'Family Matters'

Never forget: Steve Urkel whining Laura Winslow's name on Family Matters was one of the most annoying, yet hilarious sounds of the 1990s, but that doesn't mean it should reappear in theaters. In the series, which followed an African-American family in Chicago, dad Carl Winslow could barely come home and eat a sandwich without his nerdy neighbor and three kids bothering him -- but wasn't Steve great? He was even better as Stefan Urquelle, when he came through and crushed the buildings by courting Laura in tailored suits, even though the characters were in the 10th grade. There's no way an actor could re-create that kind of magic.

'The Cosby Show'

Like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Cliff and Clair Huxtable are frozen in our memories as the picture of the perfect successful black couple. To attempt a redux would just be disrespectful because, if you think about it, there's no way to push The Cosby Show any higher than the golden bar it's already set for black entertainment. From Rudy's soulful lip-synching of Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time" and Denise's reggae-singing boyfriend to Theo's tumultuous romance with Justine, Vanessa sneaking out with Jeremy and Clair snatching her up, it's perfect.

'Diff'rent Strokes'

We can't quite imagine a nonoffensive silver screen spin on Diff'rent Strokes' premise in 2013. Stereotypical rich white man takes in two black orphans and shows them the good life, while they make him hip? We doubt it.

Granted, this scenario is still being played out in Hollywood, but it's a bit more real, thanks to folks like Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock. Plus, the fact that Hollywood seemed to devour all of the child actors on this show and spit them out doesn't bode well for any would-be kids cast in a remake. Just say no.

'A Different World'

Though finding out what happened to Freddie, Kim, Whitley and Dwayne would be great (is Dwayne friends with Neil deGrasse Tyson? Of course he is!), let's leave A Different World in the 1980s and 1990s, where it belongs. But because there's no denying the show's influence on the popularity of black colleges and universities among an entire generation of African Americans, we could stomach a spin-off of the idea of A Different World. However, if we see Jaleesa and Walter, we're going to contact the NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharpton in protest. Also, rest in peace, Mr. Gaines.

'That's My Mama'

Plenty of people probably think That's My Mama was solely a Coming to America joke -- "You all know him as Joe the policeman on the "What's Going Down" episode of That's My Mama … " -- and that's probably not a great basis for a film. And then there's the show's name. Really, 1974?

That's My Mama served up only 39 episodes and followed bachelor Clifton Curtis, played by Clifton Davis, who owned a barbershop and dealt with his opinionated mom, who just wanted him to get married. Title aside, That's My Mama did introduce the world to Davis, who was great as the Rev. Reuben Gregory on Amen. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? But let's leave this one in the archives.

Hillary Crosley is the New York bureau chief at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.

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