The passage of time has not been kind to many of the mostpopular shows of the 2000s, although a modernrebootcould help update them for audiences today. While many Millennial viewers will have serious nostalgia for the sitcoms, teen dramas, and20-plus-episode serialized showsof their youth, the fact that these series have been off the air so long means that they have lost some of their cultural relevance to viewers in the 2020s. That’s why a reboot series, movie, or one-off special would be a great way to reignite interest in long-dormant TV shows.
Some ofthe best shows of all timewere produced during the 2000s, which signaled the dawning of the Golden Age of Television when unique and creatively fulfilling shows were being greenlit by major networks. Even though many of these shows were groundbreaking at the time of their release, the passage of time can’t help but date a TV show to a particular time or place. With this in mind, manyshows deserve reboots, as their beloved characters, unfinished story arcs, and engaging settings will have countlessviewers excited to revisit the old shows they used to love.
Malcolm in the Middle
Cast
Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it’s still just as chaotic as ever.
From its iconic pop-punk theme song to even the fashion sense of its characters,everything aboutMalcolm in the Middlejust screamed the early 2000s. However, despite this, the show still holds up incredibly well, as its story about a child prodigy and his dysfunctional family is still laugh-out-loud hilarious and filled with insanely memorable characters. While Frankie Muniz’s portrayal of Malcolm gave the show its title,Malcolm in the Middlewas a true ensemble series where every actor contributed something incredible.
One standout role was Bryan Cranston as the hapless father Hal, whose subsequent success inBreaking Badmade him one of the most recognizable names in show business. But Cranston has expressed serious interest in returning toMalcolm in the Middlefor a reboot (viaE!), and in the nearly two decades since the show went off the air, its reputation as a 2000s classic has only grown. Muniz has revealed that Cranston has been working on a movie script to revive the show (viaMovieweb), although not everyone has signed off on allowing the production to be made.
Scrubs
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
Scrubswas one of the biggest sitcoms of the 2000s, yet it hasn’t maintained the same kind of enduring cultural relevance as eternally discussed TV shows from that time, likeFriends. With a fast-paced slapstick sense of humor and plenty of cutaway gags,Scrubshad its own style that may have dated it somewhat into the era it was released. However, this medical sitcom was packed with fantastic characters, and enough time has passed since it went off the air for a reboot to be a huge success.
WhileScrubs’final season, subtleMed School, was badly received for the way it shifted focus from the main characters and replaced them with new names, a true reboot with all the main players back again would work out great. From the incessant daydream of J.D. (Zach Braff) to the ill temper of Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley),a return to lighthearted medical antics of the staff of Sacred Heart Hospitalcould be just what the doctor ordered. Co-stars Braff and Donald Faison clearly have fond memories of the show as they reminisce on their rewatch podcastFake Doctors, Real Friends.
Freaks and Geeks
Judd Apatow’s Freaks and Geeks is a comedy-drama series centered around several now-popular stars in their first-ever appearances as outcast teenagers dealing with the “hilarious unfairness of teen life.” The friend groups are split into “freaks” and “geeks,” each with their own quirks that resonate with teens today as they try to find their place in the socially complex world of high school.
As a show airing at the dawn of the new millennium, had things gone differently,Freaks and Geekscould have had a fantastic several-season run throughout the 2000s. However, an erratic airing schedule made it hard for the viewers even to find out when it was on, and the show was canceled due to low ratings after just one season. As one of the most realistic and well-written depictions of the teenage experience ever put on TV,Freaks and Geekwas executive produced by Judd Apatow, and the talented cast transformed the comedy landscape throughout the rest of the decade.
While it’s too late to bring back the show for its planned second season, which would have developed the gang of misfits and nerds even further, one great way to revisit these characters would be to check in on their lives in adulthood. Whether through a high school reunion special or a fully fledged spin-off season, a grown-up version ofFreaks and Geekscould showcase how much some people change and others stay the same after high school. With a cast featuring many of the biggest names working today, returning to the world ofFreaks and Geekscould be a smash success.
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives was a rom-com drama that aired on ABC for eight seasons between 2004 and 2012. The award-winning series follows Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), who discover dark secrets hidden in their quiet town of Fairview.
The non-stop drama, lies, and deceit of Wisteria Lane made for thrilling viewing throughout the 2000s as this campy, tongue-in-cheek soap opera delivered frills, thrills, and occasionally kills.Desperate Housewivestruly feels like a product of its time, as its 20-episode-plus seasons and long, sprawling narratives have since been replaced with more concise eight-episode seasons and multi-year breaks between installments. However, many miss the bingeable beauty of this time and would love to return to Wisteria Lane for more outrageous happenings fromDesperate Housewives.
By combining the bubbly female-led appeal ofSex and the Citywith the dark and mysterious themes of David Lynch’sTwin Peaks,Desperate Housewiveswas a refreshingly original show at its release and has sinceinfluenced everything fromBig Little LiestoRiverdale. While many later shows have copied the engaging mix of genres inDesperate Housewives, what would be even more exciting would be if the show came for a reboot. Checking in on Susan, Lynette, Bree, Gabrielle, and all the others would be an exciting prospect, and now feels like an appropriate time for aDesperate Housewivesreboot.
Ugly Betty
ABC’s Ugly Betty is the American adaptation of Fernando Gaitan’s world-famous Colombian soap opera Yo Soy Betty, La Fea. Starring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, the comedy series follows a young woman who lands a job as an editor assistant at Mode, a fashion magazine. Despite her poor sense of fashion, Betty’s can-do attitude and work ethic allows her to thrive in the industry.
The ABC comedy-dramaUgly Bettytook a hilarious, side-eyed view of the fashion industry through the eyes of a chaotic and sweet, glasses-wearing young woman sporting adult braces who lands a job in a high-fashion magazine in Manhattan. As TV’s answer toThe Devil Wears Prada,Ugly Bettywas based on the Colombian telenovelaYo soy Betty, la feaand incorporated plenty of the character’s Mexican heritage into the show. With a hilarious sense of humor and a compelling cast of likable characters,Ugly Bettyran for four enjoyable seasonsbut was sadly canceled due to a lack of ratings.
However, in the years since,Ugly Betty’sstar, America Ferrera, has gone from strength to strength as she led the popular sitcomSuperstoreand was even a main character in the massive hit filmBarbie. With enough time having passed for viewers to miss the series and Ferrera boasting far more star power, now would be a great time to rebootUgly Bettyfor another season. The fashion industry has also changed a lot in the years since, but the wayUgly Bettycould incorporate the undeniable influence of TikTok and Gen-Z culture would be fascinating.
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is a sitcom that aired on the Disney Channel for four seasons from 2006-2011. The series stars Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart, a fourteen-year-old middle school student living a double life as Hannah Montana, a famous pop singer. Miley’s real-life father, Billy Ray Cyrus, plays her dad on the show.
Miley Cyrus has done much in recent years to differentiate herself from her breakout role inHannah Montana. This Disney series about a young woman living a double life as a famous pop singer and typical teenager was highly relevant to Cyrus’s life situation as the show provided her with worldwide notoriety. While Cyrus may feel like she’s moved past this role, a brief reboot in a movie or special could be a great way of closing the book on this part of her career and give audiences a look at what a more adult-oriented version ofHannah Montanawould look like.
A reboot ofHannah Montanawith a more serious edge could act as a clever study of the trappings of fame and address some of the more difficult aspects of Cyrus’s sudden rise to stardom. Cyrus has already shown a willingness to explore these kinds of topics, as seen in herBlack Mirrorepisode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too,” which addressed the conflict between artistic success and financial interests. Withboth Cyrus andHannah Montanabeing recognizable icons of the 2000s, a smart reboot has the potential to be incredibly effective.
Prison Break
Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President’s brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body.
Along withLostand24,Prison Breakwas one of the most popular serialized TV shows of the 2000s, as its heart-racing story about convicts plotting an elaborate escape drew viewers in.Prison Breaktold the story of Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), who got himself imprisoned so he could break his brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) out before he was executed for a crime he didn’t commit. While this intriguing concept set up the show, as it continued throughout further seasons, it began to stray ever further from its original premise.
Sadly,Prison Breaklost some of its urgency throughout its run, and an attempt to revive the series in 2017 had a mixed response. However, in 2023, originalPrison Breakproducer Marty Adelstein was looking to reboot the series without the main cast (viaDeadline.) While there’s a chance that this could be great, it’s hard to shake the feeling that fans would be more excited to see the old cast back together again and for a true reboot to recapture what madePrison Breaksuch a huge success back when season 1 aired in 2005.
The O.C.
When troubled teen Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) is taken in by his public defender (Peter Gallagher), he suddenly finds himself on the right side of the tracks. The O.C. follows as Ryan tries his best to fit into the affluent California community while navigating the relentless drama of teen life, but his new home of Newport Beach is a town filled to the brim with secrets and scandal.
It’s hard to think of anything that would conjure the nostalgia of the 2000s more than the sound of Phantom Planet singing “California,” the theme tune for the Fox teen dramaThe O.C. This series about a troubled teenager named Ryan Atwood thrust into the aspirational wealth of California’s young elite mixed melodrama and comedy to become one of the defining series of the 2000s. As a blend of earnest sentimentality and satirical camp,The O.C.was the perfect teen show for its era, whose ensemble cast made for enjoyable, guilty pleasure viewing.
As a self-aware series that poked fun at the excess of the wealthy and fortunate, the cultural clash ofRyan’s difficult upbringing paired with the frivolous materialism of those he’s surrounded byhelped makeThe O.C.stand out as more thought-provoking than the 1990s teen hitBeverly Hills, 90210. A reboot ofThe O.C.could lean into these aspects even more heavily and help bring the show up to date by addressing the vast inequalities and privileges those lucky enough to be born into wealth have over the disenfranchised and increasingly financially struggling youth of America.
Entourage
Vincent Chase, a young and talented actor, embarks on his Hollywood journey surrounded by his loyal friends from Queens. His inner circle includes Eric, his dedicated manager; Johnny Drama, his supportive but fame-seeking half-brother; Turtle, his fun-loving and resourceful friend; and Ari Gold, his fiercely determined agent. Together, they navigate the complexities of the entertainment industry, balancing career aspirations with personal relationships, and facing the ups and downs of fame with camaraderie and resilience.
Few shows from the 2000s dated as badly asEntourage, as it cast a light on the worst aspects of celebrity culture and Hollywood excesses. Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg and loosely based on his early years finding fame and fortune as an actor, the best aspects ofEntouragewere that it highlighted the value of male friendship, while at its worst, it was a sexist and problematic depiction of mindless womanizing and objectification. But that’s exactly why a reboot ofEntouragecould work so well, as it could reexplore these issues through a modern lens.
Rumors of a reboot ofEntouragehave been ongoing since the series first went off the air in 2011, although a disappointing feature film sequel in 2015 did not help its prospects. While theEntouragemovie felt more like a collection of cameos to relive the past, a true reboot that adds something new and addresses the changes in celebrity culture since the 2000s would be far more artistically fulfilling.Entouragehas the power to maintain its relevance in the 2020s, but only if the reboot bravely shakes up the style of the show and injects it with modern sensibilities.
Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
Lostwas a truly groundbreaking TV show whose intriguing mystery kept viewers engaged and questioning right through its six-season run. As the story of a group of survivors who have crash-landed on a mysterious island, the complexities ofLost’slore were slowly revealed as the true nature of their desolate situation revealed itself through spiritual, thematic, and narrative depth.Lostwas unlike any show that had come before itand sparked conversation among its viewers like nothing else.
The appeal ofLosthas not diminished in the years since, and returning to the show and unpacking its rich mythology even further for a new generation of viewers would be an exciting prospect. Either by returning the series' already well-established characters or by introducing new aspects to its distinctive world, arebootofLostwould certainly catch viewers' attention, and as long as the writing remained strong and it actually had something new and exciting to say, then it would surely be a major success.
