'80s Shows That Are Coming Back
The best and most popular shows of the '80s are exactly the right age for a reboot. The 1980s have been a favorite decade to reboot from for some time, but now there’s a whole generation of people who have never seen some of the most popular shows of that decade – even on syndication. Luckily, we'll soon see quite a few reboots of 1980s television series. Some '80s TV reboots are returning as movies, while others are remaining on TV. Wherever they premiere, the '80s shows, and sitcoms we're excited to have back come with a built-in audience of folks who can't wait to return to the comfort of their favorite old shows.
Some show revivals are passing the torch to literally the next generation, as with Night Court now being led by the daughter of Honorable Judge Harry T. Stone. Others are keeping original cast members in the cast, or continuing a fan-favorite format such as Yo! MTV Raps. A few shows are fully reimagining the original, from the modernized setup for the new Perfect Strangers.
Whether they're updating the story for the modern world or staying on the well-worn path of the original show, the best reboots of '80s TV will be on screens, big and small, soon.
If this list is pinging your nostalgia, see what shows from the 1990s are getting a reboot and what 2000s shows are somehow old enough for revivals.
Coming back as: a sequel series on Amazon Freevee.
Premiere date: TBAAlthough the newest iteration of Who's The Boss did not have a network attached when it was revealed to be in development in August 2020, but the story will be set 30 years later and continue exploring the generational differences between Tony and Samantha Micelli, as well as the next generation of Micellis. In late June 2022, the series found a home at Amazon Freevee.
- Actors: Judith Light, Tony Danza, Alyssa Milano, Danny Pintauro, Katherine Helmond
- Premiered: September 20, 1984
Coming back as: a sequel series on NBC.
Premiere date: 2022-2023In December 2020, news of a developing sequel series to the legal sitcom was revealed, with the series being ordered after a pilot in September 2021. With many of the original cast returning, the sequel series continues sharing the charming stories of the characters in the titular night court, now presided over by the daughter of Harry Stone.
- Actors: Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Markie Post, Charlie Robinson
- Premiered: January 4, 1984
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Coming back as: undefined "new content."
Premiere date: TBAThe first stirrings of an ALF revival happened in August 2018, although no further news came of it. When Shout! Factory took hold of the ALF rights in February 2022, there again were no clearly defined next steps in expanding the modern footprint of the titular Alien Life Form, but were quoted as saying they would be developing "new ALF-related content."
- Actors: Max Wright, Paul Fusco, Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson, Ben Gregory
- Premiered: September 22, 1986
Coming back as: a reboot series on AMC.
Premiere date: TBAIn late July 2022, AMC Networks announced that they were developing a reboot of Max Headroom, the show and character best known for an often-glitching computer-generated host played by Matt Frewer. Although Max Headroom, the ABC series that brought the character to the states, only was on the air for two seasons, the character has remained a cult pop culture influence.
- Actors: Matt Frewer, Jeffrey Tambor, Amanda Pays, Chris Young, Lee Wilkof
- Premiered: March 31, 1987
Coming back as: a reboot series on NBC.
Premiere date: September 19, 2022In January 2022 NBC gave a pilot order to a reboot-sequel to the time and space hopping series. By the following May the series was picked up and in consideration for the 2022 fall schedule. In late June, the premiere date was set and the synopsis expanded, explicating that the show will follow a new team who is restarting the Quantum Leap project 30 years after Dr. Sam Beckett entered the Quantum Leap accelerator.
- Actors: Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Wolfberg, W. K. Stratton, Carolyn Seymour
- Premiered: March 26, 1989
- Photo: Yo! MTV Raps
Coming back as: a return series at Paramount+.
Premiere date: May 24, 2022As part of a suite of revivals, a return of the very '80s MTV series was announced in February 2021. The new series will include hosted segments, live performances, cyphers, and lifestyle content, as hosted by battle rapper Conceited and deejay DJ Diamond Kuts. With the announcement of the premiere date for the return was the news that 50 archival episodes of the original series would be available on Paramount+.
- Actors: Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Fab Five Freddy
- Premiered: 1988