Reboots, remakes, reimaginings, continuations, and all matter of remixing of old properties have been the subject of lament for filmmakers and fans alike. A show likeReboot, then, should feel like a refreshing and pointed look at the entertainment industry and its tendency to play it safe with recognized properties.
For all of its strengths, though,Rebootnever really lives up to its premise, leaving its supremely talented cast to play out typical sitcom plots, albeit ones that involve sitcom actors and writers. For a show that seems like it wants to be about the inner workings of Hollywood,Rebootdoesn’t feel like much more thanthe average workplace comedy.
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Rebootbegins with a self-reflexive scene, as Hannah (Rachel Bloom) meets with the executives at Hulu (that’s the streaming service the show is on!) about rebooting the old sitcomStep Right Up!for the streaming era. The pitch is accepted and the show’s original stars Reed Sterling (Keegan-Michael Key), Bree Marie Jensen (Judy Greer), Clay Barber (Johnny Knoxville), and Zack Jackson (Calum Worthy) all return to resume their roles. However, complications arise when the show’s original creator, Gordon (Paul Reiser) also returns to work on the show. Dissatisfied with the way Hannah is running things, Gordon pushes his way back into the writers room, bringing with him hissomewhat antiquated ideas about television comedy.
The main thrust of the show is the conflict between Hannah and Gordon, who as it turns out have a personal history that informs both the show within a show and their working relationship. Hannah wants the show to be grounded, modern, and relevant. Gordon, above all else, just wants it to be funny and entertaining. The dynamic between these two characters is probablyReboot’s most intriguing aspect, and Bloom and Reiser have impeccable comedic chemistry. Even their performances feel pulled from two different eras, with Bloom exuding an awkward sincerityinformed byMy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Reiser delivering sharp comedic timing indicative of his years spent onMad About You.
The rest of the cast really shines as well. Keegan-Michael Key and Judy Greer are obviously having a lot of fun in their roles, delivering many of the show’s funniest moments. Similarly, Johnny Knoxville and Calum Worthy turn in solid performances. That’s especially true for Worthy, whose Zack, a prolific child actor who hasn’t really grown up, can’t seem to shake his Disney channel inflection and positivity. Knoxville’s Clay is a grizzled comedian who is more known for his bad-boy antics than his actual comedy, but there’s more below the surface, andKnoxville’s own experience as the de-facto leader of theJackasscrewgoes a long way to informing the character.
Unfortunately, much like within the plot of the show itself,Reboot’s biggest flaw is the seeming conflict in its writing. It never really finds the rightbalance between standard sitcom tropes and meta-commentary, making it feel unbalanced. There aren’t really any fresh takes when it comes to the relationships between the characters. While Reed and Bree get plenty of fun back-and-forth with each other, the story between the two of them feels like something every other show has done before. Even a midseason shakeup involving a surprising reveal with Bree just gets glossed over by the next episode. Clay and Zack don’t fare much better, with many of their story beats falling into predictable television formulas.
Steve Levitan, the show’s creator, is probably best known as the co-creator ofModern Family,the multiple Emmy-winning network juggernautthat ran for 11 seasons on ABC. Despite the fact that Levitan and his team are untethered from the limitations of network television (Rebootis packed to the brim with swearing and graphic discussions about sex), their latest creation still opts for the least creative types of storytelling.Rebootgave these seasoned comedy writers a real shot at making fun of themselves, and yet the show still uses one of its episodes to highlight the supposed value that aging comedy writers with outdated sensibilities bring to the table.
Rebootnever manages to find the balance between its competing voices, embodied by Gordon and Hannah. Is it a sharp, show business satire that takes aim at the hollow nature of the industry? Or is it a workplace sitcom focused on the antics and conflicts of the employees (in this case, the production staff and stars ofStep Right Up!)? In trying to be both, Reboot doesn’t fully succeed at either, though generally leans more toward the latter. Only in its final episode does the show really build in the entire rebooting element of its storyline, but by then its squandered most of its time on surface-level storytelling that never really does or says anything new.
Of course, this being a comedy, the big question would be “is it funny?” The answer is: on a moment-to-moment basis, yes, the show does pull more than a few laughs. That mostly comes down to the joke-writing and the ability of the seasoned cast to land their lines. However, the stories themselves are not inherently funny, often feeling somewhat stale and recycled (Clay is having sex with Zack’s mom! Zack needs to get his dog back from his ex! Bree took some mushrooms and is tripping out! Reed ends up playing basketball against children!).Rebootalso plays it safe when it comes to its self-reflexive nature. Hulu is name-checked multiple times in the show, but is never really the butt of the joke. Consideringhow masterful a show likeSolar Oppositesisat making fun of its own streaming service (also Hulu), it just feels likeRebootdoesn’t want to upset the higher-ups too much.
Reboottakes a decently smart idea and mostly squanders it, mostly wasting an otherwise ace comedic cast. There’s plenty to say about the state of Hollywood and how everything old has become new again, butRebootis almost all bark and no bite when it comes to mocking both sitcom tropes and show business. It’s happy to both point out clichés while also indulging in them, and that results in a show that doesn’t quite seem to know what it is. Rather than something refreshing,Rebootmostly just feels like reheated leftovers.
Rebootis now streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus, with new episodes streaming every Tuesday.
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