Just months ago, the Mad About You revival seemed to be edging ever closer to making its small screen debut. Thanks to Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser both signing on to reprise their roles as Jamie and Paul Buchman. In a sad sign of how big a difference two months can make, there is now some incredibly disheartening news coming out surrounding the revival's status. Paul Reiser has spoken out on the situation, and this is what he had to say:
It's kind of stuck in the business end of it now. Sony is trying to figure out from their end; that's where I just walk away and go, call me when you figure it out. I don't know what happens at that level. They make their deals with whoever they make their deals with. So we'll see if it happens. It may not happen. It likely won't happen. My guess is it won't happen.
It is not the news any Mad About You fan wants to hear, but it is always better to prepare for the worst case scenario and hope for the best one. Given Paul Reiser's comments to the Tampa Bay Times, it seems like fans will need to follow that old adage in hopes of safeguarding themselves from the highs and lows that come with the expectations surrounding any series' return. Reiser is a veteran of the entertainment industry, so his summation of where things stand holds a lot of weight.
For now, Mad About You fans will have to wait and see if they get to glimpse the revival, which Paul Reiser also revealed he had a storyline envisioned for. That vision involved the Buchmans navigating life as empty-nesters, a storyline that makes complete sense for the show to explore. Reiser also revealed his hopes for where the revival would land if it came through saying:
[I]t wouldn't go to NBC, probably. In a dream world, it would be on a streaming (platform). I don't know if we're going to do it, but if it did come back, I would much rather do it on a streaming platform than a broadcast.
A streamer would potentially offer more leeway regarding what storylines it could do. However, broadcast television has come a long way since Mad About You originally aired in the 1990's. So that should not be an entirely huge deal, content-wise. Netflix is home to the Full House revival/reboot Fuller House. Time will tell if the streaming giant is willing to add Mad About You to its slate of original multi-camera sitcoms.
While the Mad About You revival is hitting a roadblock, the good news is not all are. With the show in limbo, now is the time for those involved to realize how much viewers want to see it come to fruition.
There are a lot of shows and characters viewers are eager to see brought back to life, and the NBC sitcom likely topped many people's list. While it ended neatly, the Buchmans' story was far from over, and Paul Reiser's suggested storyline would brilliantly chronicle their next chapter. Here is hoping it happens.
CinemaBlend will keep you posted as more updates surrounding the Mad About You revival become available. For other television shows you can watch as you await an update, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres.
