Revival (television)
Encyclopedia
A television
revival is an attempt to revive a defunct series by producing new episode
s created for broadcast. Network
executives may decide to attempt to revive a television program
when they feel that a market
once again exists for it.
Revival is one of several programming strategies television networks employ to capitalize further on successful programs; among the other methods are spin-offs
, cast
reunions, and television movie
s based on the original program.
Unlike spin-offs—in which a television network creates a new program around one or more familiar, popular characters
from a different program—a revival involves the reintroduction of most, or at least many of the original program's storyline, characters, and locales. Revivals should also be differentiated from remake
s and continuity reboots
where the characters and/or central concepts are retained, but the story starts over from the beginning again. Revivals differ in that they pick up either from where the older show left off, or at some time after that point.
are: Dragnet
, Star Trek: The Next Generation
, Perry Mason
, Columbo, Ed, Edd n Eddy
, Futurama
, Family Guy
, Battlestar Galactica, Doug
and, Degrassi: The Next Generation
.
An example of a successful revival outside of the US is the 2005 British
science fiction series
Doctor Who
.
series Blondie
(a remake of the 1957 NBC
series), which only lasted for half of a season (13 episodes), despite being based on an extremely popular and durable comic strip
, and a marketing tie-in with a series of paperback reprints of Blondie strips starting with the 1930s originals. The 1957 series only lasted one complete season (26 episodes), despite the fact that it was essentially an extension of a popular 1938-1950 series of movies, casting the same actor as Dagwood Bumstead
.
According to the television researchers Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, a revival television program
in the United States has a lesser chance of succeeding than an entirely new program.
Historically, few television revivals have been popular.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
revival is an attempt to revive a defunct series by producing new episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
s created for broadcast. Network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
executives may decide to attempt to revive a television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
when they feel that a market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
once again exists for it.
Revival is one of several programming strategies television networks employ to capitalize further on successful programs; among the other methods are spin-offs
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, cast
Casting (performing arts)
In the performing arts, casting is a pre-production process for selecting a cast of actors, dancers, singers, models and other talent for a live or recorded performance.-Casting process:...
reunions, and television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
s based on the original program.
Unlike spin-offs—in which a television network creates a new program around one or more familiar, popular characters
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from a different program—a revival involves the reintroduction of most, or at least many of the original program's storyline, characters, and locales. Revivals should also be differentiated from remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
s and continuity reboots
Reboot (continuity)
The verb reboot, in media dealing with serial fiction, means to discard much or even all previous continuity in the series and start anew with fresh ideas...
where the characters and/or central concepts are retained, but the story starts over from the beginning again. Revivals differ in that they pick up either from where the older show left off, or at some time after that point.
Successes
Some examples of successful revivals in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are: Dragnet
Dragnet (series)
Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial...
, Columbo, Ed, Edd n Eddy
Ed, Edd n Eddy
Ed, Edd n Eddy is an original animated television series created by Danny Antonucci and produced by Canadian-based a.k.a. Cartoon. It premiered on Cartoon Network on January 4, 1999. Ed, Edd n Eddy was one of Cartoon Network's longest running and most successful franchises and the longest-running...
, Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
, Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
, Battlestar Galactica, Doug
Doug
Doug is an American animated sitcom created by Jim Jinkins and co-produced by his studio, Jumbo Pictures . Doug centers on the surreal and imaginative exploits of its title character, Douglas "Doug" Funnie, who experiences common predicaments while attending middle school. The series lampoons...
and, Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
.
An example of a successful revival outside of the US is the 2005 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction series
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.
Failures
A notable example of an unsuccessful US revival is the 1968 CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
series Blondie
Blondie (1968 TV series)
Blondie is a short-lived American sitcom that aired on CBS during the 1968-1969 television season. The series is an updated version of the 1957 TV series that was based on the comic strip of the same name. The series starred Will Hutchins as Dagwood Bumstead and Jim Backus as his boss Mr...
(a remake of the 1957 NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series), which only lasted for half of a season (13 episodes), despite being based on an extremely popular and durable comic strip
Blondie (comic strip)
Blondie is an American comic strip created by cartoonist Chic Young. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, the strip has been published in newspapers since September 8, 1930...
, and a marketing tie-in with a series of paperback reprints of Blondie strips starting with the 1930s originals. The 1957 series only lasted one complete season (26 episodes), despite the fact that it was essentially an extension of a popular 1938-1950 series of movies, casting the same actor as Dagwood Bumstead
Dagwood Bumstead
Dagwood Bumstead is a main character in comic artist Chic Young's long-running comic strip Blondie. He first appeared sometime prior to 17 February 1933....
.
According to the television researchers Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, a revival television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
in the United States has a lesser chance of succeeding than an entirely new program.
Historically, few television revivals have been popular.
See also
- List of television spin-offs
- MoratoriumMoratorium (entertainment)A moratorium in the home entertainment business refers to the practice of suspending the sales of DVD movies or DVD boxed sets after a certain period of time...
- RemakeRemakeA remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
- Reboot (continuity)Reboot (continuity)The verb reboot, in media dealing with serial fiction, means to discard much or even all previous continuity in the series and start anew with fresh ideas...