Way back in 1995, before any current students in high school today were born, Full House aired its last episode. In 2000, a little after current students were born, Boy Meets World aired its final episode. A little more recently, in 2007, Gilmore Girls aired its last episode. It’s hard to believe these shows all ended so long ago when most people can probably find all three of these shows, and more, still on re-runs in their local listings.

  In the recent months there has been a lot of news about revivals of not only TV shows, but movies as well to continue some that are considered classics. New episodes and movies are coming back to carry on the seemingly forgotten stories and plots. Boy Meets World is now Girl Meets World on Disney Channel with original cast members making frequent guest appearances and The Muppets now on every week on ABC. Full House is coming back with Fuller House on Netflix. A Gilmore Girls continuation is also in the works to stream on Netflix with four ninety minute episodes/movies. Other shows such as Fox’s The X-Files, NBC’s Heroes Reborn, and Showtime’s Twin Peaks are set to make a comeback to TV soon. So what’s with all these old TV shows and movies coming back? Is society really that nostalgic, or are TV companies trying to boost ratings by passing off something “old” as something new?

  “We’re nostalgic. Although we like new advancements in life, sometimes we appreciate stepping back and enjoying the things society enjoyed growing up,” junior Cassandra Marquez says of the ongoing trend.

  Nostalgia isn’t such a bad thing; it’s nice to re-live favorite moments from growing up. It’s interesting to see where some favorite characters ended up. In 2014, Disney Channel released Girl Meets World, which is a continuation of ABC’s hit 90s show, Boy Meets World. Many fans of Boy Meets World were excited to see the characters all grown up; and it’s the same for all TV shows: everyone wonders what the characters have been up to. While the revival of certain shows may seems like TV networks are just running out of ideas to please their viewers, there is an ulterior reason behind it. Networks are definitely aware that a lot of older shows were very popular among viewers, and still are today, which is why some revivals are about making more profit, rather than indulging in society’s need for nostalgia.  

  “I think it’s interesting because it’s an advancement to the story and it’s an introduction of a whole new generation. Sure I wouldn’t mind just watching reruns of shows over and over again, but this seems to do the trick,” Cassandra says.

  Cassandra, like many other people nowadays, feel that older shows have more of a story to them, whereas now TV shows usually don’t follow any story line.

  “Having a brother that is 8, I see the things he watches and they have no plot or meaning or moral behind him the way the things I used to watch did and I feel like that is impacting them in a negative way. I think that’s why older shows have that attraction. They just seem so much more meaningful than what’s on today,” she says.

Disney Channel’s reboot of Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World follows Cory and Topanga’s daughter, Riley and her friends as they make their way through middle school. ABC’s The Muppets is a documentary style series that portrays the Muppets as they go through their daily lives. Fuller House on Netflix will showcase original Full House characters DJ Tanner-Fuller, her sister Stephanie and her best friend Kimmy as they live together and try to raise DJ’s kids, as she has recently become a widow. Gilmore Girls will return on Netflix in four ninety minute episodes that take place eight years after the series ended. Fox’s series The X-Files will be revived in a limited six episode run with some of the original cast reprising their roles. NBC’s Heroes is making a comeback as Heroes Reborn which will introduce a new cast of characters post the last season of Heroes. Showtime will bring Twin Peaks back as a continuation of the series with a rumored 18 episode season.

  Maybe it’s a mix of nostalgia and the need for quality plot lines. Perhaps TV companies and movie studios want to bring back the “feel good” movies and teach a lesson or two along the way. However, hopefully Hollywood knows when to put a good story to rest.