Source: Ron Galella, Ltd. / Getty
When it comes to New York Undercover, do you want a reboot or would you rather just have the original episodes?
That’s the question we’re asking after it was announced on Wednesday that the show is making a comeback, and not on its original home of Fox.
Per an exclusive from Deadline, ABC, of all networks, is planning to reboot its old hit show NYPD Blue, and in the midst of doing so, they also came to the conclusion that they would like to reincarnate Dick Wolf’s New York Undercover. Ben Watkins, who wrote for the USA series Burn Notice and created Hand of God on Amazon, will write the reboot. Wolf will be back around as executive producer while co-production credit will also go to Universal TV and ABC Studios. Wolf’s agent, Rick Rosen, reportedly hinted that the show was coming back earlier this week before the announcement was made, saying that Wolf is reviving the show because ‘it’s a franchise you can redo” and it “doesn’t necessarily have to have the same cast.”
We wouldn’t say all that.
The first show to feature people of color as the leads in Malik Yoba (J.C. Williams) and Michael DeLorenzo (Eddie Torres), New York Undercover ran for four seasons. We, unfortunately, have access to not a one of those seasons, which is what makes this news a bit annoying.
People have managed to upload some episodes on YouTube, but good luck putting them in order (I gave up like two years ago). And with Martin already on DVD and Living Single finally on Hulu, we’re wondering why the last piece of the classic Thursday night Fox lineup has been left out when it comes to re-releases.
And if we’re being completely honest, there was a certain spirit the show had that can’t be recreated, most likely because it was the ’90s and the vibe of that time is something romanticized now. The show was Empire before Empire, but did it a lot better. It gave Black musicians and models the chance to act (Ice T and Naomi Campbell for example), and introduced a lot of people to the musical stylings and talent of future legends (D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, Aaliyah, Boyz II Men and more) with performances at the fictitious nightclub, Natalie’s (owned by Gladys Knight’s character of the same name).
The writing was good, and the main stars were great actors. So revamping it for a new generation, with whole new actors and with today’s performers? We can’t help but be a tad skeptical. We might be more open to it if somebody could just put the seasons (hard pass on the fourth one with the new cast though) on Hulu, Amazon, TV One, Bounce, Mr. World Premiere or somewhere for the people to enjoy.
