FRIENDS (1994-2004)
More Ross and Rachel drama? Seriously? But it could prove interesting to see how this tight-knit group of New York City friends would handle middle-age. Joey (Matt LeBlanc) would likely still be living with his pals Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry), who should have enough issues of their own as parents of twins in the suburbs. Meanwhile, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) would probably be a social-media star with her one hit song, Smelly Cat. Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) - well, they are Ross and Rachel, which means their on-again, off-again relationship will never end.
SEINFELD (1989-1998)
The show's cast reunited in a meta way in 2009 in the comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, created by Seinfeld's co-creator Larry David. They all played fictionalised versions of themselves over several episodes about working together on a Seinfeld reunion show. Still, it would be fun to have the wacky gang back together in character. During its run, Seinfeld was noted as one of the smartest sitcoms in TV history, even if it was described as "the show about nothing". The characters' observations about the most ordinary things never fail to amuse and it would be fun to see how they deal with social media and Millennials.
THE WEST WING (1999-2006)
The political drama may have been all about American politics, but it was always current and relatable, featuring stories that continue to make world headlines even today. In today's unpredictable political arena, where tycoon Donald Trump is also running for president, it would be curious to see how it gets The West Wing treatment. Of course, a revival of the show would work only if creator Aaron Sorkin is back at the helm. After he left the show following the fourth season due to internal conflicts at Warner Brothers, the series was justifiably criticised for its messy plots and abysmal dialogue.
ALLY MCBEAL (1997 - 2002)
All I wanted was for Ally (Calista Flockhart) to marry Larry Paul (Robert Downey Jr), but he was written out abruptly in the show's penultimate season due to the actor's drug abuse problems at the time. The Iron Man (2008) star, who is now clean, is probably too expensive to be hired again for the role, so perhaps the show should focus on Ally returning as a lawyer coming to terms with a much healthier, even pudgy body, a la Drop Dead Diva (2009-2014). The notoriously skinny Flockhart admitted to suffering from anorexia during her time on the show and it would do some good for the show to promote a more positive body image.
BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997-2003)
Lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, 38, has said that she feels "too old" to play the titular role again, but if the supernatural fantasy drama came back, it could prove interesting to see a more mature vampire slayer kicking butt as she juggles motherhood and other issues. One thing is for sure, the first on her slay list should be Twilight's Edward Cullen.
Yip Wai Yee
•Which defunct TV shows would you like to see back on the screens? Write in to stlife@sph.com.sg