Chokers and high waist jeans, once all the rage in the 90s, are now back in style.
Thrift store shopping and vintage goods are now valued as much as new items.
As popular entertainment frequently pairs with timely trends and issues, it’s only fitting that this “blast from the past” fad bleeds into our television schedule, too.
The popularity of Netflix has fostered this, as it allows you to “binge watch” seasons of shows that aired years ago.
With so many shows that are no longer available on TV suddenly gaining more viewership through online streaming, the public inevitably wants more.
Cue the rise of the TV remake. TV comedy Fuller House was released as Netflix original series in February 2016. The show is a sequel to the popular series Full House that last aired in 1995.
The sequel series is set in today’s time and depicts the adult lives of characters D.J. and Stephanie Tanner, who were children in the original Full House series.
Though fans of the original series have called the sequel a success, its Rotten Tomatoes rating is a mere 72%.
A major critique of the show is that it caters only to fans of the original series. The show publicized that most of the original actors had roles in the remake either reprising their former characters as regular members of the cast or as guest stars.
That seems to be the dilemma regarding remakes—whether the show will appeal only to those who previously loved it, or if it will be fresh enough to gain new viewership.
Many remakes, such as Heroes Reborn, which reprised successful NBC science fiction drama starring Hayden Panettiere that wrapped in 2010, flopped.
The remake aired a short 13-episode season, and was not renewed for a second season on NBC.
It appears that the most successful TV remakes are ones that have found their home on Netflix.
“Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp” was released on Netflix in July 2015. It serves as a prequel to the popular satirical 2001 film of the same name.
The film chronicles a group of campers’ last day of summer camp. The Netflix original TV show is an 8-episode series that recounts the campers’ first day at camp. Rotten Tomatoes gives the remake series a 92% rating.
Though the remake struggles to make an impact on cable television, the flow of series reprisals to Netflix shows no signs of stopping.
A revival of the comedy-drama “Gilmore Girls” that aired its final episode in 2007, is set to be released Nov. 25. All episodes of the show are available for viewing on Netflix, along with the remake which will be categorized as a Netflix original series.
The reprise, titled “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” is structured into four 90-minute episodes that will take place over four seasons 8 years after the finale.
Many of the original cast, including stars Lauren Graham as Lorelei and Alexis Bledel as Rory, are set to return.
Though there is no way of knowing how the reprisal will fare until after its release, fans have been expressing their excitement for the new show ever since Netflix announced its production.
Because all episodes of the original series are available for viewing, the remake could possibly attract more viewers than simply Gilmore Girls fans, as Netflix subscribers would have the ability to catch up on the previous show before viewing the miniseries.
In addition to the remakes mentioned, remakes of “24,” “The $100,000 Pyramid,” “The A-Team,” “Ben 10,” “Bewitched” and others are in the process of signing network deals, according to tvonline.com.
It seems, whether it be on cable television or Netflix, that reboots are here to stay.