Top 10 Sitcoms That Should NEVER Be Remade

As a TV show that satirizes the absurdity of TV shows, a “30 Rock” reboot would be beyond ironic. Created by Tina Fey as a reflection of her own “Saturday Night Live” experiences, the series was perfectly written and stayed consistently hilarious throughout its seven season run. If you ask us, the only spin-offs “30 Rock” should get are the fictional shows within the show itself! Fun fact: originally, a follow-up series was written for Alec Baldwin’s character Jack Donaghy as mayor of New York– but fell through. While it didn’t become a spin-off, the concept was revamped to become the show “Mr. Mayor”!

Some classics are better left in the past. This ‘60s sitcom is certainly dated, as the premise follows an astronaut– Tony Nelson– that rescues a “genie in a bottle” – Jeannie. She then helps him with everyday problems using her magic. The two fall in love as the series progresses, and they later marry. While the show was undoubtedly seen as charming in its day, it certainly wouldn’t resonate with a modern audience unless it was heavily reworked. If anyone is really itching for more “I Dream of Jeannie,” there’s always reruns!

They’ll be there for you… they just don’t need to come back. “Friends” is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, and portrays six, well, friends, living their lives in Manhattan. Part of what makes the show great is the fact that it’s a time capsule of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, and trying to change that would be a disservice! Joey’s short-lived spin-off speaks for itself. While the cast recently came together for a reunion special, it didn’t attempt to update the show in any way. That’s definitely for the best!

Let’s take a trip back to the ‘50s! “Happy Days” is a true timepiece, and has inspired tons of other classic shows of the late Garry Marshall’s. Without him around, there’s no way anyone can do justice to his iconic series! Another reboot would have to totally change the concept of the original show, and wouldn’t have the same nostalgia that it did in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Plus, the spinoffs that already exist — like “Laverne & Shirley,” “Mork & Mindy,” and “Joanie Loves Chachi,” to name a few– are great as they are! Not to mention, Henry Winkler is probably pretty Fonzie-d out at this point in his career.

This one would be hard to pull off– that’s what she said! One of the most beloved sitcoms of the 2000s, “The Office” followed the employees at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It has cemented its legacy with incredible writing and performances. Steve Carell’s portrayal of Michael Scott is notably second-to-none. The series finale does a great job of tying up any loose ends for all the characters– even Michael, who left in season seven. So, there’s no need to go back and rehash the past! Besides, “The Office” is already a remake of the UK series of the same name!

Who could ever try to recast Sam and Diane– the ultimate will they or won’t they couple? “Cheers” had a cast of legends such as Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Rhea Perlman, and it would be tragic to see anyone else try and fill their shoes for a reboot. And with such an extensive original run, it’s hard to imagine there would be much left to say about their charming Boston bar. And let’s not forget: “Cheers” already is the source material for one of the greatest spinoff series of all time– “Frasier”!

Arguably one of the best sitcoms ever, Norman Lear’s classic “All in the Family” was a centerpiece of the American home for years. The on-screen arguments between conservative Archie Bunker and liberal son-in-law Mike– or “Meathead” – created discourse through TV like never before! While the show paved the way for serious topics to be scrutinized in an accessible way, any attempt to bring this format into a modern household would feel forced. Besides, now more than ever, comedy and drama series alike are doing similar work to confront societal issues and present them to broad audiences in creative ways.

What’s the deal with a “Seinfeld” reboot? We mean, it’s already the “show about nothing.” Would the next one have to be about something? Don’t be ridiculous! Putting aside the fact that Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld likely have no desire to restart the series, it would be impossible to recapture what made the show so incredible in the first place. The incredible writing team and the perfect chemistry of the cast is once in a lifetime stuff! Seriously, try to imagine anyone besides Jason Alexander playing George Costanza. We can’t either.

Although this show was a half hour comedy, it was a serious reflection on the harsh realities of war. The series followed characters in the United States Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. It very carefully struck a balance between the darker setting and subject matter and lighthearted tone, which is not something that could easily be replicated. A modern rendition of “M*A*S*H'' would either need to adapt to the current climate of the world, or revisit past events. But the fact of the matter is that neither of those options would be as effective or resonate the way the original did.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Schitt's Creek” (2015-20)
Ew, David! It’s a Little Too Soon to Revive This Hilarious Series

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970-77)
A Classic Series, but Mary’s Independence Isn’t as Groundbreaking as It Was in the ‘70s

“Married... with Children” (1987-97)
It Already Had a Great Run as One of the Longest-Running Sitcoms Ever

“Sanford and Son” (1972-77)
The Show That Made Redd Foxx a Star Wouldn’t Be Half as Good Without Him

“Parks and Recreation” (2009-15; 2020)
A Reboot Would Wreck the Show’s Perfect Finale!

How could you have “I Love Lucy” without Lucille Ball? The reach and influence of this show cannot be overstated– it introduced the scripted multi-camera sitcom, and invented the standard of the “ensemble” cast. And of course, title character Lucy is a comedic powerhouse for the ages! She, alongside her friends and husband, got into some truly wild situations. The classic bits from the show are timeless– there’s absolutely no reason to remake them. Even if a network were to try, any attempt would immediately be held to an impossibly high standard, dooming it to fail. Everyone should just rewatch “I Love Lucy”!