Some TV shows are so good that remaking them is a risky move. Reboots of fan-favorite television shows more often fail than they succeed. Of course, there are some reboots that turn out to be a huge success. For example, Queer Eye and Doctor Who have both amassed huge fan bases since their original outings on the small screen.
However, some networks just refuse to heed the warning signs. They take a gamble and go ahead with a reboot of a classic television show, ultimately going against the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
10 The Muppets Failed Several Times
The Muppets have been a fan-favorite of children and adults since its creation in 1955 by Jim Henson. Television's favorite puppets gained the most popularity during The Muppet Show, which ran from 1976 to 1981. The puppets also previously made a few appearances on Sesame Street.
Multiple TV shows and movies have been released since the popular puppets of Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog first took the stage. In more recent news, Disney bought the rights in 2004, which is where it went downhill. A primetime television show with Miss Piggy lasted mere months, while Muppets Now, a TV series for Disney+, was also canceled. However, a creepy reboot of Muppets Babies is somehow still on-air.
9 Full House Reboot? You Got It, Dude.
Full House ran for eight seasons from 1987 to 1995. It was a television show children and parents alike enjoyed watching together and had one of the most catchy and recognizable opening theme songs. So, why ruin it with a reboot?
Fuller House was a Netflix original series that premiered in 2016 and ran for five seasons until it ended in 2020. The series is a sequel to the original show as it revolves around the family of the eldest daughter, DJ Tanner-Fuller. The majority of the original cast of Full House makes an appearance with the exception of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson, who played the role of Michelle Tanner.
8 Beverly Hills:90210 Had A Short-Lived Reboot
Beverly Hills, 90210 was once a popular teen drama television series in the 1990s. A reboot was released by Fox in 2019, titled BH90210. The reboot takes place 19 years after the events of the original series, and the majority of the original cast returned to reprise their roles. This includes Tori Spelling, Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, and more.
Tragically, Luke Perry, one of the show's original cast members, passed away from a stroke before he could return for the reboot. The production team used archive footage of Perry for the first episode and dedicated the episode to him. However, BH90210 was canceled after just one season.
7 Mockingbird Lane Failed After The Pilot
Mockingbird Lane was a 2012 television special that was a reboot of the classic 1960s sitcom The Munsters. A 1995 film titled Here Comes the Munsters was another attempt to bring the show back. However, both the film and the TV show had mixed reviews.
The pilot episode of Mockingbird Lane aired on NBC close to Halloween, but the network decided to pass on the series. Notable cast members include Jerry O'Connell as Herman Munster and Portia de Rossi as Lily Munster.
6 Saved By The Bell Was Not Saved By This Reboot
The beloved '90s sitcom, Saved By The Bell, had two spin-offs and two TV movies before the reboot was released. The reboot under the same title was released for Peacock in November 2020 and was somehow renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere on November 24, 2021.
Saved By The Bell features all of the original cast members with the exception of the late Dustin Diamond as Screech and Dennis Haskins as Mr. Belding. Zack Morris is now the Governor of California and his and Kelly Kapowksi's son attends Bayside High. A.C. Slater, played by Mario Lopez, is now the football coach and physical education teacher. Elizabeth Berkley Lauren also reprises her role of Jessie Spano as Bayside's school counselor.
5 Melrose Place Is Another Failed Reboot Of A '90s Show
Melrose Place was a '90s soap opera that was actually a spin-0ff of Beverly Hills, 90210. The show is about several young adults living in an apartment building called Melrose Place in Hollywood. Melrose Place experienced several cast changes during the show's run of seven seasons but was still nominated for several Golden Globes.
The show was rebooted on the CW network in 2009 under the same name. Despite Smallville producers Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer managing the reboot, Melrose Place only lasted for one 18 episode season before it was kicked off the air.
4 Viewers Aren't Entirely Charmed By This Charmed Reboot
Charmed is a fantasy drama series that ran for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. The show follows the lives of three sisters, Phoebe, Piper, and Prue, who are witches living in San Francisco. Charmed aired on The WB and broke a record for the most views of a pilot episode, and its subsequent popularity resulted in a variety of merchandise being released. For example, board games and comic books.
Charmed was rebooted for The CW Network in 2018. The show still follows the lives of three sisters who are witches, but none of the original cast or crew is involved in this reboot. Charmed was renewed for a fourth season that is set to premiere in March 2022.
3 Rugrats Got Even Creepier
Rugrats first premiered in 1991 and the show's final episode aired in 2004. The animated show follows the lives of toddlers Tommy, Angelica, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil. Several Rugrats movies were released in the 1990s, and in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the series, Nickelodeon released All Grown Up! – a series that follows the lives of the toddlers 10 years later.
A spin-off titled Rugrats Pre-School Daze only lasted for four episodes. However, Rugrats was rebooted and the show's first season aired in May 2021 on Paramount+. Somehow, it's been renewed for a second season in September 2021.
2 Gilmore Girls Had Mixed Reviews
Gilmore Girls is a comedy-drama television series that first aired on The WB in 2000. The show ran for seven seasons until its conclusion in 2007. Gilmore Girls follows the lives of the mother/daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. The show has gained a massive fanbase over the years with Gilmore Girls celebrated as one of the greatest television shows of all time.
If it was celebrated for being one of the greatest of all time, why reboot it? Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life served as the original show's eighth season. The show aired on Netflix in 2016 and later on The CW where it received mixed reviews.
1 No XOXOs For This Gossip Girl Reboot
Gossip Girl had a successful run of six seasons from 2007 to 2012 on The CW Network. The show is based on a novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar and follows an anonymous online presence – the eponymous Gossip Girl – that reveals intimate details about the teenagers living in Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Gossip Girl was rebooted and premiered on HBO Max in July 2021. Kristen Bell returns as the show's narrator but the rest of the cast are new faces in the Gossip Girl universe. However, it was hinted that original characters might reappear, which could be the reason it was renewed for a second season in September 2021.