The 2000s were a memorable decade that really wasn’t so long ago. Then again, social media like Facebook and Twitter were in their modest beginnings, shrugs and chunky zebra-like highlights were in, Pokemon cards were all the rage and everyone had flip phones.
The good ‘ole days prior to social media feuding and complicated tech. The 2000s also brought us some of our favorite shows, many of which were canceled too soon. Remember My Name Is Earl or Moonlight? With revivals all the rage, we’re hoping the networks will consider and eventually bring back some of our nostalgic 2000s shows. That said, here are 10 2000s shows that deserve revivals!
Kim Possible
Remember the crime-fighting duo of Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable? Kim, the more competent fighter, traveled all around the world solving crime and infamously fighting supervillains such as Dr. Drakken and Shego. Ron is socially awkward and the more comical of the duo (especially concerning his intense fear of monkeys).
The show’s success spawned a couple of TV films and most recently, a live-action film. This show is one of Disney Channel’s greatest successes, how could they not revive this show? We’ll keep hanging on for news of more Kim Possible, no big.
Knight Rider
Third time’s the charm? Based on the original 1980’s version, Knight Rider premiered in 2008 with a new take: an updated version of KITT, and this time following the estranged son, Michael Traceur (later Michael Knight, Jr.) of the original Michael Knight. Maybe it wasn’t the right time or perhaps the storyline itself just didn’t click; whatever the reason, this show only lasted for a season, ending in 2009.
Perhaps with a few tweaks here and there, a new cast and a new spin from the original and the previous remake, a third try at a Knight Rider show would work. C’mon, who doesn’t love a show with a cool car like KITT?
Monk
From 2002 to 2009, we watched Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) in all his awkwardness. A police procedural, this show has a different kind of spin on a common, sometimes overused genre: Monk was a detective for the San Francisco Police Department until his wife’s murder, which sent him in a downward spiral to a nervous breakdown.
This nervous breakdown came with Monk’s refusal to leave his house for three and a half years, alongside many, many phobias and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Despite all these limitations, Monk does gradually return to solving crimes, often with hilarious moments caused by his phobias. Fans wouldn’t mind seeing Mr. Monk back in action; perhaps he would have a few more phobias for our entertainment purposes.
The Osbournes
In the early days of reality TV, The Osbournes premiered on MTV in 2002. Until 2005, we saw plenty of antics on the show from the Osbourne family (all but from one of their children, Aimee) that made us laugh until we cried.
It was loved by viewers and would surely be loved again by a new generation, especially with reality TV being as popular as it is. While the show would be funny (remember when Ozzy couldn’t figure out the remote for the TV?), it also depicted serious times in the family like Sharon’s battle with cancer and Ozzy’s recovery from an ATV accident. There has been talk of a revival in the past, but we’re hoping for something more concrete.
Six Feet Under
From 2001 to 2005, we followed the lives of the unusual Fisher family. Unusual because, they own and operate a funeral home in Los Angeles. Each episode starts off with a death and usually impacts the family in some way, causing much reflection.
Family drama is prominent as each character deals with life issues, relationships and more, but the show is memorable for its usage of dark humor and addressing taboo topics, especially those revolving around the heavy subject of death. The show won numerous awards and racked up great ratings for its network, HBO. Wonder what the Fisher clan would be up to nowadays? We’re urging HBO to give us a revival so we can find out.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
Cartoon Network’s show about a reaper named Grim with a Jamaican accent, accompanied by happy but doltish kid Billy and cynically scary Mandy is one for the books. Grim is forced into servitude and must serve Billy and Mandy for eternity, which he at first detests but gradually becomes used to the idea, even developing a love-hate relationship with the two kids.
The show is comical and features hilarious representations of monsters such as the bogeyman and Dracula, all the while following the adventures of the three, oftentimes to supernatural lengths or otherworldly destinations. The show won a few awards in its time on the air, and late ’90s and 2000s kids would surely appreciate a revival to satisfy their nostalgia for the show.
Danny Phantom
Affectionately dubbed “Hartfans” have been pleading for a revival of Danny Phantom since its cancellation in 2007. The hashtag #GoGhostAgain has taken social media by storm, originating from the ten-year anniversary since the series’ cancellation. The show follows teenager Danny Fenton who, after an accident in his ghost-hunting parents’ ghost portal, is turned into a half-ghost.
Now Danny must learn to balance his new life as hero and regular teenager with help from his friends Tucker and Sam, and later his older sister, Jazz. Butch Hartman, the show’s creator, has expressed interest in a revival over the years, even releasing “10 Years Later”, depicting Danny and his friends 10 years after the show’s cancellation. We’ve been waiting a long time to see Danny “go ghost” again; you never know, it might just pay off.
My Name Is Earl
Earl Hickey (Jason Lee) is a never-do-well criminal until he’s hit by a car and subsequently discovers the concept of karma. From then on, he makes a list of all the wrongs he’s committed in his life and works hard to right them, much to our amusement.
Earl is joined by his oftentimes wicked and crazy ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressley), his sweet but dim-witted brother Randy (Ethan Suplee), and friends Catalina (Nadine Velazquez) and Darnell (Eddie Steeples). Small-town life accompanied by hilarious methods in which Earl commits to in order to right his wrongs and the characters themselves are what we loved most about this show. Not only that, but the show’s 2009 finale left us on a cliffhanger that we really need to see play out.
Samantha Who?
From 2007 to 2009, we watched Samantha Newly (Christina Applegate) change from “Old Sam” to “New Sam.” After a hit-and-run accident, Sam develops retrograde amnesia and discovers that prior to the incident she was selfish, rude, and possessed basically every other unlikable quality. Horrified by her previous behavior, Sam aims to be a better person for her parents, her two friends and her on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend/roommate.
Armed with resolution, Sam has a tendency to get in over her head but also genuinely cares about being a better person and goes out of her way to help others. At the same time, Sam also struggles to remember pieces of her life from before, including important events like a proposal. It’d be nice to see where Sam is now in her ever-untraditional life. Is she still good?
Moonlight
Originally aired from 2007-2008, this show centered around vampire Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin). Mick lives and works in Los Angeles as a private detective, using his enhanced senses and other gifts to help mankind. He resents his life as a vampire, having been turned over fifty years earlier by his ex-wife. Flashbacks show that he saved a little girl in the 1980s that grows up to be reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles), whom he harbors feelings for in the present day.
Canceled only after 16 episodes, we weren’t left with a cliffhanger, but we were left with open storylines for more. One day, we hope CBS will bring back Moonlight, especially since we’ve been bloodthirsty for more since its abrupt ending.
