5 popular TV series that should never be rebooted
3. NYPD Blue
This is another one that was in the works but wasn’t picked up. Many dedicated fans saw it as a major mistake. This ABC cop drama waded into unchartered territory when it debuted in 1993, being one of the first television shows to use harsher language and nudity. But it was about so much more than shock value.
Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) was the gruff, hard-nosed detective who would die or kill to protect his family and friends. He didn’t have all the answers and made a lot of bad decisions, but he, along with a stellar cast, made this show work. Even when some regulars decided to move on, the series remained high in the ratings because it still had Dennis Franz. And the end, with Sipowicz becoming a sergeant and taking over the squad, bookended the beginning perfectly.
The new series would not have included Dennis Franz who declined to return, and that in and of itself cast a pall on the reboot. Out of all TV series reboots, NYPD Blue would have a hard time existing without the detective that made it all possible for 12 seasons.
2. Cagney & Lacey
Thankfully, the pilot for this reboot didn’t get picked up, which, hopefully, means this TV series is safe from resurrection. As it should be. With Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly as the stars, this 80s cop drama brought a gritty sense of reality to the screen perfect for its time.
There were no special effects and no big-budget scenes. Just two really good detectives solving crimes the old-fashioned way. Gless and Daly brought these characters to life for six seasons in an such a manner that it would be doubtful any other actors could achieve their level of success.