The Next ‘90s Sitcom To Be Revived Will Be…
This fall, revivals of Will & Grace, Roseanne, and Murphy Brown will all be airing on the broadcast networks. Which other classic ’90s sitcoms will be revived next?
Over the last week, the broadcast television network held their annual upfronts — a pitch to critics, advertisers, and audiences about what they have in store for the next television season (in this case 2018–2019). As the share of viewership of traditional broadcast decreases and the streaming services revolutionize the way we consume television programs, the upfronts don’t garner the same level of media attention they once did. Nevertheless, plenty upfront-related stories emerged over the past week, including series that were unexpectedly canceled and revived on other networks (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Last Man Standing) and the fact that the movement toward greater representation has finally reached even CBS (a longtime holdout to change).
But to me the most interesting aspect of the upfronts was the sense of déjà vu. NBC touted that it’s #1 comedy, Will & Grace, would again anchor Thursday nights and has been renewed through 2021. ABC gushed that Roseanne was poised to finish the season as the #1 non-sports program on television, which it did once before — 29 years ago. CBS brought out the cast of Murphy Brown to announce that the venerable sitcom would be returning with new episodes a full 30 years after the show originally premiered.
It seems plausible that the trend of reviving ’90s sitcoms is just a couple of high profile bombs away from fading into oblivion, but it’s clear that at the moment it’s a hot trend that is likely to be emulated. Now, of course, it must be noted that this revival trend doesn’t just apply to ’90s sitcoms that were culturally influential and Emmy-winning ratings juggernauts. In recent years, it has also been done with brilliant but low-rated and prematurely canceled comedies (Netflix continues to revive Arrested Development), sci-fi hits (Fox recently brought back The X-Files for 2 seasons), cult classics (Showtime just brought back ABC’s early ’90s critical darling Twin Peaks), and family-friendly hits (although the streaming giant is notoriously secretive about its viewership, by all accounts Netflix’s Full House revival appears to have been a smash). [You can read more about my thoughts on the revival trend here.]
But right now the hot trend appears to be reviving high profile ’90s sitcoms, so I thought I would use my vast array of largely useless pop culture knowledge to carefully evaluate what is likely to be revived next.
In the following list, I have ranked 24 ’90s sitcoms from least to most likely to be revived with my rationale briefly explained for each.
[Note: Turns out there were a ton of series on television in the ’90s and thus I had to put some limits on what I included. My criteria here were that the show must have 1) run for multiple seasons, 2) aired at least one full season in the 1990s, and 3) been nominated for multiple Emmys in one of the top three comedy categories: Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor, or Outstanding Lead Actress. That yielded 27 series. Excluding the 3 aforementioned series that have already been revived, I ended up with a list of 24.]
24.) The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984–1992). Of all the shows on the list, this is the only one I can say with 100% certainty will not be revived. When the star/ co-creator/namesake of a series is found guilty of multiple sexual assaults and widely labeled a sexual predator, it’s fair to say that the property has lost its revival potential.
23.) The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (NBC/Lifetime, 1987–1991). In addition to the availability of the cast and relevance of the series to the current sociopolitical climate, a show’s potential for revival is based on the existence of a dedicated fan base. I have trouble imagining this long-forgotten show has a big enough one to generate much interest.
22.) The Larry Sanders Show (HBO, 1992–1998). The untimely death of series star/co-creator/co-writer in Garry Shandling in 2016 dashed the possibilities of a revival. Add in that co-stars Jeffrey Tambor and Jeremy Piven have become increasingly controversial due to recent sexual harassment allegations and Rip Torn is 87 years old, and the only folks left to star in a revival are Janeane Garofalo, Wallace Langham, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. (Although admittedly, a show with the three of them is one I would be interested in watching.)
21.) The Golden Girls (NBC, 1985–1992). The last decade has been rough for Golden Girls fans. Estelle Getty (Sophia) died in 2008, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) died in 2009, and Rue McClanahan (Blanche) died in 2010. The possibility of reviving the series with just Betty White’s Rose seems like an extremely unlikely scenario, but given how the now 96-year-old comedy legend continues to work I suppose it can’t be entirely ruled out.
20.) Sex and the City (HBO, 1998–2004). The property’s last attempt at a revival was a disaster. (Arguably, Sex and the City 2’s sole redeeming feature was when Liza Minnelli showed up to cover Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” at an epically tacky gay wedding.) Recently, there were rumors that a high quality, property-redeeming, and story-resolving script for a third movie was set to be filmed. Unfortunately, the high profile fallout between producer/star Sarah Jessica Parker and co-star Kim Cattrall quashed the chances of the third film seeing the light of day — and thus likely quashed any chances of a revival of the series.
19.) Evening Shade (CBS, 1990–1994). This Burt Reynolds vehicle about an ex-NFL star who returns to his home town in Arkansas to coach a high school football team’s chances of revival are plagued by the fact that it is long-forgotten and that its (admittedly impressive) ensemble is either deceased (Michael Jeter, Charles Durning, Ossie Davis) or extremely old (Reynolds is now 82 and Hal Holbrook is 93).
18.) Cybill (CBS, 1995–1998). Tabloid rumors of conflict between series star Cybill Shepherd and the netowrk, series creator (Chuck Lorre, whose success has skyrocketed since Cybill closed up shop), and primary co-star (Christine Baranski, who is now in the 9th year of her run as Diane Lockheart on The Good Wife and its spinoff The Good Fight) suggest that few of the players are keen to revive this property.
17.) Night Court (NBC, 1984–1992). Up until the recent news of series star Harry Anderson’s unexpected death at age 65, this quirky comedy has some potential for an out-of-left-field revival. Without Harry, however, chances seem nil.
16.) The Wonder Years (ABC, 1998–1993). The 1988–1993 coming-of-age drama chronicled a family from 1968–1973. Thus it is conceivable we could catch up with them 25 years later (in the late ‘90s). But this show’s humor and drama was elicited from its setting in a very specific time in American history, making a revival a risky — and arguably pointless — endeavor.
15.) Dharma & Greg (ABC, 1997–2002). Unlike many of the shows on the list, Dharma was never a huge ratings hit nor did it receive much of a second life in syndication. Thus, there is likely a scant fan base clamoring for its return. Plus, co-star Thomas Gibson’s firing from Criminal Minds for bad behavior on set a couple of years ago suggests that Chuck Lorre and the ensemble might not be on board with working with him again.
14.) Spin City (ABC, 1996–2002). After four years in the lead role, Michael J. Fox exited this sitcom about savvy politicians to focus on his battle with Parkinson’s Disease and was replaced by Charlie Sheen (who has since become persona non grata in Hollywood after the utter gracelessness of his Two and a Half Men exit). The likelihood of either of them returning to headline a revival seems low, but the show’s take on the petty world of politics is undoubtedly still relevant and the impressive ensemble (which included Connie Britton, Barry Bostwick, Heather Locklear, Michael Boatman, and Carla Gugino) is still working, so it’s technically still possible.
13.) Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS, 1996–2005). This long running smash revolved around whiny sportswriter Ray, his long-suffering wife Debra, his anxiety-riddled brother Robert, and his spectacularly overbearing parents Marie and Frank. With Marie and Frank’s portrayers (the legendary Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle) having died in the intervening years it seems like too much of the show’s original dynamics would be missing to make a successful revival.
12.) Home Improvement (ABC, 1991–1999). Although I would love to see Patricia Richardson back on TV again (seriously, where has she been?), I suspect that this series was a bit too ‘90s and kid-focused to be successfully revived. Plus, Tim Allen is preoccupied with reviving his other Middle America family sitcom Last Man Standing.
11.) Ellen (ABC, 1994–1998). The show’s star continues to be a Hollywood power player with her long-running daytime series and the show’s status as a milestone in LGB representation make it plausible that it could be revived, but my sense is that DeGeneres has fully moved on.
10.) 3rd Rock From the Sun (NBC, 1996–2001). The entire ensemble is still active in the industry and — with the possible exception of Joseph Gordon-Levitt — doesn’t seem like they would be averse to the idea of returning. But is there an audience there? (Admittedly I’m biased because I never understood where the fan base for the original run came from in the first place.)
9.) Ally McBeal (Fox, 1997–2002). Fox’s game changing dramedy gathered heaps of media buzz during the early phase of its original run, but quickly fizzled out. Creator/writer David E. Kelly continues to be prolific (he scripted Emmy juggernaut Big Little Lies just last year) and the whole cast is still active, but it’s hard to think of an interesting concept to justify this particular show’s revival.
8.) Friends (NBC, 1994–2004). The creators and cast have all said they would never do it, primarily out of concern that they would tarnish the original property if the revival wasn’t perfection. But it is the most beloved of all the properties on the list and the cast by all accounts still likes each other and misses working together, so we can’t entirely count it out.
7.) Designing Women (CBS, 1986–1993). The independent, outspoken women of Atlanta, Georgia would certainly have interesting and funny things to say about the current state of our country and co-star Annie Potts recently said she would be game to revisit it. However, I don’t think it should be revived. As good as Potts, Delta Burke, and Jean Smart were, for me the series’ soul was Dixie Carter’s Julia Sugarbaker. Without her (Carter died in 2010), I can’t help but imagine a revival would be a shell of its former self.
6.) Seinfeld (NBC, 1989–1998). When Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards reprised their iconic roles on the seventh season of Seinfeld co-creator Larry David’s very meta HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, we were told that that was as close to a reunion as viewers would ever get. But, it also told viewers that the actors and creator were still open to revisiting the legendary series, so a revival cannot be completely ruled out.
5.) Cheers (NBC, 1982–1993). Virtually all of the show’s amazing ensemble is living and working (although Woody Harrelson might now be too famous to return to the world of sitcoms) and its creator James Burrows currently helms the Will & Grace revival, suggesting he isn’t averse to the trend. There has been little discussion of this show being revived and the premise makes it a bit of a challenge (why are they all still sitting at the same bar a quarter century later?), but I wouldn’t count it out.
4.) Coach (ABC, 1989–1997). For unclear reasons, there was an attempted revival of this series in 2015, when NBC ordered 13 episodes of a “sequel” that chronicled the son of Craig T. Nelson’s Hayden Fox (the original series’s main character) with most of the original cast reprising their roles. But the pilot failed to connect with test audiences and NBC nixed it. The fact that they’ve already gotten the pieces back together recently suggests that the failed revival could find a second life, but it seems unlikely. Further hurting its chances is the fact that the primary costars of the original series are now unavailable — Jerry Van Dyke passed away in January and Shelley Fabares has retired from acting due to chronic health issues.
3.) Frasier (NBC, 1993–2004). Although John Mahoney’s recent death lowers the series’ chances of revival — the character of Martin was a key force in grounding the highbrow show — I can envision the remaining quartet of actors revisiting the long-running and beloved series about the Seattle psychiatrists. And I think such a revival would have the chance at being a critical and commercial success.
2.) The Nanny (CBS, 1993–1999). The sitcom about the “flashy girl from Flushing” (played by Fran Drescher) who unintentionally stumbled her way into the home — and hearts — of an upper class family living in Manhattan is a likely candidate for revival for a few reasons. The class conflict that dominated the comedy is timeless and the show’s various ongoing plot devices, such as the fact that Mr. Sheffield was a high profile Broadway producer and that the family was intertwined with the Trumps and other power players, seem particularly relevant now. Most importantly, the ensemble and creative team is still close to one another (co-creators Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson have divorced since the show aired, but remain close friends) and there is a surprisingly enthusiastic fan base who has made their interest in a revival heard on social media. Speaking of social media, Drescher recently posted that she was having a reunion with the creative team. It may not end up on the broadcast networks (I can see a revival on cable or a streaming service), but it could very well happen.
1.) Mad About You (NBC, 1992–1999). OK, so putting this at #1 is a bit of cheating on my part. The Mad About You revival is already in full swing. Co-stars Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt are enthusiastically on board and the show is being shopped around to various networks. Of course, reviving the show would involve completely disregarding the series finale (which jumped forward into the future and showed the dissolution of Paul and Jamie’s marriage), but considering that the revivals of Will & Grace and Roseanne also pretended their series finales never happened that’s hardly a dealbreaker. It could still fall through, but for now this is the most likely show to come back.
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