'Coach' returns to NBC: Does bringing back network stars work?
NBC is reportedly reviving the series 'Coach,' with star Craig T. Nelson set to return. In these uncertain TV times, multiple networks have brought back the stars of their past successes to star on new shows. Will the new 'Coach' win over viewers?
NBC is reportedly reviving the series 'Coach,' with star Craig T. Nelson set to return. In these uncertain TV times, multiple networks have brought back the stars of their past successes to star on new shows. Will the new 'Coach' win over viewers?
Actor Craig T. Nelson will reportedly star in a new version of his hit NBC series 鈥淐oach.鈥�
Nelson also starred on the NBC show 鈥淧arenthood,鈥� which recently concluded its run. According to the Hollywood Reporter, this new show will find Nelson鈥檚 character having retired as a football coach but being asked to serve as assistant coach to his adult son, who is the head coach at a college.
鈥淐oach鈥� creator Barry Kemp is also returning for the new show and will serve as an executive producer and writer. The original 鈥淐oach鈥� series ran from 1989 to 1997.听
How will this TV show be received? In these uncertain television times, multiple networks have looked back at their successful shows from the past and brought back its stars. Unfortunately, NBC was behind two of the most high-profile failures of this strategy 鈥� the network premiered 鈥淭he Michael J. Fox Show,鈥� featuring the star of NBC鈥檚 鈥淔amily Ties,鈥� and 鈥淪ean Saves the World,鈥� starring 鈥淲ill and Grace鈥� actor Sean Hayes, in 2013 and both were quickly canceled. Similarly, NBC has brought back its 鈥淔riends鈥� star Matthew Perry for the shows 鈥淪tudio 60 on the Sunset Strip鈥� and 鈥淕o On,鈥� but both were canceled.
[Editor's note:听The original version of this article misstated the network on which the show "Boston Legal" aired.]听
Other networks have done slightly better with this strategy 鈥� ABC鈥檚 show 鈥淟ast Man Standing,鈥� starring its 鈥淗ome Improvement鈥� actor Tim Allen, is still on TV. Similarly, CBS鈥檚 show 鈥淏lue Bloods,鈥� featuring its 鈥淢agnum, P.I.鈥� star Tom Selleck, is doing very well in the ratings 鈥� according to TV Guide, 鈥淏lue鈥� placed ninth in the list of the most-watched TV series (not counting such cable offerings as those from HBO and Showtime, though it does include shows like AMC's "The Walking Dead").
However, 鈥淐oach鈥� is a somewhat different animal in that Nelson is returning as his character and isn't just a successful network star appearing on a different show. If there鈥檚 enough nostalgia for the original series, that could prove to be the tipping point and make the new 鈥淐oach鈥� a touchdown.