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The Four R's


First, a review of the first three R's: - Remakes and reboots and rehashes - on my!

Okay, now that we're up to speed ...

There is actually a fourth "R" - "Revival."

Unfortunately, all four R's are now loosely referred to as "reboots." Now, it seems, we've even become lazy in referring to different kinds of lazy re-dos in popular entertainment.

So, what exactly is a "revival" and how does it differ from a "reboot?"

Townsel's Unabridged Dictionary defines both terms as follows:

Reboot - Same character(s), different (usually younger) actor(s), do-over from the beginning.

Revival - Same characters(s), almost always same actors as before, continuation from the stopping point of the original series run (sometimes many years later).

Still confused? Not surprising, since the networks and entertainment media continue to use the wrong terminology. Here are a few examples of recent and upcoming "revivals" that have been referred to as "reboots."

Revivals

Roseanne (soon to be known asThe Conners) - Same characters and actors as the popular sitcom that wrapped its ninth and (until last year) final season 20 plus years ago. In fact, last year's revival was tagged the 10th season (although iMDB still lists the revival as a separate series. C'mon, iMDB, get it straight!). (Side note: the retitling of the show to The Conners is necessitated by the firing of the former star. This is the same show, not a spinoff. It is a continuation of a revival of an old sitcom. (Geez, that's another blog entry, I think!)

Will & Grace - Same deal. Same characters, same actors, many years later.

Murphy Brown - Ditto.

Last Man Standing - Etc. (However, this one partially breaks one rule of a true revival: partial recasting. Two of the actors playing the daughters won's be returning, and will be played by others. Same characters, though.)

Now, a few examples of actual "reboots."

Reboots

Magnum P.I. - Complete re-do, with different cast, and presumably, only a partial retelling of the original story. (I know ... why? Oh well, I'll keep an open mind.)

Hawaii Five-0 - So different from the original, one has to wonder why they didn't just make it a completely new series, in name and execution. What's that? Name and brand recognition? Okay, now I get it.

MacGyver - Same deal. Same character, different actor, presumably updated for hip, contemporary audience. ("Hip" is still a contemporary term, isn't it? Hope so. Otherwise, I've seriously dated myself!)

Of course, the concept of "revivals" and "reboots" aren't limited to TV. Many movies fall in these categories as well. Only this is, the confuse the issue further: In movies, "revivals" are called "sequels", and "reboots" are called "remakes."

I'm starting to get a headache again.

Anyway, not everything is a reboot. By the same token, not every reboot is anything.

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