1 of 1- RadioActive
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Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
It doesn't happen often, but ABC has confirmed it's bringing back the medical comedy "Scrubs," with all three of the main leads returning. It's been off the air for 15 years and you might think that's a record for a show to make a comeback.
But there's at least one other sitcom that beats it - and it died an ignoble death upon its return. "Murphy Brown" debuted on CBS beginning in 1988, and ran for a decade, winning multiple Emmy Awards. CBS brought it back in 2018 - some 20 years later - with most of the original cast. It limped along across the season, before being quietly dumped a few months later.
"Family Guy" is another show that made a dramatic comeback. Fox cancelled it in 2002, noticed how well it was doing in video sales and on cable reruns and brought it back with the original voice cast in 2005 - and it's still running today some 20 years later. One of the most remarkably successful comebacks in TV history.
‘Scrubs’ Reboot Scores ABC Series Order With Donald Faison & Sarah Chalke Joining Zach Braff
- Radiowiz
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Okay, but don't forget about King of the Hill. It's back, older son and all. Not sure if or when it will air, but it is back...
- Binson Echorec
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Futurama is another one that's been cancelled and revived more than a few times while bouncing around a few networks. The creators never knew if/when renewal was coming so they have a few episodes that serve as open-ended finales.
I suppose it's a lot easier to revive an animated series than a live one. I never gave Scrubs any serious time but the few episodes I did see seemed funny/zany enough.
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Speaking of shows with a second life, I've heard this story before, but in case you never have, it's almost become legendary.
Longest-running western TV show was almost canceled for shocking reason
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Thread Starter- Capricasix
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Radiowiz wrote:
Okay, but don't forget about King of the Hill. It's back, older son and all. Not sure if or when it will air, but it is back...
KOTH is premiering on August 4 and will be shown on Disney+ here.
- RadioActive
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Turns out there are far more examples of this than I remembered.
20 TV shows that made major comebacks decades later
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Former Network Comedy Making Unusual Comeback With Original Cast
Speaking of shows with a second life, I've heard this story before, but in case you never have, it's almost become legendary.
Longest-running western TV show was almost canceled for shocking reason
Moving the un-cancelled Gunsmoke to Mondays at 7:30, later 8pm, proved to be a monster ratings move for CBS. For the next six seasons it ranked no lower than 6th place in the Neilsen ratings, once rising to #2 behind Laugh-in. However by the 18th season, the ratings began declining from 9th, to 15th to 25th in season 20.