May the week of Dec. 14 always be remembered as the week that studios announced so many reboots, it forced this millennial to finally utter the words, "What happened to originality?"
There have been so many reboot announcements this week, it's impossible to keep track. In fact, it really started over a week ago, when it was unceremoniously announced that Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was developing a True Blood reboot. A Turner & Hooch reboot from Disney+ followed. But in the past four days, the reboot news has just spiraled out of control. What is old? What is new? To help keep it all straight, here's every piece of reboot news from the week, and what you need to know to survive in this #RebootMadness.
Little House On The Prairie
What We Know
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Deadline reported that a new adaptation of the Little House on the Prairie books (written by Laura Ingalls Wilder) was in the works at Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content. Per the report, the show would be an hour-long drama. Given the traditional reboot trend, I'm betting this new version will be a bit more honest about the harsh realities of pioneer life than the show that aired from 1974-1983.
Is It Necessary?
Oof to romanticizing life without electricity or modern plumbing. And what will the representation look like when the story is about a white family colonizing a prairie? Personally, my money's on "no," but that could be my fear of actual pioneer life talking (The Oregon Trail can do that to a girl). Unless there are witches involved. Everything is better with witches.
All My Children
What We Know
It was also announced on Thursday that ABC was developing a spinoff of the daytime soap All My Children, which aired from 1970-2011. The real hook here is that Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, who met starring on the soap in the '90s, are producing the series. The show, tentatively called Pine Valley, will follow a journalist, who comes to the town of Pine Valley to investigate all the deceit and drama, as seen in the actual soap itself. According to Deadline, the show will continue the tensions of the Cane and Santos families of the soap, and "feature a new generation of characters and some old favorites."
Is It Necessary?
This actually could be really fun. It sounds like an inter-generational Riverdale that will hopefully be even more ridiculous than the CW hit. We love drama.
Night Court
What We Know
Night Court, the dramedy about an unconventional judge, originally aired from 1984-1992, and it's getting ready to come back for more. The reboot will center around "unapologetic optimimst" Abby Stone (yet to be cast), daughter of Night Court's original lead judge, Harry Stone, who takes on the mantle of, well, the judge of night court. Per Deadline, star of the original series, John Laroquette, will be reprising his role as prosecutor Dan Fielding. The show will reportedly be written and produced by Dan Rubin, an alum of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which suggests the show will lean into absurd comedy vs. a Law & Order tone. Melissa Rauch of The Big Bang Theory is set to be the executive producer.
Is It Necessary?
While the reboot/spinoff sounds like a fun idea, it will be interesting to see how the show handles a New York City courtroom in 2021. A lot of cop shows have had to undergo serious makeovers this year in light of increased calls for justice reform and increased pressure to change the way film and TV glorify officers and justice officials. Also, it's tough to really gauge what audience they're hoping to get here. Millennials love a reboot, it's true, but Night Court might be too obscure and adult to really have 20-40-year-olds excited about this specific one. Time will tell.
Fantasy Island
What We Know
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Fox announced that Fantasy Island would be making a comeback in the summer of 2021. The new series, described by Deadline as "a contemporary version of the classic drama" is being headed by Liz Craft and Sara Fain, who are best known for their work on The 100. The show will have an anthology format, with a small group of regulars who work and live on the island, and a revolving door of actors coming in as guests. According to the report, "Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire, but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island."
Is It Necessary?
Let's be honest, summer TV shows are always necessary. Plus, the magical realism aspect could provide something different than what's currently on TV (I, for one, would love to escape the depressing realities of Euphoria for a bit). Color me intrigued.
Bonus reboot news this week: Jared Padalecki debuted the trailer for Walker, the Walker, Texas Ranger reboot he's starring in for The CW. And Hilary Duff announced that the Lizzie McGuire reboot is officially DOA.
Image: CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube