5 Television Remakes That Are Better Than The Original (& 5 That Are Worse)

5 Television Remakes That Are Better Than The Original (& 5 That Are Worse)

Sometimes the TV show remake actually becomes more popular than the source. Other times, not so much.

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It seems like every piece of entertainment these days needs to be a remake, reboot, re-whatever of some popular IP. However, this is certainly nothing new. As long as there have been TV shows and movies, there have been remakes. It makes sense on a business level: would studios and production companies rather pour millions of dollars into something that might fail, or would they rather pour millions into a beloved and established IP with a preexisting fan base?

Sometimes this works out for the best, and the remake actually becomes more popular than the source. Other times, not so much.

10 Better: Shameless (2011)

Since 2011, Shameless has served as one of the centerpieces of Showtime. The show is both a ratings and critical darling, with the lead performance of William H. Macy earning particular praise. Playing protagonist Frank Gallagher, Macy has won three Screen Actors Guild awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series. The series actually serves as an American remake of a dark British sitcom that aired on Channel 4 for 11 seasons between 2004 and 2013. It’s certainly good, but it’s missing a little something that the American version contains.

9 Worse: BH90210 (2019)

BH90210 isn’t a remake per se, but the sixth entry in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise. However, it stars many original cast members, including Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, and Tori Spelling. It’s actually pretty clever, serving as a meta-comedy in which the actors portray themselves attempting to get a Beverly Hills 90210 reboot started. However, the execution utterly squandered any potential that the set-up had, and the series proved little more than a middling attempt at a meta-revival. It was cancelled by Fox after just six episodes had aired. Prior to this show, there was a 2000s reboot on the CW that included a few of the original show’s characters; it was simply called 90210.

8 Better: Doctor Who (1963, 2005)

Like BH90210, Doctor Who isn’t technically a remake, but a revival that serves as a continuation of the ongoing storyline. But, for all intents and purposes, it’s a remake. The original series came to an end back in 1989, and a film followed in 1996. However, it wasn’t until 2005 – sixteen years after the conclusion of the original series – that a revival/reboot was put in place. Christopher Eccleston was brought in as the ninth Doctor and helped usher in a new age of Doctor Who – an age that is still going strong to this day.

7 Worse: Dallas (2012)

Serving as one of the most needless revivals in TV history, TNT brought back Dallas in 2012.

Now, Dallas is arguably one of those shows you simply do not touch or adapt or remake, as it served as a cultural institution throughout much of the ’80s. The famous “who Shot JR debacle?” cliffhanger remains one of the most famous storylines in television history, and it put a nation into complete pandemonium. This revival did absolutely nothing of the sort. Instead, it petered out into nothingness after just three seasons.

6 Better: Battlestar Galactica (2004)

This could quite possibly be the greatest remake in television history. Unlike Dallas, Battlestar Galactica desperately needed a revival. The original series ran for a measly 24 episodes back in ’78-’79, and its wonky special effects look laughable today. Like most dated sci-fi, the show’s effects needed a modern sprinkle, and the lore/story screamed out for more. Luckily, those are exactly what audiences got in 2004 when Battlestar Galactica was remade on the Sci-Fi (now Syfy) channel. It remains one of the greatest science fiction programs (if not the best) in television history.

5 Worse: MacGyver (2016)

MacGyver isn’t terrible or anything, and it’s obviously very popular, owing to its four seasons and 79 episodes. But was it really needed? MacGyver was one of the most beloved programs of the ’80s, and his name has become synonymous with problem solving and silly feats of engineering. CBS rebooted the show in 2016 with Lucas Till in the titular role, and it’s sort of just meandered there for the last four years. The original holds a 7.7/10 on IMDb, while the reboot sits at a far more measly 5.3. It’s clear that the old school fans are none too impressed.

4 Better: House Of Cards (2013)

House of Cards is another American remake of a British program. The original House of Cards aired on the BBC for just four episodes throughout November and December of 1990. And that show was based on a novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, which was published in 1989.

The show is great, but like Battlestar Galactica, it needed both some technological upkeep and an expanded story. Enter the iconic Netflix show, which stunned audiences and won numerous awards, including two Golden Globes and seven Emmys (including Outstanding Directing for David Fincher).

3 Worse: Charlie’s Angels (2011)

The original Charlie’s Angels, while often reductively called “jiggle TV,” was a massively popular program throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s. ABC rebooted the iconic series in 2011, with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor in the leading roles. Meanwhile, Victor Garber provided the voice of Charlie and Ramon Rodriguez portrayed Bosley. The show was weirdly dark and serious, it received horrible reviews, and was cancelled after just seven episodes.

2 Better: Getting On (2013)

Serving as another American remake of a British series, Getting On is a dark comedy about geriatric care workers caring for the elderly. The series aired on HBO for three seasons between 2013 and 2015 and received positive reviews, with many critics noting its brilliant sense of humor, unique dichotomy between humor and serious themes, and the series’ enormous heart. The British original aired on BBC Four from 2009 to 2012, and while certainly fantastic, the American version just barely squeaks it out. It really could go either way, though.

1 Worse: Skins (2011)

The same can’t be said for Skins, a truly dreadful remake of the British classic. The original is a bona fide classic, having generated praise (and controversy) for its depiction of serious teen issues, including suicide, mental illness, bullying, substance abuse, and dysfunctional families. It was a teen show for those who were sick of the squeaky clean, glorified teen fluff usually seen on television. And while MTV tried their darnedest, their North American remake couldn’t recapture the magic of the British original; it was cancelled after just ten episodes.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/television-remakes-better-worse-than-original/

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