Lead actress Reba McEntire explains why there has been little development on the Reba revival. The 2000 WB sitcom starred McEntire as the eponymous protagonist, a single mom who takes over the responsibility of her family after her husband Brock (Christopher Rich) leaves her for a much younger dental hygienist, Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman). Reba proved to be a hit ratings-wise for The WB, but after season 5 the show was almost canceled when The WB and UPN merged into The CW, although ultimately it was picked up for a sixth season at the new network.
Even at The CW, Reba maintained its position as the channel's most-watched sitcom, with its original runs and encores both drawing scores of viewers. However, in 2007, The CW surprisingly axed Reba, leaving the cast and fans in shock. The series now lives on in syndication, though there remains hope for a proper return. In July, McEntire offered hope for a potential Reba revival, saying that she, alongside some of her colleagues, were pushing hard to make the show happen.
However, according to Deadline, McEntire has now offered a disheartening update on plans for a Reba revival. As the actress reveals, the Reba cast remains busy with other projects, so it's hard to get them together. Nevertheless, there is still some hope. Read what she said below.
“So many obstacles. The TV business changes so much that sometimes reboots are hot and then they’re not. Plus getting everyone scheduled together is also hard. Steve Howie is very busy, and so is Joanna Garcia. Mellisa [Peterman] is doing wonderful and here we are making a movie together. I guess timing and schedule will dictate that in the future.”
While the update likely disappoints those longing for a Reba revival, McEntire is right about the logistics being hard to figure out. First, the show was produced under the banner of 20th Century Fox, and with the company being absorbed into Disney, the new bosses might not see the appeal. Reboots and revivals are undoubtedly hot these days, but broadcasters and streaming services tend to prioritize properties that have had mass followings during their runs, and with Reba not being a big-four sitcom, some might not perceive a revival as a safe bet. The sitcom was indeed a bit hit for its channel and parent networks, but with The CW undergoing a leadership change itself, the chances are not so bright that the new management would want to invest in a cult favorite over the more popular hits that are also ripe for a reboot treatment.
Despite the discouraging news, McEntire is not giving up hope on the possibility of a Reba revival. The show has a better shot at happening if all cast members are on board. However, as the star mentioned, the original Reba actors have been quite busy. Once McEntire's cast mates are through with their commitments, the team can sit down and work out the story details, as well as a potential schedule for the revival. That said, progress on the Reba reboot seems to be a developing situation, and whether the show happens will become clear in subsequent months if a proper plan takes shape and some concrete conversations happen.
Source: Deadline