Paramount Plus will offer more baby hijinks with the renewal of its animated series Rugrats for a second season, the streaming service said Tuesday.

The series, a reboot of the popular 1990s Nickelodeon series, returns for its sophomore campaign on Oct. 7 and will once again feature the imaginative exploits of Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil and Lil as they embark on new adventures, said the streaming service. Season one of the series debuted on Paramount Plus in May.

Read also: Familiarity Breeds Audience for Kids Show Reboots

The new season also includes a Halloween-themed special in which Tommy needs his friends’ help to save Angelica after she turns into a werewolf at a Halloween party as their parents seem to disappear one by one, according to the service.

“Kids series are a key driver of engagement for Paramount Plus,” said Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer for Paramount Plus in a statement. “With the renewal of Rugrats for a second season, we look forward to bringing even more adventures with Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica and the rest of the Rugrats for kids and families to enjoy.”

Added Nickelodeon Animation President Ramsey Naito: “This next season of Rugrats will dive even deeper into the secret life of babies and their unsuspecting parents, while continuing to highlight the main themes of friendship and family. For 30 years, the Rugrats have resonated with fans around the globe and we can’t wait to continue telling original and fresh stories with these beloved characters.” 

Children’s-targeted programmers such as Disney Channel and Nickelodeon are rebooting popular kids shows from the 1990s and early 2000s in an effort to reach a new generation of kids, as well as their parents who grew up watching them on both traditional television and online streaming platforms. 

Shows with brand identity and familiarity have an advantage over new programs trying to establish themselves in a crowded multiplatform content universe, network executives and industry observers said. But such advantages don’t guarantee success for reboots, regardless of the original show’s popularity. 

“If you can provide an entertaining show to the current audience and use established characters in an established format that also attracts past viewers, then you’re on the right track,” TV analyst Bill Carroll said. “Yet in any show, whether it’s a reboot or an original, it has to stand on its own, whether it’s entertaining or whether the audience finds it attractive.”

As young viewers consume content across multiple platforms — kids 2 to 11 averaged 14 hours as week of viewing on connected-TV devices and 10 hours of live or time shifted TV viewing according to Nielsen’s Total Audience Report for third-quarter 2020 — content distributors are turning to more established intellectual properties (IP) to reach more kids, as well as their parents who grew up with such properties. 

“It absolutely helps break through the clutter and connect to audiences,” Paul DeBenedittis, Nickelodeon’s executive VP of programming and content strategy, said. “We have the ability to bring back properties so that parents who are now 40 years old can experience Nick with their children.”

Aggressive IP Revivers

Nickelodeon in particular has been aggressive in developing reboots and spinoffs for its older titles, having brought back this past May animated series Rugrats with new episodes featuring the original actor voices from the 1990s. On the live-action front, the network in June revived its 2010 series iCarly, featuring the original kid stars Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress reprising their roles as adults. 

Both shows debuted on upstart streaming service Paramount Plus and not Nickelodeon, where the original shows ran. DeBenedittis said the streaming service allows the network to reach both fans who watch reruns of the original series on Paramount Plus as well as new viewers who may not be familiar with the franchise but are viewing other shows online. 

The strategy seems to be working. The iCarly reboot, whose June 17 debut reached 145,000 households within the live-plus-three-day window according to Samba TV, was recently renewed for a second season on Paramount Plus.

“We have an opportunity to reach a broader audience that might not be watching Nick and might not have children, but they’re watching Paramount Plus to see a title that they grew up with,” DeBenedettis said. “These titles generally have a strong affinity with audiences while at the same time they also have the ability to drive new audiences.” 

Disney Channel is preparing to revive one of its more popular animated titles, The Proud Family, with hopes it will follow in the footsteps of successful reboots of That’s So Raven (Raven’s Home) and High School Musical (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series). 

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will once again follow the exploits of an African-American family, led by teenage daughter Penny Proud. Original series creator and executive producers Bruce Smith and Ralph Farquhar will return for the reboot along with most of the cast members from the original show, which aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2005. Though no premiere date for The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder has been announced, it will be available on Disney Plus.  

Disney Branded Television president and CEO Gary Marsh said the multigenerational appeal of reboots provides a catalyst for co-viewing opportunities on multiple platforms. “There is a familiarity with the series among original fans, but the show has new stories to tell and new characters to introduce that will keep the original fans engaged and attract new ones,” Marsh said. 

Marsh pointed to the success of Disney Channel’s Raven’s Home, which finished its fourth season this past May as one of the network’s most-watched and most co-viewed shows. The series starring Raven-Symoné takes place years after the end of That’s So Raven, which ran on the channel from 2003 to 2007, with Raven’s then-teenage character now a divorced mother of preteen twins. 

“When Raven’s Home first launched, the nostalgia factor of seeing Raven-Symoné in her comedic element again appealed to fans of That’s So Raven, while attracting a whole new generation of fans in Disney Channel’s core 6-14 demo,” Marsh said. “What’s great about these titles is that they’re multigenerational and are great for co-viewing.”

The CW will look to capitalize on the success and popularity of Craig McCracken-produced Cartoon Network’s animated series The Powerpuff Girls, having green-lit a live-action version of the series. In The CW’s version, the three adolescent superheroes of the animated series that ran on Cartoon Network from 1998 to 2005 and again from 2016 to 2019, are 20-something women contemplating their roles as crime fighters. 

Carroll said reboots of kids-targeted shows such as Netflix’s Fuller House (based on ABC’s 1980’s sitcom Full House) have succeeded because the new series are able to update the original version to appeal to new viewers without totally alienating former viewers looking for the nostalgia of the original show. Fuller House, in which the kid stars from the original are now adults and drive the main storylines, ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2020.

“Time and time again it has been proven that if a reboot is well-done and it makes sense, then it works,” Carroll said. “If it’s just taking a concept that worked before and is not contemporized then it probably doesn’t work.”

Indeed, not every reboot idea successfully sees the light of day. Disney in 2019 announced plans for a revival of the 2000s Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire, with original series star Hilary Duff reprising her lead role as an adult living in New York. But in a 2020 Instagram post Duff announced that the show would not go forward, saying that the “stars didn’t align” creatively for the much-anticipated reboot. 

Disney’s Marsh acknowledged the challenges in navigating actors, storylines and characters surrounding reboots. “It’s important to honor the heart and soul of the original series because it obviously holds a special place in the hearts of the fans,” Marsh said. “But it’s equally important to evolve and contemporize the characters and storytelling so that we invite new audiences in as well. With every project you start out to make, sometimes the stars align and other times they don’t and that’s OK.”

New ‘Under Wraps’ In Works

Disney is moving head with several other projects in the reboot arena, including a comedic remake of the network’s first ever original movie, Under Wraps, and a Doogie Howser M.D. reimagining featuring Andi Mack’s Peyton Elizabeth Lee as a 16-year-old prodigy juggling a budding medical career and life as a teen, according to Marsh. 

Nickelodeon is putting a new spin on the classic animated series The Smurfs, and a live-action reboot of 2000s animated series The FairlyOdd Parents is also in the works, DeBenedittis said. Other franchises such as Star Trek, Transformers and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are also being primed for new projects. 

“We’re looking at additional content — both movies and series — that we could potentially deliver for the fan base and grow new audiences through both linear and streaming,” he said. “The different platforms offer us the ability to drive broader reach and engagement with beloved properties that fans love as well as introduce kids to these properties.” 

Rugrats premieres on Paramount Plus May 27. Nickelodeon Animation Studio produces the animated series, which sees “the reimagined babies continue to explore their world in brand-new adventures that will both complement and evolve the original series’ beloved stories,” in Paramount Plus’s words. 

The one-hour premiere, “Second Time Around,” sees Tommy lead the babies on a daring adventure to help Chuckie after his big attempt to be brave goes horribly wrong. Following the season’s run on Paramount Plus, the episodes will air on Nickelodeon later in the year. Both are part of ViacomCBS. 

Rugrats stars E.G. Daily (Tommy Pickles), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie Finster), Cheryl Chase (Angelica Pickles), Cree Summer (Susie Carmichael) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil DeVille), all of whom are reprising their roles from the original Nickelodeon series that debuted in 1991. 

Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain created the original show, which ran for nine seasons. 

Also in the voice cast are Tony Hale, Natalie Morales, Michael McKean and Anna Chlumsky. 

Eryk Casemiro and Kate Boutilier are executive producers.

Cable networks and streaming services will look to end the month of May on a high note with several series and movie premieres leading into Memorial Day weekend.

Disney Plus will debut its highly anticipated movie Cruella, starring Emma Stone in the role of 101 Dalmatians antagonist Cruella de Vil in a prequel of the classic Disney film. Disney Plus subscribers will have to pay an additional $30 for the movie as part of the streaming service’s Premiere Access movie offering for movies that debut day and date with their theater premiere. 

Read also: Disney Plus Premiere Access Gets 'Cruella,' 'Black Widow' Same Time as Theaters 

Also slated for this week is the May 27 premiere of Friends: The Reunion special on HBO, which reunites the stars of the popular 1990’s sitcom -- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer -- for a real-life, unscripted celebration of the show.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting the week of May 24 to May 31 on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

May 25 -- Mr. Inbetween (returning series) -- FX

Read also: Review: Mr. Inbetween on FX 

May 26 -- The Bold Type (returning series) -- Freeform

May 27 -- Blue Miracle (movie) -- Netflix

May 27 -- Madagascar: A Little Wild (returning series) -- Peacock

May 27 -- Rugrats (animation) -- Paramount Plus

May 28 -- The Kominsky Method (returning series) -- Netflix

May 28 -- Lucifer (returning series) -- Netflix

May 28 -- Plan B (movie) -- Hulu

May 29 -- Oslo (movie) -- HBO Max

May 30 -- Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre (documentary) -- History

Read also: Programming Review: History's 'Tulsa Massacre' Spotlights a Forgotten Tragedy

May 31 -- Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (reality series) -- National Geographic

Nickelodeon said that it has reunited the original voice cast of Rugrats for the new version of the show, set to debut on Paramount Plus this spring.

Reprising their roles are E. G. Daily as Tommy, Nancy Cartwright as Chuckie, Cheryl Chase as Angelica, Cree Summer as Susie and Kath Soucie as the twins Phil and Lil.

The new series, produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, features computer-generated animation and follows the toddlers as they explore the world.

Also Read: Nickelodeon Invites Kids to Virtual Upfront on March 18

“Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience,” said Ramsey Naito, president, Nickelodeon Animation. “Having the voice cast behind these special characters come together is one of the essential pieces to making the show recognizable and we can’t wait to watch this talented group bring them to life again.”

The original Rugrats launched in 1991 and ran for nine seasons over 13 years, winning four daytime Emmy Awards and six Kids’ Choice Awards.

The new Rugrats series is based on the series created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain. Eryk Casemiro and Kate Boutilier are executive producers and Dave Pressler  and Casey Leonard serve as co-executive producers, with Rachel Lipman as co-producer. Production is overseen by Mollie Freilich, senior manager, current series animation, Nickelodeon. 

Nickelodeon is going back into its classics vault and greenlighting new episodes of its 90s animated series Rugrats, the network said Tuesday.

The series, which aired from 1991 to 2004, followed the world from the point of view of several babies. Nickelodeon will produce 26 new episodes of the series, with original creators Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and Paul Germain returning to the TV series as executive producers.

In addition, Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures will produced a live-action theatrical film based on the Rugrats that will be released in 2020.

.The Rugrats revival follows Nick's decision to bring back 90s pre-school hit Blues Clues.

“Rugrats is hands-down one of the most celebrated cartoons in TV history, and we are thrilled for a whole new audience to meet these iconic characters in brand-new adventures,” said Sarah Levy, COO, Viacom Media Networks; and Interim President, Nickelodeon in a statement. “What was true in 1991 when the original show premiered is still true today: kids are fascinated with the world of babies. We can’t wait for today’s kids to meet Tommy, Chuckie and pals.”

Kids-targeted networks Nickelodeon and Disney Channel are turning back the clock, offering blocks of classic TV programming in the hopes that young parents will tune in and watch along with their kids on multiple platforms.

Disney’s Wednesday late-night “Disney Replay” block and Nickelodeon’s daily late-night “Splat” block on TeenNick both offer popular original series from the 1990s to early 2000s. Those shows resonate with 18-to-34-year-olds who grew up watching shows such as Nick’s Rugrats and Hey Arnold! or Disney’s That’s So Raven! and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

“We know that there’s an audience that is engaged with the series, characters and talent that they watched growing up,” Paul DeBenedittis, senior vice president of programming strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, said. “We hear this across our social-media platforms. For many who loved this timeless programming over the past decade, it’s like comfort food.”

SOLID ANCHORS

The “Disney Replay” block of shows, which airs from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings, launched in 2014. Since June, it has been anchored by That’s So Raven! and Lizzie McGuire, which are generating sizable audiences.

Since June, That’s So Raven! (which airs two episodes from midnight to 1 a.m.) is averaging 1.3 million viewers and Lizzie McGuire (1 to 2 a.m.) is averaging 1.1 million viewers on a live-plus-seven-day basis. That compares favorably to Disney’s October total-day average of 1.1 million viewers.

Other shows, such as Duck Tales and Kim Possible, are drawing both parents and their kids to the network’s Watch Disney Channel and DisneyChannel.com digital services. DeBenedittis said the Disney Replay offerings on digital provide the network’s targeted tween viewers with alternative programming to view, while drawing in adults who may not ordinarily access the network’s digital offerings.

“Across our digital platforms, Disney Replay allows us to expand our reach beyond the core audience of kids and families who see Disney Channel as a daily destination,” he said. “Disney Replay ignites a fan base that continues to have a special love and affinity for these classic shows across social commentary and video consumption.”

Nickelodeon last month launched “The Splat,” a multiplatform programming block on its TeenNick service.

The Splat, which runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., offers classic Nickelodeon shows including Kenan & Kel and Hey Arnold!, while offering a fan-driven web site built to drive discussion among parents and fans of the classic programming fare.

While the network would not reveal specific ratings for the block, executives have said that the block was created in response to viewer requests to see the classic Nick series available on multiple platforms.

Both networks are on course to continue vintage programming efforts for the foreseeable future.

ON-DEMAND FORMULA

DeBenedittis said Disney will continue to build on its Disney Replay strategy. The network is looking to expand the classic offerings across linear and on-demand platforms with more series and show episodes, and wants to create stunt packages that will include some new and fresh editorial elements.

For example, Disney will offer several episodes of Miley Cyrus-starrer Hannah Montana — which ran on Disney Channel from 2006 to 2010 — during the Thanksgiving week on the Watch Disney Channel site to engage both parents and kids during the holiday break.

“We saw Hannah Montana become a favorite again across all platforms this summer,” DiBenedittis said. “It’s the timeless themes of wish fulfillment; following your dreams with relatable fantasy elements; music; and great storytelling, topped with a key character played so well by Miley, that drives engagement.”

After weeks of teasing its launch, Nickelodeon Thursday said it will debut its ‘Splat’ multiplatform programming block Oct. 5 on TeenNick.

The block will run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on TeenNick and will feature classic Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s including Rugrats, Kenan & Kel and Hey Arnold!, said network officials. The block will look to recreate specific days of programming as they aired in the ‘90s and will feature original promos and interstitials.

In addition, the Splat will feature a fan-driven web site built around social conversations, an Splat-branded keyboard featuring emoticons, stickers and GIFs and a social media presence of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, twitter, Vine and YourTube, said the network.

“We have been listening closely to our first generation of Nick kids that are craving the great characters and shows they grew up with watching Nickelodeon in the ‘90s,” said Cyma Zarghami, President of Viacom Kids and Family Group. “We designed ‘The Splat’ with fans and their requests in mind, which means we’re bringing together these beloved series and a high level of digital engagement to give fans a retro media experience they can’t get anywhere else.”

90's Nickelodeon stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell reunite on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon