9 TV Shows That Tried To Exploit Nostalgia (And Failed)

9. Magnum P.I. (2018)

Even if you never watched Magnum P.I., you can probably picture how it looks in your head. The crime series was a bona-fide cultural phenomenon throughout the 80s, with Tom Selleck's moustachioed private investigator being synonymous with TV of that era.

It made the actor a star, to the point where no amount of movie work could separate him from his most famous role. He was the show and the show was him - the plots and style were just a bonus.

It would have been a tough act for anyone to step into those shoes, but Jay Hernandez, who was cast as Magnum in the 2018 revival, does a pretty good job. However, the shadow of Selleck looms large, and every time you're reminded that he's supposed to be this iconic character, the whole thing comes crashing down.

However, the real issue is that while the new Magnum P.I. is a fine enough procedural, it relies heavily on the audience's fondness for not just the original show, but all crime shows from that era. From the intentionally cheesy reworking of the main theme over the opening credits to the clean-cut plots, the series is very much designed to be a throwback, which only goes so far in masking the middling scripts.

Without the branding, it's hard to imagine this getting a second season.