Top 10 Worst TV Reboots of ALL TIME

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.

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!”

The actors aren’t the problem with this one. Matthew Perry and his supreme sarcasm will forever be loved; while Thomas Lennon, though not a mainstream name, is pretty recognizable and very funny. The rest of the main cast, as well as the solid list of recurring actors, are all talented as well. So what’s the problem? Well, this show is instead criticized for its writing and jokes. Since the original, the odd couple story line has been done time and again. For the reboot to succeed, the show needs to be inventive and find new, current jokes and storylines instead of using the tired old ones. Still, despite poor critical reception, the show doesn’t have terrible ratings, so they kept churning out new episodes.

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.

Okay so this one wasn’t cancelled 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.

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.

If you look on Rotten Tomatoes, you’ll see that Dallas comes in with a somewhat respectable 75% on the tomatometer, and while that’s not great for a TV show, it’s also not damning. Still, do your research before you sit down for a binge session. This remake of the original late 70s/80’s show didn’t convert well for a 21st century audience– the soap opera vibes may have been received well back in the day, but don’t resonate with a modern fan base accustomed to a more sophisticated, “Game of Thrones” level of drama. But, while the whole “Who shot J.R.” shtick wasn’t enough for fans, Dallas still churned out three seasons before getting tossed to the curb.

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.

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 cancelled 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.

Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable – or in this case, dishonorable – mentions:
- “Teen Titans Go!” (2013-)
- “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (2015-)
- “The Twilight Zone” (2002-03)

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.

Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the worst television reboot? For more entertaining Top 10’s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.