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Reboot Ruins Original Argument? Someone Explain How.

posted 8 years ago by Rics-EQ2
7 replies | jump to latest

I never understood the whole "I hope it fails because it ruins the original" mindset. Just really odd to me and makes no sense. Does a reboot all the sudden change the original's footage to make it a lesser show? Does a reboot all the sudden make people hate the original? The logic just doesn't compute. In fact, logically, if a reboot of a classic show or movie sucks, that only ENHANCES the original, draws people to the original, and makes people appreciate the original MORE.

Is there something I'm missing? I'm a fan of many great classic movies and tv shows, but I'm 100% for reboots. There's everything to gain from reboots and absolutely nothing to lose. If it's great, then you get the nostalgic satisfaction and entertainment. If it's bad, you appreciate the greatness of the original even more.

And if a reboot sucks, I just turn it off. Out of sight, out of mind. It's very easy to pretend like it doesn't exist. If people like the reboot, why be offended? Seems to me you could smile to yourself and be proud of the fact a favorite classic show inspired something people like...even if you don't.

I can't tell you how many times I've been able to introduce people to the greatness of originals because they saw the reboot. It's rewarding. Especially when the reboot sucks and they come away saying how great the original was. Personally I think that's awesome.

Anywho, maybe I'm in the minority, but I just don't get it. All the greats are still great regardless of remakes or reboots or crappy sequels, and nothing made after them will ever change that fact.

I'm so hip I have trouble seeing over my pelvis.

[–] lauriegonzalez11 8 years ago

Finally an intelligent post! I don't get all the bashing. If you don't like the show don't watch it, it's that simple. A reboot is not a remake, by definition it's going to be different. Most of the people posting on this board don't get it. Or maybe they just don't want to get it.

[–] Evariste-Galois 8 years ago

Oh, I get it. It's so poorly done that the IMDB ratings would be the same if '85 hadn't occurred. I've not once said, "It sucks because it's not the original" or "it's not a prequel. If it's not a prequel, it sucks."

Bottom line: it sucks, even standing on its own.

[–] Rics-EQ2 8 years ago

Oh, I get it. It's so poorly done that the IMDB ratings would be the same if '85 hadn't occurred. I've not once said, "It sucks because it's not the original" or "it's not a prequel. If it's not a prequel, it sucks."

Okay. But umm...this thread isn't directed to you then. It's directed toward the people who do, as the title suggest, have that opinion. Whether someone thinks the show sucks for any other reason is irrelevant in this thread.

Heck, this thread isn't defending the show or debating its quality in any way whatsoever. Personally I think the show is pretty "meh". Not horrible, but so far it's nothing I'd go out of my way to watch either. I'll watch it when I have downtime at work. Or maybe while I'm playing Overwatch.

I'm so hip I have trouble seeing over my pelvis.

[–] boxerrebellion 8 years ago

It sucks, and it tried to legitimize itself by referencing the original... and hoped that that fact in and of itself would disguise part of the suckiness. Having seen the commercials, I wouldn't have even watched it, except for the MacGyver name.

I think THAT is the issue. Some feel like we were offered something that should have been good, but it wasn't - and those doing the offering KNEW it from the git-go.

[–] blackflag01609 8 years ago

I understand the "I hope it fails", I even try to understand the people who have difficulty disconnecting the reboot from the original. By definition a reboot is not the original, it's basically the same thing as saying "based on". When something says it's based on something else you're giving props to the original (and by the way the creative team for the original "MacGyver" gets a paycheck every time an episode of this version airs because of that!) but you don't have to share much in common with the original.

Personally I don't think this version's existence harms the original. I do think it could help the original. I do think that a more successful reboot could raise interest in the original, people who haven't seen it might get curious and check it out. I know a few who like the reboot and are going to do just that.

Right now I think the only damage any reboot can do to an original is show the age of the original. And by "age" I mean in the video/sound output quality - advances in technology and our TV sets over the last 30 years. When the "Esquire Network" shows it (about every 6 months!) I think it is the lowest video quality.

[–] Expat-in-America 8 years ago

Short answer, it doesn't. A reboot doesn't "ruin" anything - not your favourite show, not your childhood, not your memories. It's never made sense to me why people say that. Like the hate for Ghostbusters --- I just don't get it.

The original MacGyver (of which I was a huge fan growing up) was fantastic. But I tried watching it on Netflix again recently, and I can totally see WHY a new generation need a reboot. It's little boring when compared to the better quality (digital TV quality) of what we have on offer today for programming. Not to mention the computer technology has basically changed completely. Science is still science, but what Mac can DO now with new tools and equipment is completely different. A new generation can relate more to the reboot than the original.

The reboot is for the new generation. Not to replace the original in the eyes of those who grew up with it.

Hot guys + dark subject matter + plenty of violence = watchable television.

[–] Evariste-Galois 8 years ago

The reboot is for the new generation. Not to replace the original in the eyes of those who grew up with it.

It might be for the new generation, but it's going to need more than the new generation to get enough ratings to stick around.

If we can make a reference to the number of episodes shot (providing we can trust IMDB's info), then there are six episodes filmed, meaning 4-5-6 are in the can. This doesn't bode well, as they should ("ought to, but not necessarily will[i]") be shooting add'l ones, particularly to be ready for Sweeps (November).

He's going to die at one of the magic breaking # of episodes: 7, 13, or 23 (and either not be picked back up or taken back to the tool shed and be heavily reworked).

They'd have been far, far better off to get the show correctly, even if they'd missed the Fall season and used it as a mid-season replacement...particularly after they shipped all of the other (as in other than Till and Eads) cast members to the unemployment line and started over.

I used to hang out at a site where TV writers looking for their breaks hung out and [i]ca. 5 years ago, I posted a list of ideas I thought could make it to prime time (much to the consternation of the site's owner). All were dramas, save one (it's a sitcom with a 4-word tag line). Four of them have debuted this Fall: MacGyver, Conviction, Designated Survivor, and Bull. I had a different premise for each of them, but the underlying theme is the same; e.g. MacGyver is obviously what it is; Conviction I had as a show named "The Mighty Penn", I had the same name as "Designated Survivor", and my "Bull" was "jury, inc".

I can't be totally off-base with my ideas, despite the fact I put pen to paper (I still write a lot of things longhand, even when I'm writing software) 5 years ago.

Oh. What happened on that TV Writers site? I got a takedown notice from the owner. He knew exactly why I posted them - to establish a copyright - in the public eye where they couldn't be ignored. He sent me a note and said that he really didn't want to have to involve his system as evidence in an inevitable copyright lawsuit - not "if", but "when". I felt pretty good about that. I feel even better to know others came up with at least four which have made it on-air (so far). The sitcom will be a toughie if I decide to try & write it -- my humor is way,way, way too warped for most people.