The Ultimate TV Show Revivals: 10 Classics That Surpass Their Original Runs

TV show revivals pose a risk that only the most popular series are willing to take. However, even if a show was once highly acclaimed, it may fail to reach the level of its original success. Numerous factors contribute to the triumph of a television series, and timing is often crucial. Rebooting shows from the 80s, for instance, evokes nostalgia, but fails to capture the essence of the time in the 2020s.

Trends have shifted, society's sense of humor has evolved, and past triumphs cannot be replicated. Despite this, studios persist in bringing back beloved series for another go. While some reboots manage to stay on the air for multiple seasons, they often fall short of the excellence the original show achieved. Here are 10 TV show revivals that failed to match the brilliance of their predecessors.

10 Fuller House

Full House became a cultural phenomenon during the late 80s and 90s, propelling the Olsen twins, Bob Saget, and Dave Coulier to fame. It marked John Stamos' return to television after his stint on General Hospital, and jumpstarted Jodi Sweetin and Candace Cameron Bure's careers.

In 2016, the family reunited for Fuller House, except for the Olsen twins who had shifted their focus to the fashion industry in the mid-2000s. The show enjoyed a successful run on Netflix for five seasons. However, it couldn't quite capture the same magic as its predecessor, attracting viewers mainly seeking nostalgia rather than truly remarkable television. It is not surprising that Fuller House had fewer seasons than the original series.

9 Heroes Reborn

In 2006, Heroes, featuring renowned actors such as Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, and Zachary Quinto, debuted to captivate audiences worldwide. This extraordinary show unraveled the lives of ordinary individuals who unexpectedly discovered their extraordinary superpowers. With its impressive run spanning four seasons, the series concluded in 2010, only to return in 2015 as Heroes Reborn. Despite employing a cast of lesser-known talents, this new installment unfortunately fell short of emulating the resounding success achieved by its predecessor.

8 Gossip Girl

Following the success of Josh Schwartz's drama series, The OC, the accomplished showrunner ventured out of Newport Beach and embarked on a new journey in the bustling city of New York. This led to the creation of Gossip Girl, the East Coast counterpart to The OC. Widely regarded as one of television's most beloved teen dramas, Gossip Girl not only catapulted Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Penn Badgley into the spotlight but also invited both intrigue and controversy with its polarizing conclusion. Despite differing opinions among fans, one consensus remained: the reboot failed to measure up to the original. In 2021, the show made a comeback with a more diverse cast than its predecessor, yet it never quite achieved the greatness that Schwartz had initially crafted. Regrettably, the series concluded after a mere two seasons.

7 How I Met Your Father

One of the most popular sitcoms of the mid-2000s was How I Met Your Mother. With Bob Saget narrating from the future, fans eagerly anticipated discovering the identity of the mother and how Ted Mosby crossed paths with her. The announcement of How I Met Your Father, starring the adored Hilary Duff from Lizzie McGuire, sparked excitement among millennials and older Gen Z kids. However, despite including guest appearances from Robin Scherbatsky and Barney Stinson, the show failed to capture the essence of the original series.

6 The X-Files

The iconic sci-fi series, The X-Files, portrayed Special Agent Mulder's relentless pursuit to uncover the truth behind his sister's alleged abduction by aliens during his childhood. Originally airing from 1993 to 2001, the series made a comeback in 2016, 14 years after its finale. This revival season continued the riveting exploration of extraterrestrial existence by the show's beloved characters. However, the reboot concluded in 2018, failing to replicate the original's triumph due to less captivating storylines.

5 90210

Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling gained fame for their roles in the iconic 90s teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. The show became synonymous with the era and ran successfully for approximately 10 years, allowing the characters to evolve from adolescents to adults facing the challenges of college, entrepreneurship, marriage, and parenthood. In 2008, a rejuvenated cast, notably featuring Shenae Grimes from Degrassi, breathed new life into the series, which aired for a comparatively shorter period of five years. However, the rekindled enthusiasm waned, as in 2019, the original cast returned for yet another revival, which garnered even less popularity and lasted only one season. It seemed that fans were not as invested in the lives of the characters as they had been when the series originally premiered in 1990.

4 Will & Grace

Will & Grace was a groundbreaking TV series that featured celebrity cameos from Cher, Britney Spears, and Madonna. However, what truly made it successful was its portrayal of a gay lead character, a first in primetime television. The show paved the way for other TV series with openly gay characters, breaking down barriers of acceptability. Unfortunately, the reboot of Will & Grace only lasted for three seasons, in contrast to the original's eight-season run. Like many other reboots, it couldn't capture the same charm and comedic brilliance as the original.

3 Saved By The Bell

Kelly Kapowski was the ultimate crush for many young people during the late 80s and early 90s, thanks to the enormous success of Saved By The Bell. This show holds a special place in the hearts of those who were glued to their screens during its original run. However, the spin-off series Saved By The Bell: The College Years failed to resonate with audiences and lasted only one season. Similarly, Saved By The Bell: The New Class managed to run for seven seasons but received a lukewarm response.

The new cast members couldn't capture viewers' affections in the same way that Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez did. While the idea of a reboot with the original cast seemed promising, it unfortunately fell short of expectations. The series only lasted two seasons on Peacock before being canceled.

2 Girl Meets World

These days, teenagers and young adults are invested in the love stories of Conrad and Belly, and Mike and Eleven. However, back in 1993, the spotlight was on Topanga and Corey. Their relationship was the driving force behind Boy Meets World, a show that depicted the challenges of growing up. Despite Corey Matthews not excelling academically, Mr. Sweeney offered valuable life lessons. Fast forward to 2014, and Girl Meets World premiered, focusing on the daughter of Topanga and Corey, Riley.

Unfortunately, while Boy Meets World was inspirational, Girl Meets World came across as cheesy. Adding to the disappointment, the spinoff aired on Disney Channel, targeting a younger audience who hadn't even been born when the original series aired. Thankfully, Sabrina Carpenter, one of the stars, was able to build a successful music career following the series. However, not much else came out of the three-season-long spinoff.

1 That 90s Show

That 90s Show has completed one season and has been renewed for a second season in February. However, due to the recent strikes by WGA and SAG, there is no indication of when it will be available on Netflix again. While it received acclaim for its portrayal of character Ozzie's coming out scene, it fails to live up to the quality of the original series. The 90s cannot be compared to the 70s, and the current decade of the 2020s is vastly different from the 90s, making it nearly impossible to recreate the magic of Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's first meeting on That 70s Show. Considering the track record of TV show revivals, it would have been wiser to leave That 70s Show untouched.