Top 20 TV Reboots That SUCK
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the worst remakes, stand-alone sequels, and overall betrayals of cherished television shows. We’re not including American reboots of foreign shows, as those deserve a list of their own. What are your LEAST favorite reboots of your favorite shows? Recycle your thoughts in the comments.
#20: “Velma” (2023-)
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“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?” built a franchise on teenage paranormal investigators and their talking dog. Of the many hit-or-miss reimaginings for TV, Max’s particularly bold interpretation particularly misses. Mindy Kaling co-created and stars in a spin-off about Velma Dinkley investigating a series of murders. Adapting Mystery Inc. for the sensibilities and diversity of Gen Z is admirable. Unfortunately, “Velma” is just another snarky, clumsily plotted thriller for streaming. It also relies too much on lazy meta humor, taking so many liberties with its brand, including its family-friendliness. While critics were more mixed on “Velma,” “Scooby-Doo” fans dismissed it as one of the worst shows of 2023. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t stop at one season.
#19: “Dragnet”/” L.A. Dragnet” (2003-04)
The original Dragnet, created by the visionary Jack Webb, succeeded in creating a police procedural drama grounded in realism. In fact, Webb and “Dragnet” are credited with establishing the standard for police dramas that so many have since followed. Unfortunately, the 2003 reboot, under new guidance, couldn’t follow in its predecessor’s footsteps. After a rocky first season that tried to replicate the original, the show changed its name and format to try and boost ratings. The new LA Dragnet veered from focusing on one central character, which had been the talented Ed O’Neill, and produced a season surrounding an ensemble cast. The show lost the magic of the original, and was canceled five episodes into its second season.
#18: “MacGyver” (2016-21)
A secret agent with impromptu inventing skills wasn’t exactly considered must-see TV between 1985 and ‘92. “MacGyver”’s loyal following on ABC and Richard Dean Anderson’s charisma nonetheless created memorable entertainment. CBS’s remake, on the other hand, is too bland to have legs. Certainly, the campy writing and MacGyverisms have a certain flavor, but everything else is just a generic network actioner that abandons the original’s more resourceful plotting. It marked a new creative low for Peter M. Lenkov’s series of procedural reboots, dubbed the “Lenkov-verse.” At least the hit franchise and the name recognition kept CBS’s “MacGyver” going for five seasons. Otherwise, none of the spare parts from shows already inspired by ABC’s classic could rig a memorable remake.
#17: “Gossip Girl” (2021-23)
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For six seasons, everyone was talking about the CW’s “Gossip Girl.” The scandalous drama of New York’s teen elite was a critical and ratings hit that launched many talented actors. HBO Max tried to revive the hype for a new generation with a standalone sequel. “Gossip Girl” rebooted to strong viewership, but harsh word-of-mouth. The audience gradually dropped off over the strained storylines and humorlessly hokey writing. It was an uninspired dish for fans and felt like Gen Z politics without fresh material. Most critics do agree that Max’s “Gossip Girl” improves with a much more focused second season. But with that praise falling on deaf ears, the show didn't make it to Season 3.
#16: “Fantasy Island” (1998-99)
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A reboot of Fantasy Island wasn’t a terrible idea, as the supernatural premise of the Island, as well as the cast of characters, had strong potential to be expanded upon. However, the end product was a bust. Many felt that the 1998 series, which only lasted a few months, tried too hard to distinguish itself from the original classic. Small changes, like Mr. Roarke wearing a black suit rather than a white suit, would have been understood, but glaring changes like the omission of Tattoo altogether were just unsalvageable mistakes. The show had promise, but if a Fantasy Island reboot wants to succeed, it can’t leave off, “The planes! The planes!”
#15: “Kojak” (2005)
CBS’s “Kojak” was a slick, popular cop drama for the 1970s. Telly Savalas’s embodiment of the tough but honest lieutenant made it more than just the right show at the right time. Ving Rhames definitely preserves the magnetism of Theo Kojak in USA Network’s remake. The show itself, however, only maintains the hero’s basic trademarks of fedoras, lollipops and catchphrases. The rest is a tediously by-the-books procedural with consistently predictable cases. It sure isn't genuinely gritty enough to justify bending Kojak's fealty to proper police procedure. USA’s show was the antithesis of CBS’s creative sensation. With outraged fans and bored critics ensuring the reboot’s cancellation after just one season, it seemed that nobody loved Rhames's Kojak.
#14: “Magnum P.I.” (2018-24)
It doesn’t get much cooler than Tom Selleck in the classic “Magnum, P.I.” CBS tapped Peter M. Lenkov to recapture that magic after the success of his “Hawaii Five-O” remake. He easily delivered on lush locations, while Jay Hernandez made a charismatic Thomas Magnum. But the show really was just a gaudy “Hawaii Five-O” rip-off, foregoing nuance for lame cases and lamer writing. Following its time slot with Selleck himself in “Blue Bloods” only reminded viewers of how good the original was. Hernandez himself voiced disappointment in the series finale. For most “Magnum, P.I.” fans, the lifeless remake disappointed from the beginning.
#13: “Beauty and the Beast” (2012-16)
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CBS’s late ‘80s modernization of the romantic fairytale was an unlikely success. Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman’s stardom grew as audiences responded to the love between a lawyer and a lion man. The CW’s twist on this already loose adaptation was even more far-fetched. Beauty became an NYPD detective, and Beast became the Hulk-esque product of a military experiment. Things only got cheesier and more convoluted from there. The clunky mix of police procedural and soap opera achieved a mostly niche and international audience. Sadly, that was enough for CW’s “Beauty and the Beast” to run longer than CBS’s did. The trash TV staple now has its own cult following, but for uglier reasons.
#12: “90210” (2008-13)
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Fox’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” marked the dawn of the modern teen soap. It also launched a franchise of spin-offs, with the CW introducing a new ensemble to West Beverly Hills High in 2008. That was too late to distinguish the melodrama from so many shows that ripped off its original incarnation. Never mind that the stories, writing and overaged casting were particularly absurd. The CW’s “90210” was enough of a hit with kids to drag out to five seasons of uneven quality. But the show betrayed an influential classic by feeling like just another bad impersonation of it. It may have also set up the slump that came after for the “90210” franchise.
#11: “Teen Titans Go!” (2013-)
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The original adaptation of DC’s “Teen Titans” showed a grown-up side of Cartoon Network. The way it worked deep drama into superhero action and comedy had an impact on Millennial audiences. Premiering a decade after its predecessor, “Teen Titans Go!” didn't show Gen Z the same respect. The core cast returned for a zany sitcom that focuses more on the teens’ less superheroic misadventures. The original’s lush animation and storytelling were reduced to crude, meme-oriented gags. The wholesome humor and heart still won a large enough following for an even bigger franchise than what the first show had. While it stands apart from that classic, the smug and immature “Teen Titans Go!” is especially obnoxious for its blasphemous retooling.
#10: “Ironside” (2013)
The original “Ironside” lasted 8 seasons, was beloved by both casual fans and critics, and earned its star actor, Raymond Burr, six Emmy nominations and a pair of Golden Globe nods. The 2013 reboot, on the other hand, was universally murdered by critics, holding a 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was canceled after three episodes. The stark difference can’t be attributed to just one thing; it’s generally understood that the “Ironside” reboot failed on every level to capture the brilliance of the original. Main character, Officer Robert Ironside, was the only character renewed for the reboot, the setting was changed from San Francisco to New York City, and it went for a far more violent, darker tone. We’ll take the original, please.
#9: “Get Smart” (1995)
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Okay so this one wasn’t canceled after 3 episodes… It was only axed after 7. So, bravo, we guess? You may be surprised to learn that back in ‘95, the snarky, fast-talking Andy Dick was actually a fairly sought after commodity. He was snagged for this reboot, starring as secret agent Zach Smart, but he clearly didn’t care for the production, as he also committed to “NewsRadio,” which came out the same season. Not a bad move for Dick, as “NewsRadio” ran for five seasons and the “Get Smart” reboot was criticized for failing to capture the magic of the original.
#8: “Love Boat: The Next Wave” (1998-99)
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The star-studded adventures aboard the MS Pacific Princess inspired a franchise's worth of romance. With the enduring popularity of ABC’s original “The Love Boat,” audiences barely noticed when “The Next Wave” set sail in ‘98. Those who did catch UPN’s revival found it to be rough waters. It was a lazily modernized rehash, with less inspired humor and melodrama. And most of the few big names on the Sun Princess’s guest roster were not yet big stars. Not even a reunion episode with most of the Pacific Princess crew could keep the show afloat in the ratings. “The Love Boat: The Next Wave” was canceled after two seasons, and has sunk into obscurity amid the original show’s continued success.
#7: “The Powerpuff Girls” (2016-19)
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You’re never too old to appreciate the original “Powerpuff Girls” as one of Cartoon Network’s most dazzling and cleverest achievements. These superpowered sisters seemed ideal for revival for a new generation seeking greater feminism in family entertainment. Unfortunately, the 2016 revival didn’t even have that going for it. Many found its empowerment ironically self-conscious and without nuanced themes. The removal of already rich female characters like Ms. Bellum, due to physical appearance, drew particular controversy. Many more classic elements were sacrificed for a silly cartoon sitcom that dragged on for three seasons. The revived “Powerpuff Girls” represented the worst trends of Cartoon Network’s reboots. Besides failing its core objective to be more feminist than the original, it just doesn’t offer anything super.
#6: “Bionic Woman” (2007)
Okay, so right off the bat just take note of the year this show came out: 2007. This was the television year from hell that saw the Writer’s Guild of America go on strike. The “Bionic Woman” reboot was hit hard by the strike, as production of the first season simply stopped. Only eight episodes could be aired, and those weren’t exactly high quality. Fans didn’t respond to the show’s contemporary setting, and critics disagreed with casting choices. A far cry from the original, this reboot-turned reimagining failed to live up to the hype of what was actually a good pilot and became just another victim of the Television writers’ strike.
#5: “Melrose Place” (2009-10)
The “Beverly Hills 90210” franchise clearly holds a special place in the hearts of television viewers, as (to date) it’s had five separate spin-off shows within the universe. However, “Melrose Place” – the 2009 version – wasn’t exactly up to snuff. Despite having former “Smallville” showrunners Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer producing, Melrose couldn’t make it past the one season mark due to low ratings. The critical reviews weren’t too bad, but they did recognize the flaws that eventually doomed the show: namely, that some of the best aspects of the original show – its campiness and soap opera style mystery – were ditched and replaced with darker, grittier storylines. You know, gritty worked with Nolan’s Batman, but we didn’t need it for Melrose.
#4: “Heroes Reborn” (2015-16)
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Audiences were enthralled by the adventures of everyday people trying to understand their new superpowers. “Heroes” had such a dedicated following even after its cancellation that NBC revived it with a new ensemble five years later. The network later admitted to miscalculating interest in “Heroes Reborn” when the successor was felled by low ratings. According to viewers, the biggest miscalculations was using bland action and characters to anchor a ridiculously convoluted story. The show lost the human factor that made this world of superhumans worthwhile. “Heroes Reborn” failed to resolve its narrative when it was canceled after one season, ending on a cliffhanger that frustrated creator Tim Kring himself. But even aside from the ending, its overall quality was a letdown.
#3: “Knight Rider” (2008-09)
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You just can’t replace David Hasselhoff. It seems showrunners knew this, as they didn’t even try to fill his shoes. Instead, the “Knight Rider” reboot revolved around a new main character Mike Traceur, estranged son of The Hoff’s Mike Knight. They also gave KITT an update, steering away from the original Pontiac Trans Am, and making the beloved car a Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang. Oh and, just to make things weirder, KITT was voiced by Val Kilmer. With all the ruined nostalgia – in conjunction with highly criticized plots – “Knight Rider” failed to garner an audience. They quickly tried to change the show in an effort to resemble the original, but it was too late. Should have just called in the Hoff.
#2: “Charmed” (2018-22)
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For eight seasons, the Charmed Ones’ supernatural coming-of-age was a staple of the WB. The network’s successor the CW took notice when the show enchanted on streaming years later. This inspired a remake with greater emphasis on diversity and progressive themes. Unfortunately, these noble intentions often came at the expense of fun in the witchy melodrama. The already campy story and writing went to especially silly lengths to emphasize politics at the expense of characterization. Moreover, the “Charmed” reboot's entire four-season run was cursed by complaints over lack of involvement from the original’s creative team. The uninspired CW show never shook the vibe that it was just capitalizing on content and political trends. Controversies aside, it just blatantly missed the magic.
#1: “Charlie’s Angels” (2011)
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Alright, hands up, who really thought this was going to work? We’re not really sure what ABC was thinking with this one, which was later dubbed the worst pilot of fall 2011 by IGN. The show was criticized for poor casting, writing, and character development, as well as horribly confusing storylines. Unsurprisingly, “Charlie’s Angels” struggled in the ratings department, and was canceled after four episodes. Seven made the airwaves in the States, but America never got to see the eighth and final. That privilege, though, was extended to TV audiences in Poland.
