Waziyatah, where the original show was filmed.
7. The Honeymooners
> Original run: (1955-1956)
> IMDb rating: 8.6/10
> Revival status: In development at CBS
A revival of the 1950s sitcom will feature two married couples who are best friends and neighbors — until one couple divorces and remarries in a modern twist on the old classic.
6. Deadwood
> Original run: (2004-2006)
> IMDb rating: 8.7/10
> Revival status: In development at HBO
A two-hour TV special will reunite some of the original cast and tie up some of the loose ends left by the show’s sudden cancellation.
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5. Roseanne
> Original run: (1988-1997)
> IMDb rating: 7.0/10
> Revival status: Slated to premiere on ABC in the 2017-18 season
An eight-episode revival of the 1980s sitcom will ignore the fatal, conclusive events of the series finale and reunite the original cast.
4. Invader Zim
> Original run: (2001-2004)
> IMDb rating: 8.4/10
> Revival status: Greenlit at Nickelodeon
Invader Zim will return to Earth in the form of a 90-minute TV special.
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3. The X-Files
> Original run: (1993-2002)
> IMDb rating: 8.7/10
> Revival status: Slated to premiere on Fox in the 2017-18 season
After the show was rebooted for its 10th season in 2016, Mulder and Scully are teaming up again for a 10-episode 11th season.
2. Arrested Development
> Original run: (2003-2006)
> IMDb rating: 8.9/10
> Revival status: Premiering on Netflix in 2018
After initially airing on Fox from 2004 to 2006 and on Netflix in 2013, the sitcom will return for a fifth season on the streaming service in 2018.
1. Rocko’s Modern Life
> Original run: (1993-1996)
> IMDb rating: 8.0/10
> Revival status: Premiering on Nickelodeon in 2018
A one-off, one-hour TV special that will follow Rocko and the rest of the original characters as they face the realities of modern life after being lost in outer space since 1996.
Detailed Findings and Methodology
One driving force behind the current wave of reboots is the rise of online streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon. Such companies increasingly producing their own content, often with a responsiveness to audience demand. Of the 25 best TV shows getting rebooted, four are slated to appear on Netflix.
Interestingly, Netflix may have actually contributed to the increased demand for TV show revivals. By offering older shows on its streaming service, Netflix — and other streaming services — helped maintain the popularity of these shows — some of which have been off the air for decades.
The original runs of the best shows getting rebooted range from the 1950s to the 2010s. More than half of the shows on this list originally premiered between 1993 and 2006 — roughly the years when the millennial generation were adolescents. According to television data company Nielsen, millennials spend three hours a day watching live television on average and nearly as much time on smartphone apps.
Traditional television viewership increases with age. At an average of nearly seven hours a day, baby boomers spend the most time of any generation in front of the TV. Nine of the 25 best shows getting rebooted originally premiered in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s — years when baby boomers were teenagers and young adults.
Internet search activity can be an indication of a show’s anticipation. When ABC revealed a cast photo for the upcoming “Roseanne” reboot and announced the show’s revival on May 17, 2017, the number of Wikipedia page views for the show increased to 10 times the daily average. The largest spike in Wikipedia page views of any upcoming series occurred on July 21, 2017, when Nickelodeon announced it was rebooting “Rocko’s Modern Life” — pageviews for the show increased to more than 17 times the daily average.
To determine the 25 best TV shows getting rebooted, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on the original show’s IMDb rating, the number of IMDb user reviews, daily average Wikipedia page views, and the spike in daily Wikipedia page view activity. IMDb ratings and reviews, and the daily average Wikipedia page views from the period October 4, 2016 to October 4, 2017 were given single weight. The largest increase in a show’s daily pageviews over the past year relative to its daily average was given double weight. Television reboots of movies were not considered. To be considered, a show must either be in active development with a network or scheduled to premiere in the coming year. While most of these shows have not been on the air for decades, a few are considered reboots because they completed the ordered season without being renewed, and then were renewed for another season later on. This was the case with the X-Files and Arrested Development.
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