TV: Re-boot of the day The Wonder Years

[Jumptheshark]

ABC's Wonder Years Reboot Finds Its New Kevin in Elisha Williams — Watch Fred Savage Deliver the Good News





Will be interesting how this unfolds. While the original series touched on the Vietnam war--it did not really jump knee-deep into the civil right movement and social equality for all (it did for white women but not everyone)

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[The Crypto Guy]

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

Pass, Wonder years was a really smart show that really focused around the family dynamic and how it changed as the Children aged. It was set around the back ground of the Vietnam war, and the civil rights movement. At times they would touch on the hypocrisy of government, protestors and even the leaders that they thought were amazing but turned out to be flawed. But the greatest stuff was the on again off again relationship of Kevin and his dad, and that part was amazing and I don't think its going to be easy to recapture it. (Go watch the episode with the Father Son baseball game, it was brilliant"

All I can imagine is that the new show is going to be a sledgehammer application of the old show.

Stop rebooting this stuff, come up with your own ideas.

 

[Deadpool8812]

no thanks

 

[Unlimited Chequing]

Sorry but no.

Wonder Years had a certain aesthetic and rhythm to it that made it unique. I can't imagine them being able to replicate it, or at least if they did it might not resonate with today's audience.. I worry that this would look like "Everybody Hates Chris" (slapstick with some narration on top) because that's what today's audience expects from a comedy show.

This is as close as the perfect replication that we'll ever get. In addition to using Daniel Stern for the narrator, they hired his brother who was a writer on the original Wonder Years to get the dialogue right.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Let's just remake *everything* with actors of a different race than what was featured in the original. That's where I think we're headed.

 

[Osprey]

It feels like race and gender swaps are being used as excuses to reboot properties. I think that studios are always eager to reboot things because it's easy and safe, but are nervous about backlash and like having an excuse. A swap gives them one. They get to look socially conscious and inclusive (rather than just out of ideas) and the public is likely to be more accepting (if only out of fear of being labeled). Also, if it fails, it wasn't because it was a bad idea or executed poorly. Maybe I'm cynical, but it just seems like it's for the wrong reasons.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Let's just remake *everything* with actors of a different race than what was featured in the original. That's where I think we're headed.

We all know companies are using that as the main excuse to reboot things. They have to prove to everyone that they are inclusive companies

 

[Rabid Ranger]

It feels like race and gender swaps are being used as excuses to reboot properties. I think that studios are always eager to reboot things because it's easy and safe, but are nervous about backlash and like having an excuse. A swap gives them one. They get to look socially conscious and inclusive (rather than just out of ideas) and the public is likely to be more accepting (if only out of fear of being labeled). Also, if it fails, it wasn't because it was a bad idea or executed poorly. Maybe I'm cynical, but it just seems like it's for the wrong reasons.

It's not just you that's cynical-it's Hollywood. That's why there's all this jumping on the diversity bandwagon. Instead of creating new, original content that features non-white actors they go the easy route and recycle and rehash. It's tired and lazy.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

It's not just you that's cynical-it's Hollywood. That's why there's all this jumping on the diversity bandwagon. Instead of creating new, original content that features non-white actors they go the easy route and recycle and rehash. It's tired and lazy.

I guess...

However if you are going to go the lazy route and reboot a show like Wonder Years, might as well change it up with the main character having a different sex/race than Kevin.

Those of us who watched the show already saw the middle class white boy growing up in the 60s storyline.

Watching them try to replicate that would be cringe worthy. With a new sex/race we would get to experience much different dynamics at least.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I guess...

However if you are going to go the lazy route and reboot a show like Wonder Years, might as well change it up with the main character having a different sex/race than Kevin.

Those of us who watched the show already saw the middle class white boy growing up in the 60s storyline.

Watching them try to replicate that would be cringe worthy. With a new sex/race we would get to experience much different dynamics at least.

Call it something else then.

 

[StrangeVision]

Call it something else then.

Why? What is it about "The Wonder Years" that should be exclusively white? Is there something about whiteness that is explicitly wondrous? It's a good generic name for a show about growing up and I don't see why any other identity should be barred from using it just because it was about a white kid first.

Even if it is lazy, who cares? It's a fictional TV show, it's literally just business, it exists to make money. I mean, why even assume it has to do with about being socially conscious? There was a coming-of-age show about a white kid, why can't there be one about a non-white kid? Giving it the same name just makes it easier to market.

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

Wonder if they're going to reboot the Jeffersons with a role flip, where the main character is a white woman?

Stop rebooting good shows. Stop bringing back characters decades later (Punky Brewster, saved by the bell) for cripes sake come up with your own ideas. Wonder Years was perfect, with an amazing yet termendously sad ending that made even a guy like me choke up. Stop it Stop it Stop it!

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Why? What is it about "The Wonder Years" that should be exclusively white? Is there something about whiteness that is explicitly wondrous? It's a good generic name for a show about growing up and I don't see why any other identity should be barred from using it just because it was about a white kid first.

Even if it is lazy, who cares? It's a fictional TV show, it's literally just business, it exists to make money. I mean, why even assume it has to do with about being socially conscious? There was a coming-of-age show about a white kid, why can't there be one about a non-white kid? Giving it the same name just makes it easier to market.

It's not a "good generic name." It's the name of an iconic 80s/90s show. When people hear "The Wonder Years" they think of the Fred Savage vehicle. Do you disagree with that? At the end of the day it's not worth getting bent out of shape over. I just find it disappointing how bereft of creativity Hollywood is. Nothing new though.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Call it something else then.

They want to reboot it... it’s their intellectual property so why are we telling them what to do with it?

It doesn’t have to be about some white boy growing up in middle class suburbia to touch on the sentiments echoed in Wonder Years.

If they are going to reboot a classic show, don’t try to replicate the original, because it will fail miserably IMHO.

It will just feel like a total cringeworthy knock off if they kept the plot all about the adventures of a white male coming of age in 60s suburbia.

 

[discostu]

This show is using the Wonder Years brand because in an environment where there's an abundance of streaming services and television networks, chances of succeeding without a brand association is usually reduced.

There wouldn't be a thread on this board if this was a generic coming of age television series.

It's been that way in movies for a while, and has seeped into television.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Hollywood is creatively bankrupt constantly wanting to remake,reboot or make sequels to things.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Hollywood is creatively bankrupt constantly wanting to remake,reboot or make sequels to things.

Hollywood has a lot more going on behind that scenes

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

I kind of snicker at the concept. Lets see, Its a show about a son growing up who sometimes revels against his father as he tries to find his way in a turbulent era. His father is a often crabby, but wise father who always comes through in the end and finds a way to do the best he can by his son. The mother is a wise, kind woman who has time to focus on her career all while making sure that the dinner is cooked and the house is clean. A sister who is wise, sometimes rebels, but always is there for good advice for the son. hmmm,

 

[CaptainCrunch67]

The show that probably won't ever be major rebooted is the Cosby show, except they rename it the Crosby show staring a hologram of Bing Crosby as the father of his family who goes around giving heartfelt advice to his children by beating them with sacks of oranges.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The thing is, a successful update of this concept could absolutely do well.

It's just that "reboot the Wonder Years" is such a turn-off when it comes to selling the idea. Stop saying reboot, stop making it about the old show. Nobody wants to see a Wonder Years reboot. What they want to see is a coming-of-age story along the lines of the Sandlot or Stand By Me or the Wonder Years or whatever else exists in this genre.

Yes, it could most definitely be a good show. It won't matter because it won't get watched if they make it sound like recycled crap from the get-go.

 

[hoglund]

I loved this show, I'll give this a try, but I have my doubts that this will be even close to the original.

 

[Unlimited Chequing]