Reba McEntire’s Upcoming TV Show Makes A Heartwarming Actor Reunion More Likely After 2 Decades Of Waiting

Summary

Reba McEntire’s return to TV in Happy’s Place reunites her with old co-star Melissa Peterman, offering a promising new series for fans.
Happy’s Place, set to premiere in fall 2024 on NBC, features a similar premise to Reba, but is not a reboot or sequel to the original show.
While Happy’s Place may include cameo appearances from former Reba cast members, the producers aim to establish the new series as its own entity.

Reba McEntire’s upcoming return to television for Happy’s Place, her first series since Reba ended gives her the opportunity to reunite with an old co-star. McEntire is primarily known as a country music singer. In the early 2000s, she had a successful sitcom in which she played a single mother whose husband divorced her after getting his dental hygienist pregnant. This show blended comedy with serious family issues such as teen pregnancy, making it a relatable and popular show. Reba is currently one of Netflix’s top-rated shows despite having ended in 2007.

This show’s popularity has led to constant chatter about a potential Reba revival. No such plan is currently in the works; however, Reba will star in a new series called Happy’s Place that is slated to premiere on NBC in the fall of 2024. The new series has a similar premise, with Reba’s character inheriting a restaurant from her late father that she must share with a newly discovered half-sister. Reba will serve as an executive producer and will sing the theme song, which she also did for Reba. Happy’s Place casting news includes a reunion with Reba co-star Melissa Peterman, which suggests the show may be open to other reunions with Reba cast members.

Happy’s Place Is The Perfect Opportunity For A Reba McEntire & JoAnna Garcia Swisher Reunion

The Two Haven’t Worked Together Since Reba Ended

JoAnna Garcia Swisher played Reba’s daughter, Cheyenne, on Reba. The two have not had the opportunity to work together since, but Happy’s Place could give them the opportunity to do so. This reunion would be especially heartwarming considering that the actresses haven’t played against each other in over two decades, although they have stayed close throughout the years and Reba was even a bridesmaid at JoAnna’s wedding (via Yahoo Lifestyle). Melissa Peterman was also a bridesmaid at Swisher’s wedding, which suggests that Swisher is close enough to both Happy Place stars to secure a guest spot.

Swisher herself has expressed willingness in the past to reunite professionally with Reba. Her openness to participation in a Reba reboot makes it likely she would also be willing to appear on Happy’s Place as a guest star or regular cast member. This would solidify Happy’s Place as a suitable Reba replacement for those fans who have longed for the original series to be rebooted since its 2007 cancelation, and since Reba herself is an executive producer, the new series will likely be open to the possibility of a reunion episode.

Happy’s Place Cameos Can Brilliantly Substitute A Reba Reboot Show

Bringing On Reba Cast Members Should Satisfy The Need For a Revival

This reunion would be especially heartwarming considering that the actresses haven’t played against each other in over two decades, although they have stayed close throughout the years and Reba was even a bridesmaid at JoAnna’s wedding.

Happy’s Place is not a reboot or sequel to Reba, so the producers might not want to have Swisher or other former cast members on full-time. Doing so could interfere with Happy’s Place finding its own audience, as it would inevitably be compared to Reba instead of audiences being attracted to it for its own sake. However, this problem could be solved by allowing Reba stars to make cameo appearances from time to time. Swisher and other of Reba McEntire’s former co-stars could appear briefly in various episodes. This would allow Happy’s Place to maintain its connection to Reba without becoming an extension of the original series.

Reba also played a small part in Young Sheldon , so she could bring on some of those actors for cameos as well.

The new series gives Reba stars the opportunity to reunite with Reba McEntire. The new series has things in common with the original sitcom, but is not intended as a sequel or reboot, so the producers will have to find a way to balance nods to the past with fresh, original content. However, since one former star is already on board for Happy’s Place and Reba McEntire is the executive producer, there is a real opportunity for Reba to reunite with JoAnne Garcia Swisher and other former co-stars.

Reba streams on Netflix. Happy’s Place will air on NBC in the fall of 2024.