TV Reboots Put Millennials in Charge of the Remote
The return of Malcolm in the Middle, Scrubs and even Harry Potter points to millennial nostalgia for a bygone era.
Frankie Muniz (facing away), Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston in the first episode of Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.
Photographer: David Bukach/DisneyWhat’s the surest sign your age group dominates the culture? When the entertainment merry-go-round turns out one reboot after another playing to your generation’s childhood memories. With television right now, its millennials’ turn to go retro.
Malcolm in the Middle is back after 20 years, Scrubs after a 16-year-break. And a simple trailer for HBO’s Harry Potter reboot has been enough to melt the internet, with a record 277 million views in its first 48 hours alone, according to the network. The show doesn’t premiere for another eight months.