TV shows are canceled for a variety of reasons.
It could be whether the cast wants out or the ratings, or anything.
With multiple scripted TV shows getting the reboot treatment, it was only a matter of time before the world of reality TV was rocked.
Jersey Shore and The Hills have been rebooted, so why can these 13 shows not get a reprieve?
The City
The City was a short-lived spin-off of The Hills. It followed Whitney Port as she moved from California to New York in an attempt to further her fashion career. Once there, she quickly learned that the world of fashion was more cutthroat than she first anticipated, and had to adapt to her new surroundings. Initial episodes were clunky, with performances so wooden it sounded that the script was below the camera. However, the series managed to find its footing in Season 2 by scaling back the relationships in favor of actually focusing on the world of fashion. MTV opted to cancel the series alongside The Hills. Given that Port is married to Tim Rosenman, the producer of the series, would it be that difficult to bring the show back in some form if the reboot of The Hills proves to be successful? We think not, and we would totally watch!
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo followed Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson and her family around McIntyre, Georgia. They were fun to watch, made hilarious comments, and controversy seemed to follow them. TLC pulled the plug after four seasons in 2014, leaving a full season of episodes unaired. The reason for the cancellation was said to be because of rumors that June Shannon was dating a registered sex offender. The series returned to TLC three years later with a two-hour special that featured some of the footage that never made the cut. Could a reboot be on the cards?
The Real World
The Real World put a group of youngsters inside a house in a specific location each season. Viewers watched as they partied, bickered, made up and did the same thing all over the next episode. Does it sound like a lot of reality TV shows on MTV nowadays? Later seasons added in twists that diluted the premise of the show, and it could explain why MTV has not aired the series since early 2017. There have been rumblings that a reboot is in the works, but there is nothing official as of yet from MTV. A back-to-basics approach could be what this series needs to thrive again.
College Hill
College Hill followed the lives of students at historically black colleges. The format was similar to The Real World, but the college setting made for a fresh perspective. It was a hit for BET, but fizzled out in its final few seasons, and that was largely down to the cast not being as good as the earlier editions. The general rule of thumb for reality TV is that if the cast is right, viewers will tune in. BET would be wise to trial an updated edition of the show. It could be a hit!
Next
Next was a dating show that spanned 288 episodes from 2005-08 on MTV. It was retro, cheap, and everything you would expect from a dating show in the noughties. The surprising thing about it was that MTV’s target audience managed to understand the convoluted format. A reboot for streaming could be a hit.
Growing Up Gotti
Growing Up Gotti followed Victoria Gotti, daughter of Mafia boss John Gotti, and her three sons; Carmine Agnello, Jr., John Gotti Agnello, and Frank Gotti Agnello. Victoria was a hard as nails mother, who would stop at nothing to keep her sons in line. Despite being popular, it lasted just three seasons. A reunion aired on the network nine years later, and proved there was still enough family drama to sustain further seasons.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was an ABC reality series that focused on the makeover of homes that were damaged or destroyed by disasters. It was one of few shows the PTC praised, but slipped in the ratings, prompting the network to cancel it after nine seasons in 2012. It would be a perfect series on HGTV!
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew followed Dr. Drew Pinsky as his team as they attempted to help celebrities battle their addictions. At the time, it was a groundbreaking series. It offered a raw look into the world of addiction. However, it came with a lot of criticism, and Dr. Drew decided enough was enough after six seasons. The main source of the criticism was focused on the celebrities who participated, but later relapsed into addiction and died. To date, there’s been no show quite like it, and there’s a gap in the market for a series like it. The final season did feature non-celebrities, so that would probably be the best way to bring it back.
Fear
Fear was a short-lived reality series that dropped contestants off to a remote location that was allegedly haunted. Over two nights the cast members are offered money for various dares to assess whether the location is really haunted. It was ahead of its time, and was canceled due to high production costs. This would be a perfect series for Netflix to snap up with the seemingly bottomless pit of money it has for producing originals.
The Simple Life
This series put Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie to work. They had to do a variety of jobs as they traveled across the United States. It was filled with drama because there were jobs both women did not want to do. Despite rumors, a reboot has yet to be ordered. It would be fun to watch the now much much older (but not wiser!) Paris and Nicole would act if they got to do the whole thing again.
Made
Made was an MTV classic. It followed teenagers who had aspirations of becoming something they wouldn’t be able to without some help. They were given goals and a coach to help them reach those. It aired on MTV from 2002-2014.
Big Tips Texas
Big Tips Texas was a trashier version of Vanderpump Rules. It followed the workers of Redneck Heaven … a Hooters-esque bar. The cast members were at odds with each other on an episodic basis, and the storylines were flowing at the time of the series’ premature cancellation. With some promotion, a reboot with the current workers of Redneck Heaven would likely be a draw.
Jackass
Jackass focused on a group of thrillseekers who performed outlandish stunts in order to keep the ratings flowing. The popularity of the series resulted in several movies. A fourth was in production hell for several years, but it was revealed in 2018 that it has been shelved. A rebooted series with a new group of thrillseekers would be a perfect way to bring this franchise back to life.