Most people who grew up in the 1990s will tell you that Nickelodeon shows played a fundamental role during their formative years. One of the network’s most iconic series came in the form of Clarissa Explains It All. The show maintained a firm finger on the pulse of teenage issues during the era, and has a warm spot in most Nickelodeon fans' hearts. Now, according to series lead Melissa Joan Hart, a revival of the series could potentially happen in the near future.
Sitting down with EW to discuss the 25th anniversary of Clarissa Explains It All, actress Melissa Joan Hart revealed that – under the right circumstances – we could potentially see a revival of the iconic sitcom:
I just had a meeting with my agents where we were discussing the possibility of that, but that’s really up to Nickelodeon; I think they still hold the cards for that. It would depend on what the deal was, and it would depend on the situation and the character, like how is she used, who’s going to write it, because it’s got to be done right; if you do it wrong it’s just a bummer. It can’t just be slopped together because some fans might watch it.
So while we have no confirmation, the door remains open. Clarissa Explains It All worked so well because it didn’t pander to its young audience. Melissa Joan Hart’s Clarissa Darling literally explained it all, providing humorous yet insightful commentary on anything and everything that a kid of the era might feel anxious or curious about. The show turned Melissa Joan Hart into 1990s royalty and would eventually pave the way for her equally iconic role on beloved sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. The actress seems open to the idea, but has enough sense to understand that audiences only want to see this revival if it's handled with the appropriate levels of respect and care.
We know you’re feeling a little nostalgic for Clarissa Explains It All right about now, so go ahead and check out the series’ opening in order to take a trip back to your childhood:
Melissa Joan Hart went on to compare Clarissa Explains it All to Fuller House, noting that it took a different approach to its subject matter and could provide a Clarissa reboot with a potential model:
I’d be open to it. I don’t want to say no, but at the same time I’m not too thrilled about the idea; as with any reboot, it has to really be done right. I think with Fuller House, they’ve taken a great approach with it. I’ll never say never, but it would have to be a very interesting scenario.
Clarissa's story continued in literary form long after the landmark series came to an end, so there's clearly still more story left to tell. She would be considerably older these days, but there's always a chance her daughter or someone could be telling it all in the future.
Some iconic properties absolutely deserve a chance to find a new audience in the modern day, but the question remains as to whether or not Clarissa Explains It All represents one of those properties. What do you think? Would you be willing to see the classic Nickelodeon series brought back to the small screen? We here at CinemaBlend will keep you up-to-date on all of the latest and greatest Clarissa Explains It All developments as they become available. Stay tuned!
