Why Networks Need to Take a Chill Pill With Revivals

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?

Sunday Cable Ratings 9/3/17: Twin Peaks Finale Up a Little, Ballers and Insecure Sink

Below are the Top 25 programs on cable on Sunday, 9/3/17. Items of note include the finale of the Twin Peaks revival, a special Velshi & Ruhle on MSNBC, and Chesapeake Shores on Hallmark.
(New feature alert: Click on the names of Ballers, Insecure, Velshi & Ruhle, The Strain, and The Last Ship to be taken to their Cable Database pages)

Show	Network	18-49 Viewers	Viewers (mil.)
Power	Starz	0.9	2.00
90 Day Fiance: Before 90	TLC	0.6	1.77
NASCAR Cup Series	NBCSN	0.59	3.10
90 Day Fiance:Happily Ever After	TLC	0.57	1.89
MLB Sunday Night	ESPN	0.46	1.96
NASCAR Cup Series	NBCSN	0.45	2.40
Ballers	HBO	0.42	0.99
Insecure	HBO	0.39	0.79
The Strain	FX	0.38	1.01
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.37	1.66
The Last Ship	TNT	0.34	1.67
Sportscenter	ESPN	0.33	0.81
Great Food Truck Race	Food	0.33	1.11
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.32	1.61
Mysticons	Nickelodeon	0.31	1.16
Guy's Grocery Games	Food	0.3	1.10
Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall	Invest. Discovery	0.29	1.23
Sportscenter	ESPN	0.28	0.75
Caribbean Life	HGTV	0.28	1.63
Caribbean Life	HGTV	0.27	1.62
US Open Tennis	ESPN	0.27	1.25
The Spouse House	TLC	0.27	0.84
Life of Kylie	E!	0.27	0.58
NASCAR Cup Series	NBCSN	0.26	1.21
Beachfront Bargain Hunt	HGTV	0.25	1.60

Off the Chart, Twin Peaks ended at 0.09/0.10. Chesapeake Shores was at 0.23. MSNBC's Velshi & Ruhle Weekend Edition returned after a month off on a special night, and was steady. 

Sunday Cable Ratings, 8/27/17: GOT Finale Enormous, Rick & Morty Jumps, VMAs Unimpressive

Below are the Top 25 programs on cable on Sunday, 8/27/17. Items of note include the Video Music Awards, Rick & Morty on Adult Swim, and the Game of Thrones finale on HBO.

Show	Network	18-49 Viewers	Viewers (mil.)
Game of Thrones	HBO	5.7	12.07
Rick & Morty	Adult Swim	1.37	2.47
Ballers	HBO	1.37	2.85
2017 Video Music Awards	MTV	1.36	2.66
Insecure	HBO	0.66	1.33
90 Day Fiance	TLC	0.66	2.11
2017 VMA Pre-show	MTV	0.6	1.14
90 Day Fiance: Before 90	TLC	0.56	1.74
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood	VH1	0.53	1.01
Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! 10 Year Anniversary	Adult Swim	0.42	0.85
Shahs of Sunset	Bravo	0.41	1.17
Drew Peterson: American Murder Mystery	Investigation Discovery	0.39	1.43
2017 Video Music Awards	VH1	0.36	0.71
Premier League	NBCSN	0.35	0.69
Suicide Squad	HBO	0.34	0.78
Beachfront Bargain Hunt	HBO	0.34	1.55
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.34	1.52
CNN Newsroom	CNN	0.34	1.57
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.34	1.52
Beachfront Bargain Hunt	HGTV	0.33	1.71
Weather Center Live	Weather	0.33	1.54
CNN Newsroom	CNN	0.33	1.52
Life of Kylie	E!	0.32	0.66
Caribbean Life	HGTV	0.32	1.79
Flea Market Flip	HGTV	0.32	1.34

Off the chart, Ray Donovan ticked down to 0.23. The Last Ship was up to 0.31, while the Strain was steady at the same 0.31. Survivor's Remorse disintegrated, down to 0.23. Chesapeake Shores was slightly down to 0.22. Twin Peaks, Episodes, and Dice were all off the chart again, though we'll update you with those numbers when they come in.
Update: Twin Peaks sank to 0.08, while Episodes plunged to 0.04 and Dice was steady at 0.03.

Sunday Cable Ratings, 8/13/17: Claws Rises for Finale, GOT, Rick & Morty, Insecure also See Gains

Below are the Top 25 programs on cable on Sunday, 8/13/17. Items of note include the season finale of Claws on TNT, HBO's Game of Thrones, and Rick and Morty on Adult Swim.

Show	Network	18-49 Viewers	Viewers (mil.)
Game of Thrones	HBO	4.98	10.71
Rick & Morty	Adult Swim	1.37	2.65
Ballers	HBO	1.21	2.48
Last Week Tonight	HBO	0.82	1.93
Power	Starz	0.78	1.80
MLB Sunday Night	ESPN	0.69	2.56
Insecure	HBO	0.66	1.30
90 Day Fiancé	TLC	0.64	1.89
Claws	TNT	0.56	1.57
NASCAR Cup Series: Michigan	NBCSN	0.54	3.16
NFL Preseason: Seahawks v. Chargers	NFL	0.52	1.77
Food Network Star	Food	0.49	1.99
90 Day Fiance	TLC	0.49	1.61
Decker: Mindwipe	Adult Swim	0.48	1.04
Naked and Afraid	Discovery	0.46	1.71
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them	HBO	0.45	1.08
Life of Kylie	E!	0.44	0.83
Shahs of Sunset	Bravo	0.42	1.11
NFL Preseason: Lions v. Colts	NFL	0.42	1.31
Caribbean Life	HGTV	0.42	1.93
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.41	1.76
Island Hunters	HGTV	0.4	1.56
Apollo Gauntlet	HGTV	0.39	0.86
Caribbean Life	Adult Swim	0.39	1.81
NFL Total Access	NFL	0.36	1.04

Off the chart, The Strain ticked down to 0.36. Showtime's Ray Donovan was up to 0.29, while Teen Wolf was at 0.21 and Chesapeake Shores was at 0.22. Twin Peaks was below the Top 150, so stay tuned for numbers for that one.