Well I was there for Dark Shadows when it first came out on ABC.
It started out as a gothic soap opera that was floundering and one day a cousin showed up and just happened to be a vampire. Thus began the cult. My grandmother threw a fit because she thought it was going to warp her poor grandson.
I think the later version didn't do well because of poor casting.
With the right actors and some good story telling it could be a hit again.
Suspense is really what made it.