If you came of age in the '90s, Jim Carrey was practically a household deity. From the rubber-faced antics of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask to his surprisingly poignant turn in The Truman Show, Carrey defined an era. But one of his most unsettling—and enduring—performances came in 1996's The Cable Guy, where he played Chip Douglas, a cable technician whose desperate need for friendship spirals into obsession. Now, nearly 30 years later, that cult classic is getting a second life as a Hulu series—and this time, it's got something to say about the way we connect (or fail to) in the age of streaming.
A Reboot Built for the Streaming Era
The new series, written by Rob Rosell (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Joe Piarulli & Luan Thomas (Cobra Kai), flips the original premise on its head. Instead of a man simply ordering cable, the show follows a protagonist who, fed up with endless streaming options, reactivates his old cable subscription—and catches the attention of a lonely technician. In a world where cord-cutting is the norm, this angle gives the story a fresh, timely hook. It's not just a nostalgia play; it's a commentary on how our media habits shape our relationships.
Friendship in a Fragmented World
The original film's most haunting moment comes when Chip reveals he was raised by television because his father left and his mother was always busy. That theme of isolation feels more relevant than ever. Social media and streaming services promise connection, but they often breed parasocial relationships and toxic behavior—much like Chip's deranged actions after Steven rejects him. The series can explore how our relationship with media changes when everything is a click away, and whether true friendship can survive in a world of curated feeds and algorithm-driven content.
This approach gives The Cable Guy a real edge over other movie-to-TV adaptations. Too many reboots lean on nostalgia without asking how the story works today. Think of Paramount+'s bloated Fatal Attraction series or Fox's forgettable Minority Report procedural. This new Cable Guy sounds like it'll actually have something to say—making it a rare reboot worth getting excited about.
A 'New Girl' Reunion at the Core
The original film's magic came from the chemistry between Jim Carrey's manic energy and Matthew Broderick's low-key affability. The series aims to replicate that dynamic with a reunion of New Girl stars: Jake Johnson takes on the role of Chip, while Damon Wayans Jr. plays Steven. The duo previously lit up the screen together on the beloved sitcom and in the cult comedy Let's Be Cops, so they already have that effortless rapport. It's a casting choice that promises both laughs and genuine tension.
In a television landscape cluttered with reboots, The Cable Guy stands out as a genuine surprise. It updates a cult classic for a world that's even more disconnected than the one Chip Douglas terrorized. Whether it matches the original's dark edge remains to be seen, but for now, it feels like the one revival that could actually work. For more on how classic films are finding new life on streaming, check out our look at Elijah Wood's 'Deep Impact' hitting Tubi or the enduring appeal of Ethan Hawke's 'Gattaca'.
