Will NBC bring back The Office and/or 30 Rock?

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With the return of such series as Gilmore Girls, Roseanne and Dynasty, it seems that the networks are suffering from “revival fever” and are looking for the next show to bring back – as opposed to maybe coming up with an original, new series, which would really be nice.

While discussing the return of Will and Grace at a panel during the Television Critics Association press tour on Monday, NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt mentioned some NBC classics that the network would like to bring back. According to Greenblatt, the list includes The Office, 30 Rock, The West Wing, and ER. While the network seems interested in reuniting audiences with some of their favorite characters, the show runners in question don’t appear to be overly enthused about the opportunity.

Take for example The Office, which kind of went off the rails after the departure of Steve Carell (IMHO). Greenblatt alluded to talks with that show’s executive producer, Greg Daniels that really haven’t gone anywhere, noting, “We often talk about The Office, I’ve talked to Greg four times over the past few years. It’s always, ‘maybe some day but not now.’ There is certainly an open invitation but we don’t have anything happening right now. If he wants to do it, I would do it.”

Not content to just beat one dead horse, Greenblatt has also approached The West Wing’s Aaron Sorkin and John Wells of ER to gauge any interest in reviving their beloved drama series. He told Deadline, “I keep saying to [Aaron], ‘Do you want to do The West Wing again, wouldn’t it be great to do it?’ He says, ‘You know I love that show and some day I’d love to revisit it, but it’s not going to happen right now.’ I’ve said it to John Wells on ER, but there is nothing concrete except Miami Vice which is something that we are reviving.” Miami Vice? Really? Didn’t the movie get a less-than-enthusiastic reception? If they approached it as a comedy, a la the Jump Street movies, and kept it set in the 80s, with awful wardrobe intact, I might tune in. But of course you know that’s not going to happen.

The apathy continued, and kind of hit its peak, as Greenblatt recalled speaking with Tina Fey about the possible return of her series, 30 Rock. “I’d say to Tina ‘Hey, you think some more 30 Rock makes any sense?’ She’d say, ‘I don’t know maybe.’” Sounds like a big old, “thanks, but no thanks.” Bless you for shutting that one down, Tina.

Stop already, NBC. Seriously. Greenblatt sounds almost desperate in his dogged determination to get just one of his network’s former shows back on the air. I’m starting to worry about Will and Grace. And, if he’s so desperate to get an old series back on the air, I’m sure Brooke Shields would be chomping at the bit for Suddenly, Susan to return to the airwaves.

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35 Responses to “Will NBC bring back The Office and/or 30 Rock?”

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  1. Erinn says:

    Don’t you dare ruin 30 Rock for me, NBC. Don’t you DARE.

  2. CharlieBouquet says:

    If the Office comes back, life during Marmalade Menace will be easier. Jim and Pam were my Luke &Laura lol. Let Dunder and Michael Scott Paper Co rise again!

    • Liberty says:

      Michael Scott Paperless Paper Co.

    • Seraphina says:

      Yessssssssss!

      Loved the office. The characters were hilarious!

    • Sunnydaze says:

      I just started watching the Office on Netflix and I can’t understand why the jim/pam romance never (IMO) became a pop culture reference to the magnitude some others did – I love their story!!! But here I’m on season 8 episode 2 (right this second) and while I LOVE James Spader I can’t help but already feel like the show is diving. I kind of felt like it should have wrapped up if Steve Carell wanted out – like, just have all the stories tie up, he gets promoted to ceo (or something) and life just goes on. Very rarely have I seen major departures work out (unless no one really cared about the character). I think whenever we keep something alive purely for nostalgia everyone suffers in the end.

      Sorry for the long post, I’m just finally getting into this show and kind of desperate to talk about it without people rolling their eyes at how late I am lol

      • Erica_V says:

        @ SD – Jam Forever!!!

        I own all the seasons on DVD and rewatch them all the time – it is hands down my favorite show of all time.

        It was rough a few episodes after Michael left but please stick with it!! Currently rewatching season 9 and it’s so much better than I remembered (Nelly is everything). A few episodes in the last season are some of the funniest of the whole show.

        That’s said I would NOT be here for a reboot or another season. They do a perfect job of wrapping everything up and I don’t think there is anymore story to tell. There was a pilot episode put out about Dwight and his siblings moving to his farm but it didn’t get picked up and I wish it had.

      • suze says:

        Jim and Pam (JAM, JimJam, Jammy Goodness) *were* a huge cultural reference, at least on the internet. The summer of 2007 was particularly hairy on TWOP (the late Television Without Pity).

    • Esmom says:

      My son (16) and his friends don’t need new episodes, although I’m sure they would watch them. He literally watches at least part of one episode every day, for at least 3 years now. I was driving a group of them to the train the other day and the entire conversation was just quotes from the show being thrown back and forth, lol. Apparently it never gets old.

    • Kit says:

      Maybe just watch the original English version?

  3. Giulia says:

    What is the phrase? The stink of desperation? Yes…

  4. Lucy2 says:

    Sounding very desperate, NBC. They have a couple of good comedies on right now, they should develop more original stuff.
    30 Rock had a good ending andno need to continue on. Plus Tina’s a little busy withher other show and starring in movies now.

  5. Fiorucci says:

    I love both of those but they were long enough.
    Just watched “friends from college” on Netflix with Fred savage and that made me want to see the wonder years again! That may be one to revisit

    • Adele Dazeem says:

      Hey that is next on my Netflix binge list! Do you like it? I love the actors in it but I’ve read a couple of bad reviews.

      • Esmom says:

        Chiming in…I watched the first one and I’m not in a rush to get back to it (same wit Ozarks, sigh). I can see why it got bad reviews. Seeing Fred Savage again almost makes it worth it, though, he’s so great.

      • Fiorucci says:

        I really liked it. Not sure if I was hooked from the second or first but it quickly turned into a binge. Long time key and peele fan but first time key looks so hot to me! Not thinking it will necessarily win awards but I enjoyed it and can’t wait for more

  6. HelloSunshine says:

    Please don’t lol The Office def went downhill after Steve Carrell left. I watched it until the end (the ending was amazing imo) but it really felt like the writers didn’t know what to do once he was gone. I’m worried they would ruin the series for me by bringing it back. Same for 30 Rock!

  7. smee says:

    Pitiful. Take a chance on something new. I can’t see 30 Rock ever coming back. The Office shouldn’t come back either – it ran it’s course already.

  8. Lizzie says:

    all of these shows (with the expection of 30 rock) overstayed their welcome by at least one season while they were on the air. no reason to bring them back. make your syndication money and do something new!

  9. Nicole says:

    Ugh no. And those shows didn’t end that long ago (besides ER and WW). And I really don’t need WW. It’s too close and I need to escape politics right now

  10. Esmom says:

    I think rebooting any of these is a bad idea. I’m not on board with Will and Grace, either.

    I just wanted to say, after looking at that Office photo, that Jan was one of my favorite characters!

    • Adele Dazeem says:

      Agreed. Remember that episode when she and Michael had the staff over to their place for dinner? Classic.

    • ravynrobyn says:

      That episode has my FAVORITE “THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!!!!!” of all time. Sigh…I really miss that show. I miss Steve Carell even more.

      With that being said, Steve Carell has recently been quoted as saying that he would never do a reboot as fans think they may want to see all of the gang together but it would be ultimately disappointing as it just wouldn’t be the same. So if Michael Gary Scott isn’t in the reboot…no reboot/reunion/revival–zip, zilch, zero.

      Corey, thanks for posting that delicious pic of Steve. It makes me smile and feel weird stuff, lol.

      • Erica_V says:

        I really think they did such a great job of wrapping everything up at the end of Season 9 that there isn’t anymore story to tell. I would not be happy if they tried to bring it back or reboot it with a new cast.

  11. minx says:

    30 Rock was perfection. I don’t know how they could bring it back.

  12. Dahlia1947 says:

    The networks are running out of ideas and boy does it show.

  13. OTHER RENEE says:

    No. Just no. The question is WHY aren’t they able to come up with original ideas?

  14. Meg says:

    Wasn’t 30 rock only given half a season for their last season because of low ratings? Why would that be brought back and not friends or fraiser or Seinfeld?

    • Kate says:

      Agreed, I loved 30 Rock, but there’s no reason to bring that back. And hasn’t it only been off the air for a few years? And “The Office” was horrible after Steve Carrell left. Obviously both Tina Fey and Ellie Kemper are busy with “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”. Now “Friends”, I’m surprised they aren’t trying to bring that back!

  15. holly hobby says:

    Ugh no rehashing please. I’ll just end up disappointed with them.

    • Katenotkatie says:

      Right? It’s like with Arrested Development and Gilmore Girls – it’s thrilling to feel nostalgia for an old show and and to see the cast back together again, but ultimately it’s just not the same. That’s part of the magic of classic, brilliant TV – you’re always left wanting more from the writing and from the characters. But you can’t recreate that magic at will, it just ends up being a let down.

  16. Olive says:

    NO! Stop bringing back things that were good only to ruin them in the name of $$.

    Good things have to end. There’s a dignity in understanding that. All these sequels, every other band getting back together, they just destroy a legacy.

  17. CharlieBouquet says:

    Oh lawdy, that was a great episode, I am picturing Jan swaying around sniffing candles, chucking a Dundee and Dwight arriving with his babysitter and cooler lol. I think Creed was my favorite although Angela grooming her cats, and the gaydar episode were great too. And Dwights cousin Mose bahhha. I loved Kathy Bates with her two great danes. Sorry don’t mind me, total Office stan:)

  18. LindaBelcher says:

    Okay, so I’ll say it. I searched, but no one has said it…

    It’s “champing” at the bit, not chomping. Common mistake, but there it is. Also, no for reboots!