The cable network Freeform has announced that it is putting together a Party of Five reboot. For fans of the 90s classic, this sounds like good news, though they should know that it’s not quite the show they grew up with. Freeform’s twist on this all-American family is that it’s being replaced by a Mexican immigrant family whose parents have been deported.
Remember that Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family) is owned by Disney, so it’s no surprise that the company would be promoting this type of socially-conscious material. Since this is a new age where illegal immigrant family is synonymous with family of American citizens, Disney is just doing its best to keep up with the times.
The show has been granted a pilot, written by the creators of the original Fox series, Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman. The original iteration followed the lives of the five Salinger children as they coped with daily life without their parents, who died in a car crash. The reboot takes a turn on this premise, presenting viewers with the story of the five Buendias children as they try and deal with life in America after both of their parents are deported back to Mexico.
When asked about their inspiration for this show’s new Latin flavor, the creators stated, “Twenty-five years ago, we imagined a story about five kids navigating the world after the untimely death of their parents. Today, stories of families being separated, children having to raise themselves in the wake of their parents’ deportation don’t require any imagination; they are everywhere.” Yep. America’s teeming with them. And Jackalopes.
They added that, although it’s not a retread of the original, it’s a restatement of the same theme; “that families persist no matter how great the obstacles.” Yeah, and no matter the illegal activity of their parents who put them in that situation either.
Of course Freeform loved the idea. The network told Hollywood Reporter, “From the moment we heard that Amy and Chris were updating their iconic series with this timely and powerful twist, we knew we had to have this pilot.” They added, “We’re honored to be the home for next, brilliant iteration of their vision.”
What TV network wouldn’t be honored owning such an emotionally manipulative premise? A bunch of Americans are so outraged at the plight of illegal immigrants that it seems to trump so many of their own priorities as US citizens. That kind of zealousness may make for a loyal fanbase.
As far as the rest of us are concerned, we thought it was painful just to hear that reboots of classic franchises were going to be pumped out at a record pace, but reboots with inane social justice premises? Hollywood is clearly picking its audience, and more and more, conservatives are being left out.
