Recently, television has been flooded with revivals of 1980s, '90s, and '00s relics, with Gilmore Girls, Will & Grace, Roseanne, and recently Murphy Brown all being dug up form the TV graveyard. All of these shows enjoyed lengthy runs, with the shortest of the above mentioned, Gilmore Girls, running for seven seasons. These revivals have been a mixed bag, both critically and commercially. Many enjoy considerable interest initially. But with so many shows being returning, a line has to be drawn. This needs to end. And here's why.
Oversaturation:
Soon, TV will be as crowded with revivals as the people in this crowd
The more shows that get revived, the less special revivals will be. The shock value will be gone. The excitement just won't be there. Early revivals were exciting because it wasn't something you saw every day. But at this point, just about every show seems to have been brought back from the dead. In a world in which revivals take up half of the TV schedule, nobody's going to tune in just because of nostalgia. Because at that point, everything will be nostalgic. This trend is just not one that can be sustained. Not without plenty of revival failures.
Short Longevity:
Will & Grace has fallen dramatically since its revival premiere (screenshot via Spotted Ratings)
While the show is still averaging well above any other NBC sitcom, Will & Grace has taken a mighty fall in the ratings since it returned to the airwaves. It took a one-point dip in week two and has continued to fall, with a few exceptions, since then. This may well be the truth for all revivals, or it could be a fluke that is contained to just Will & Grace. Still, the networks should think about how long their revivals will be hot commodities after they make anticipated returns. If they'll only be modest players in the long run, is it even worth the trouble of bringing them back?
Acclaim Isn't Guaranteed:
Fuller House received negative reviews from critics
This isn't necessarily a commercial aspect like other points here, but a messy, poorly executed revival just may ruin the public's thoughts not just of the revival, but of the show itself. While Twin Peaks and Will & Grace received acclaim and award nominations for their returns, plenty of others haven't been received so warmly. Despite moderately positive responses from fans, Fuller House received poor reviews from critics. I previously pointed out why the Gilmore Girls reboot didn't work for me, and though it received generally positive responses from critics, I plenty of others didn't care for it. Personally, it ruined my opinion of the original series. If that can happen for me with Gilmore Girls, it can happen to just about any show. Even the previously-mentioned Twin Peaks and Will & Grace received poor reactions from some fans. Though not everyone can be pleased, a poorly done revival can backfire significantly. Just like with any other show, these revivals aren't safe from being rejected majorly. It has to be said: nostalgia simply cannot carry a show. A show also needs a heart and soul.
Risk Factor:
Most revived shows last saw the light of day when these dudes were president
Most shows that are being revived in this recent wave have been off the air for a very long time. Murphy Brown and Roseanne have been off the air for twenty years. Will & Grace was gone for ten. Needless to say, the core audiences of these shows during their original runs aren't the target audience nowadays. If a new show just can't connect with younger viewers, a revival won't work. It's a huge risk to bring something back as old as some of these shows. Not only do they have to stay timely to woo new fans, but they have to stay true to what they once were to please their old fans. It's a tricky mixture that needs a lot of tweaking to make work. No matter how acclaimed they were in their day, no matter how iconic they are, and no matter how famous their stars are, these future revivals can and will fail.
Conclusion:
The buck needs to stop here
I'm not saying that networks should stop reviving things entirely. I am, however, saying that the frequency at which it is occurring is alarming. ABC alone has two joining its schedule midseason 2018. NBC may very well have two next season. And Netflix already has a plethora of revivals. The networks do, however, have to get it out of their heads all of these revivals will be slam-dunks. That's not a healthy mentality or one that you should have for any show. Maybe, just maybe, the networks can exercise some restraint when it comes to revivals. Because the buck really has to stop somewhere. Otherwise, we'll soon be enjoying new seasons of I Love Lucy and Bewitched, because why not?
Jimmy Kimmel Live is one of three late night shows that I watch. So I was incredibly excited to see him host my favorite awards shows, the Emmys. He was great. So great that he will be hosting the Oscars in 2017. I really enjoyed all of his bits, and I wish he was on screen longer.
14- The Gilmore Girls Revival is Total "Bulls***"
The Gilmore Girls revival was a slight letdown. But, as usual, Kelly Bishop knocked it out of the freaking park. Like seriously, someone give this woman an Emmy. Now. She was the best part of the show by far, and Emily Gilmore was the only character I found myself liking more after this revival. That "Bulls***" scene was killer.
13- FX Becomes Better
While most devoted their attention to FX's other new fall comedy (Atlanta), I watched Better Things. And I really, really enjoyed it. While it took a little while to find itself, by the end, I was really loving it. I can't wait until it returns for season 2. 12- Netflix Gets Stranger
Stranger Things was the breakout hit of the summer, and by the time I watched it in October, seemingly everyone had already seen it. It was really fun, and Winona Ryder was amazing in it. Netflix has had a lot of new shows this year, but Stranger Things stands out among them all. 11- John Oliver Talks about Donald Trump
Before this clip became popular, I'd never seen John Oliver's show. I watched it online, and I found it to be really funny. While I'm still not a regular viewer of Last Week Tonight, I appreciate his work, and I'll still check out clips on YouTube.
10- Denise Hemphill Loves Quantico
Denise is my favorite character on Scream Queens. And when she "died", I was incredibly angry with the show. And then she came back to the show. Which was incredible, because she got to talk about Quantico some more, and that was my favorite part of the entire second season of Scream Queens.
9- Seth Meyers Takes a Closer Look
"A Closer Look" is always a segment I look forward to on Late Night with Seth Meyers. It's my favorite part of the whole show, and it's improved a lot since its introduction. This year, with Trump/Clinton in full swing, it was at the top of its game, and I can't wait for more. 8- Lady Dynamite
Netflix is known for some pretty high-quality shows (well, also Fuller House, but still), and Lady Dynamite is among my favorite. It may not have received the same attention as Stranger Things, but it was by far my favorite of Netflix's new shows (and they had a lot) this year. I don't like it quite as much as Grace and Frankie, but I still adore it. Speaking of, when the heck is it coming back?
7- NBC Goes to the Good Place
NBC's newest comedy series The Good Place is among my favorite shows of the year. It's brilliantly crafted and acted, and I find it to be hysterical. Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and the rest of the cast are just really great in this show, and I can't wait to finally see its first (hopefully of many) season wrap up in January 2017.
6- Sarah, Sarah, Sarah!
The People Vs. OJ Simpson was one of the most acclaimed shows of the year, and I adored it. Most of my love for it was because of Sarah Paulson, who knocked it out of the park. "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" was one of my favorite episodes of television this year (and maybe ever).
5- Sam Bee Goes Full Frontal
Before Full Frontal, I had never seen Samantha Bee in any television program, as I never watched the Daily Show. However, I decided to tune in, and I'm so glad I did. Full Frontal has quickly become one of my favorite shows, and I look forward to hearing her take on the crazy things that Donald Trump does happen each week. 4- David S. Pumpkins
David S. Pumpkins became an internet sensation after his debut on the Tom Hanks episode of SNL. The sketch left me thinking two things: "That was brilliant!" and "That was so weird!". David Pumpkins is arguably the best SNL sketch of Season 42 so far, and will probably become a classic Halloween sketch.
3- Rachel Bloom Wins the Golden Globe
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was the best new show of the fall 2015 season, and Rachel Bloom received critical acclaim for her role in the series. She appeared to be an underdog for the Golden Globe win, but she defeated several other worthy nominees, winning the CW's second consecutive Golden Globe. It was a deserved win that made me so incredibly happy.
2- Live from New York, It's Ariana Grande
This is SNL's second appearance on this list, and it deserves it, after an excellent 2016. Ariana Grande was, without a doubt, my favorite host of the 2010s, and one of my favorite ever. This was such a great episode, from start to finish, and Grande was the reason it all worked. She truly shined in the Tidal and Sound of Music sketches, while taking a backseat in the excellent Mermaids sketch. No doubt, she'll be back on the SNL stage.
1- Hairspray Live!
When Hairspray Live was announced, I had my doubts, but those were put to rest after watching it. Hairspray Live tops my list for the best TV moment of 2016. I've seen it about 10 times now, and I still love it. Everything about this was just amazing, and everyone killed it. Especially Ariana Grande.
In a terrible, terrible year, these things made me a little more happy, and for that reason, they're the best of the worst.
Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite shows of all time. I loved the original series so much. Lorelai, Sookie, Emily, Richard, Luke, Babette, Miss Patty- all such classic characters. I was so excited when this miniseries was announced. Unfortunately, it couldn't quite live up to my expectations.
Notice how when I listed my favorite Gilmore Girls characters, I left out Rory? Yeah, that's because I hate her. Like, absolutely despite her. I'm talking about the Rory from post-Chilton years. College and post-College Rory was so terrible. And guess what? That's 75% of 'A Year in the Life'. Whiny, selfish Rory being a terrible human being. She's just so horrible. Why she was featured so prominently in this miniseries I'll never know. But there was one Rory that I ALWAYS loved. That was the Rory that bonded with her family. When we got those touching moments, though few and far between, it was magic.
As you likely know, Edward Herrmann died a few years ago. And I still get teary eyed to think about it, because he was so great. Richard Gilmore was who kept Emily sane. That was glaringly obvious in this revival, because Emily lost her f***ing mind. But Kelly Bishop really sold it. She was great. She deserves an Emmy.
And lets talk about those final 4 words. Ugh. Why is she pregnant with Logan's kid? Despite the fact that Rory annoys me, Logan has no redeeming qualities. It upsets me that she's going to be attached to that loser for so long.
The Sookie cameo (that's ALL it was) was disappointing. It was so short, and though great, it was too hyped up. I'm so disappointed that Melissa couldn't appear in more episodes/more of the episode. And the story for why Sookie wasn't there was weak. Really weak.
My biggest problems with this revival are the lack of an actual Luke-Lorelai wedding, that Life and Death Brigade segment, Emily moving from her home (which actual mad me sad more than it made me angry), Michel leaving the Dragonfly, Logan, and Rory continuing to act like a child, despite being 30something.
Of course, this wasn't all bad. It was actually kinda fun at times. The fact that Luke and Lorelai actually got married was a nice, if predictable, ending. The scene at the empty (😢) Gilmore Mansion which showed Richard and the family happy was so nice. And it made me cry. Overall, it was just nice to see Stars Hollow again.
While the miniseries had its solid moments, it couldn't recreate the magic of the original series.This did nothing to redeem the bad final seasons of Gilmore Girls. And, without Richard and Sookie and the Gilmore Mansion, I don't want more Gilmore Girls. I hate to say that, I really do. Because I wanted to love this. You could tell that it was made with love. Amy Sherman-Palladino tried her hardest. But this did not work without Richard Gilmore, the glue of Gilmore Girls. Honestly, only diehard Gilmore Girls fans should bother watching.
Grade: B-
Score: 7.5/10 (8.5/7/7/8)
MVP: Kelly Bishop, for saving this from being a total disaster
Welcome to the ninth edition of the Sporcle Quizzes of the week! The tournament is getting very close with just 2 weeks left. This week's edition will be featuring quizzes about CW shows.
1) CW Shows by Cast Photo
I found this quiz because I was thinking about creating it. When I found it already exists, I played it and thought it was pretty good. There were some shows omitted that I wish would have been included, but I still enjoyed it. And to make up for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend not being included in the quiz, I used a cast photo of it in this blog.
Number of Questions:16
My Score:16
2) 'Supernatural' Characters by Picture
I'll admit that I haven't yet seen Supernatural, but that won't stop me from including this quiz. I know a good quiz when I see one, and this is a good quiz. I did terrible at it. I got 11, and most were just from entering random names.
Number of Questions: 48
My Score: 11
3) Gilmore Girls Character-Actor Match (qlh27 quiz of the week)
I really love Gilmore Girls, and I'm incredibly excited for the Netflix revival. I made this quiz because I thought it would make for an interesting play. I think Gilmore Girls had one of the best casts on TV, because every actor on that show was talented. I can't wait to see them all back in those roles.
Number of Questions: 19
My Score: N/A
TOURNAMENT
This is the ninth week of the 1st TVRG-Sporcle Tournament. For each week, the winner of the week gets a varying amount of points, depending of how many people participated. If 5 people participate, the winner gets 4 point, if 6 participate, the winner gets 5 points, etc. For each place lower, the point increment drops by one point. At the end of 10 weeks, the person with the most points will win.
Welcome to another edition of Sporcle quizzes of the week! This week, I'll be showcasing quizzes that I (qlh27) created. These are my favorite of the over 100 Television quizzes that I have created.
#1 Other Shows of SNL Cast Members
This is one of my favorite quizzes I've ever created. I love SNL, and I thought that this might be a good idea for a quiz. I was lucky enough to get an Editor Pick for this quiz. I tried to include both older and newer shows, as well as some shows that ran for a long time and some that only ran for a few seasons.
# of Questions: 24
#2 Late Night Talk Show Hosts by Photo
I love late night talk shows. So I decided to create this quiz, about late night talk show hosts. I tried to include a lot of newer hosts, with more popular shows from awhile ago thrown in.
# of Questions: 25
#3 50 States of Television
I got this idea from another user's quiz about shows that took place in each state. This was a sequel to a quiz about movies, and I think that this one is better. This quiz was published by Sporcle, and it looks quite different than it initially did, so I thank Sporcle for improving it. And man, were those mid-western states hard to find shows for.
# of Questions: 50
Contest
Once again, it is time for the contest. Here's what you need to do to enter:
1) Play all three quizzes.
2) Comment your score on each quiz in the comments
On Thursday, I will post the results of the Contest.
I hope that you have enjoyed this post (And the quizzes). I'll be back in one week with yet another installment.
RESULTS
The Middle of Nashville- 79 Points
Andrew- 71 Points
JB- 68 Points
HV- 57 Points
Full Boyle- 53 Points
theratingsjunkie- 49 Points
TOURNAMENT
This is the third week of the 1st TVRG-Sporcle Tournament. For each week, the winner of the week gets a varying amount of points, depending of how many people participated. If 5 people participate, the winner gets 4 point, if 6 participate, the winner gets 5 points, etc. For each place lower, the point increment drops by one point. At the end of 10 weeks, the person with the most points will win.
