Sitcoms That Were Taped Instead of Filmed

[TMC]

In other words, a show that was shot in a fashion (even if it didn't look as professional and long lasting as film) that gave the impression that what we were seeing was live. This aspect of producing has also been used on daytime soaps. It seemed like this trend (if you want to call it that way) really started around the early 1970s with a considerably ground-breaking show like All In the Family as a prime example. Perhaps to this us a closer sense of realism for more family oriented programs. So why isn't this sort of thing being used as heavily as now during the 1970s and 1980s besides the idea of smaller appearance of family oriented shows.

[The Gooch]

Although "Cheers" was a great show, compare it to "The Golden Girls" and tell me which one has aged worse ? I think that's a big problem with film. Tape allows for more of an intimate feel, and should be a requirement if one is making a family show. I remember one year on "Growing Pains" they did an episode on film and it looked absolutely horrible. It would be interesting though to see how a show like "Seinfeld" or "Friends" would look like on tape. Workplace comedies done on tape include "Nightcourt"; "Barney Miller" and "WKRP".

[TV Guy]

Film is easier to cut and edit than videotape, so a lot of producers prefer it. I've also heard some of them talk about preferring the "warmer" look of film to the "harsher" look of videotape. A lot of actors prefer film because the "motion-picture" lighting makes them look better (Warren Beatty at one point refused to be interviewed on videotape, and would only agree to filmed interviews. He may still demand this.)

Yeah, "Cheers" is looking a little rough around the edges, but it's nothing that new prints wouldn't fix. About 10 years ago, Fox distributed new prints of "MASH" to all the stations running it, and it really made a difference. "All in the Family" was one of the first videotaped sitcoms, and the copies our local station was running a few years ago looked a little washed out.

It's really interesting to compare the first videotaped season of "Newhart" to the rest of the run, which was filmed. There's really a big difference.

[TMC]

Another thing that came to mind is (and correct me if I'm wrong) the question concerning why the pilot episode of Bosom Buddies shot on film while the rest of the series was taped? Not to mention the opening credits of such shows as Full House and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air for example being filmed while the rest of the series was taped.

[TV Guy]

I remember the "Bosom Buddies" pilot being filmed, and the rest of the show being videotaped. Budget considerations, maybe? (It's cheaper to videotape a show than to film it). As far as the opening credits of those other series go, perhaps the producers didn't want to use videotape for those outdoor scenes. This is another complaint I've heard -- videotape looks particularly harsh in outdoor scenes (some location scenes on "The Nanny" were actually filmed, while the rest of the show was videotaped.) Or maybe they were willing to spend the extra money to film the opening, since it would be seen every week. Just guessing, though.

[TMC]

One of the prime examples that first come to mind when it comes to the contrasts between film and tape when it comes to outdoor scenes is the British sitcom AbFab (frankly, I'm not in the mood to type the entire name right now). But the footage from that show was totally filmed where as a show like the new Cosby show sort of used a hybrid of tape and film. This gave the picture sort of a grimy, unpolished, and dreary look and maybe even feel.

[MASHMan]

If I remember right, CBS started monkeying around with the second season of "Cosby" in what looked like an attempt to make tape look like film. The result was movement that was just plain choppy and awful. "Cosby" wisely went back to straight, unaltered tape later that season.
Then there's "Newhart", which was taped the first season, then went to film for the remainder of its run.

[Chad Palmer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Mama's Family also shot on videotape as opposed to film? That might explain why all of the episodes look so "pale" when aired today.

[TV Guy]

>>If I remember right, CBS started monkeying around with the second season of "Cosby" in what looked like an attempt to make tape look like film. <<

Interesting. They did this with "The John Larroquette Show" as well, and I always thought it looked strange.

And yes, "Mama's Family" was done on videotape.