Who's the Boss?' Reboot Axed: What Went Wrong?

Ah, the bittersweet symphony of modern television, where old flames and beloved characters flicker out faster than you can say “What happened to my favorite sitcom?” Amazon, in its grand empire, has hit a minor snag in its quest for nostalgic gold. Yes, folks, as serendipitous as it sounds, the much-ballyhooed sequel to the beloved 1980s sitcom Who’s The Boss? has been unceremoniously tossed off the cliff of progress, joining the ranks of projects that started with promise but ended with a shrug.

Can you believe it? The dynamic duo of Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano—the very essence of heartwarming TV—were set to grace our screens once more. Picture this: Samantha Micelli, now a single mother, trying to navigate life while living in the same house where she grew up. It’s almost poetic, really, like a fine wine found in a dusty cellar. But alas, this reunion has been scuttled faster than you can say “That’s not my dad, that’s my landlord.”

The ambitious plans for this nostalgic trip back in time had originally bubbled away at Sony Pictures Television for two years before finding a home at Freevee in 2022. I can’t help but imagine the boardroom meetings, the PowerPoint presentations complete with 80s clips and bubble font—only to be met with the cold reality of “Nope!” It’s enough to make a writer’s heart ache for what might have been, especially when names like Mike Royce and Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz were brought on board to sprinkle their magic.

But not to be outdone by nostalgia, the Bosch universe decided to take a hit too! The sequel focusing on Jamie Hector's character, Detective Jerry Edgar, has been shown the door alongside a heartfelt “Thanks, but no thanks.” Originally heralded as one of two spinoffs, the echoes of excitement have now faded. The remaining spinoff, featuring the indomitable Detective Renée Ballard (played by the ever-so-talented Maggie Q), marches forth into production like a watercolor painting left out in the rain.

And speaking of rain, we must pour one out for Bosch: Legacy—yes, the original series, much like your favorite first date, has a designated expiration date, set to close out its third and final season in 2025. Michael Connelly, the illustrious author behind the world of Harry Bosch, was all set to executive produce the Edgar spin-off along with a plethora of other high-profile names—making the cancellation feel even more like a punch to the gut of crime drama lovers everywhere.

As we meander through the ever-shifting landscape of television, it’s hard not to shake the feeling that we’re all clinging to the past, hoping for our beloved characters to return from the ether. But in this brave new world, sometimes, it’s best to let things go gracefully. After all, just because we want it, doesn’t mean it will happen. And as we sigh in disappointment, we can only ask ourselves: what else is waiting in the wings, ready to delight—or disappoint—us as we scroll through the endless sea of streaming options?