Last Updated on August 3, 2021
Murphy Brown is the latest new series to join the ranks of the classic TV revival across network television. Thanks to the success of Roseanna and The X-Files and reboots like MacGyver, Hawaii 5-O and now Magnum P.I., it doesn't seem like we are going to stop seeing what was once old become new again. Revivals can take many forms from additional seasons to all new versions with brand new casts, which makes for so many possible returns of shows we once thought were forever over. Here is our ranking of ten series that should be reintroduced to audiences. In some cases, they would be worth carrying on the original story and seeing the old cast again while others could exist in the same fictional universe but with all new actors telling the familiar stories. If you disagree with our picks or think we missed one, let us know in the comments below.
Lost
Few shows became such giant pop culture phenomenons as Lost did. Sparking years of serial dramas that tried to replicate the ensemble magic this series captured, we have yet to see a show quite like it. While the ratings declined over the seasons, there is a hardcore fanbase that would love to see it come back. Plus, the plot easily allows for a new cast to end up on the island and further explore it's mysteries which could call back to the original show while carrying on the story for a new generation.
Cheers
One of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Cheers still holds up twenty years later. Most of the cast is still around and could more than hold their own reprising their classic characters. Ted Danson, currently starring on NBC's The Good Life, doesn't look like his old self but the years have hardly mellowed his delivery. I am not sure Woody Harrelson is up for a gig seeing as he has the highest profile post-Cheers career, but man would it be hilarious to see him back behind the bar.
The Wire
If you have read any critic's ranking of the best shows of all time, it is likely that HBO's The Wire is there. It is also going to appear on virtually every list of shows people want to watch that they never got around to. I binged the entire series a few years back and was blown away by how damn goof it is. Almost like an anthology, the series carried subplots through multiple seasons while still focusing on new stories and characters at the front, each tackling specific elements of the infrastructure and political machinations of Baltimore. I am sure much of the cast is around for a new season and tell another chapter in the byzantine tale of the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of crime and punishment in an American city.
Quantum Leap
Quantum Leap is probably the closest thing American audiences had to Doctor Who. The Scott Bakula series followed a man able to jump into the bodies of individuals throughout history which made for limitless stories both dramatic and humorous. Years later, it is amazing to me that we have not seen it return either as a revival or a reboot. Scott Bakula is more than capable of leading a new chapter in the adventures of Dr. Sam Beckett, but it could also be perfect for a new actor to take the mantle and jump into new stories thanks to better special effects.
SeaQuest
Possibly the most obscure series on this list, SeaQuest was a short-lived science fiction series that can best be described as Star Trek but in the ocean. Led originally by the late Roy Scheider and briefly by Michael Ironside, the series went from a hopeful look at the future of humanity to a more action-oriented war story. Either way, the limits of 1990s special effects are very apparent in hindsight. This show could be pretty damn amazing if handled correctly.
Frasier
Kelsey Grammer is already exploring options to bring back his long-running Cheers spin-off that is a classic in it's own right. Frasier was hilarious both as a mature, adult-oriented sitcom but also for the most casual viewer. While it would be hard to see the show return after the recent passing of John Mahoney, they could tastefully explore a different side of the life of Frasier Crane with occassional appearances by Niles and Daphne. As long as they keep the theme song, I am in.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Even if you haven't seen the show, you know the name Xena. Lucy Lawless became world famous for her spin-off from the Sam Raimi produced Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Lawless played Xena like a small screen Wonder Woman and it still baffles me that she never carried that success to the big screen. Beloved by fans, Xena has long been rumored for a reboot that has not materialized yet. Lawless still looks damn good and could pull of the role but I would like to see her as a villain versus a new actress taking on the warrior princess mantle.
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr
Bruce Campbell's western aired on FOX for just a couple of seasons and in that time it was jam packed with genre stories well outside the realm of the traditional cowboy tale. After it went off the air, Campbell played a similar role in the syndicated series Jack of All Trades before his most recent small screen stint in Ash Vs Evil Dead. Campbell's age is prohibitive for new Brisco County episodes but he could and should play an elder role for a Brisco County III. If you have never seen this show, check it out as soon as you can and you will see why we should get it back on the air.
Millennium
While we are unlikely to get more seasons of The X-FIles, the show I always wanted to see return was Chris Carter's second drama, Millennium. Starring Lance Henriksen, it was an edgier and darker look at similar stories to what Mulder and Scully investigated and it was pretty damn scary to boot. When it was cancelled, we got a partial finale to the story when Henriksen reprised his role as Black on an episode of The X-Files. Henriksen may not be up for starring in new episodes at his age, but the smaller fanbase could accept a full reboot with an all new star investigating cults and serial killers.
Firefly
Joss Whedon's cult classic never had enough time to tell the stories fans wanted. Despite a feature film continuation, the legacy of the space western is limited to a handful of episodes. While Nathan Fillion is hard at work on his new series, The Rookie, I cannot see why Joss Whedon couldn't take another crack at picking this one up again. With streaming services like Netflix and Hulu chomping to offer a better chance than a network is willing to give, this could be a candidate for a full reboot with an all new cast if they cannot gather the original stars. From their appearances at Comic Cons over the years, I wouldn't completely rule them out of the mix.
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