Exclusive: NBC’s Peacock Considering ‘Quantum Leap’ Revival As Millennials Drive ‘Saved By The Bell’ And ‘Punky Brewster’ Returns [TCA 2020]
NBC’supcoming streaming serviceThe Peacock was not represented at NBC Universal’s day before the Television Critics Association. The Peacock will feature revivals of classic NBC sitcomsPunky BrewsterandSaved By the Bell, but NBC’s head of program planning and strategy, Jeff Bader, discussed another series that might get revived as well.
Speaking with /Film, Bader said the ’90s time travel seriesQuantum Leapis another title under consideration and spoke about what led to thePunky BrewsterandSaved by the Bellrevivalson The Peacock.
Quantum LeapstarredScott Bakulaas Dr. Sam Beckett (above), a scientist who invented time travel. Every week he would leap into someone from the past to correct a wrong that occurred in history. It ran from 1989 to 1993, and it might be jumping into the 21st century.
“That’s one that I know everyone is discussing,” Bader said.
In 2009, Syfy considered a reboot ofQuantum Leapwith a new cast., but that’s not what anyQuantum Leapfan wants. They want Scott Bakula, and ideallyDean Stockwellas his hologram partner Al. Unfortunately, Bakula is currently on CBS’sNCIS: New Orleansand Stockwell is 82 and hasn’t acted since 2015 , though he did an episode ofNCIS: NOwith Bakula in 2014.
One of the hooks ofQuantum Leapwas that Beckett could only leap within his own lifetime. So episodes spanned the ’50s to the ’80s. A 2020Quantum Leapcould do ’80s and ’90s stories as period pieces.
“That’s true,” Bader said, adding that the network is exploring their whole back catalog. “There’s more that I think we’ll be visiting.”
How Millennials Saved Punky Brewster
Punky Brewsterwas a show on the bubble in the ’80s. It lasted four seasons and spawned an animated spinoff, but fans couldn’t save it in 1988.Soleil Moon Fryeplayed the title character, an orphan who becomes the foster child of Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes). The Peacock revival sees Frye reprise her role as a mother herself who meets a young girl who reminds her of herself.
“Punky Brewsteris like a lot of those shows that didn’t ‘work’ with adults, even going back toThe Brady BunchandPartridge Familyand things like that,” Bader said. “Punky Brewsterhas a huge resonance with millennials. That’s what we want. We’re seeing that with millennials, Soleil Moon Frye, there is a resonance. So the idea of a show with her and a kid actually I think is going to work for them.”
The kids who watchedPunky Brewsterin the ’80s would more likely be Generation X than millennials. There’s a chance millennials must have caught it in reruns or on DVD, but either way, Punkystans surely thank them for bringing her back.
Saved By the Bell
The Peacock confirmedMark-Paul Gosselaarwould appear in theSaved by the Bellrevival. Although The Peacock is not his department specifically, NBC Entertainment ChairmanPaul Telagdysaid in his executive session that it was a no-brainer to bring back the high school comedy.
“I know the show and its history,” Telagdy said. “This is how I look at all these things. Would I doSaved By the Bellagain? Hell yeah. Based on the context of some people showed up for that90210reboot. I backed away from it. It wasn’t what I was expected. I don’t know whether it’s a good surprise or a bad surprise. Tracey Wigfield is doing it. I bumped into Mark-Paul Gosselaar. They’re all excited about it.”
