Television shows’ ending is a natural part of the industry. No story continues forever, but this doesn’t mean that the shows we love always fade away. In the age of the internet, that which would otherwise be relegated to VHS or DVD box sets have a new way of finding life.
Both through related media and online communities, shows can persist far beyond what used to be possible, and in this article, we want to look at how.
Classics Plus Classics
Some of the best illustrations of properties that perform well after the decline of the primary show are found in online casinos. For example, bingo for real money at Paddy Power doesn’t just include classic offerings, it also offers new versions of games like Deal or No Deal Bingo.
The original run of Deal or No Deal ran from 2005 to 2016, after which the bingo version of the game remained strong. In this case, success was found through the combination of classic bingo game appeal with the evergreen fun of gameshows into a cohesive whole. Playable on mobiles and desktops, the appeal and access of this entry in particular helped keep the show in people’s minds until the new series began in 2023.
Communities Built on Love
On the other side of direct official efforts, it’s the work from fans and social media accounts that continue to have profound effects on a show’s longevity. Series like Mr Robot and Stranger Things have huge social media followings, as pointed out at Sprinklr. These include efforts like live streams before premiers, Q&As with the cast, and even viral advertising designed to indulge fans and deepen mysteries.
Big thanks also have to come to more casual communities where meme culture continues to be strong. Memes that are strong enough resonate far beyond their direct audience, raising the public consciousness of an IP.
There are thousands of people out there who might never have been interested in the MCU, for example, but as explored over at Collider, chances are pretty good they’ve come across the resulting memes at some point.
The Preservation Process
Once something hits the internet it can’t be deleted. Though this saying isn’t exact, there is truth in how well the online world serves to preserve older media. Shows like The Rifleman, originally aired in 1958, would otherwise prove largely impossible to find before the net, but today, thanks to preservationists, they’re freely available to the world.
As an extension of this idea, older shows tend to eventually fall out of rights holders’ hands, meaning they can be shared on platforms like YouTube. Resurgences here can also manifest in new generations of memes and games, from basic text images to classic casino-based titles.
Whether browsing Reddit on a lunch break or playing online casino games for fun, the digital world does more than just provide streaming services for current shows. It serves as a place to remember what came before and give what otherwise might be lost a chance for a new audience and life. It’s an exciting time for shows both old and new, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.