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TV Odds – Which 80s Show Will Be Remade Next?

Rose T.

by Rose T. in Entertainment

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

Tinseltown has had a love affair with recycled TV franchises of late. While these reboots hope to capitalize on past success, most inevitably end in disappointment. Who can forget franchise killers like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and now Jem and the Holograms? Hey Hollywood, quit ruining my childhood retroactively!

But that doesn’t mean the producers-that-be are going to stop trying. From coming-of-age dramas to cartoon heroes, expect more classic 80s TV shows to make a comeback with some fresh faces in the coming months and years.

Which ones are most likely to be Hollywood’s next cash cow? We take a look at the likely candidates, as well as some shows that should be left dead and buried.

Pee Wee’s Playhouse: 3/1

Children of the 80s will collectively freak out when Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday is released on Netflix in 2016. The remake, which is being produced by Judd Apatow, will cater to new generations as well as nostalgic parents.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: 4/1

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe fans have been begging for a movie remake for years. It looks like their prayers will be answered. While still in the development stage, the movie now has a writer in Christopher Yost (Thor). So long as Dolph Lundgren’s pecs aren’t recast as Prince Adam, a reboot will surely resonate with nerds everywhere. Let’s hope Michael Bay doesn’t get his greasy hands on it.

Knight Rider: 5/1

Talks are already underway for a Knight Rider feature-length movie starring Chris Pratt as Knight and Danny McBride as the voice of KITT. The rumored casting points to a comedic reboot similar to 21 Jump Street. Expect a satire of 80s nostalgia.

MacGyver: 6/1

If they can justify bringing back the A-Team, then MacGyver can’t be a stretch … right? A pilot is in development, which hopes to turn MacGyver from TV punchline to contemporary troubleshooter. Prepare for even more absurd inventions, Swiss army knives, duct tape, and zero guns.

Magnum P.I.: 10/1

If there was ever a time to bring back the hunky, moustachioed, Hawaiian-shirt-clad private investigator, it’s now. What actor could resist the opportunity to live the opulent lifestyle of Thomas Magnum? (Matthew McConaughey apparently. He turned down the role in 2013). Tom Selleck could come back as Higgins and grace us with his rugged chest hair.

Married with Children: 10/1

Chicago’s most dysfunctional family deserves another look. The Pitch? The new sitcom could revolve around Kelly and Bud Bundy’s dating life. Al and Peggy Bundy could guest star. Word on the street is that a spinoff series is already in the works. As the quote goes, “A Bundy never wins, but a Bundy never quits.”

The Golden Girls: 25/1

Remake The Golden Girls? Blasphemy, they’ll cry! But let’s be honest, if a reboot aired tomorrow, we’d all be watching. There are plenty of aging cougars in Hollywood who were born to play TV’s sassiest ladies. Cast Betty White and you have comedic gold.

Riptide: 40/1

For those of you who aren’t familiar, Riptide was a short-lived 80s detective show, that took place on a freaking yacht. Two ex-army buddies decide to open up a detective agency, and hire a geeky computer nerd to make up for their technical ineptness. Plus there’s an orange robot and plenty of sexy women in bikinis. The thing practically writes itself! If there was ever a movie Michael Bay was born to  destroy  direct, it’s this one.

Cheers: 50/1

One of the most iconic TV shows from the 80s, Cheers has the potential to make a comeback. Will newer audiences accept a reboot without Ted Dansen or Shelley Long? Most of the original cast are pushing 60, and would be unlikely return to reprise their roles. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

Murder She Wrote: 60/1

In light of the success of Sherlock, you would think networks would kill for the opportunity to bring back everyone’s favorite amateur sleuth. Turns out we were wrong. NBC killed their reboot attempt in 2014 after the original Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) publicly opposed the project. Case closed.

The Wonder Years: 80/1

It’s been 27 years since this iconic show made its debut on the small screen. With the recent success of Fuller House and Girl Meets World, you would think The Wonder Years would be next. Think again! Fred Savage has snuffed out any rumors of a reboot. When asked about the likelihood of a movie or TV remake, Savage’s answer was “zero.”

The Cosby Show: 100,000/1

Do we really need an explanation for this one?

(Photo credit: By Alan Light (Tom Selleck  Uploaded by MaybeMaybeMaybe) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped)

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